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Been reading the wiki out of boredom in the office and came across a few loyalist chapters who use berserker-like tactics and have gained for themselves a reputation for carnage and devastation that even other imperial forces would think twice or even refuse to ask for their assistance.

Which basically brought to mind which of these chapters would be considered the most savage(not sure if that'd be the correct term) but not in the sense that they charge headlong into battle without any tactics like khorne berserkers.

Added space wolves into the mix since they're still considered berserkers by a lot of people in the imperium even though unlike the other chapters in the list they actually care about their allies and civilians caught in the midst of their battles

Feel free to put any other chapters that fall into the category i might have missed into mix

My vote goes to Flesh tearers

Flesh Tearers, no questions.

Given it's a poll I'd wager Blood Angels should be up there, too. Read an interesting short story in the WD once about how other Imperial troops perceive them after witnessing their close combat capabilities.

Yeah. But flesh tearers are Blood angels without their artistic side... Just the black Rage and extra crazy sauce.

That being said I agree they should be on the poll.

I would go for Flesh Tearers as well, but the Black Templars ain't kosher as well. The Marines Malevolent are just cynical, apart for that, they seem pretty standard. Dark Angels can often go over the top to maintain their secret eliminating loyal Imperials just for that. Iron Hands are also something I would rather not see in combat.

Flesh Tearers definitely!

Flesh Tearers, beyond a doubt.

Yup, flesh tearers

Tearers.

I'm getting tempted to play them as right after they fall to chaos. They are pretty borderline..

Grey Knights can be described as savage at times. They've killed as many of the Imperium as Chaos over the years to preserve their secret. Like DA+++

Fleh Tearers are borderline World Eaters though.

I think we've got to define what "savage" means, here. Grey Knights, or any other Imperial force that does this, aren't "savage" just because they are ruthless and pragmatic in doing what they are supposed to do.

From how I understood OP, this thread is about those Marines who get "out of control" during the fight, surrendering discipline and martial focus to some base instinct or berserker battle rage.

Fair enough, but whoever is on the recieving end of a Force Sword would disagree. Anyway, I believe Flesh Tearers are the most savage. Their symbol is a saw blade. /thread.

 Eetion wrote:
My vote goes to Flesh tearers

Million times this, when they lost their minds to red thirst they eat their own allies.

Carcaradons and Flesh tearers

Minotaurs. They're basically World Eaters. Not to mention forbidden from entering the Realm of Ultramar on pain of death.

Added Flesh Tearer as requested

Voted Carcharodons btw.

One worth mentioning (but probably not worth adding to the poll) is the Mortifactors. They're an Ultramarines successor that are so crazy, they scare the flip out of the Ultramarines.

No White Scars? They're pretty much Mongolians in space.

 Harriticus wrote:
No White Scars? They're pretty much Mongolians in space.

Well, the Ultramarines haven't forbidden them from entering their realm (Minotaurs), been talked down by Salamanders (Marines Malevolent), or involved in incidents with the church's over-zealous 'Amazon Brigades' (Space Wolves and Flesh Tearers).

 Admiral Valerian wrote:
Minotaurs. They're basically World Eaters. Not to mention forbidden from entering the Realm of Ultramar on pain of death.

It should be mentioned that the Ultramarine's banhammer was likely brought down because they publicly insulted Marneus Calgar, who is a very proud and pompous chap. Not to mention most Space Marines also hate them because they're pretty much the High Lords' favorite. They just have a golden stick up their asses because they have the full support of the highest echelon of Imperial rule. Their brutality on the battlefield is less "savagery" and more "we know we can get away with it, so let's do it". They're brutal and antagonistic for sure but they're nowhere close to World Eaters. The World Eaters were on a class all their own as far as savagery on the battlefield. The chapter that most exemplifies "savagery" on the battlefield would be the Flesh Tearers, no questions asked.

You don't go around insulting other chapters' leaders and then expect no reprisal for doing so. As for being the High Lords' favorites...the other chapters (and the Inquisition) have the right to be suspicious: one of the reasons Space Marines are allowed to be semi-autonomous in the first place is because their loyalty to the Emperor himself comes before their loyalty to any other Imperial organization. In a way, the Astartes are supposed to be the Emperor's private army. By seemingly currying the favor of the High Lords, they appear to subvert the Astartes principle of 'Emperor and Imperium first, politics second'.

Heh they also provoked a Second Founding Chapter of Ultramarine decent the Genesis Chapter, so basically they are the lapdogs of the High Lords, doesn't mean they are World Eaters though despite their martial prowess, smooth move.

Even if they aren't World Eaters, being the High Lords' lapdogs would mean censure not only from their fellow Astartes, but also from the Ordo Hereticus. Space Marines are supposed to be loyal to the Emperor, not the High Lords. There's no way the Ordo Hereticus would fail to see a similar situation between the Minotaurs and the old 'Brides of the Emperor'. Heck, we can even draw a connection to the traitor legions, when most of their legionaries placed loyalty to their Primarchs above their loyalty to the Emperor.

Flesh Tearers. Space Sharks are a distant second.

 Admiral Valerian wrote:
Even if they aren't World Eaters, being the High Lords' lapdogs would mean censure not only from their fellow Astartes, but also from the Ordo Hereticus. Space Marines are supposed to be loyal to the Emperor, not the High Lords. There's no way the Ordo Hereticus would fail to see a similar situation between the Minotaurs and the old 'Brides of the Emperor'. Heck, we can even draw a connection to the traitor legions, when most of their legionaries placed loyalty to their Primarchs above their loyalty to the Emperor.

I don't think they would dance or provide more exotic pleasures for the High Lords. At least I hope not.

And there is a different matter having thousands of Brides as opposed to a single chapter they pick to go and exterminate other chapters.

 Beaviz81 wrote:


And there is a different matter having thousands of Brides as opposed to a single chapter they pick to go and exterminate other chapters.

I doubt the Ordo Hereticus would accept that as an excuse...moreover, there's every possibility the High Lords might be using their influence and authority to mask building up/expanding the chapter like how Huron Blackheart tried. They can you know: the High Lords have should have access to the gene-seed vaults on Mars.

Seems to be your interpretation, I have little problem with it, and mind you a representative of the Inquisition is sitting amongst the High Lords, so it seems okay with me. If you so dislike, it, then just regard it a s fanfiction.

 Beaviz81 wrote:
Seems to be your interpretation, I have little problem with it, and mind you a representative of the Inquisition is sitting amongst the High Lords, so it seems okay with me. If you so dislike, it, then just regard it a s fanfiction.

He/she's not always present, and there are times when they have to be elsewhere.

Please be advised that the Minotaurs have two distinct periods in their history: From their founding until M38, they were known as unreliable and obsessed with close-bombat -- their reputation in those days is pretty well the same as the current reputation of the Flesh Tearers. When the Minotaurs reappeared as an extremely well-armed force, they remained brutal but their approach had become more "considered and controlled."

Perhaps they might have been the equals in savagery of the Flesh Tearers in millenia past but they can no longer compete for that dubious honor.

 Admiral Valerian wrote:

 Beaviz81 wrote:
Seems to be your interpretation, I have little problem with it, and mind you a representative of the Inquisition is sitting amongst the High Lords, so it seems okay with me. If you so dislike, it, then just regard it a s fanfiction.

He/she's not always present, and there are times when they have to be elsewhere.

A High Lord can't just take a day off. That's not how it works. They sit likely in endless meeting debating where to point the next crusade at and other boring stuff you don't really wanna know about. And it's not a chapter answering to just one person, they answer to all the High Lords.