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UltramarinesWarrior2

A Firstborn Space Marine of the Ultramarines Chapter.

The "Firstborn" is the term used within the Adeptus Astartes and the wider Imperium since the start of the Indomitus Crusade for the original Space Marine genetic template created by the Emperor of Mankind in the late 30th Millennium.

Firstborn Astartes possess only the original 19 gene-seed organs crafted by the Emperor. As a result, though still transhuman warriors, they lack the greater strength, height, resilience and reflexes of their Primaris Marine brethren.

In the immediate wake of the Ultima Founding, it was not possible for Firstborn Marines to undergo the procedure created by Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl to become Primaris Marines. The survival rate was considered too low for the attempt to be made.

This changed just before the War of Beasts began on the world of Vigilus in the Era Indomitus when the Ultramarines Chapter Master Marneus Calgar volunteered to undergo the surgical procedure known as the Rubicon Primaris.

Archamagos Cawl succeeded in implanting the three missing Primaris gene-seed organs into Calgar's body. After the procedure, Calgar was reborn as a Primaris Marine, proving the conversion was possible.

Since then, many other Firstborn from Chapters across the galaxy have crossed the Rubicon Primaris to become even more effective defenders of Mankind.

Quick Answers

What is the difference between Firstborn and Primaris Marines in Warhammer 40k? toggle section
In Warhammer 40k, Firstborn are the original Space Marines, created by the Emperor of Mankind with 19 gene-seed organs. They are transhuman warriors but do not have the strength and height of Primaris Marines. Primaris Marines, however, are stronger and more durable, with a closer bloodline to the primarchs, but lack the Firstborn's experience and versatility.
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What are the 19 gene-seed organs possessed by the Firstborn? toggle section
The Firstborn Space Marines have 19 gene-seed organs, implanted in a specific sequence during a neophyte's transformation. The process initiates with the Secondary Heart, or The Maintainer. The Progenoid Glands are vital for producing new Astartes. This implantation has become a sacred ritual over time. The Firstborn share these gene-seed organs with the Primaris Space Marines, who possess three extra organs.
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How does the strength and resilience of the Firstborn compare to their Primaris Marine brethren? toggle section
Primaris Marines exhibit superior physical attributes, being stronger, more durable, and larger than the Firstborn. However, the Firstborn's extensive combat experience compensates for their lesser physical capabilities. Despite the Primaris Marines' physical advantages, they initially suffered high casualties in the Indomitus Crusade due to their inexperience.
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What is the significance of the term 'Firstborn' within the Adeptus Astartes and the wider Imperium? toggle section
In the Adeptus Astartes and the wider Imperium, 'Firstborn' denotes the original Space Marine genetic template, crafted by the Emperor of Mankind in the late 30th Millennium. These Firstborn Astartes have the original 19 gene-seed organs, making them transhuman warriors, albeit less powerful and shorter than Primaris Marines. The term also encapsulates the cultural and spiritual initiation necessary for neophytes to join their Chapter.
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Who created the original Space Marine genetic template known as the 'Firstborn'? toggle section
The 'Firstborn', the original Space Marine genetic template, was crafted by the Emperor of Mankind during the late 30th Millennium. Utilizing his own genome, and with aid from the Biotechnical Division and its director Amar Astarte, the first gene-seed was created and implanted into elite Terran soldiers, marking the inception of the Legiones Astartes.
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History[]

For most of Imperial history, from the start of the Great Crusade in ca. 798.M30 until the end of the 13th Black Crusade and the fall of Cadia in ca. 999.M41, the Firstborn were the only type of Space Marines that existed.

When Belisarius Cawl finally completed the creation of the Primaris Space Marines in his laboratories deep beneath the surface of Mars after the end of the Terran Crusade in ca. 999.M41, the "Firstborn" Astartes now faced the prospect of their own obsolescence.

Most of the early Primaris Marines produced in what became known as the Ultima Founding had been kept in stasis for 10,000 standard years, since the end of the Horus Heresy. These young men had hibernated the long millennia away while Cawl worked to enhance the Emperor's original work and improve the Space Marine template.

The resulting Primaris Marines were physically superior and more resilient warriors than the Firstborn, but were initially deployed by the resurrected Primarch Roboute Guilliman as part of the great army known as the Unnumbered Sons. The Unnumbered Sons were organised into mixed units, where Primaris Marines bearing the gene-seed of different primarchs all fought together.

