The Beast was a Prime Ork warboss who united much of the Ork race in M32 and came closer to conquering the galaxy than any greenskin before or since. His Waaagh! was the largest the galaxy has ever seen, and stopping it nearly broke the Imperium.
What the Beast actually was
For a long time the Imperium thought it was hunting one warboss. It was really dealing with six Prime Orks, monstrously powerful and unusually intelligent Ork leaders, each commanding its own legion of greenskins.
The one Imperial forces ran into most often was bigger than the rest, nicknamed the Beast of Beasts. He was at least ten metres tall, armoured, and sitting on a throne when they first found him on Ullanor. Several soldiers mistook him for a statue until he moved.
Why he mattered
The Beast could speak flawless Gothic, which is almost unheard of for an Ork. He used it to taunt the Imperium directly, telling them their empire was on its knees and that he would be its death.
He was also driven by old resentment. The Orks had been humiliated during the Ullanor Crusade, and the Beast wanted to repay that debt by crippling humanity and ruling the galaxy himself.
- His Waaagh! was the largest the galaxy has ever seen, bigger than the one Horus defeated during the Ullanor Crusade.
- He united much of the Ork race under a single banner in 544.M32.
- The war to stop him devastated the Adeptus Astartes and forced the Imperium into desperate measures.
How he was stopped
The Beast died on Ullanor in 546.M32. Vulkan killed one of the lesser Prime Orks, while the Beast of Beasts and the remaining lesser Beasts fell to Imperial forces led by Maximus Thane.
It wasn’t a clean victory. The Imperium only halted the Waaagh! at enormous cost, and the aftermath reshaped how the Adeptus Astartes were organised and deployed.
Appearance and warband
The Beast’s armour and throne were covered in black-and-white check marks. His helmet was horned, shaped like a snarling Ork face that covered his own, and studded with rubies.
The lesser Prime Orks were no less terrifying. One was said to be the size of a small Gargant, with a single arm of his battle armour carrying two battle cannons plus autocannons, missile launchers, flamers, and more.
Key facts
- The Beast was a Prime Ork warboss active from 544 to 546.M32.
- He led the largest Waaagh! the galaxy has ever seen.
- Imperial forces eventually realised there were six Prime Orks, not one.
- The Beast of Beasts stood at least ten metres tall and spoke flawless Gothic.
- He died on Ullanor in 546.M32, killed by Imperials led by Maximus Thane.
- Vulkan killed one of the lesser Prime Orks during the same war.
FAQ
Was the Beast a single Ork or several?
The Imperium eventually concluded there were six Prime Orks, not one. The biggest and most encountered was nicknamed the Beast of Beasts.
Who killed the Beast?
Vulkan killed one of the lesser Prime Orks. The Beast of Beasts and the other lesser Beasts were killed by Imperial forces led by Maximus Thane.
When did the Beast’s Waaagh! happen?
It ran from 544 to 546.M32, and the Beast died on Ullanor in 546.M32.
Why is the Beast important to 40k lore?
His Waaagh! was the largest ever seen and nearly conquered the galaxy, forcing the Imperium into desperate measures that reshaped the Adeptus Astartes.