A clean, fast reference to the Warhammer 40,000 universe. No pop-ups, no ad walls, no endless scroll. Every entry tells you what a thing is, why it matters, and how it fits into the wider setting. Start with the beginner guides, or jump straight to a section below.
Start here
What Is Warhammer 40kWarhammer 40k is a tabletop wargame of toy soldiers and dice, set in a grim far future. Here's what it is, how it plays, and why it matters.
Where to Start With Warhammer 40kNew to Warhammer 40k? Here's how to start: pick tabletop, video games, books or lore, and choose the right starter set for your budget and time.
Warhammer 40k Timeline ExplainedWarhammer 40k timeline explained: the major eras from the Age of Terra to the Indomitus Crusade, and why the dates and events matter to the lore.
The Horus HeresyThe Horus Heresy is the civil war that broke the Imperium 10,000 years before Warhammer 40k. Here's what happened, who fought, and why it still matters.
The WarpThe warp is 40k's psychic sea of souls: how it works, why it matters, and how it connects to Chaos, psykers, and warp travel.
Roboute GuillimanRoboute Guilliman is the Ultramarines Primarch, author of the Codex Astartes and now Lord Commander and Regent of the Imperium. Here's why he matters.
Browse every section
Twelve sections, each with its own index. Pick a door and you’ll find every entry listed A to Z, plus the handful of pages most readers start with.
Getting Started 18Newcomer guides: where to begin with Warhammer 40k, the timeline in plain English, and how the setting fits together.
Lore 151Core concepts of the 40k universe: the Warp, psykers, the Imperium's machinery, and the ideas that hold the setting together.
History 115The 40k timeline: the War in Heaven, the Great Crusade, the Horus Heresy, and the wars that followed.
The Imperium 108The Imperium of Man: its institutions, armies, and the Emperor who built it.
Chaos 123The Ruinous Powers, their legions, daemons, and the Long War against the Imperium.
Xenos 242Alien races of the 41st millennium: Aeldari, Orks, Necrons, Tyranids, T'au, and more.
Space Marines 152The Adeptus Astartes: the First Founding legions, successor chapters, and their wargear.
Characters 212Named figures of Warhammer 40k: primarchs, warlords, heroes, and villains.
Technology 239Weapons, vehicles, and wargear of the 41st millennium, from the humble bolter to Titan war machines.
Worlds 181Planets, war zones, and locations across the galaxy, from Holy Terra to the Eye of Terror.
Guides 37Practical Warhammer 40k guides: hobby, army building, and how to read the rules.
Media 78Novels, games, and adaptations set in the Warhammer 40k universe.
About this wiki
The Warhammer 40k Lore Codex is an independent fan reference. Warhammer 40,000 and all associated names, marks, and characters are the property of Games Workshop. This site summarises publicly available lore in its own words for readers who want a cleaner place to look things up.
Official resources
For rules, releases, and the things a fan wiki can’t replace, these are the publishers’ own pages: