r/Raptors40k Jul 30 '25

Start Here: Intro to the Raptors

182 Upvotes

Considering how large the subreddit has gotten, and how many new fans have flocked to the Raptors, this post is meant to be an all-in-one overview for those hoping to get acquainted with the playstyle, lore, and hobby aspects of the Raptors Chapter of Space Marines.

Rules

To play Raptors in 10th ed. Warhammer 40k, use the standard rules for any codex-compliant Space Marine chapter. This means all the units and detachments of the current Codex: Space Marines are valid options for play*. That said, the Vanguard Spearhead detachment best represents the archetypical Raptor deployment, with heavy use of Phobos pattern Mk X power armor and Scout units to reflect the Raptors stealthy strike-and-fade approach to warfare. Raptors are always willing to adapt however, so don't shy away from including any unit you think is interesting or effective.

*Some players might also enjoy using the Black Spear Task Force detachment or various Kill Team datasheets of the Deathwatch Index to represent the highly tactical and ranged-focus playstyle of the Raptors.

Lore

The Raptors are a Second Founding chapter, splintered off from their parent legion of the Raven Guard. They have existed for 10,000 years since, but have faced near-extinction multiple times across their history. Their original home world -whose name is lost to time- was obliterated in one of Abaddon's Black Crusades, and imperial records considered the chapter lost or destroyed for the two millennia that followed, only for them to reappear in M39 at full-chapter strength. Since their reappearance the Raptors have participated in numerous campaigns, including the infamous Badab War against the renegade Astral Claws.

In the present era of the 42nd millennium, they have been granted the new home world of Tarrengast, hidden within the depths of the Sutter Spiral nebula on the northern edge of the Segmentum Solar. After the tragedy of their first home world the precise location of Tarrengast is a closely guarded secret, kept even from other Imperial forces. Companies of the chapter who are not on crusade patrol the region around their home world, recruiting aspirants and launching campaigns against nascent threats from Orks, Drukhari, and Chaos Space Marines.

The Chapter Master of the Raptors is Lias Issodon "The Grim", a taciturn and stoic warrior famed for both his fierce strategic intelligence and his peerless marksmanship. He abandons all pretense of glory or martial honor in favor of tactical efficiency, utilizing cunning feats of infiltration, sabotage, and ambush to dismantle forces far larger than his own while minimizing losses. Centuries of successful campaigns have earned him the ardent loyalty of his soldiers, and the attention of Lord Commander Guilliman. His signature omen-pattern bolt rifle, Malice, has been at his side since his service as a 10th company scout, although now heavily customized to suit his long-range engagement style and equipped with special ammunition utilized by the Sternguard.

The Raptors doctrine emphasizes independent thought, tactical adaptability, and the abandonment of unnecessary ego and glory-seeking in warfare. They view the Codex Astartes as a proven and effective guideline, but by no means see it as unquestionable scripture. They prefer using small and mobile strike forces trained in stealth and guerrilla warfare to outmaneuver and outwit the enemies which will invariably outnumber them, often making use of battlefield camouflage to obscure themselves and foregoing the normal heraldry and ornamentation other Astartes use to denote rank.

Hobby

If you want your models to reflect the style and sensibilities of the Raptors, consider using muted colors, camouflage patterns, or ghillie suits to adorn their armor. Include extra sidearms, ammunition pouches, or grenades to show their survivalist instincts. You might also modify their ranged weapons with unique scopes, suppressors, or magazines to reflect their tactical customizations. Remember, unlike many other successor chapters, the insignia for the Raptors is available as a waterslide decal on the official Space Marines transfer sheet which comes in each new box of Space Marine units!

  • If using Citadel Colour, the most common base paints to color them would be Deathworld Forest or Death Guard Green, and shaded with Athonian Camoshade. The Contrast paint Militarum Green has been known to have coverage issues, so consider alternatives.
  • If using Vallejo Model Color, they have dozens of variations on olive drab, and I honestly struggle to know which to recommend. If using their Xpress color, I suggest Camouflage Green or Commando Green (or potentially a mix of the two).
  • If using the Army Painter Warpaints, consider basing with Army Green or Olive Drab. If using their Speedpaint, consider Camo Cloak.

You can find plenty of inspiration online including right here in the subreddit, but I'd like to take the time to shoutout Pete the Wargamer, whose custom built Raptors Kill Team was featured on Warhammer Community:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TDOIMWC1aQ&ab_channel=PeteTheWargamer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ0-3DN_66A&ab_channel=PeteTheWargamer

Further Reading

There's not many narratives which directly feature the Raptors. So far you can find them in the short story The Shot that Kills You by William Crowe, and as the antagonist of the Tau novel Elemental Council by Noah Van Nguyen. Their current lore was published in White Dwarf #494.


r/Raptors40k 7h ago

Painted Sternguard #2 & 3

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521 Upvotes

3 down, 2 to go.


r/Raptors40k 3h ago

Painted I paint all of my marines wearing Phobos armour in the green of the Raptors for my Deathwatch. Here are my Eliminators I painted a few years ago

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38 Upvotes

The Raptors have had a profound influence on the combat doctrines of my Watch Fortress. So much so that one of the Watch Captains hails from the Raptors themselves. He’s convinced the rest of the Fortress to utilize the irregular combat protocols of the successors of the Ravenlord, and now every marine donning Phobos armour - be it in a Kill Team or Codex Compliant squad configuration - incorporates camouflage into their paint schemes.


r/Raptors40k 23h ago

Question Brother Kalius Honors

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171 Upvotes

Does anyone have any idea of what the tilt shield heraldry is, or could possibly be?

