Plague Marines are a terrifying and iconic faction within the Warhammer 40,000 universe, serving as the diseased and corrupted foot soldiers of Nurgle, the Chaos God of decay, disease, and rot. Originally Space Marines, these warriors were twisted and transformed by the power of Nurgle, becoming bloated, resilient, and nearly immune to pain or fear. Their bodies are riddled with pestilence and rot, yet they are unnaturally resilient, able to endure wounds that would be fatal to any other being. This makes them exceptionally durable on the battlefield, often shrugging off attacks that would cripple or kill ordinary troops.
The visual appearance of Plague Marines is both grotesque and fearsome. Their power armor, once a symbol of the Emperor’s might, is now corrupted and decayed, festooned with growths, rust, and the symbols of Nurgle. Their helmets often resemble gas masks or are fused to their bodies, and their armor leaks filth and pus, emphasizing their unholy connection to disease and decay. They wield a variety of weapons, including bolters, plague knives, and blight grenades, all tainted with virulent poisons and corrosive agents that spread disease and death to their enemies.
In battle, Plague Marines are relentless and implacable, advancing slowly and steadily through enemy fire. Their resilience and fearlessness make them perfect for holding objectives, soaking up damage, and spreading Nurgle’s foul gifts wherever they go. They often serve as the vanguard in Chaos assaults, breaking enemy lines with their unyielding advance and leaving behind fields of corruption and pestilence. Their presence on the battlefield is a psychological weapon as well, demoralizing opponents with the sheer horror of their appearance and the inevitability of the decay they represent.
The lore surrounding Plague Marines is rich with tales of betrayal and corruption, often involving their fall from grace as noble Space Marines to become the abominations they are now. Many of them are followers of Mortarion, the Primarch of the Death Guard, who led his Legion into the service of Nurgle during the Horus Heresy. This dark transformation has made them some of the most feared and loathsome enemies of the Imperium, as they spread the gifts of Nurgle—disease, decay, and death—across the galaxy in the name of Chaos.