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The Space Marine heraldry has always intrigued me. There is so much depth to the world of Warhammer 40k, just in looking at the color of the helmet of a Blood Angel or the pattern of the greaves of a White Scar. From intricate miniature painting techniques to learning how to paint iconic symbols, this game offers a myriad of creative opportunities. A major focus of painting wargame miniatures, particularly Space Marines, is the detailed armor and heraldry each chapter possesses.

Dark Angels Armor and Heraldry

The Dark Angels, with their somber green armor color, are iconic in Warhammer 40k lore. Starting with a base coat of dark green, model painting techniques suggest layers of paint applied using a wet palette for better blending. Their chapter badge – a winged sword – can be seen on the space marine shoulder pauldron heraldry. Edge highlighting, a technique often featured in White Dwarf, helps in emphasizing the armor details.

The right pauldron of the Dark Angels shows the standard Battle Role heraldry in a deep red. It is then overlaid with the winged sword chapter badge.

The Dark Angels right knee pads are varied depending on the company.

Dark Angels Battle Honours reflect some of the common themes of both Codex Astartes Space Marines and the Dark Angels heraldry and iconography.

White Scars Armor and Heraldry

White Scars, known for their lightning-fast assaults, have a pristine white armor color. Painting white, especially on miniature painting, can be tricky. It’s suggested to start painting with a gray base coat, then use thin paint layers to achieve the desired whiteness.

Their chapter badge, a red jagged lightning bolt, pops effectively against this backdrop. Dry brushing can be a useful technique to give the armor a battle-worn look.

The various squads of the White Scars show their heraldry on their right knee pads with variations on jagged lightning strikes or claw marks.

The jagged lightning strikes of the White Scars heraldry is carried over into the greaves. In the lore the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th company’s heraldry is shown, which leaves the other companies up to individual miniature painters to adopt one of these companies or create their own pattern.

Space Wolves Armor and Heraldry

The fierce and feral Space Wolves boast a bluish-gray armor. Their chapter badge, a snarling wolf head, perfectly captures their wild nature. Model painters often employ the army painter set to get the diverse shades of fur on their shoulder pads. Techniques like dry brushing can highlight fur textures, while space marine heraldry on their shoulder pauldron showcases their illustrious battle honors.

As the Space Wolves don’t adhere to the Codex Astartes, they not only have more than 10 companies but they also are more creatively named and decorated. The shoulder pauldrons of the Space Wolves are a wide variety of bluish grey, red, white, and wolf iconography.

Similarly, the right shoulder pauldrons of the different units display their Battle Role heraldry in ways that are very different from the Codex Astartes.

These may look like knee pads from the White Scars, but this is actually the Space Wolves heraldry for the Wulfen.

Space Wolves Battle Honours all reflect the wolf and skull imagery that is so fitting for their chapter.

Imperial Fists Armor and Heraldry

Clad in bright yellow armor, the Imperial Fists are a stark contrast on any battlefield. Using a spray paint as a primer ensures a uniform base coat.

Their chapter badge, a clenched fist, signifies their unyielding nature. When painting these miniatures, ensure you use thin paint layers to maintain detail and consider edge highlighting to accentuate their armor’s shape. These company badges, like others that follow closely to the Codex Astartes, have different colored trim on the pauldrons.

The helmets of the Imperial differ depending on rank. Battle brothers are yellow, sergeants red, veterans white. Veteran sergeants are red with a white stripe while lieutenants are yellow with a red strip and a thinner white stripe. Captains are yellow with an insignia on the forehead.

Blood Angels Armor and Heraldry

The Blood Angels, with their deep crimson armor, are a testament to the art of miniature painting. Their winged teardrop chapter badge adds an element of elegance. Space marine battle honors heraldry, often hand-painted by dedicated hobbyists, is proudly displayed on their armor.

The Blood Angels have a wide variety of right knee badges depending on their squad number.

The helmets of the Blood Angels differ not by rank but by battle role. The battle line wear red to match their armor, fire support is blue, and close support is yellow. Veterans and command are gold.

Iron Hands Armor and Heraldry

Draped in a black that’s as deep as the void of space, the Iron Hands are a formidable sight. Their chapter badge, a clenched metallic hand, captures their affinity with machinery. Space marine armor color, especially black, can be challenging. Model painting techniques, like dry brushing with metallic colors, can depict wear and tear.

The Iron Hands heraldry doesn’t change much on their armor, but they do display their Battle Role on their greaves.

Ultramarines Armor and Heraldry

The Ultramarines, perhaps the most iconic of space marines, sport a vibrant blue armor. Their chapter badge, an omega symbol, can be meticulously painted using fine paint brushes or the the Ultramarines decals which are ubiquitous. As many hobbyists start painting with this chapter, Games Workshop often includes Ultramarines in their learning how to paint guides.

The absolute standard bearers of the Codex Astartes, the Battle Role shoulder pauldrons are always strict.

The rank of the Ultramarines is displayed on their helmets. Blue for Battle Brother, red for Sergeant, white for Veteran, red with a white stripe for Veteran Sergeant, blue with a white stripe and a thinner red stripe for Lieutenant, and back to blue with an insignia for Captain.

Salamanders Armor and Heraldry

The Salamanders, with their deep green armor and fiery details, offer a unique challenge in miniature painting techniques.

Their chapter badge, a salamander wrapped around a flame, requires attention to detail. Techniques like edge highlighting, especially with warm colors, give the impression of glowing heat. The coloring of the pauldron, both the icon and the field, vary depending on company.

The rank of the Salamanders is shown on their helmets, though they don’t vary as much as other chapters, instead adding minor variations like the insignia on the sergeant or the laurel on the veteran sergeant.

Raven Guard Armor and Heraldry

The enigmatic Raven Guard wear sleek black armor, their chapter badge being a white raven’s head. Utilizing a wet palette helps in creating gradients on their cloaks, and edge highlighting ensures the details pop. The contrast between the armor color and the space marine shoulder pauldron heraldry emphasizes the chapter’s enigmatic aura.

The battle role and company are shown on their right pauldron–the battle role with the icon and the company with the color of the trim.

As with other chapters, and most similar to the Salamanders, the colors of the helmets vary depending on rank, but only minimally.