One of the big points I have seen over and over again on these forums so far is the lack of awareness and understanding when it comes to how the Iron Hands operate. It's not universal to be sure, it's hardly so widespread that no one in this fandom understands it, but whereas the Imperial Fists can be put down to siege specialists and the Raven Guard stealth specialists, the same cannot be said of the Iron Hands. So, here's a brief outline of their overall benefit and what they might offer the game. Because, when it comes down to it, these guys are quite possibly the most versatile choice on offer out of the new chapters. First and foremost, the Iron Hands do not follow any codex structure. Instead they follow a decentralised structure which organises them into a number of demi-chapters, each maintaining its own specialist equipment and wargear. Rather than petitioning other companies to lend them their troops, or spending time with negotiations, each company is a force ready to leave on its own. This leaves them often better prepared for combating certain threats. It means that they are never without the units they require and, not being bound to the Codex Astartes, have greater numbers of marines on hand. Those seen over the years have ranged from sizes comparable to the Space Wolves Great Companies to (as shown in Wrath of Iron) just over 130 marines. This is a reflection on how the chapter prizes individual strength and its ideology of individual endurance. The very use of the Iron Hands' bionics is a reflection of their own ideology and a psychological drive. Originally in the times of the Horus Heresy, bionics were used in favour of lengthier means to preserve the flesh as it ensured an astartes would remain longer in frontline combat. Retaining a bionic enhancement to cover for a wound was seen as a sign of respect, that they had survived terrible injuries an emerged all the stronger for it. Over the course of millennia and the reflections of the embittered survivors of the Drop Site Massacre, this was turned into an active practice. The chapter and its successors began actively enhancing their warriors to increase their strength however they could. Their practices were often taken to the extent that only an astartes might survive them. Many of their combat veterans, their sergeants encased in Terminator armour, became closer to miniture dreadnoughts than full marines. Beings of sheer metal with a core of flesh, capable of shrugging of incredible damage and enduring blows which would kill an astartes many times over. The chapter's overall drive is one of perfection as much as anything else. While they abhor weakness, while they deride failure and their battlecry is "Flesh is weak" the chapter retains a perfectionist streak. Many often depict them as only retaining contempt for normal humans, or exaggerating it into having the chapter go out of their way to murder any who fight alongside them. The truth is that this is as much inwards as it is shown outwards. Failure is not accepted in any way, and each warrior is expected to fulfill their abilities in every way possible. Other chapters do this via training. Some by building better blades or bolters. The Iron Hands do this by building themselves into becoming better weapons of war, and serving as the literal Angels of Death the Imperium requires. The actual use of bionics goes far beyond simple durability. While many use this as grounds to represent the chapter shrugging off hails of bullets or still fighting after losing a limb, many more show them to retain more advanced cybernetic improvements. Ocular and audio bionics in particular have been used many times to show marines being able to see into a much broader spectrum of light, "see" harmful energies and pinpoint major sources of thermal power. Cranial ones have been used to show the Iron Hands much more rapidly adapting to shifting environments, acting as one being thanks to constant mental updates and run through countless tactical outcomes internally. Even despite often being built into their armour, many have been shown to have incredible accuracy with weapons, calculating the exact timing. precision and strength of a sword blow, or shooting a grenade out of the air within a split second of leaving an enemy soldier's hand. The use of such widespread machinery has allowed it closer ties with the Adpetus Mechanicus and even some shared beliefs. As a result of this unity and their own practices, the chapter often bears more advanced weaponry, technology and equipment than their contemporaries. This beneficial deal often manifests in the more frequent use of rapid armoured assaults and use of steady, continual, unending attacks backed by overwhelming firepower; along with the liberal use of heavier weaponry and power weapons to quickly break enemy ranks. While this is their traditional approach to war, the chapter has been shown to retain a broad focus upon all tactical styles rather than simply being pigeonholed into