In this way, Guillliman hoped to break down many of the divisions that had grown up among the original Space Marine Legions because of the personality differences that had manifested among the early Space Marines.

As the Indomitus Crusade progressed and its fleets spread across the galaxy, the forces of the Unnumbered Sons were slowly whittled down. Many were provided as reinforcements to the existing, depleted Chapters of the Firstborn. Others were transferred into new, Primaris-only Chapters that were made up solely of Primaris Marines drawn from a single primarch's genetic line.

Other Primaris Marines were released from stasis within the holds of Belisarius Cawl's great Ark Mechanicus Zar-Quaesitor as they were produced and the fleet progressed to new assignments.

In the course of the Indomitus Crusade, 94% of the existing Firstborn Chapters accepted Primaris Marines into their ranks. Most were grateful for the new blood to face the terrible foes that threatened Mankind in the wake of the Great Rift's birth.

But some Firstborn resented the arrival of their Primaris brethren. For many, the Primaris Marines were new arrivals who had not been recruited from their Chapter's homeworld and were unfamiliar with the Chapter's culture and traditions.

Those who came from the Unnumbered Sons and had fought for solar decades with battle-brothers of other lineages often felt like strangers to the existing Firstborn of a Chapter, even if they shared the same primarch.

Some Firstborn even believed the Primaris Marines to be mutants when they first saw them, as some remembered the tales of how certain Space Marine Legions like the Raven Guard had once tried to improve their own Astartes during the Horus Heresy to disastrous results.

Such feelings were embodied within the close-knit Space Wolves Chapter, where many of the Great Companies' ruling Wolf Lords refused at first to accept Primaris Marines, fearing that they were not true sons of Fenris or of Leman Russ.

The Firstborn of another independent-minded Chapter, the White Scars, also had trouble accepting their Primaris brethren at first, for they had not been born of Chogoris and thus were not familiar with the culture and traditions of the steppe tribe warriors who comprised the Chapter's brethren.

But the scions of Jaghatai Khan also understood that the Primaris reinforcements were vital if they were to continue to defend the Imperium. Such pragmatism ultimately prevailed among the Firstborn of most of the existing Adeptus Astartes Chapters.

To help the Firstborn better accept their Primaris brethren, Roboute Guilliman often used the Emissaries Imperatus of the Adeptus Custodes as his heralds in introducing Primaris reinforcements to the existing Space Marine Chapters.

As the Custodes were viewed with awe even by the Astartes as the warriors who spoke for the Emperor, their acceptance of the Primaris Marines made it easier for many Firstborn to accept that the creation of the Primaris represented the will of the Emperor Himself.

The presence of the Adeptus Custodes also ensured that even the most traditional Chapters accepted the Primaris warriors into their ranks. One does not decline a gift from the Emperor's own hand, after all.

Guilliman also deployed Primaris Marines as his personal equerries, heralds and as the embodiment of his own authority as the governing lord commander of the Imperium.

The Primaris Marines themselves harboured no such reservations about their Firstborn brothers, who they looked to for advice and counsel. They understood that the Firstborn's many centuries of combat experience more than made up for their less advanced physical capabilities.

The Primaris Marines learned this lesson the hard way in the early years of the Indomitus Crusade, when their casualties proved high from their lack of experience despite their greater physical gifts.

Combat Roles[]

Even after the crossing of the Rubicon Primaris, Firstborn Marines remained highly important to the existing Space Marine Chapters.

They continued to comprise important combat units in Adeptus Astartes battleline, close support, fire support and Veteran squads, including in the following tactical roles.

Sources[]

