Which Primarchs are Still Loyal in Warhammer 40k?

For ten thousand years, the fate of the Loyalist Primarchs has been one of the greatest mysteries in Warhammer 40,000. With Roboute Guilliman‘s return, many fans wonder if other loyalist demigod-brothers might reappear to defend the Imperium once more.

Who Were the Space Marine Primarchs?

The 20 Primarchs were created by the Emperor to be His superhuman generals and statesmen, made to lead the Space Marine Legions in conquering the galaxy during the Great Crusade. Each Primarch was a larger-than-life figure, engineered to be the perfect military leader and embodiment of their Legion.

As quoted in the Codex: Space Marines, "It is hard to overstate the majesty of the Primarchs. These finest sons of the Emperor of Mankind were brothers, generals and comrades-in-arms beyond compare."

The Primarchs and their Legions brought thousands of human worlds into Imperial Compliance through diplomacy or conquest. But this golden age ended with half the Primarchs betraying the Emperor during the Horus Heresy.

The Loyalists and Traitors After the Heresy

After 9 Primarchs turned traitor and shattered their Legions, it fell to the 9 Loyalists to rebuild and defend the Imperium. Most gave their lives fighting their traitorous brethren or disappeared under mysterious circumstances:

The Loyalists

• Roboute Guilliman – Only surviving loyalist, revived from stasis to lead the Imperium again
• Lion El‘Jonson – Sleeping deep within the Dark Angels‘ spacecraft The Rock
• Leman Russ – Vanished fighting in Eye of Terror after Horus‘ defeat
• Rogal Dorn – Disappeared aboard a Black Crusade ship
• Vulkan – Disappeared but left clues he may return
• Corax – Disappeared into Eye of Terror after rebuilding Raven Guard
• Jaghatai Khan – Disappeared chasing Dark Eldar into the webway
• Ferrus Manus – Killed by Fulgrim at Drop Site Massacre on Isstvan V
• Sanguinius – Slain by Horus aboard Vengeful Spirit

The Traitors

• Horus – Destroyed by Emperor aboard his flagship Vengeful Spirit
• Fulgrim – Ascended to become a Daemon Prince
• Perturabo – Ascended to Daemon Prince, rules his Legion as a daemon world
• Konrad Curze – Assassinated by Callidus Temple operative M‘Shen
• Angron – Banished in failed assault, rose to Daemon Prince of Khorne
• Magnus the Red – Ascended to become Daemon Prince of Tzeentch
• Mortarion – Ascended to Daemon Prince of Nurgle
• Lorgar – First to turn traitor, meditates as Daemon Prince
• Alpharius Omegon – One or both twins slain by Roboute Guilliman

With Chaos, mutation, or assassination claiming most traitors, only 3 loyalists have a chance of still living. The return of Roboute Guilliman in 40k‘s "present" raises hopes more brothers may yet fight for the Imperium.

Roboute Guilliman, the Avenging Son

After 10,000 years in stasis, Roboute Guilliman miraculously revived to lead the Imperium once more. Though the Ultramarines primarch was sorely wounded defeating Fulgrim, his body was preserved by his sons on Macragge.

In M42, the arrival of the Great Rift finally awakened Guilliman. He wasted no time beginning the Indomitus Crusade to reclaim worlds lost in the Noctis Aeterna:

"Wherever the crusade met its foes, Guilliman was granted an immediate and resounding victory. World after world was retaken, either into the Imperial fold or wiped clean of life to deny its resources to the Archenemy." – Codex Supplement: Ultramarines

As a statesman, Guilliman has stabilized leadership and works to gradually reform the stagnant Imperium. Though he faces opposition, his superhuman leadership provides a spark of hope to rally around.

Lion El‘Jonson, the Lion

Lion El‘Jonson led the Dark Angels Legion as a fierce, laconic general who valued loyalty and duty above all else. Some, like Leman Russ, saw his secrecy as suspicion, unaware of the Lion‘s troubled upbringing. But none could deny his prowess as one of the greatest strategists among the Primarchs.

