"The duty of the Emperor's defence does not end at the walls of the Imperial Palace. Our war is like an endless game of regicide, played over countless boards against infinite foes at once. In such a contest one must be constantly preemptive, always cunning and ever ready to seize any advantage that presents itself. Our gaze must rove far afield, and our every move must be perfectly executed. To do any less is to court final defeat."
A Captain-Commander is a senior Shield-Captain of the Adeptus Custodes who commands entire Shield Hosts in battle outside of the Imperial Palace. Those who command the Shield Hosts in combat are inhumanly skilled warriors and martial commanders who have earned the eternal respect of their comrades through exemplary deeds beyond counting.
Though the title is more of an honorific than a truly official rank in the Ten Thousand's hierarchy, those rare Custodians named Captain-Commander richly deserve the accolade for their superhuman martial and strategic mastery.
Variants[]
Guardian Captain-Commander[]
A Guardian Captain-Commander of the Adeptus Custodes
A Guardian Captain-Commander is the most common tactical role taken on by a Custodian of this rank, as they are living embodiments of the Custodes' martial perfection, masters of melee and ranged weapons as well as of the Custodes' martial ka'tah fighting styles. Although every Custodian is devastatingly fast on the battlefield, with preternatural reactions to match, some -- like this Captain-Commander -- are outstanding even among their peers.
The Adeptus Custodes are an unusually versatile army of the Imperium, and a standard Shield-Captain is an exemplar of that ideal, demonstrating flawless technique to inspire their troops. Martial ka'tah forms further refine the techniques of the Custodes, granting specific enhancements to their already formidable skills.
This Captain-Commander takes weapon mastery in both melee and ranged techniques to the highest level. He has become the wargear he wields and they have become him. All Custodes who follow him seek to learn from his skills and follow his lead. The Guardian Captain-Commander is admired by all in the Custodes who know him. His judgement is sound, his tactical acumen impeccable.
Allarus Captain-Commander[]
An Allarus Captain-Commander is a near-unstoppable juggernaut on the battlefield.
An Allarus Captain-Commander is a Custodes officer of this rank who has chosen to fight as an Allarus Custodian. The heavy Allarus Pattern Terminator Armour of the Allarus Custodians requires a different fighting style for the Custodes who wear it, favouring powerful melee blows that take advantage of their enhanced strength, with the full confidence that their wargear will keep them safe no matter the odds.
This makes them excellent battlefield assassins, ploughing through the foe's bodyguards and screening troops to get at their true target. Of course, Allarus Custodians are especially difficult to take down, and Allarus Captain-Commanders even more so than their brethren.
An Allarus Captain-Commander is the Emperor's will made manifest on the field, implacable in his advance. No foe can hope to stop this superhuman warrior from achieving his goals. Allarus Captain-Commanders have earned many names destroying vicious monsters, mighty champions and powerful war machines.
Vertus Captain-Commander[]
A Vertus Captain-Commander atop his Dawneagle Jetbike leads his similarly mounted warriors against the enemy.
A Vertus Captain-Commander is a Captain-Commander who goes into battle mounted atop a Dawneagle Jetbike as a Vertus Praetor. Such Captain-Commanders have trained extensively to face multiple foes at once, knowing that the Adeptus Custodes will always be outnumbered in any combat.
Such Captain-Commanders take to their jetbikes so that they can lead their brethren from the front, as they are determined to be the first of the Ten Thousand onto any battlefield so that they can claim the honour of the maiden kill. They storm into the fray at incredible speed, smashing through their foes while atop their golden steed. A Vertus Captain-Commander never relents in the pursuit of his quarry -- any apparent withdrawal he makes merely brings death to his foe sooner.
Sources[]
- Psychic Awakening: War of the Spider (8th Edition), pg. 40
- Codex: Adeptus Custodes (9th Edition), pp. 64-65
- Warhammer Community - Captain-Commanders of the Adeptus Custodes Are the Elite of the Elite of the Elite
| Adeptus Custodes Forces | |
|---|---|
| Command | Captain-General • Custodian Tribunate • Captain-Commander (Guardian Captain-Commander • Allarus Captain-Commander • Vertus Captain-Commander) • Shield-Captain |
| Elites | Blade Champion • Hetaeron Guard • Aquilon Terminator • Ephoroi • Allarus Custodian • Custodian Warden • Vexilus Praetor • Custodian Apothecary |
| Fast Attack | Agamatus Jetbike Squad • Vertus Praetor • Venatari Custodian |
| Troops | Custodian Guard • Sentinel Guard • Sagittarum Guard Squad |
| Dreadnoughts | Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought • Contemptor-Galatus Dreadnought • Contemptor-Achillus Dreadnought • Telemon Heavy Dreadnought |
| Vehicles | Coronus Grav-Carrier • Caladius Grav-Tank • Pallas Grav-Attack • Venerable Land Raider • Rhino • Grav-Rhino • Grav-Raider • Grav-Spartan |
| Aircraft | Stormbird • Storm Eagle • Orion Assault Dropship • Ares Gunship • Aquila Lander • Talion • Equinox Interceptor • Zenith Gunship |