Nassir Amit, known as the Flesh Tearer, was a Space Marine captain of the Blood Angels Legion and the first Chapter Master of the Flesh Tearers. He’s remembered for his savage nature, his complicated bond with his primarch Sanguinius, and the relic he crafted in penance.
From revenant to blood angel
Amit started as one of the first members of the IXth Legion, back when they were called the Revenant Legion. They were notorious for eating their own dead and other brutal practices. Amit himself came from a toxic bloodline in Boeotia and was a quasi-mutant who would’ve been executed in any other Legion.
When Sanguinius took command, the Legion was reborn as the noble Blood Angels and left its old ways behind. But Amit never fully shed his savage habits. He became a champion in the World Eaters’ gladiator pits and once killed two World Eaters champions to defend his chain-brother Kargos Bloodspitter. Sanguinius allowed the fight but was disappointed, and he ordered Amit to eat the brains of the slain as a lesson. That act secretly shamed Amit.
The Flesh Tearer in the Great Crusade and Heresy
As Captain and Dominion of the 5th Company, Amit fought in major campaigns like the joint Blood Angels and Luna Wolves assault on the Nephilim on Melchior. He also accompanied Sanguinius to the Council of Nikaea, where he stood sentinel and was staunchly pro-Librarian.
During the Horus Heresy, Amit remained loyal to the Emperor. After the Siege of Terra and Sanguinius’ death, he went on to found the Flesh Tearers Chapter, carrying his Legion’s aggressive tendencies into the new era.
The Reliquary of Amit
Sometime after the Heresy, Amit crafted the Reliquary of Amit as an act of penance for his father’s death. It’s an ornate golden cylinder, about a yard long, that holds a single feather from Sanguinius’ wing. The feather is as long as a Space Marine’s leg and was caught in a stasis field during the Siege of Terra.
The reliquary is decorated with intricate fretwork showing beasts and angels hunting each other through an alien forest. It’s protected by a force field that can only be unlocked with a Blood Angels Crux Terminatus badge. The relic is normally kept in the Basilica Sanguinarum on Baal, but just before the Devastation of Baal, Dante secretly gave it to Gabriel Seth of the Flesh Tearers for safekeeping.
Personality and legacy
Amit was a brutal, bloodthirsty warrior, but he wasn’t without honor. His final logs reveal a deep self-awareness: he saw himself and his brothers as creatures of violence, not angels. That honesty, and his shame over Sanguinius’ disappointment, adds tragedy to his character.
His legacy lives on in the Flesh Tearers, a Chapter known for its ferocity and struggle against the Black Rage. The Reliquary of Amit remains one of the Blood Angels’ most precious relics, a symbol of both his penance and his enduring bond with his primarch.
Key facts
- Nassir Amit was a captain of the Blood Angels Legion and the first Chapter Master of the Flesh Tearers.
- He was known as ‘the Flesh Tearer’ for his savage nature and gladiatorial exploits.
- Amit crafted the Reliquary of Amit, which contains a feather from Sanguinius’ wing, as an act of penance.
- He disappeared at the edge of the Cretacia System in M31, his fate unknown.
- His final logs reveal a deep self-awareness and a tragic view of his own bloodthirst.
FAQ
Who is Amit in Warhammer 40k?
Nassir Amit, also called the Flesh Tearer, was a captain of the Blood Angels Legion during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy. After the Heresy, he became the first Chapter Master of the Flesh Tearers.
What is the Reliquary of Amit?
It’s a golden cylinder crafted by Amit that holds a feather from Sanguinius’ wing in a stasis field. It’s a sacred relic of the Blood Angels, made in penance for Sanguinius’ death.
How did Amit die?
Amit disappeared at the edge of the Cretacia System in M31. His exact fate is unknown, but he vanished while leading the Flesh Tearers.