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I am wondering which type of power armor do Marines perfer or is it completely random fluff wise. More specifically do vets usually keep older mark power armor they start out with forever? Maybe even perfer it as a relic? Or is the newer the power armor the better. In which case we expect only vets and high ranking marines to have something like mk8 power armors.

It's highly variable and depends very much on the age of the Chapter, how well connected to Mars it is and how technologically inclined it is et cetera, et cetera.

In general, for an average Chapter, you'll find the bulk of the marines in the Battle and Reserve companies will wear newer suits of Mk 6 or Mk 7 armour. There may be a smattering of 'Relic' suits amongst the senior marines, Sergeants and the command squad, but in general, most marines will be using relatively newer suits. However, in more technologically gifted Chapters, you may find vastly increased levels of 'Relic' armour as they are able to maintain them better, or in cases such as the Iron Hands, they can manufacture the older Mark IV armour to equip their squads.

As for Vets - in general, you'll find significantly more instances of relic or artificer armour due to their status and capability. This may mean that they are either issued with newer Mk 8 suits, which are still quite rare, or they may be issued with chapter relics in recognition of great deeds.

All that said, really I'd advise you not to think about it too much. There are any number of reasons a marine may be using this armour or that armour. His original armour may have been damaged beyond repair, he may have forged himself a new set on a whim or he may have been rewarded for good service - there's loads of reasons for marines to have different sets of armour, you just have to go with what you like. As long as it's not too unreasonable - like a whole chapter armoured in Mk 8 (Currently only the Minotaurs are known to enjoy this due to close ties with the HLoT), then you can explain most choices away.

Relic suits of armor are and order of magnitude older than the marines wearing them.(loyalists, not traitors)
While veteran space marines are several hundred years old, older suits of armor are 10,000 years old.

So it is unlikely that marines will just stay in their suit of armor forever and it will become a relic around them.

GIven how maintenence and repair works, I imagine that chapters have more suits of armor than marines, and as marines gain exprience and older marines die they get better choice of what is around.



Traitor marines though, some of them are as old as their armor. Some of them are unable to take their armor off. Thousand sons are nothing but armor.

Thanks for the inforational. That was super informative. A it is not uncommon would you say to see mixed suits. For example an mk8 leg armor and mk7 torso or a mk4 helmet with mk7 suit. Or are there compatibility parts for the power armors?

JadeDoo wrote:
Thanks for the inforational. That was super informative. A it is not uncommon would you say to see mixed suits. For example an mk8 leg armor and mk7 torso or a mk4 helmet with mk7 suit. Or are there compatibility parts for the power armors?

The moment you do that it becomes a MK5 suit, but it depends on the adherence to the codex astartes i think where the more rigid chapters keep to one mark or one mark to certain squads,For example; older marks are less mobile/or maintenance heavy so those would be given to support marines like Devastators, High ranking marines have usually more freedom in modifying their armour

I don't know if it helps you with your own marines, but here's how I divvyed my 40k Salamanders armour up:

1st Tac Squad: 6 Suits Mk 3, 4 Suits Mk 4 (Destroyer/VHA variant) - Explanation: I like to imagine that the first squad of each company is sort of the 'Shock' squad, comprised of the companies senior marines and tasked with Zone Mortalis, Boarding and Close Range Firefight duties.

(Also usuable in games of 30k )

2nd Tac Squad: 4 Suits Mk 3, 6 Suits of Mk 5 (Mix of components from Mk 4,6,7 armours) - Explanation: As Salamanders are techno-masters, they'll have far more 'relic' components in this rank. So the 2nd Squad demonstrates this by having a mix of HH and 40k components mixed up.

3rd Tac Squad: 1 Suit Mk 8, 1 Suit Mk 4, 2 Suits Mk 6, 6 suits Mk VII - Explanation: Your typical squad with a mix of newer Mk 7 and Mk 6 with a relic Mk 4 and a rare Mk 8.

1st Dev Squad: 5 Suits Mk 8 - Explanation: I like the idea that the Devastators got all Mk 8 as the advanced systems aid them in laying down accurate fire and provide their exposed position with extra protection.