Iron Warriors: Masters of Siege

In the grim darkness of the far future, there are few Traitor Legions as feared and renowned as the Iron Warriors. Once the IVth Legion of the Emperor’s Space Marines, these merciless siege masters have turned their prodigious talents to the cause of Chaos.

Led by their embittered Primarch Perturabo, the Iron Warriors ceaselessly wage a war of attrition and destruction against the Imperium of Man. To understand the implacable threat they pose is to know the long and twisted history behind their fall from grace.

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Key Takeaways:

• Siege warfare specialists
• Rivals of the Imperial Fists
• Joined Horus Heresy as Traitor Legion
• Known for cold logic and brutality
• Homeworld is daemon world Medrengard

Origins and History

Millennia ago, the Iron Warriors were the IVth Legion of Space Marines, created by the Emperor of Mankind to help expand his domain across the stars in the Great Crusade. Hailing from the harsh, mountainous world of Olympia, the Legion quickly gained a reputation for excelling in siege warfare, grinding their foes into dust through superior attrition, artillery, and brute force.

Led by their calculating Primarch Perturabo, the Iron Warriors became the Imperium’s go-to Legion for cracking enemy fortifications.

However, the Iron Warriors resented being typecast in this role, feeling their efforts and sacrifices were overshadowed by more celebrated Legions like the Imperial Fists.

A rivalry developed between Perturabo and Imperial Fists Primarch Rogal Dorn, with Perturabo believing his Legion could breach any fortifications – even Dorn’s.

When Perturabo turned Traitor and joined the Horus Heresy, the Iron Warriors finally got their chance to prove it, besieging Dorn’s Imperial Palace in the climactic battle.

Though Horus was defeated, the Iron Warriors emerged as one of the most powerful Traitor Legions. Retreating to the Eye of Terror, Perturabo seized the daemon world of Medrengard as their new base.

From there, the Iron Warriors continue to hone their brutal siege craft to this day, laying waste to the Imperium at every opportunity.

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Homeworld of Medrengard

Medrengard, the current homeworld of the Iron Warriors, is a nightmarish planet within the Eye of Terror. Gravitational anomalies cause its towers to jut at dizzying angles, while sprawling trench works and slave labor camps cover the surface. At the center is Perturabo’s mighty fortress, where the Daemon Primarch directs his endless campaigns.

Jagged iron, twisted metal, and strange geometries abound – the whole thing looks like a heavy metal album cover brought to life. And that’s a compliment!

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Organization

Post-Heresy, the Iron Warriors are organized into a series of Grand Companies, each led by a tyrannical Warsmith. These heavily-armed formations number in the thousands of Marines and millions of slave-soldiers. New recruits are often kidnapped from conquered populations and subjected to grueling trials until they prove worthy.

Specialized units like Siege Tyrants and Iron Havocs provide heavy firepower, while Warsmiths bring a variety of Daemon Engines to bear. This combination of methodical planning and overwhelming force makes the Iron Warriors’ organization uniquely lethal.

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Combat Doctrine and Tactics

The Iron Warriors are defined by their mastery of siege warfare in both attack and defense. Offensively, they utilize overwhelming artillery barrages and grinding wave assaults to wear opponents down. Vindicators, Whirlwinds and Basilisks pound enemy defenses to dust as Breacher Squads and Terminators storm the gaps.

On defense, the Iron Warriors construct layered fortifications with interlocking kill-zones. Even a small Iron Warriors force can hold a position against incredible odds through the use of traps, minefields, and heavy bolter emplacements. It’s a highly mathematical approach to warfare that fits their cold, logical demeanor.

 

Beliefs and Personality

Perturabo’s calculating nature and deep-seated bitterness have molded the Iron Warriors into a highly cynical, unforgiving Legion. Dour, humorless, and harboring intense paranoia, the Iron Warriors trust only in themselves.

They pursue siege warfare not for glory, but out of a relentless drive to tear down the Imperium that they believe failed them.

While not prone to mutation like some Chaos Marines, the Iron Warriors still utilize Chaotic patrons, daemonic war engines, and warp-based technology. They’re also known to rapidly replace damaged body parts with bionics and cybernetics – the flesh is weak, after all.

This hateful, methodical, and uncompromising mindset, combined with their peerless siege abilities, make the Iron Warriors a chilling and implacable foe for the Imperium.

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Iron Warriors in the 41st Millennium

In the current Warhammer 40K setting, the Iron Warriors continue their Long War, launching devastating sieges against the Imperium from Medrengard and a network of fortified daemon worlds.

Warsmiths compete for the favor of Perturabo, enacting century-long vendettas against the Imperial Fists and other hated rivals.

Some of the Iron Warriors’ most notorious campaigns include the Iron Cage Incident, the Siege of Hydra Cordatus, and the Invasion of Ultramar.

Always, their goal remains to prove their superiority over the Imperial Fists, crush the Imperium’s defenses, and drag the galaxy into an age of iron and stone.