following one way of war. Guerrilla tactics and stealth were used continually during the Horus Heresy by surviving elements of the legion, and the background to the Steel Confessors chapter displayed the Iron Hands easily adapting to heavy recon prior to launching a single strike to cripple an entire enemy force. While power is favoured, unlike other armies it is not the single thing which wholly defines them and they do not limit themselves to an exceedingly narrow tactical spectrum. Finally, given its close proximity to the Eye of Terror, the Iron Hands are one of the few first founding chapters depicted as understandiing that sacrifice is needed in the name of victory. Saving every life is pointless so close to Cadia, where every deflection of a Black Crusade and annihilation of a cult is bought with loyalist blood. We have seen this many times over, such as the Purging of Contqual, where the lives of thousands were spent to ensure a rapid victory. This said, as much as the chapter spends lives, it never wastes them. For the thousands that died in the Purging of Contqual, billions more would have met their end if the Chaos portal at the centre of Shardenus had not been closed, backed and enforced by the daemon prince which had once been Julius Kaesoron. This is even shown in their history prior to being reunited with Ferrus, such as the Battle of Rust where Imperial Army elements were used to draw out enemy forces before the Iron Hands could fully annihilate a WAAAGH! of orks many times their number and strength. When the Iron Hands are deployed to war, they are not sent to save worlds. They are sent to ensure loyalty, to purge corruption in all forms, to wipe out any trace of xenos of Chaotic threat and burn any remnant of a foothold humanity's enemies might retain. They are sent to hunt down and destroy the worst of threats, to completely crush the forces who contest the Imperium's might and so thoroughly destroy them that their very names are reduced to ash. The Imperial Fists were the Emperor's shield. The Raven Guard were the Emperor's shadows. The Iron Hands? They were the Emperor's annihilators. This is who they are, and why they do not deserve being brushed aside as being worthless or their votes brushed off as being a pointless choice in this poll. Useful Links and Resources: Index Astartes: Iron Hands (Original lore) Vaults of Terra: Iron Hands - Be warned, elements of Clan Raukaan are present in this analysis. Minor but some details are incorrect such as the Great Clan Council being referred to as the "Iron Council." One review of Codex: Clan Raukaan and its desecration of all Iron Hands' lore. Successor Chapters and Information: Brazen Claws: Founding: Second General Information: Utterly remorseless in their way of war, the chapter was known to be one of extremes. In most cases they would engage the enemy and with sheer stubborn resoluteness keep fighting until the last of mankind's enemies fell on that battlefield, heedless of their own losses. This earned them an unyielding reputation being so close to the Eye of Terror, and they successfully defended the Emperor's world for almost ten thousand years. The loss of Talus IV, the chapter's homeworld, caused the chapter to initiate a crusade into the Eye of Terror itself. It disappeared for forty years, targeting and destroying Chaos strongholds within the Eye. Unlike the previous Abyssal Crusade, this proved to be more successful, but still incurred heavy casualties and an outbreak of corruption among at least one company. While badly mauled and with many of their remaining companies severely under strength, the chapter re-emerged from the Eye and has engaged the Thirteenth Black Crusade at the Cadian Gate. The chapter is known to adhere to the Codex Astartes, but still bears the hatred to weakness, and use of bionics, that their progenitor is famous for. Emperor's Shadows: Founding: Unknown General Information: Very little is known about this chapter save for the fact their iconography appears to be inspired by oriental cultural aspects, and they only hold a tentative link to the Iron Hands as their progenitor. Most other information such as their weaponry or approach to war is largely based upon fanon. Iron Lords: Founding: Unknown General Information: Known to have existed since prior to M38, but no exact date has yet been given. Their task since that time has been to contain the xenos Barghesi within their home system until the Imperium can muster forces capable of annihilating the race. Since the arrival of the Tyranid Hive Fleets, the chapter has repeatedly fought against Splinter Fleets determined to absorb the Barghesi's genetic potential and information. It is known that, were this to happen, the bioforms forged from their DNA could be potentially unstoppable. Little is known beyond their duty, and their adherence to the Codex Astartes, strength or if they emulate the Iron Hands' use of bionics is as of yet unknown. All that has been confirmed is a stern, unforgiving