The Obliterators are Chaos Space Marines infected by the Obliterator Virus, a contagion that fuses their flesh to their armour and lets them grow weapons straight out of their bodies. They’re rare, they answer to no single god or Legion, and they’re some of the strangest soldiers in the setting.
What the Obliterator Virus does
The virus sears a Marine into his armour, swelling him into a hulking brute whose skin is bonded with the metal he’s absorbed. Anything he holds gets merged into him too, weapons included, and he can regrow it whenever he wants.
That means an Obliterator doesn’t carry a gun so much as become one. He can pull ammunition out of his own body, which is a nasty surprise for anyone who gets infected without knowing it. The fused metal also makes him tough as hell, though he’s slow on his feet and relies on teleportation to get around the battlefield.
Nobody’s certain where the virus came from. The going theory is the Dark Mechanicum cooked it up while chasing the perfect fusion of technology and biology.
Who they are and who they serve
Obliterators don’t swear to a particular Chaos God or Legion. They’re an insular cult, usually drawn from former Techmarines, obsessed with technological and alchemical knowledge and the blending of flesh with steel.
The Iron Warriors are the big exception. The Legion’s first Obliterators emerged there, and they keep vast numbers of them on hand waiting for orders. Most other Chaos warbands are lucky to have a handful, which makes the ones they do have very valuable.
The very first Obliterator came from the Daemon Sa’ra’am possessing an Iron Warrior during the Horus Heresy. That Marine, Volk, is remembered as the first of his kind.
What they can grow
An Obliterator’s arsenal is limited only by what he’s absorbed and what he can will into existence. The usual suspects include heavy anti-tank and anti-infantry guns, plus a brutal close-combat option.
- Lascannon
- Multi-melta
- Plasma cannon
- Twin-linked plasma gun
- Twin-linked meltagun
- Twin-linked flamer
- Power fist
Notable Obliterators
A few names come up again and again in the lore, mostly tied to the Iron Warriors and their successors.
| Name | Notes |
|---|---|
| Volk | The first Obliterator |
| Merihem | Of the Iron Warriors |
| Kreator Rex | Known Obliterator |
| Vrox | Of the Word Bearers |
Key facts
- Obliterators are Chaos Space Marines mutated by the Obliterator Virus into living weapons.
- The virus fuses flesh to armour and lets them grow and regrow weapons at will.
- They form an insular cult and serve no single Chaos God or Legion.
- The Iron Warriors have the largest numbers of Obliterators, and the first one, Volk, emerged from their ranks.
- They’re slow on the ground but can teleport almost anywhere.
- Common generated weapons include lascannons, multi-meltas, plasma cannons, and power fists.
FAQ
What is the Obliterator Virus?
It’s a contagion that fuses a Chaos Space Marine’s body with his armour and any weapons he holds, turning him into a living weapon platform. It’s thought to be a Dark Mechanicum creation.
Are Obliterators loyal to a Chaos God?
No. They belong to an insular cult rather than any single god or Legion, though the Iron Warriors have far more of them than anyone else.
How do Obliterators fight?
They generate weapons and ammunition from their own mutated flesh, soak up a lot of punishment thanks to their metal-infused bodies, and teleport into position since they’re too bulky to move quickly on foot.