#maximus armor

[titanomancy]

Fight fire with phosphex.

[ask-jaghatai-khan]

Recognizing Power Armor

Because I’m a massive nerd, I’ve slowly become familiar with each of the distinct marks of power armor that have come about through 30k and 40k. Each armor mark has its own interesting lore, but I’m here to give a quick rundown of the most prominent physical features.

This way, you might have fun recognizing what bits a set of 40k artificer armor is made of, or be able to easily identify what a 30k officer is wearing under all his gilding and fancy robes. Read on if you have too much time on your hands, and want to lie to yourself that you’re learning something useful!

Mk. II Crusade

Simplistic bucket-helm, usually with only one eye-slit

Turbine-style clunky backpack

Weird layered armor on the torso and legs

Knobbly circle-shaped knees and elbows

Exposed cabling on thighs and stomach

Thick, riveted pauldron trim

Lots of rivets overall

Armored crotch-flap to protect the Emperor’s jewels

Mk. III Iron

Even more rivets, holy crap

Trim on every panel, also the panels are more solid

Pauldron trim now swoops up to protect the head

More knightly helm, with two eyes and pointier front

No gaps in front of armor

Bigger crotch-flap because we’re getting serious

Mk. IV Maximus

Optimus Prime-style fancy helmet

Much smoother, simpler panels

The “bending over’s for losers” T-shaped cuirass

Round-jet backpack, with small jets

Trapezoid knee-pads

Skinny pauldron trim

Mk. V Heresy

Heavy metal studs on fucking everything

Simple, flexible plates

Exposed cabling on chest and legs again

Bulky, round-jet backpack

Pauldrons can look like whatever, but usually have studs

Round kneepads

Super angry face with weird cheeks

Tends to have bits from other marks mixed in the most

Mk. VI Corvus

Sneaky-beaky pointy face

Round-jet backpack with tiny jets again

Kneepads connected to greaves

Really simply plates, sometimes with studs

Shoulders either have skinny trim or no trim

More protected torso

Did I mention the beak?

Mk. VII Aquila

Classic marine armor, smooth and simple

Bulky, round-jet backpack

Round, disconnected knees

Simple pauldron trim, but it’s there, y’know?

Angry face take 2: now built competently

Armored stomach, no exposed cables

Mk. VIII Errant

Aquila with bits on, such as that fancy neck-guard

Gyro-balls on the ankles

Hip plates

Wings above backpack jets

That’s about it - Aquila but more future-y