demeanor and that they retain extreme xenophobia even by astartes' standards. Red Talons: Founding: Second Founding General Information: Formed with a bloody and ill reputation even during the Great Crusade, the Red Talons (then known as Clan Morragul) served as a kind of gathering place for the most bloodthirsty and vicious of their legion. While utterly loyal, they were not so much sent to destroy an enemy as they were unleashed, destroying everything in their path. During the Horus Heresy, the chapter performed astounding hit-and-fade attacks upon worlds allied with Horus to an incredible effect. This resulted in the loss of whole populations in some cases, and favoured total annihilation of any and all traitors. In many respects, the clan has been regarded by some as emulating Ferrus Manus' most extreme traits. Following their full founding, the chapter has been seen performing acts of total annihilation time and time again. They were one of five chapters who participated in the War of the False Primarch, successfully exterminating eleven traitor chapters who turned upon the Imperium. Their most recent conflict saw them defend the world of Orask against a massive Tyranid invasion, successfully repelling the attack, though organisms are thought to have escaped into nearby worlds. Sons of Medusa: Founding: N/A General Information: Fleet based. Formed out of Iron Hands elements exiled from Medusa thanks to the Moirae Schism of faith, which divided the Mechanicum and associated forces. These were joined by similarly exiled astartes from successors until they were roughly at chapter strength. Declared a separate chapter during Age of Redemption and formally founded, following investigation. The chapter retains elements of the Iron Hands such as use of bionics, belief in the Omnissiah and their actions are governed by an overall council rather than a master. Their number is divided into three "War Clans" consisting of an amalgamation of one variant of each company - Battle, Reserve and Tactical units with a force of Scouts to reinforce them. They have no rank akin to the Iron Fathers but Techmarines and Dreadnoughts hold a position of separate power known as the Chamber Ferrum. This is used to govern its resources and ensure unity is maintained within the chapter despite controlled conflict and competition between each War Clan. The chapter is noted to have an extreme hatred for traitors and an exceedingly high wash-out rate of new recruits thanks to particularly exacting methods. Their kind are notably talented at techno-exorcism and purifying corrupted wargear, though the exact methods are not yet defined. Steel Confessors: Founding: N/A General Information: Founded in secret by the Adeptus Mechanicus to serve as personal guard. Later discovered by Inquisition and separated, required to take oaths of fealty to the Emperor above all. Initial homeworld, the Forge World of Kracsis IV, was destroyed by Tyranid forces. Second homeworld, Kalevala, was defended by the chapter who repelled a significant Hive Fleet. World was held and all Tyranid forces annihilated, but significant losses were incurred.
Always a pleasure to read your posts Killbo!A small contribution from me some pict-screens (stolen from the internet using google fu!) Showing the bad-@ssery of the Iron Tenth! Most have seen these before i think but i think it will help people vote "properly"!
Great read, I knew bits and pieces from fourth and fifth editions but this is a good summary for those wanting to know more.
You are all more than welcome. I'd add more information, but most of that would be going into the realm of the Index Astartes, which is well written but does retain some sadly overwritten lore these days. For example, the modern lore describes the Iron Hands' use of bionics as an addiction or something practiced against Ferrus' wishes even in the best of current canon. The older ones actually had it as a necessity. It was done under the orders of Ferrus following Isstvan, to turn themselves into monsters to make sure that humanity had more powerful warriors to help combat Chaos. Also, if we're adding images, the ones of our successors seem more than worth adding as well. Well, that and what a few have taking to jokingly call our theme tune.
I never liked Iron hands, but now that i read this post i like them more, especially this part " Where the lives of thousands were spent to ensure a rapid victory. This said, as much as the chapter spends lives, it never wastes them. For the thousands that died in the Purging of Contqual, billions more would have met their end if the Chaos portal at the centre of Shardenus had not been closed," but i know that Iron Hands got no possibilities to win against the IF and the RG, and lets not say if there was even a Space Wolves votation, so good luck with the votes brother.
Might not mean much, but you can count on my vote post launch for the Iron Hands. If the Fisties werent in the vote they would have been my go to choice.
