Death Guard

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Death Guard (死亡守卫)
Alias(es)	Fourteenth Legion; formerly the Dusk Raiders 41 42
Species/Race	Primarily Space Marines, supported in operations by mortal Auxilia forces 541
Affiliation	Imperium of Man
Occupation/Role	Space Marine Legion; anti-Psyker and anti-xenos military force
Status	Active; its warriors continue fighting despite repeated battlefield deaths during the conflict with Star God fragments 897
First Appearance	Chapter 1 (mentioned) 1

Background / History

Mortarion assumed command of the Fourteenth Legion after escaping the rule of his alien foster father and leading Barbarus's human resistance. Following the liberation of Barbarus, its people gained the right to join the Legion, which became known as the Death Guard. 1

After taking command, Mortarion reorganized the Legion and sought to replace its older blood with recruits loyal to him, particularly warriors drawn from Barbarus. The pre-existing Terran veterans retained prominent commands within the new structure. 41 42

The Death Guard's first major campaign was the conquest of Ghalaspar. Mortarion chose a direct strike against the central hive of Protacos, intending to destroy the system's authoritarian command structure by killing its supreme ruler. The Legion then occupied the system and began recruitment, reconstruction, and the establishment of its own mortal Auxilia. 128 130 225

After returning to Barbarus, the Legion exterminated the Alien Lords who had served as conduits for Nurgle's influence. It subsequently expanded recruitment from its homeworld; 1,377 recruits successfully underwent conversion into Death Guard. 138 150

Organization

Mortarion initially divided the reorganized Legion into seven Grand Companies, designating the First, Second, and Seventh as special formations. 41

Formation	Commander	Notes
First Grand Company	Chief Centurion Barasyn	Its commander was a Terran veteran. 41
Second Grand Company	Commander Typhus	Its commander was a Terran veteran. 41
Seventh Grand Company	Battle Leader Garo	Its commander was a Terran veteran. 41
Deathshroud	—	Silent scythe-wielding warriors who stand beside Mortarion and engage elite enemies in close combat. 91 132
Mortal Auxilia	—	Human forces recruited from worlds including Ghalaspar and Barbarus; Hadeshound units specialize in infiltration and demolition. 225 541

Appearance

The Death Guard are identified by heavy white-and-green or bone-white power armor, scythes, bolters, and an intentionally austere presentation. Their Legion badge is a skull surrounded by six protruding spikes. 39 120 143

• Armor damage, including bullet holes and blade marks, is commonly left unrepaired when it does not impair function; these scars are treated as marks of honor. 143
• Their warriors move and fight with conspicuous silence, often communicating through gestures and sign language rather than speech. 120 897
• The Legion's visual identity emphasizes scythes, toxic mist, heavy armor, and the Six-Ringed Thorn Skull emblem. 39 336
• Death Guard Terminators are used to hold narrow corridors and absorb enemy fire during boarding actions. 541

Culture

The Death Guard values resilience, discipline, silence, and the ability to endure environments that would kill ordinary soldiers. Mortarion's recruitment trials on Barbarus required candidates to climb poison-filled mountains, as he considered survival in hostile nature a prerequisite for becoming Death Guard. 140 143

Their Legion culture treats warriors as weapons shaped by continual war. A Ghalasparan recruit describes old memories gradually fading after transformation, while Barbarus-born Legionaries retain more of their attachment to their homeworld. 271

Hades later introduced the Death Guard Guide, a Legion pamphlet supervised by Mortarion. It explained the Legion's purpose, encouraged individual development, and established leisure and professional training courses, including environmental governance, social management, pharmacology, biology, toxicology, and toxin disposal. 271 272

• The Legion's official doctrine calls for the destruction of Psykers and xenos, while explicitly forbidding discrimination against its own Librarians. 271
• Duel Cages are among the Legion's most popular leisure facilities and had to be expanded three times due to demand. 271
• Death Guard may keep personal possessions, though many disregard the privilege and retain only trophies or standard-issue equipment. 271
• Mortarion supports recruits bringing mementos from Barbarus, while personally collecting trophies from major battles. 149

Warfare & Capabilities

Toxic-Environment Warfare

The Death Guard are trained to operate in poisonous atmospheres and hazardous terrain. Before Ghalaspar, ten thousand Legionaries drilled in a simulation chamber filled with chemical gas matching the target world's environment. 120

• Their rapid infantry formations can advance through toxic gas without breaking cohesion or verbal coordination. 120
• Their Barbarus-born veterans were already experienced in fighting the world's poisonous wildlife before receiving augmentation and power armor. 138
• Poisonous environments remain dangerous even to the Legion; the ascent of Sky-Piercing Mountain forced most of Mortarion's force to retreat under extreme toxicity. 32

Heavy Infantry Assault

Mortarion favors infantry over extensive armored vehicle or transport deployment, making heavy infantry warfare central to the Legion's identity. 46

• The Death Guard advances in durable, anvil-like battle lines while retaining a reputation for rapid marching. 120
• Front-line warriors engage in close combat with scythes, while rear echelons use missile launchers and fire to clear obstacles and destroy incapacitated Psykers. 288
• Terminator-armored formations block boarding corridors with their bodies, trading mobility for the ability to face concentrated enemy fire. 541
• Their line discipline prevents isolated pursuit: even while moving quickly, squads maintain formation cohesion. 288

