Black Templar Neophytes are the aspirant warriors of the zealous Black Templars Chapter, striving to prove their worth and ascend to the rank of a fully initiated Space Marine. Unlike many other Chapters, the Black Templars eschew traditional scout companies; instead, Neophytes serve directly alongside a mentor, a fully-fledged Initiate, in a master-apprentice relationship. Clad in lighter carapace armor and wielding combat shotguns, bolt pistols, and chainswords, Neophytes are thrown directly into the crucible of battle, learning the ways of war through direct experience. Their lighter armor affords them increased mobility, making them adept at skirmishes and supporting their mentors in combat. This immersion ensures that Neophytes not only gain battlefield prowess but also inherit the unrelenting zeal and faith that defines the Black Templars.
The Neophytes’ training under their Initiates instills in them the Chapter’s unyielding devotion to the Emperor and its militant traditions. They fight alongside their mentors in the Black Templars’ famed Crusader Squads, where they are exposed to the harsh realities of the endless war against heretics, xenos, and mutants. This dual role of combatant and apprentice ensures they are forged in the fires of battle, physically and spiritually prepared for the responsibilities of a Space Marine. Their journey is one of blood, faith, and relentless determination, embodying the Black Templars’ belief that strength and purity are earned through action and sacrifice in service to the Emperor.