The Gladiator tank is the Primaris Space Marines’ dedicated grav battle tank, built by Belisarius Cawl on an up-armoured Impulsor chassis. It swaps transport space for a big turret gun and sponsons, and it’s faster and better armed than the old Predator.
What the Gladiator tank is
The Gladiator is a fast, flexible battle tank that hovers on repulsor fields rather than rolling on tracks. It’s based on the Impulsor, but the open-topped transport bay is replaced with a fully enclosed hull and extra armour.
That trade-off mirrors the classic Predator and Rhino relationship: you give up transport capacity to get a turret-mounted main gun, sponson weapons, and tougher plating. The Gladiator is more heavily armed and armoured than the Predator, and its real edge is manoeuvrability.
Cawl designed it as the first dedicated battle tank for the Primaris range, and every Chapter that can field Primaris Marines can use it.
The three variants
One kit builds any of three patterns, each with a different job. The Lancer is the long-range anti-tank sniper, the Reaper shreds infantry, and the Valiant hunts armour up close.
- Gladiator Lancer: carries a heavy laser destroyer, ideal for punching through the toughest vehicles and monsters from extreme range.
- Gladiator Reaper: twin onslaught gatling cannon and tempest bolters give it a terrifying rate of fire against infantry. It can also take an Icarus rocket pod for anti-air.
- Gladiator Valiant: twin las-talons and multi-meltas make it a short-ranged armour hunter that often escorts transports and troops.
How it fits the Space Marine arsenal
The Gladiator sits in the Heavy Support slot, giving Primaris forces a proper tank option alongside Repulsors and Impulsors. Its speed lets it keep pace with a mechanised push or reposition to plug gaps.
Compared to the Predator, it’s more mobile and better protected, though some veterans still swear by the older tank’s tried-and-tested hull.
| Variant | Role | Main weapons |
|---|---|---|
| Lancer | Long-range anti-tank | Heavy laser destroyer |
| Reaper | Anti-infantry | Twin onslaught gatling cannon, tempest bolters |
| Valiant | Close-range armour hunter | Twin las-talons, multi-meltas |
Key facts
- The Gladiator is a Primaris grav battle tank designed by Belisarius Cawl.
- It’s based on the Impulsor chassis with a fully enclosed, more heavily armoured hull.
- Three variants exist: Lancer (anti-tank), Reaper (anti-infantry), and Valiant (close-range armour hunter).
- It’s faster and better armed than the Predator, but gives up transport capacity.
- It hovers on repulsor fields rather than using tracks.
FAQ
Is the Gladiator a Primaris tank?
Yes. It’s a Primaris Space Marine vehicle designed by Belisarius Cawl, and it’s built on an Impulsor chassis.
What’s the difference between the Gladiator and the Predator?
The Gladiator is faster, more heavily armoured, and more heavily armed than the Predator, though it trades away the Predator’s long service history and some transport flexibility.
Can any Space Marine Chapter use the Gladiator?
Any Chapter that can field Primaris Space Marines can take it, so most loyalist Chapters have access.