Dark Angels Space Marines Oldhammer Art

The Dark Angels are one of the most enigmatic and secretive Chapters in Warhammer 40,000, forming the first of the original Space Marine Legions. Led by their Primarch, Lion El’Jonson, they were renowned for their prowess in battle and loyalty to the Emperor during the Great Crusade. However, their legacy is marred by a dark secret dating back to the Horus Heresy. During the chaotic civil war, a portion of their Legion, known as the Fallen, turned traitor against the Emperor. This betrayal shattered the Dark Angels, and ever since, they have been consumed with a relentless hunt for these Fallen, whom they seek to capture and atone for their sins in absolute secrecy.

This obsession with secrecy and redemption defines the Chapter’s operations. The Dark Angels are divided into the traditional Codex Astartes structure, but their elite inner circle, known as the Deathwing, is privy to the truth about the Fallen and the Chapter’s ancient shame. The Dark Angels are fiercely independent and often mistrustful of other Imperial forces, preferring to work alone as they pursue their hidden agenda. Their martial prowess is legendary, and they are particularly skilled in defensive warfare, making them formidable opponents. However, their shadowy nature and divided loyalties give them a complex and tragic identity within the Imperium, as they fight not only for the Emperor but also to cleanse the stain upon their honor.