  • Apocalypse (Novel) by Josh Reynolds, Ch. 8
  • Codex: Adeptus Custodes (8th Edition), pp. 27, 32, 48
  • Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition) (Revised Codex), pp. 69, 72, 76, 77-79, 82
  • Codex: Space Wolves (8th Edition), "Annals of the Space Wolves"
  • Dark Imperium (Novel) by Guy Haley, Chs. 12, 13, 15
  • Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Defiant (8th Edition), pg. 77
  • Spear of the Emperor (Novel) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Ch. 5
  • Warhammer 40,000: Rulebook (7th Edition) (Digital Edition), "Space Marines" (Image)
Space Marine Forces
Chapter Command Chapter MasterMaster of the KeepMaster of SanctityChief LibrarianMaster of the ApothecarionMaster of the ForgeMaster of the WatchMaster of the FleetMaster of the ArsenalMaster of the MarchesMaster of the RitesMaster of RelicsChief VictuallerLord ExecutionerMaster of RecruitsMaster of ReconnaissanceMaster of the SignalChapter AncientPrimaris AncientChapter ChampionHonour Guard
Company Command Command SquadReclusiam Command SquadCaptainPrimaris CaptainLieutenantPrimaris LieutenantCompany AncientCompany Champion
Specialists Librarian (EpistolaryCodicierLexicaniumPrimaris LibrarianVanguard Librarian) • Chaplain (ReclusiarchPrimaris ChaplainJudiciar) • Apothecary (Primaris ApothecaryApothecary BiologisHelix Adept) • Techmarine
Veteran Squads Veteran Marines (Sternguard VeteranVanguard VeteranVeteran IntercessorVeteran Assault IntercessorBladeguard Veteran) • Terminator SquadTerminator Assault Squad
Battleline Squads Tactical SquadIntercessor Squad (Heavy Intercessor Squad) • Infiltrator Squad
Close Support Squads Assault SquadAssault Intercessor SquadJump Pack Intercessor SquadInceptor SquadReiver SquadIncursor SquadSuppressor SquadBike SquadOutrider SquadCenturion Assault Squad
Fire Support Squads Aggressor SquadDesolation SquadDevastator SquadHellblaster SquadEradicator SquadEliminator SquadInfernus SquadCenturion Devastator Squad
Neophyte Squads Scout SquadScout Bike Squad
Light Vehicles Assault BikeAttack BikeScout BikeRaider Pattern Combat BikeInvader ATVLand Speeder (Land Speeder StormLand Speeder TempestLand Speeder TornadoLand Speeder TyphoonLand Speeder VengeanceLand Speeder ProteusDarkshroud) • Storm Speeder (Storm Speeder HailstrikeStorm Speeder HammerstrikeStorm Speeder Thunderstrike)
Combat Walkers Dreadnought (Castraferrum DreadnoughtSiege DreadnoughtHellfire DreadnoughtIronclad DreadnoughtVenerable DreadnoughtMortis DreadnoughtChaplain DreadnoughtLibrarian DreadnoughtFurioso DreadnoughtDeath Company DreadnoughtRedemptor Dreadnought (Brutalis DreadnoughtBallistus Dreadnought) • Wulfen DreadnoughtDoomglaive Dreadnought) • Nemesis DreadknightInvictor Tactical Warsuit
Armoured Personnel Carriers RhinoRazorbackDamocles Command RhinoRhino PrimarisRhino AdvancerImpulsor
Main Battle Tanks Predator Destructor (Predator AnnihilatorBaal Predator) • Land Raider (Land Raider PhobosLand Raider CrusaderLand Raider RedeemerLand Raider AchillesLand Raider PrometheusLand Raider Terminus UltraLand Raider AresLand Raider ExcelsiorLand Raider Wrath of MjalnarLand Raider Angel InfernusLand Raider Solemnus AggressorLand Raider Anvilarum) • Deimos Vindicator Laser DestroyerRepulsorRepulsor ExecutionerGladiator (Gladiator ReaperGladiator ValiantGladiator Lancer) • Astraeus
Artillery WhirlwindVindicatorStalkerHunterWhirlwind HyperiosLand Raider HeliosThunderfire CannonFirestrike Servo-turret
Aircraft/Air-Deployed StormtalonThunderhawkThunderhawk TransporterShadowhawkStormravenStorm EagleFire RaptorStormhawk InterceptorCaestus Assault RamDark TalonNephilim JetfighterStormfangStormwolfCorvus BlackstarOverlordDrop PodHammerfall Bunker
Rare, Relic or Retired Vehicles Contemptor Pattern DreadnoughtDeredeo Pattern DreadnoughtCerberus Heavy Tank DestroyerLeviathan DreadnoughtJavelin Attack SpeederJetbikeDeimos PredatorDeimos RhinoSabre Tank HunterLand Raider ProteusKratos Heavy Assault TankMark IIb Land Raider PhobosMalcador Assault Tank (Malcador Annihilator) • Sicaran Battle TankSicaran VenatorSicaran Punisher Assault TankSicaran Arcus Strike TankSicaran Omega Tank DestroyerSpartan Assault TankTyphon Heavy Siege TankFellbladeFalchionMastodonDeimos Whirlwind ScorpiusXiphon Pattern InterceptorStormbirdKharybdis Assault Claw
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