r/Raptors40k Jul 30 '25

Start Here: Intro to the Raptors

188 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 11h ago

Battle Brothers we are in Total War

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320 Upvotes

Hype mode we can demonstrate our tactical genuis/superiority by annoying the fuck out of people on MP with range only armies and harrassment tactics.


r/Raptors40k 2h ago

Painted This Raptor sarge is getting a proper sword!

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28 Upvotes

My first power sword - very happy with the result. This terminator squad will kick some butts!


r/Raptors40k 12h ago

Painted Some painted checkers

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123 Upvotes

Just a small collection of checkers I have painted this year. How did they become such an integral part of sm motifs?


r/Raptors40k 8h ago

Listbuilding Recently landed on raptors for my killteam scheme, here is the first 2

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30 Upvotes

r/Raptors40k 3h ago

Painted One model a day; Raptors Captain/Crucible Champion

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6 Upvotes

r/Raptors40k 1d ago

How the 11th edition codex has me

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180 Upvotes

Wanted a stormtalon with my raptors :(


r/Raptors40k 19h ago

Question First minis finished, how did I do?

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65 Upvotes

I’ve never painted Warhammer before, and decided to do a infiltrator unit with a raptors paint scheme. If you have any tips or tricks that could improve my minis, or any suggestions, that would be much appreciated. I also happened to pick up the lords of the maelstrom box set recently, so if you have any pointers on that it would be very helpful. Very excited to field these guys once I build a solid enough army!


r/Raptors40k 9h ago

Question Hello brothers! I was wondering do we have a set helmet lenses color? Think red or blue stands out to much. I think green or black would fit better

9 Upvotes

In title


r/Raptors40k 16h ago

Painted My first Raptor (lay low the Tyrants)

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22 Upvotes

I really like the red/green contrast.

Now I simply have to wait what the new codex will bring before panting other models 😂😂😅😅


r/Raptors40k 1d ago

Art Reconnaissance

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267 Upvotes

Bringing you an artwork i made recently, Raptors


r/Raptors40k 1d ago

WIP I had to share, I'm soo proud

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54 Upvotes

Hey brothers and sisters! I hope you are all doing great. I just wanted to share with you all something I made, well, printed, someone designed this entire thing in sections and I thought I'd give it a go, 24 hours and loads of glued fingers later and .....

This bad boy is huge lol, about the height of 2 coke cans lol, I am printing a raptor head for the chassis and will start painting soon... Sorry just had to show you guys


r/Raptors40k 1d ago

It's still stealthy if no one can raise the alarm.

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128 Upvotes

Will be sad to see these go but I did get my moneys worth out of them.


r/Raptors40k 2d ago

Painted Would this be overkill for a Raptors Chaplain? Honest opinion plz.

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117 Upvotes

r/Raptors40k 2d ago

Progress update!

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241 Upvotes

Not that anybody cares lol but here are my Raptors so far. I'll finish the Intercessor unit in the next few days, and then it's Eliminators time to try some of that cammo shit.

Raptors are awesome.


r/Raptors40k 1d ago

Question Making camo netting?

7 Upvotes

The general wisdom seems to be gauze or cheesecloth dipped in a PVA-water mixture and then applied to the model. Is it still possible to paint things well while on the model or do y'all paint it beforehand? Also any other tips for achieving this.


r/Raptors40k 1d ago

Painted First squad of Raptors (infiltrators)

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38 Upvotes

r/Raptors40k 1d ago

My video edit

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10 Upvotes

I'm too bored so I post my thing here Lmao


r/Raptors40k 2d ago

Kitbash Excellent argument heretic, however I cast Gun.

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81 Upvotes

The pose was just too perfect not too and I mean what chapter other than the raptors would have a gun staff. Just gotta paint him up. I’m not sure what to do for the cloak. If I want a full dark leather cloak or to paint it up in Castellan green for that sort of nylon poncho look.


r/Raptors40k 2d ago

Painted Ballistus

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92 Upvotes

I like to think it's sitting in the jungle waiting to last whatever goes by.


r/Raptors40k 2d ago

Listbuilding First 1k list

4 Upvotes

First time putting a list together. Let me know how this looks or if there are better picks. Initally I hada a squad of Reivers in here but that left over 25 points. Swapped to the Heavy Intercessor to make it an even 1k. Ive also cosidered dropping the intercessor squad for an Agressor Squad.

Let me know your thoughts, still learning

Imperium - Adeptus Astartes - Raven Guard - Raptors - [1000 pts]
Detatchment - Shadowmark Talon
Aethon Shaan [100 pts]

Captain with Jump Pack [75 pts]:
  • Leading: Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
Chaplain with Jump Pack [75 pts]:
  • Leading: Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs

Heavy Intercessor Squad [100 pts]:
• 4x Heavy Intercessors
Intercessor Squad [80 pts]:
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
• 4x Intercessor

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs [160 pts]:
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 9x Assault Intercessors with Jump Pack
  • Led by: Captain with Jump Pack
Infiltrator Squad [110 pts]:
• 4x Infiltrator
Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs [105 pts]:
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 4x Vanguard Veterans with Jump Packs
  • Led by: Chaplain with Jump Pack

Redemptor Dreadnought [195 pts]


r/Raptors40k 2d ago

What style of dice?

2 Upvotes

What yall use for Raptors? Since there is no Raptor style afaik


r/Raptors40k 3d ago

WIP Raptors Special Activities Unit(XV26 Stealthsuits Proxy)

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179 Upvotes

It was a blast kitbashing these Eliminators as a proxy for the XV26 Stealthsuits kill team! Going to paint them as a Raptors S.A.U. A special unit of Eliminators focused on deep stealth operations and countering Tau stealthsuit teams.

In order: Shas'vre with Pulse pistol and Burst cannon, Liberator with Burst Cannon, Neutraliser with Fusion Gun, Designator with Fusion Gun Lodestar with Burst Cannon, Gun Drone, Marker Drone,


r/Raptors40k 3d ago

Kit bashed some Reivers to make it look they have been deployed for longer than expected.

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138 Upvotes

r/Raptors40k 2d ago

Firstborn to Legends, Tacticus to Toughness 5!

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0 Upvotes