Adeptus Astartes · Angels of Death
Black Templars
Zealous crusaders sworn to an eternal war against the witch and the alien.
About Black Templars — Lore & How They Play
The Lore
When the Codex Astartes broke the Legions apart, Sigismund — the first Emperor's Champion — took his most zealous brothers and swore an eternal crusade. Ten thousand years on, the Black Templars have never stopped: no home world, only crusade fleets; no psykers, only faith, chains and blades.
They are the Imperium's wrath in its purest form — knights of a war that ends only when every witch and alien is dust.
On the Tabletop
A relentless melee-pressure army: march onto the mid-board, plant a flag and make yourself too expensive to remove. Templar vows fuel the advance, and the new Living Miracle detachment turns the Emperor's Champion into a genuine duelling terror.
The plan is simple and forgiving — durable objective play layered with melee threats. Stage behind cover on the way in, and pack one answer to armour so vehicles can't simply ignore you.
The Black Templars are the Space Marine chapter that never stopped crusading. No Librarians, no diplomacy, no patience: just faith, chainswords and a very short walk across the board. They're the most aggressive way to play Space Marines, and once the black armour and bone-white shoulders come together they're one of the best-looking armies in Warhammer 40,000.
Start here
- Combat Patrol: Black Templars: a playable crusade in one box, and the cleanest introduction to how the chapter fights
- Codex Supplement: Black Templars: the chapter's own rules and units
- Black Templars: Primaris Crusader Squad: the core infantry of any crusade
- Black Templars: Sword Brethren: veteran close-combat specialists
- Black Templars: Upgrades and Transfers: the frame that turns ordinary Space Marine kits into Templars
- All Combat Patrols: every faction's starter army in one place
Black armour is only half as hard as its reputation: you're painting the edges, not the black, so a dark grey highlight does the heavy lifting. A black spray primer saves an evening, and a decent edge-highlighting brush earns its keep here.
Every kit here is genuine Games Workshop stock from an official stockist, supplied unassembled and unpainted, with fast UK delivery from our shop in Barry, South Wales. In-stock orders placed by 3pm on weekdays go out the same day.
Read more: Black Templars lore in Faction Files, Black Templars Army Analysis, the 40K factions hub.
Paint and browse: grab the Black Templars Paint Set – 10 Essential Colours or the five-tone Warhammer Tone Pro paints, then explore the rest of the Space Marines range.
Prefer them ready-painted? JoyToy make fully painted, articulated 1/18 scale Black Templars figures. Find them in our Warhammer action figures range.
Is it Black Templar or Black Templars?
Both get searched. The chapter is the Black Templars; a single battle-brother is a Black Templar. Either way, you're in the right place.
Can I build Black Templars from standard Space Marine kits?
Yes. The Upgrades and Transfers frame converts regular Space Marine kits, so you can grow the crusade from the whole Space Marines range, not just the Templar-branded boxes.
Your Crusade Begins
New to the Adeptus Astartes?
Start with a boxed set — miniatures, rules and dice in one go. Free UK delivery over £65, same-day dispatch by 3pm on weekdays.
Shop 40K Starter SetsFrequently Asked Questions
The Black Templars are a Space Marine Chapter on an eternal crusade. Fiercely devoted to the Emperor, they are aggressive melee fighters who reject the use of psykers and prioritise close-quarters battle above all else.
Yes — Black Templars have their own unique units including the Emperor's Champion and Sword Brethren, plus dedicated Detachment rules that reward aggressive melee play.
Yes. Black Templars are a melee-focused crusade army built around charging in with zealous assault troops and elite close-combat units. Codex: Space Marines for 11th Edition is out now and covers every chapter, so check it (and any supplement for your chapter) before you build a list.
The Black Templars Army Set or Combat Patrol box is the ideal starting point, giving you a strong core including Crusaders and a Marshal.
Black Templars use black armour with white shoulder pads and red crosses. Key paints include Abaddon Black, White Scar, Mephiston Red, and Leadbelcher for metal trim. We stock the full Citadel range.
Yes — we stock Black Templars in our Barry, South Wales shop and online at loadeddice.uk with fast UK dispatch.