Adeptus Custodes

The Custodian Guard, in the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, are the military unit responsible for protecting and providing security for the Golden Throne chamber deep within the Imperial Palace itself. The Custodes were the first group of physiologically and psychologically enhanced troops the Emperor created. They are thought to be ten thousand strong and are the best trained, most disciplined and vigilant watchmen in the Imperium. It is said that they are to a Grey Knight what a Grey Knight is to an "ordinary" Marine, but that would postulate an entire unit of primarchs. The Custodes are undoubtedly one of the most formidable fighting forces in the entire Imperium. Like the Grey Knights they are utterly incorruptible, and are the only beings allowed into the presence of the Emperor. They have the final word on security in the Imperial Palace, and even the High Lords of Terra are subservient to them within its walls. It is widely believed that all of the Custodes are also powerful psykers, again making them similar to the Grey Knights.

Custodians are typically seen with a Guardian Spear, which was in the pre-heresy days a power halberd with boltgun and after a combined las-based weapon with the polearm. A gladius is normally seen at their side and it must be noted that they have access to all the equipment of any Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. In more recent portrayals, the Custodes have been depicted with a Force Halberd and a Storm Bolter.

These superior warriors can be seen adorned with all manner of lightning bolt, aquiline and knightly crosses. Before the time known as the Horus Heresy, the Guard was dressed in ceremonial red, but after that schism they have abandoned their armour and have adopted black to mark His enthronement. However, recent conversion modeling done by Games Workshop staffers on the website show the Custodes as wearing gold colored armour, as does the Horus Heresy CCG and the art book of the same name that was released a few years ago.

Squads are deployed throughout Primus Palace on Terra, and a unit of Custodes always accompanies the Emperor even when he retired to his private chambers. They rarely leave the Palace and almost never leave Terra now that the Emperor of Mankind is physically bound to the Golden Throne.