Assault Marines are the Space Marines who hit first and hit hard, dropping out of the sky on jump packs to tear apart enemy lines in close combat. They’re the shock troops of a Chapter, built for speed, aggression, and decapitation strikes.
What an assault squad does
An Assault Squad is a Firstborn Close Support unit that specialises in melee. They don’t hold ground, they take it, or break it. Typical missions include reconnaissance-in-force, decapitation strikes against enemy leaders, and counter-assaults to plug gaps or blunt an enemy push.
In a standard Codex Chapter, each of the four Battle Companies keeps two Assault Squads, and the entire 8th Reserve Company is made up of them. That’s 18 squads in total.
Training and squad structure
Marines usually join an Assault Squad after serving well in a Devastator Squad, where they’ve learned to stand firm under fire. As an Assault Marine they then have to prove themselves in close combat, and pick up other skills like operating and maintaining Space Marine Bikes and Land Speeders.
A squad runs four to nine Assault Marines under a Sergeant. Because they often operate well ahead of the main force, the Sergeant has a direct uplink to the army’s tactical datastreams, giving him full situational awareness.
Equipment and weapons
Power armour, a bolt pistol, a chainsword, frag and krak grenades, and a jump pack are the standard kit. The jump pack lets them cross dangerous ground quickly and make controlled low-altitude descents from Thunderhawk Gunships. When the mission calls for it, they can leave the jump packs behind and ride in a Rhino or Drop Pod instead.
Squad members can swap their bolt pistol for a flamer or plasma pistol. The Sergeant has more options, including melta bombs, a combat shield, and replacements for his bolt pistol or chainsword such as a storm shield, plasma pistol, grav-pistol, power weapon, power fist, Eviscerator, thunder hammer, or a single or pair of lightning claws.
- Standard: bolt pistol, chainsword, frag and krak grenades, jump pack
- Squad options: one flamer, one plasma pistol
- Sergeant options: melta bombs, combat shield, storm shield, plasma pistol, grav-pistol, power weapon, power fist, Eviscerator, thunder hammer, lightning claws (one or pair)
- Transport alternative: Rhino or Drop Pod instead of jump packs
Chapter variations
Not every Chapter calls them Assault Marines. In the Space Wolves, Assault Squads are known as Skyclaws. Unlike Codex Chapters, most Skyclaws are Neophytes, called Blood Claws by the Chapter, for whom this is their first taste of combat as a Space Marine.
Key facts
- Assault Marines are Firstborn Close Support Space Marines who excel in melee.
- They’re equipped with jump packs, bolt pistols, chainswords, and grenades.
- A squad has four to nine Marines led by a Sergeant with a tactical uplink.
- Typical missions: reconnaissance-in-force, decapitation strikes, counter-assaults.
- A Codex Chapter fields 18 Assault Squads across its Battle and Reserve Companies.
- In the Space Wolves they’re called Skyclaws, and most are Neophytes (Blood Claws).
FAQ
What are Assault Marines?
They’re jump-pack equipped Space Marine squads built for close combat. They specialise in fast, aggressive strikes like decapitation missions and counter-assaults.
How many Assault Squads are in a Codex Chapter?
A typical Codex Chapter has 18. Each of the four Battle Companies has two, and the 8th Reserve Company is entirely Assault Squads.
What weapons do Assault Marines carry?
The standard loadout is a bolt pistol, chainsword, frag and krak grenades, and a jump pack. One Marine can take a flamer, another a plasma pistol, and the Sergeant has a wide range of melee and pistol upgrades.