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40k: Should Grey Knights Get Primaris Marines?

3 Minute Read
Aug 3 2017
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The Grey Knights and some others cannot use Primaris marines – but how much longer will that last?

Primaris Marines are GW’s new golden boys – the Stormcast Eternals of the Grimdark.

But guess who can’t take Primaris units:

  • Grey Knights
  • Death Watch (well, they can now post FAQ)

We’re going to find out next week if GW has any surprises in store for us from the boys from Titan.

Why No GK Primaris?

GW so far is drawing a clear line between the use of Primaris marines by the non-standard chapters. Even really divergent ones like the Blood Angels and Space Wolves can access Intercessors, Hellblasters and their brethren. But these chapters are still fundamentally classic space marines. They have chapters, they wield bolters – they use generic marine vehicles, they kill generic bad-guys.

It’s easy to just give these chapters the Primaris Marines as they are just better marines.

But Grey Knights are fundamentally different. They are ALL psykers. They use different equipment, have very different rules and specialized vehicles like the Dreadknight.  More importantly, they are super-dooper secret and have a secret purpose of fighting Chaos. Adding in the standard Primaris units would go against the theme of the Grey Knight list and pull them closer to a standard marine list.

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Why Should There Be GK Primaris?

But on the other hand, while I think the specific Primaris units we’ve seen so far should not be given to Grey Knights, the concept of Primaris Grey Knights could be explored. If GW were to make some new Primaris models in Grey Knight armor, and have new datasheets for specific units with Grey Knight equipment and Primaris stats – I don’t see anything wrong with that.

If Guilliman and Cawl knocked on the Grey Knight’s door on Titan with a set of 100 psychic Primaris aspirants in stasis vaults – would the Grand Masters turn them away?  I have a feeling they would keep them, and come up with some new ways of smiting Chaos with their 2-wound charges.

I wouldn’t dream of visiting Titan…

The Final Excuse

GW was asked on their FB page about Grey Knight Primaris marines and said there were not enough psykers in the Primaris aspirants to make them useful to the GKs.  This is odd as they already make a Primaris librarian model.  Let’s be honest – it’s a thin excuse and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them show up one way or the other in time.

The Dark Whisper…

Of course all of this is academic to the real question.  As of now no Primaris marine has fallen to the honeyed whispers of Chaos.  I have a funny feeling that will change in time…

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~What’s your opinion on Primaris units in the Grey Knights (or CSMs)?

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Author: Larry Vela
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