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| “ | Do you remember what you said to me, brother? Do you remember what you said to me as we fought before the Pyramid of Photep? Do you remember the words you used? I do. As I recall, your face was tortured. Imagine that - the Master of the Wolves, his ferocity twisted into grief. And yet you still carried out your duty. You always did what was asked of you. So loyal. So tenacious. Truly you were the attack dog of the Emperor. You took no pleasure in what you did. I knew that then, and I know it now. But all things change, my brother. I'm not the same as I was, and you're... well, let us not mention where you are now. | „ |
| ~ Magnus reminiscing to a statue of his brother and archenemy, Leman Russ. |
Magnus the Red is an antagonist in Warhammer 40k, Primarch of the Thousand Sons Legion and the Daemon Prince of Tzeentch.
The most magically gifted of the Emperor's sons, Magnus is one of the most powerful psykers of all time. He sought to use his tremendous power to better understand and control The Warp, a path that would ultimately lead to his damnation to the Chaos Gods. Of all the traitorous Primarchs, Magnus was the one that held the most remorse for his actions and did genuinely attempt to redeem both himself and his Legion. This would fail in the end, and he turned his attention to the vengeful destruction of the Imperium of Man. He and his Legion are the archenemies of Leman Russ and his Space Wolves.
Personality[]
Magnus always displayed an open mind and was welcoming of others. He was loyal to the Imperium, his Father, and his brothers, and since birth harbored a strong passion for learning and growing his skills. He disliked mankind's prejudice against Psykers and those gifted in sorcery, and because of this made Prospero a haven for such individuals. While the planet itself was once barren and highly hostile to supporting life, through the works of Magnus and his sons they turned the world into a beacon of prosperity. However, his hunger for knowledge was a double-edged sword, as his reckless pursuit of the ways of The Warp was shunned by his Father and brothers. As his power grew so did his arrogance, and all of this mixed together would ultimately lead to his damnation.
Magnus himself was one of the very first individuals to become aware of Horus' fall to Chaos, and he tried desperately to warn The Emperor as early as possible. Instead of using legal means, he used his sorcery to contact Terra from afar, but doing so badly damaged the Webway Project, a powerful magical barrier that kept evil forces from breaching it. Due to Magnus, daemonic forces poured through, taking the lives of thousands. Ashamed with his actions when he realized he was being used as a pawn by Tzeentch, when The Emperor declared him a traitor, and worse ignored his warning about Horus, Magnus stood idly by as his precious world of Prospero was razed, willing to give his life and that of his Legion as penance. However, becoming increasingly upset by the sheer scale of destruction Leman Russ and his Space Wolves unleashed upon him, he could stand idle no longer, and the battle for Prospero began its final stage. When Magnus ultimately fell in combat against his brother, Magnus' soul was shattered and scattered across the galaxy. Desperate to save his beloved world and his sons, and left with nothing but negative and twisted emotions, he submitted himself to Tzeentch, completing his and his Legion's fall.
Powers and Abilities[]
Magnus the Red, Daemon Prince of Tzeentch
As the Crimson King and a Daemon Primarch of Tzeentch, Magnus the Red possesses near-limitless psychic and sorcerous power. His mastery of the Warp and command over reality itself make him one of the most formidable beings in existence. Gifted with both the intellect of a demigod and the destructive might of a god, Magnus wields his powers with terrifying precision—bending matter, minds, and fate to his will. His abilities extend beyond mere psychic might, encompassing vast knowledge, supernatural resilience, and mastery of both the arcane and physical realms.
Powers[]
- Wielder of Supreme Psychic Might: Magnus is among the most powerful psykers in the Galaxy, able to channel vast Warp energy for destructive offensive spells, shields, and reality-altering magic.
- Primarch Physiology: He possesses superhuman strength, durability, reflexes, speed, stamina, and longevity far exceeding that of his Space Marine sons. His body also exhibits immunity to many toxins and diseases and has greatly enhanced physical resilience.
- Daemon Prince Status: After pledging himself to Tzeentch Magnus became a Daemon Primarch. This grants him supernatural protection, immortality, flight, and other warp-infused powers beyond those he held as a mortal Primarch.
Abilities[]
- Master of Sorcery and The Arcane Disciplines: Magnus is a consummate sorcerer, mastering many psychic disciplines (telepathy, telekinesis, prescience etc.), able to cast complex rituals, manifest warp storms, and able to summon even the most powerful daemonic entities.
- Reality Manipulation: He can bend or warp the boundaries between real-space and the Warp, alter physical laws, project psychic power on a massive scale, shape matter or warp it, and affect both the material and psychic realms.
- Psychic Sight & Gaze: Magnus’s single eye (the Cyclopean Eye / “Eye of Magnus”) allows him to see deeper into the Warp, perceive psychic phenomena, read minds or detect secrets, sometimes even foresee events.
- Master Tactician & Leader: Besides raw power, Magnus has strategic intellect. He leads the Thousand Sons (both mortal and daemonic), plans long-term schemes, manipulates events, and fights major wars with foresight and cunning.
- Regeneration & Immortality: As a Daemon Primarch, Magnus can heal from grievous wounds, is immune or resistant to many forms of damage, is Immortal, and cannot be killed by ordinary means.
Wargear[]
Pre-Heresy[]
- The Horned Raiment - Magnus' unique suit of Artificer Armour was believed to be as much a thing of tangible psychic force and Empyreal energy as it was a physical construction, shifting form and appearance as he willed, and the means by which it protected him was proof against the most savage ranged and melee weapons despite its often primitive appearance.
- Blade of Ahn-Nunura - Taking the distinctive shape of the khopesh-like sickle-sword weapon of the Prosperine war god of ancient myth, Ahn-Nunura, this Force Weapon combined ancient lore and Imperial weapons technology and was lethal to living creatures and battle engines alike.
- Arcane Litanies - The bearer of Arcane Litanies was protected from the powers of the Warp and the denizens that dwelled within.
- Psyfire Serpenta - A hand gun of prodigious size seemingly conjured to his grasp at need, there was always some debate even among Magnus' Legion whether this powerful Plasma Weapon was truly a device or simply a manifestation of his psychic powers in physical form.
Post-Heresy[]
- The Horned Raiment – Magnus’ ancient Artificer Armour, dating back to the Great Crusade, now reshaped to fit his Daemonic form. Covered in Tzeentchian runes of the Dark Tongue, it radiates madness and sorcerous power.
- Blade of Magnus – Once the Blade of Ahn-Nunura, this shape-shifting Prosperine khopesh channels Magnus’ will. Its blows can cleave tanks and souls alike, and those not instantly slain are twisted into Chaos Spawn by its mutagenic sorcery.
- Crown of the Crimson King – A blazing halo of psychic energy encircling Magnus’ horns, shielding his body and mind. This aetheric crown renders physical and psychic attacks futile, as enemy fire and warp blasts alike dissolve before his power.
External Links[]
- Magnus the Red on the Warhammer 40,000 Wiki
- Magnus the Red on the Lexicanum