During the Thramas Crusade against the Night Lords, the Lion bested his brother Curze through cunning tactics:

"The Lion‘s final, bloody victory over his errant brother vindicated his patient, subtle strategy, and successfully halted the Night Lords‘ campaign of terror." – Codex: Dark Angels

After confronting Luther‘s betrayal following the Heresy, the Lion was struck down, only to mysteriously vanish from recorded history. Only the Supreme Grand Masters of the Dark Angels know that El‘Jonson rests deep within the Rock, healing to return when needed:

"One day the Lion will wake up. And when he does, there will be nothing but vengeance and wrath"

With secrets none outside the Chapter know, the Lion‘s return could have profound consequences on the political balance of the Imperium.

Leman Russ, the Wolf King

Though Leman Russ clashed with certain brothers, none could match the Space Wolves Primarch for raw martial prowess. Russ defeated Lion El‘Jonson in a legendary duel and fought Angron to a standstill. His cunning stratagems complemented his fierce strength in battle.

After the Siege of Terra, Leman Russ led his Legion against the Traitor forces but was reluctant to execute his brothers. When the Space Wolves cornered the shattered Thousand Sons, Russ could not kill Magnus and vanished without a trace:

"What happened next is not recorded, for Russ disappeared, his final act to order his Legion away from the Warmaster‘s forces massing at Ullanor and onward to Yarant" – Codex Supplement: Space Wolves

The Space Wolves believe Russ will return to lead them again during the final battle for mankind, the prophesied Wolf Time. Until then, they continue their vigil, fighting as the Emperor‘s executioners.

Rogal Dorn, the Praetorian

Rogal Dorn was the steadfast Praetorian of Terra and Master of the Imperial Fists, "the keystone that held the many warring factions of the Imperium together" (Warhammer Community). Though less charismatic than brothers like Sanguinius, Dorn‘s resolve and loyalty never faltered, even as he witnessed the Heresy unfold.

Dorn oversaw the defenses of Terra and led a defiant last stand with his Legion aboard the traitor ship Sword of Sacrilege:

"Following his disappearance, the Imperial Fists returned to Terra to find that Dorn‘s name had been inscribed in memoriam upon the roll of Imperial Saints within the Imperial Palace." (Warhammer Community)

Successor chapters, especially the Black Templars, zealously follow Dorn‘s example of unwavering duty and sacrifice. The Praetorian‘s legacy continues to steel the Imperium against darkness.

Vulkan, the Lord of Drakes

Vulkan was the largest, strongest primarch in sheer power, but also the most compassionate. He believed coexistence with normal humans an essential part of the Great Crusade‘s mission, not just conquest. His Legion reflected Vulkan‘s smithing skill and preference for melting flames and overwhelming force on the battlefield.

After Curze‘s assassination, Vulkan disappeared. But he left clues to nine artifacts meant to guide mankind in their darkest hour, the so-called Talismans of Vulkan:

"It is further speculated by some sources that Vulkan left the artefacts behind intentionally, so that they might be found at the time of the Imperium‘s greatest need." (Warhammer 40k Wiki)

If the Lord of Drakes returned, he would add both compassion to balance Guilliman‘s cold reason and perhaps the greatest living Primarch combatant to confront the forces of Chaos.

Corax, the Deliverer

Corax prized justice and railed against the oppression of tyrants, shaped by his youth overthrowing slavers on Lycaeus. Leading the Raven Guard, Corax pioneered guerrilla tactics to free planets through asymmetric warfare rather than decimate them.

