The success of there are many other factions that would make for a compelling experience.

The Death Korps of Krieg are a fan-favorite army regiment that's part of the Astra Militarum, which represents the rank and file of the Imperium of Man's army with none of the superhuman qualities of Space Marines. The Death Korps are getting a new focus in the tabletop game, and that could provide the perfect opportunity for them to be explored in a video game as well. The Death Korps have a fascinating history, an iconic look, and questionable tactics that would make them a perfect focus for an Warhammer 40,000 video game.

Who Are The Death Korps of Krieg?

The Death Korps Of Krieg Are One Of Warhammer 40,000's Most Iconic Regiments With Distinctive Gas Masks

The Death Korps of Krieg hail from the planet of Krieg, a formerly populous world within the Imperium of Man. About 1,000 years prior to Warhammer 40,000's present day, the ruling body of Krieg rebelled against the Imperium and became consumed by a civil war. With traitors holding the bulk of the planet's defenses, those loyal to the Imperium unleashed nuclear weapons on Krieg's surface, turning it into a Death World. Those who survived the nuclear blasts took to underground bunkers, where they continued to wage war for another 500 years.

By the time Krieg's traitorous forces were wiped out, the Loyalists had become a powerful and terrifying military force. They were not only capable of fighting on inhospitable environments but also specialized in trench and siege warfare. Additionally, the loyalists had adopted a terrifying military mantra of victory at any cost. When the Death Korps of Krieg were reintroduced to the Astra Militarum, they immediately volunteered for the deadliest assignments on the worst planets. What's more, the Death Korps routinely achieved victories that would have typically required much larger forces and higher fatalities to achieve.

The Death Korps Of Krieg Represents The Dark Side of Warhammer 40,000's Imperium Of Man

The Death Korps Are So Effective Because Of Questionable Tactics And Training

While most planets produce one regiment of soldiers every decade, Krieg produces dozens of regiments per year. Each member of the Death Korps is outfitted with rebreathers and unique trenchcoats designed to keep radioactive ash and dust off the body. However, it's not just the unique equipment that makes the Death Korps so effective. It's rumored that Krieg uses forbidden cloning techniques and child soldiers to fill out its ranks, although the Imperium of Man turns a blind eye due to the Death Korps' effectiveness.

In this way, the Death Korps represent the hypocrisy of the Imperium of Man, with results trumping the rule of law. Additionally, the Death Korps of Krieg are bound by the sins of their ancestors. No one in the Death Korps actively betrayed the Imperium of Man or even re when Krieg wasn't a desolate wasteland. However, the entire planet is still expected to make recompense for a betrayal made hundreds of years ago, another regular trope found in many Warhammer 40,000 stories.

The Death Korps of Krieg are so effective at what they do not because of their superior tactics, but rather their willingness to throw away their own lives. No cost is too high to achieve their objectives, with Death Korps willing to throw away their lives to gain a single inch on the battlefield. In fact, Kommisars assigned to the Death Korps aren't needed for motivation, but rather to keep their fatalistic tendencies in line.

Why The Death Korps Need To Appear In The Next Warhammer 40,000 Video Game

The Death Korps Showcase Some Of The Core Messages Of Warhammer 40,000

The Death Korps of Krieg serve as one of the best representations of the unflinching fatalism baked into Warhammer 40,000. Death Korps units will do anything to achieve victory, engaging in suicide missions and deadly battles of attrition with regularity. While games like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 show how one Space Marine can overcome insurmountable odds, the Death Korps represent the other side to Warhammer's neverending wars. The heavy cost of war can make for equally compelling gaming, especially if it's not glamorized.

A game focused on the Death Korps would also be perfect for other types of gameplay, with a focus on infiltration missions, skirmish battles, or close-combat fights. Instead of facing hordes of enemies, a Death Korps game could hone in on more intimate and personal fights against an equally matched enemy. Plus, the battlefields where the Death Korps are deployed often make for horrifying locales.

Even if the next Warhammer 40,000 video game doesn't feature the Death Korps, the wider world of the Warhammer universe deserves more of a showcase. The Space Marines are often considered the "main characters" of the 40K universe, but they're just one small part of a rich and lore-filled world.

Showcasing other parts of the Warhammer 40,000 universe provides more entry points for potential fans and highlights the other kinds of stories that can be told in that world. Past Warhammer 40K games have focused on other factions than the Space Marines, and Games Workshop should go back to this tradition as it plots out the future beyond Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.

Source: Warhammer/YouTube