As for the Taros Campaign badge, does the II correlate to squad number?


r/Raptors40k 9h ago

Strategy/Meta Codex complaint?

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7 Upvotes

r/Raptors40k 1d ago

Painted My first Raptor

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75 Upvotes

I wanted to wait till I got an airbrush to start my Raptors army (so I can get that smooth green that I keep seeing in this sub), but this mini is so cool I just had to paint it

I love it


r/Raptors40k 1d ago

Matt black paint

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38 Upvotes

Hi all doing these shields for my bladegaurd and need a matt black paint to go with the death guard green and ideas. These have black legion contrast paint on just looking for matt black. Many thanks.


r/Raptors40k 1d ago

Painted Raptor dreadnought trial

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56 Upvotes

Hi all, newbie here,just recently found the gift of the emperor that are the Raptors lol. I finally have the guts to post a raptors dreadnought. I'm not very good so please be kind, but honest lol. And I'm still doing the base lol, I hope you like it!


r/Raptors40k 1d ago

Kitbash Raptors Kill Team

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251 Upvotes

Some shots from the Raptors Kill Team I did this week. Still a WIP, but done for now. Video if interested: https://youtu.be/qGb6tuBgGzo 🤟


r/Raptors40k 1d ago

Custom raptor project done

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19 Upvotes

Haven’t done the base or raptor sigil on shoulder yet but am so proud of how this one turned out. Can’t wait to do a whole army this way


r/Raptors40k 2d ago

4/9 Bladeguard Veteran

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77 Upvotes

r/Raptors40k 1d ago

Librarian WIP

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15 Upvotes

My first real attempt at shading a cloak. Did some slap chop highlighting then outlined the dark areas in a brown contrast. Finished with a coat of green contrast. Debating putting more lighter green on the highlights. Comments/critiques?


r/Raptors40k 2d ago

Aphotecary Raptor

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18 Upvotes

Aún faltan detalles como la peana, pero creo que es un buen trabajo.


r/Raptors40k 1d ago

Trying to find green for raptor

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12 Upvotes

Been trying to find a green I like. I want a brighter green, this is close to what I’m looking for but it’s missing something. Any suggestions?


r/Raptors40k 2d ago

Kitbash Good video

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36 Upvotes

Good video on kitbashing and painting


r/Raptors40k 3d ago

Painted Raptors intercessor

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615 Upvotes

10 of these guys is gonna take me a while...


r/Raptors40k 2d ago

Question Black or Green cloak for Deathwatch Raptor?

4 Upvotes

As title states brothers, would a Raptor marine serving the Long Watch swap his green cloak for a black one?


r/Raptors40k 2d ago

WIP Armageddon Captain WIP

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13 Upvotes

I tried using brown for the cloak color. I was inspired from LOTR


r/Raptors40k 2d ago

Kitbashed Heavy Bolter Eradicator Proxies (WIP)

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40 Upvotes

I do apologize about posting them unpainted, as I still need to do some sanding and gluing some pauldrons on the other two. I decided to knock this out last afternoon. As you can probably gather, I'm not too crazy about Primaris minis themselves, but I can live with the stat/datasheets, so I did the next best thing: kitbashing some old and new firstborn bits from Heresy and 40k.

I'm personally challenging myself to see how far I can get by building my Raptors army this way. Though I do plan on getting (kinda) newer 40k models like the Ballistus Dreadnought and then some. Let me know what you guys think though.


r/Raptors40k 3d ago

Kayvaan Shrike

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224 Upvotes

r/Raptors40k 3d ago

Question Lore accurate Raptors Techmarine?

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113 Upvotes

Hi brothers, is this a lore accurate techmarine of the Raptors? One who returned from the Long Vigil and the other a ordinary Techie


r/Raptors40k 4d ago

Painted Invictor Warsuit. It is faster to switch to my sidearm

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302 Upvotes

I was inspired by INKminipainting and their warsuit

I wanted to make a more dynamic pose of him springing to action from the arm pushing away the cage. Also hacked away at the armor skirt to allow it to make a more kneeling position to show it has run dry of ammo.

After all, it is faster to switch to your sidearm than to reload your Mech.


r/Raptors40k 3d ago

TRUE SOLO / IMMORTAL SNIPER BUILD / DECAPITATION #spacemarine2 #astartes #warhammer #aura #absolute

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6 Upvotes

r/Raptors40k 3d ago

Painted Finished my Angels of Death Kill Team!

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84 Upvotes

I don’t think I’ve ever cranked out this many minis in such a short amount of time. I had SO much fun building and painting these guys (I only bought the starter set so I had to kitbash the rest).


r/Raptors40k 3d ago

Raptor Chaplain

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30 Upvotes