The Flesh Tearers are a Second Founding chapter of Space Marines, created from the Blood Angels legion after the Horus Heresy. They’re notorious for their extreme savagery and a gene-seed flaw that makes them far more susceptible to the Black Rage than other Blood Angels successors.
Origins and history
When Roboute Guilliman split the legions after the Horus Heresy, the Blood Angels were divided into successor chapters. The Flesh Tearers were one of them, led by Nassir Amit, a veteran still grieving the death of Sanguinius. They were given a single battle barge, the Victus, and sent into deep space to hunt down worlds still loyal to Horus.
For three millennia they crusaded, earning a reputation for bloodletting so extreme that the High Lords of Terra heard rumours of entire populations wiped out. They dismissed the casualty lists as inconsequential. Eventually, Amit settled the chapter on Cretacia, a hostile death world with a lost colony of primordial humans who proved ideal recruits.
The flaw and the Black Rage
The Flesh Tearers suffer from a mutation in their gene-seed that makes them far more prone to the Black Rage, the psychic curse that turns Blood Angels into mindless berserkers. If no cure is found, the chapter is likely to be extinct within the next two millennia.
Chapter Master Gabriel Seth refuses to rein in his warriors’ fury, believing it would weaken their heritage as true sons of Sanguinius. Instead, he keeps the chapter on a permanent war footing, moving from one war zone to the next to keep them occupied and reduce collateral damage. This has left many companies heavily depleted.
Reputation and relations
The Flesh Tearers are ill-famed for their savageness and thirst for blood in battle. Their name is associated with atrocities, and the Inquisition once launched an investigation into their actions, though no official charges ever came to light. Some Imperial military wings refuse to fight alongside them.
Despite this, they’re among the most notorious Space Marine chapters, walking the finest line between controlled ferocity and wanton bloodthirst.
Organisation and homeworld
The Flesh Tearers are a Codex Astartes chapter with a specialty in assault. Their homeworld is Cretacia, a death world. Their colours are red with black helmet, backpack, and pauldrons.
After the Devastation of Baal, their strength was reduced to around 400 marines. Only the arrival of Primaris reinforcements prevented the chapter from being lost entirely to an otherwise inevitable decline.
Key facts
- The Flesh Tearers are a Second Founding chapter created from the Blood Angels legion.
- Their gene-seed mutation makes them far more susceptible to the Black Rage than other successors.
- They’re led by Chapter Master Gabriel Seth and based on the death world Cretacia.
- After the Devastation of Baal, their numbers fell to roughly 400 marines before Primaris reinforcements arrived.
- They’re notorious for atrocities, and some Imperial forces refuse to fight alongside them.
FAQ
Who is the Chapter Master of the Flesh Tearers?
Gabriel Seth is the current Chapter Master. He’s known for his brutal combat style and for refusing to suppress the chapter’s inherent fury.
What is the Black Rage?
It’s a psychic curse that affects Blood Angels and their successors, causing them to relive the death of Sanguinius and descend into mindless berserk fury. The Flesh Tearers are especially vulnerable to it.
Why are the Flesh Tearers so savage?
A mutation in their gene-seed makes them more prone to the Black Rage, and their culture embraces fury as part of their heritage. Their reputation for bloodletting is well-earned.