So the next time you see the iron mask heraldry across the tabletop, you know pain is coming. But for those of us who venerate Perturabo’s ways, is there any other way it should be? Iron Within, Iron Without!

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Notable Characters

No discussion of the Iron Warriors would be complete without mentioning some of their most iconic and infamous characters. From the brilliant but embittered Primarch Perturabo himself to the ruthless Warsmith Honsou, the Iron Warriors have no shortage of memorable warriors.

Other notable Iron Warriors include:

• Forrix: Longtime First Captain and Warsmith.
• Kroeger: Master of the Iron Warriors’ siege engines.
• Berossus: Warsmith and Chaos Dreadnought.
• Toramino: Master of the Stor-Bezashk siege masters.
• Andraaz: Warsmith of the 3rd Grand Company.

Each of these Warsmiths command thousands of Iron Warriors in their neverending quest to tear down the Imperium. Many have undertaken their own personal wars, such as Honsou’s invasion of Ultramar or Andraaz’s conquest of the Fortress World of Castellax.

Unique Units and Wargear

To enact their particular brand of siege warfare, the Iron Warriors employ a number of unique units and weapons. Many of these are Chaotic variations on Imperial staples, while others are daemonic war engines hybridized with warp-tech.

Some iconic Iron Warriors units include:

• Siege Tyrants: Terminator-armored veterans with cyclone missile launchers and Chainfists.
• Iron Havocs: Feared heavy support specialists with Reaper autocannons and lascannons.
• Warpsmiths: Dark Mechanicus engineers who build and maintain daemon engines.
• Vindicators: Heavily-armored siege tanks with massive Demolisher cannons.

In addition, Iron Warriors Warsmiths often employ a variety of Chaotic Titan variants, from the bizarre, scorpion-like Decimator to the stalk-legged Brass Scorpions of Medrengard. As an avid Chaos fan, I’ve watched my friends have great success running a spearhead of daemon engines supported by Iron Warriors artillery.

The look of despair on your opponent’s face as the Vindicators and Warpsmiths roll up is priceless!

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Modeling and Painting

For hobbyists looking to collect an Iron Warriors army, there are a variety of modeling and painting tips to keep in mind. The IVth Legion’s appearance is defined by metallic trim, industrial chevrons, and heavy weathering.

Classic Iron Warriors color schemes utilize a metallic base (such as Leadbelcher or Ironbreaker) with shining gold or brass trim. Chevrons are typically rendered in hazard yellow or orange, while details like lenses or power cables are picked out in a glowing green.

Liberal application of Typhus Corrosion, Ryza Rust, and Nuln Oil can create a wonderfully battle-worn, grimy appearance.

Some unique modeling opportunities for Iron Warriors include:

• Traitor Guardsmen: Adding traitor Guard as cultists and slaves.
• Industrial Basing: Scenic bases with concrete, girders, and dead trees.
• Servitor Conversions: Kitbashing servitors and objective markers.
• Spiky Bitz: Liberally adding Chaotic spikes and trophies.

At the end of the day, the goal is to create a force that looks cold, brutal, and relentless – exactly how the Iron Warriors wage war. I’m partial to the heavily-weathered, grimy look myself, but I’ve seen some great cleaner paint jobs using blacks and dark metallics as well. As with all things in this hobby, experimentation is key!

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Who are the Iron Warriors’ biggest rivals?

The Imperial Fists, due to their shared specialty in siege warfare and Perturabo’s bitterness toward Rogal Dorn.

What is the Iron Warriors’ combat specialty?

Siege warfare, including heavy artillery, attrition tactics, and fortification construction.

Who is the Primarch of the Iron Warriors?

Perturabo, also known as The Lord of Iron. He betrayed the Emperor to join Horus and is now a mighty Daemon Prince.

What is the Iron Warriors’ battlecry?

“Iron Within, Iron Without!” This references their inner Reserve and cold nature, and their proficiency in iron/ferrocrete fortifications.

Where do the Iron Warriors reside?

The Daemon World of Medrengard deep within the Eye of Terror Warp rift. It is a nightmarish industrialized world.

Conclusion

To sum up, the Iron Warriors are a calculating, unrelenting, and paranoid Traitor Legion defined by their expertise in siege warfare.

While their cold, brutal efficiency often sees them overshadowed by flashier Chaos Marines, underestimating Perturabo’s boys will only end in disaster – or in you being worked to death in the labor camps of Medrengard!

The Iron Warriors have been a favorite of mine for decades due to their cool aesthetic, playstyle, and the grim resolve they display. If you want to learn even more about them, be sure to check out the Warhammer 40k books Storm of Iron, Angel Exterminatus, and Siege of Castellax.

Just remember: Iron Within, Iron Without! Thanks for reading, and happy wargaming!

Looking for a more in depth view of the Iron Warriors? Check out the Wiki page!