Anti-Psyker Warfare

The Legion employs Untouchables, Blackstone technology, specialized grenades, and dedicated tactics against Psykers and Warp entities. 138 282

• Black Grenades use Blank ashes and Blackstone particles to reinforce the local Warp barrier after detonation. 282
• White Grenades use Psyker ashes to weaken the barrier around a Psyker, forcing a surge of Warp energy that can cause the target to self-destruct. 282
• White Grenades are dangerous and may backfire; they are issued only in small numbers to warriors knowledgeable about psychic phenomena. 282
• Untouchables can suppress the psychic strength of Barbarus's Alien Lords, though sufficiently powerful Warp forces can still overwhelm weaker Untouchables. 138
• The Legion also uses Blackstone Obelisks to diminish Nurgle-tainted toxicity and psychic influence in controlled areas. 142

Resurgence Through Death

During the battle on a planet-sized altar against Star God fragments, fallen Death Guard repeatedly returned to the fight. Ash re-entered gaps in their armor, allowing apparently slain warriors to rise again and rejoin their formations. 897

• Resurrected warriors are assisted back to their feet by advancing comrades. 897
• This phenomenon is shown amid blessings from Mortarion and the High Heavens; it is not presented as an ordinary battlefield capability. 897

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Scythes and chain scythes — the Legion's defining melee weapons, used alongside bolters in close infantry assaults. 143 288
• Power armor — commonly retained with functional battle scars rather than polished or fully repaired for appearance. 143
• Wraith Scythe of Calamity — awarded after arduous campaigns to warriors selected for exceptional resilience; wrapped in toxin-soaked cloth until used in extreme battles. 199
• Modified Wraith daggers — alien-modified blades distributed to Auxilia closely associated with the Legion. 199
• Black Grenade — anti-Warp grenade made from Blank ashes and Blackstone particles. 282
• White Grenade — anti-Psyker weapon designed to overload a target with Warp energy. 282
• Ghostfire — corrosive flamethrower noted as especially effective against Psykers. 281
• Deathcrawler — improved super-heavy tank with increased firepower, armor, and toxic ammunition. 281
• Blackstone Obelisks — xenos-derived devices used to suppress psychic contamination and reduce toxic atmospheric effects. 142

Relationships

• Mortarion — Primarch and Legion Commander; reorganized the Legion, defines its emphasis on resilience, and leads its major campaigns. 41 140
• Hades — Commander of the Death Guard and architect of its educational reforms, anti-Psyker technology, recruitment plans, and long-term reconstruction policy. 271 282
• Garo — Battle Leader of the Seventh Grand Company; leads combat training and commanded the Death Guard assault aboard the Vengeful Spirit. 41 281 541
• Vokes — Death Guard officer involved in fleet coordination, administrative work, and later expansion of the Legion's power and technology. 275 627
• Adeptus Mechanicus — technical partner in Barbarus and Ghalaspar's reconstruction, industrial development, and Blackstone-related research. 150 229
• Mortal Auxilia / Hadeshounds — closely linked human support forces used for infiltration, demolition, and occupation duties; selected Auxilia receive modified Wraith daggers. 199 541
• Iron Warriors — temporary battlefield allies during the Necron campaign, with the Death Guard providing close-combat infantry support after the Iron Warriors secured landing zones. 165 166
• Ultramarines — allies in operations against psychic threats, though their soldiers struggle to adapt to the Death Guard's silence, toxins, and uncompromising tactics. 288 290

Major Operations

Operation	Death Guard role	Outcome
Liberation of Barbarus	Mortarion led Barbarus's resistance against alien oppression; the Legion later purged the remaining Alien Lords and their Nurgle-tainted influence. 1 138	Barbarus was liberated and became the Legion's principal recruitment world. 1 150
Ghalaspar Campaign	Mortarion ordered a direct assault on Protacos, the central hive, to decapitate the Knights' command structure. 128 130	The system fell after its supreme ruler was removed; the Death Guard began reconstruction, recruitment, and Auxilia formation. 131 225
Necron Campaign in System 106	The Legion deployed alongside the Iron Warriors, with Hades leading the first wave in close combat against Necron infantry. 165 166	Captured Necron weaponry was later tested and incorporated into Death Guard traditions and Auxilia armament. 199
Ibsen Obelisk Operation	The Death Guard targeted Aeldari psychic obelisks on the ice world of Ibsen, using armored support, Stormbirds, anti-Psyker weapons, and close-combat formations. 336	Legion forces reached and assaulted the Obelisk positions despite Aeldari resistance. 336
Abusdu Purge	The Legion conducted rapid line advances against Psykers, using mobile fire support, flame weapons, grenades, and scythe assaults. 288	Abusdu was abandoned for Exterminatus after surviving Historians and Recorders were found psychically corrupted. 290
Boarding of the Vengeful Spirit	Garo's Seventh Company and supporting Death Guard forces boarded Horus's flagship to locate Mortarion or destroy enemy equipment. 541	The force penetrated deep into the vessel while suffering heavy casualties and confronting the Sons of Horus First Company. 541
Battle against Star God Fragments	The Legion fought on a planet-sized altar to prevent fragments from merging, using scythes, prepared psychic missiles, and repeated resurgence from death. 897	The Death Guard continued holding the line as three enormous fragments descended toward the battlefield. 897