If the armor is the shield of the Legiones Astartes, then their weapons are the hammer. The panoply of the Legions is broad — plasma, volkite, melta, and esoteric devices too rare to be common issue. Yet wherever the Great Crusade marched, one weapon above all others became the defining symbol of the Astartes: the bolter. What follows is an overview of the most common arms carried by the warriors of the 813th and their brother Legions, blending the cold mathematics of battlefield efficiency with the mystique of weapons forged for demigods.
Firearms
Bolter
Stats: 6d6+6, SA/BF/AF15, Range: Medium, Ammo 30
The primary firearm of the Legions and perhaps the most infamous weapon of the Great Crusade. Brutal in effect yet simple in function, it is carried into battle by millions of warriors across hundreds of worlds.
Capable of semi-automatic, burst, and full-automatic fire, the bolter integrates seamlessly with a suit’s autosenses for perfect aim and recoil management. Power armored Astartes can fire the bolter using only one hand, but suffer Disadvantage when doing so.
An Astartes typically carries 8–10 spare magazines, with specialist rounds available as needed.
Bolt Pistol
Stats: 5d6+5, SA/BF, Range: Short, Ammo 12
Sharing ammunition with the bolter but relying on a less powerful accelerator, the bolt pistol sacrifices range and penetration for compactness.
Though lacking full auto, most designs can burst fire. Every Astartes carries one as a sidearm, with 2 spare clips being standard. In melee assaults, the classic combination of pistol and chainsword is a terror to behold.
Heavy Bolter
Stats: 8d6+8, BF5/AF20, Range: Long, Ammo 60 (box) / 200 (drum)
A scaled-up bolter firing heavier shells. Ammunition is not interchangeable with the standard bolter. Typically placed on bipods/tripods or pintle mounts, or fired from the hip by Astartes, it lays down sustained fire against infantry, light vehicles, and entrenched foes.
Ammunition Types
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Standard: Armor-piercing high-explosive. Effective against almost anything short of heavy armor. On overpenetration ≥10, reduce DR by 20 as the round detonates inside the target.
- Example: Bolter vs traitor Auxilia (entirely hypothetical), aimed single action, solid hit, 6d6+6+2d6 = 35 total damage. The Auxilia has PT 20/DR30, meaning effective DR is only 10. The round overpenetrates, detonating deep inside flesh. Damage is reduced by 3 to 32, but only 20 points of damage is enough to instantly kill the target, so 32 results in a spray of flesh, bone, and blood.
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Kraken Penetrators (PT -5): Improved penetration, reduced explosive payload. Overpenetration only reduces DR by 10.
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Fenris-Pattern Penetrators: Rare, fashioned from the diamond-hard teeth of the Fenrisian Kraken. PT -7, otherwise identical to standard Krakens.
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Metal Storm: Proximity-fused frag rounds. Burst = frag grenade, autofire = two grenades’ worth. Range is the only real advantage over simply throwing grenades.
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Inferno: Incendiary warheads. Single shots ignite, bursts and autofire immolate areas. Issued only when fire tactics are deliberate or against vulnerable foes.
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Other Specialist Types: Exist in limited issue, but are rare and not part of standard loadouts.
Melee Weapons
Chainsword
Stats: 4d6+ST, Melee, DR -10
A roaring chain of adamant teeth designed to tear through flesh and armor alike. Only moderately effective against heavy plate, but once it bites, it grinds mercilessly.
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Special: Artificer Chainsword of Brother Tyndarios — tipped with adamantine shards said to come from Armageddon's shattered walls. PT -3 and DR -10.
Combat Knife
Stats: 2d6+ST, Melee – Close
Astartes combat knives are forged of ultra-hard alloys, their shapes varying by Legion and tradition. To mortals, they are short swords; to the Astartes, they are simply knives. Used in ritual, duel, and war.
Unarmed Combat
Stats: 1d6+ST, Melee – Close
The armored fist of an Astartes is a weapon in itself. By taking Disadvantage, damage increases by +1d6, representing brutal kicks, headbutts, and body slams.
Grenades
Compact, long-ranged, and integrated with power armor systems, Astartes grenades are standard issue. Marines typically carry 4 frag, 2 krak, and 2 smoke.
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Frag: Anti-personnel, specifically designed not to penetrate power armor.
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Krak: Anti-armor, effective vs vehicles and power-armored foes. Requires a direct hit.
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Smoke: Useful against mortals, but largely ignored by auto-senses.
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Blind: Advanced smoke. Effective even against autosenses. Astartes dislike using them.
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Plasma (special issue): High-tech anti-personnel grenades.
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Melta (special issue): Compact anti-armor warheads.
Grenade launchers exist, sometimes as bolter attachments, but are uncommon. The throwing arm of an Astartes is often more accurate and tactically flexible. A launcher has a somewhat longer range, but Astartes in PA can throw a grenade quite far.
Conclusion
The weaponry of the Astartes embodies the same philosophy as their armor: overkill, reliability, and terror. Every bolt shell is a micro-missile, every chainsword a sawmill in miniature. To face an Astartes in battle is to confront not just a warrior, but an arsenal of humanity’s most efficient killing tools.
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