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Warhammer 40K: Loyalist Primarchs – The Lion, The Wolf, or The Angel

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Jul 13 2022
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If a Loyalist Primarch was to return it’s gotta be one from the “Big Three” Chapters. Who’s it going to be: The Lion, The Wolf, or The Angel?

It’s clear that after yesterday’s article about which we’re more likely to see first Fulgrim or a Loyalist, y’all had some opinions. Today, we’re going to go a different route and expand on which Loyalist Primarch is likely to come back first. Now, we’ve already done a check-in to determine what the current state is for all the Loyalists. It’s not pretty. That said, we’re going to get into the details of why we think it’s going to be a Primarch from one of the “Big Three” chapters: Dark Angels, Space Wolves, or Blood Angels.

Why The Big Three?

We’re going to tackle a question I’m sure many of you have right off the bat: Why one from the Big Three and not the Salamanders or White Scars. Well, it’s a matter of Codexes and Army Lists. From a product standpoint, those three armies have been more “unique” and have had codexes in multiple editions. Plus they each have unique units in their armies and model ranges.

It would make sense that GW would line up a Primarch’s return with a new Codex release. So, until we see a full blown Codex: Salamanders with unique Salamander’s units (which, yeah, that would be awesome) we’re sticking with the Big Three.

Lion El’Jonson

As much as it pains me to say it, of the Big Three, the Lion probably has the best chance of returning. Why? Well, it’s all because he’s the only Primarch with a living body in a “known” location. Well, kinda…

We’ve seen versions of this Final Secret floating around for YEARS. Lion El’Jonson just needs his alarm clock to buzz so he can return to lead the Dark Angels once again. This would create some interesting dynamics between the two Loyalist Primarchs. The Lion has always been pragmatic and methodical. How would he react to seeing the state of the Imperium much less the state of the Galaxy right now. If he ever shows back up we’ll probably find out!

Leman Russ

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Leman Russ is another good option because he’s “just missing” currently. He left on a personal crusade with his personal retinue into the Eye of Terror. Now, normally that should be a death sentence but this is Russ we’re talking about. He also said he’d return for the Wolf Time. Also, it’s hinted that he’s alive and Magnus knows his location.

This is another good reason he could come back. His personal vendetta against Magnus (who has a model in 40k) is a cool narrative reason for him to show back up. Plus imagine the Diorama we could get of the two of them doing a 40k stand-off! Would Russ have been changed by his time in the Eye of Terror? Would maybe when the Great Rift tore open the Galaxy he and his retinue were expelled as well.

Look, the writers at GW and the Black Library could come up with any number of reasons and they would all make sense. Is it the End Times/Wolf Time? I don’t know! But it would be pretty epic!

Sanguinius

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Sanguinius is dead. However, we’ve got a body. And it’s in a known location. We’ve also got an Aeldari lady running around with the power to bring souls back. Furthermore, the Blood Angels are basically Space Vampires, right? How to Vampires work again? Yeah, feed him some fresh blood and let’s do this! Speaking of blood. Who’s back with a fancy new model in the Horus Heresy?

Ka’bandha. And who “saved” Baal from a Tyranid invasion? Also Ka’bandha. Perhaps the Daemon of Khorne’s pride is so great that he wants to beat the Blood Angels Primarch and he’s willing to “wake him up” himself.

There’s also the Sanguinor who shows up to aid the Blood Angels. Some think he’s a Psychic Manifestation of Sanguinius. Or maybe some part of him. But what if the Sanguinor is the key to reviving their Primarch. Who knows?! But once again, the writers at GW and work something up that’s totally plausible. The dead don’t have to stay down in the Grimdark afterall…

 

What do you think about the Big Three Primarchs? Which one would you like to see return first?

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Author: Adam Harrison
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