The Red Hunters are a Space Marine chapter with ancient ties to the Inquisition. They fight horrors that would break lesser men, and they pay a heavy price for it.
Who they are
The Red Hunters are one of the few chapters whose Chapter Cult openly worships the Emperor as a god. They wear red armour with a white skull and black Inquisition symbol as their badge.
Their homeworld is Montsegnur, and they’re often called to serve alongside Inquisitorial strike forces. They provide protection for senior Inquisitor-Lords and face enemies that most mortals aren’t allowed to remember.
The mind-wipe
When Red Hunters witness daemonic incursions or other forbidden horrors, they undergo a mnemonic purgation rite. This mind-wipe preserves their souls and combat skills but erases memories, experience, and personality.
It’s a brutal necessity. The Inquisition can’t risk corruption spreading, so the Red Hunters become a clean, reliable weapon. They lose who they were, but they keep fighting.
Notable battles
The Red Hunters have fought in some of the Imperium’s darkest campaigns. They were at the Second Abonian Genocide in 688.M40 and the First War for Armageddon in 444.M41.
After Armageddon, they helped the Inquisition purge Imperial survivors. During the Months of Shame, their entire chapter fleet besieged Fenris under Chapter Master Daemar, acting on Lord Inquisitor Kysnaros’s orders.
They also fought in the Damocles Crusade and the Siege of Vraks, where the 3rd Company was split among Ordo Malleus Inquisitors as elite shock troops.
- 688.M40: Second Abonian Genocide
- 444.M41: First War for Armageddon and the Months of Shame
- 742.M41: Damocles Crusade
- 812-830.M41: Siege of Vraks
Organisation and ties to the Inquisition
Rumours say the Red Hunters were founded at the request of the Inquisitorial Representative on Terra, with a secret pact for mutual support. Whether that’s true or not, their bond with the Inquisition is unbreakable.
They don’t deploy as a full chapter often. Instead, squads and vehicles are seconded to Inquisitors, especially from the Ordo Malleus. This makes them a flexible, deadly asset in the fight against Chaos.
Not to be confused with
There’s also a World Eaters unit called the Red Hunters, but that’s a completely different thing. Those were pilots during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy who favoured savage close-range tactics.
The Space Marine chapter is the one tied to the Inquisition. Don’t mix them up.
Key facts
- The Red Hunters are a Space Marine chapter with close ties to the Inquisition.
- They worship the Emperor as a god, which is rare among Space Marines.
- They undergo mind-wipes after facing daemonic threats to prevent corruption.
- Their homeworld is Montsegnur, and their armour is red with an Inquisition symbol.
- They fought in the First War for Armageddon, the Damocles Crusade, and the Siege of Vraks.
- Their entire chapter fleet once besieged Fenris during the Months of Shame.
FAQ
Why do the Red Hunters get mind-wiped?
They witness daemonic horrors and other forbidden things. The mind-wipe prevents corruption and insanity, but it costs them their memories and personality.
Are the Red Hunters part of the Inquisition?
Not officially, but they’re bound by ancient pacts and often serve under Inquisitorial command. They’re one of the Inquisition’s most trusted Space Marine assets.
What’s the difference between the Red Hunters and the World Eaters Red Hunters?
The Space Marine chapter serves the Inquisition. The World Eaters Red Hunters were a Great Crusade-era pilot unit with a completely different role and allegiance.