After the Drop Site Massacre decimated his Legion, Corax rebuilt the Raven Guard using accelerated gene-tech and even questionable daemonic enhancement. He vanished into the Eye of Terror to find a way to undo his unwise experiments:

"Nevermore would Corax and his sons be tainted by the warp- thing they had destroyed. The primarch had vowed that by his hand and his hand alone would their curse be lifted" – Deliverance Lost

Though Corax despised being a living weapon and hated what the Legions became in service to the Emperor, if he found redemption, Corax could return as a powerful counter to Chaos and the archenemy.

Jaghatai Khan, the Warhawk

Jaghatai Khan was an enigmatic nomad-king, more comfortable with his Legion‘s outriders than in the Imperium‘s halls of power. His hit-and-run tactics maximized the White Scars‘ mobility to expand the Imperium‘s borders.

After the Heresy, Jaghatai led the Scars to destroy another traitor Legion and avenge the Emperor but refused to settle down to rule worlds. Instead, he pursued Dark Eldar reavers into the webway and disappeared:

"Never again did the Khan or any of his warriors return to the material universe from the labyrinth dimension of the webway" (Warhammer 40k Wiki)

If Jaghatai ever found a way back from the webway, he would bring invaluable understanding of those twisted passages and denizens to aid the Imperium, and fight in the name of Emperor once more.

How Would Other Loyalists Change the Imperium if They Returned?

Guilliman‘s revival has already led to great Crusades and attempts to reform governance and the Imperial Creed. But how might the return of Lion El‘Johnson, Leman Russ, or other vanished loyalist Primarchs change the balance of power further?

Military Strategy

• Russ – Unleash the full ferocity of the Space Wolves in a final retributive crusade
• Khan – Open new webway routes for attack, outmaneuvering the forces of Chaos
• Dorn – Fortify and bolster strategic strongpoints against attack
• Corax – Implement asymmetric warfare tactics like sabotage and covert strikes

Culture and Politics

• Lion – Counterbalance Guilliman‘s control and shake up Imperium leadership
• Vulkan – Renew compassion for common humans and coexistence with aliens
• Russ – Restore the people‘s will with fiery, charismatic leadership

Advancing the Imperial Truth

• Vulkan – Reform the Imperial Creed closer to truth the Emperor intended
• Corax – Enshrine liberties and justice for individual citizens
• Lion – Dig up lost history and truths hidden by censorship

A clash of ideals might occur between crusader-kings like Russ and reformers like Vulkan. But multiple returned primarchs could also check each other‘s power and together advance the Emperor‘s original vision.

How the Loyalist Primarchs Would Rank in Combat Prowess

Though the Primarchs are evenly matched in many ways, their differing abilities and areas of expertise create a hierarchy of combat ability:

Primarch	Overall Combat Rating	Key Strengths
1. Sanguinius	10	Angelic wings, foresight, skill with blade
2. Angron	9	Unrivaled fury and killer instinct
3. Leman Russ	8	Ferocity and runic weapons
4. Lion El‘Jonson	8	Master strategist and swordsman
5. Lorgar	5	Powerful psychic abilities but weakest warrior by far

Though some like Angron are truly monstrous in sheer close combat potential, Sanguinius deserves the top spot for his breadth of abilities, from the air superiority granted by his wings to his potent psychic gifts of foresight. And the Lion edges out Russ for the greater tactical acumen to channel his prowess.

How Could Other Loyalists Return?

While anything is possible, some routes seem more likely than others for the missing Primarchs to return:

Lion El‘Jonson – Finally awakens deep within the Rock to lead the Dark Angels again

Leman Russ – Returns from the Eye of Terror amid end times prophecy to rally the Wolves

Vulkan – His immortal Perpetual nature allows his eventual rebirth

Corax – Discovers a cure for himself and Raven Guard‘s mutations

Jaghatai Khan – Finds a way back from Dark Eldar realms through the webway

I hope this deep dive into the Loyalist Primarchs still surviving, their past exploits, and the potential impacts of their return helps provide some new insight into these legendary demigod-heroes of Warhammer 40,000. Let me know which Primarch‘s return would excite you most!