One of the most persistent questions haunting Warhammer 40,000 lore is simple yet massive: who will be the next returning loyalist primarch? In a recent Q&A video, Games Workshop addressed this burning curiosity directly, though they opted for humor over a definitive spoiler.
For those new to the setting, the primarchs are the genetically-engineered demigod sons of the Emperor. Created to lead the Space Marine legions, they were scattered or lost following the catastrophic civil war known as the Horus Heresy. While most were thought dead or lost in the Warp for millennia, recent narrative shifts have brought two major figures back into the fold.
The Mystery of the Returning Primarchs
The current state of the galaxy has been fundamentally altered by the return of two specific leaders:
- Roboute Guilliman: The Ultramarines leader who returned during the Gathering Storm event in 2017.
- Lion El'Jonson: The Dark Angels chief who made a miraculous reappearance during the Arks of Omen storyline in early 2023.
These massive plot developments have led fans to speculate that more of these overpowered figures are on the way. With the upcoming release of 11th Edition, many are wondering if another loyalist primarch will emerge to shake up the status quo.
During the Q&A, Games Workshop’s Adam Troke and Eddie Eccles leaned into the tension by asking the question themselves: “Who will be the next returning loyalist primarch?”
Eccles provided a deadpan response: “It’s a good question, but I’m really sorry to break it to you Adam, they’re actually all dead.” When Troke pressed him on whether "all of them" were gone, Eccles insisted they were.
Troke then joked about the possibility of primarchs returning in unexpected forms: “Well, so, we do know that Russ is back… as a tank. Rogal Dorn… as a tank. If I was a betting man, you could maybe expect a battle tank called a Khan or a Manus or a Sanguinius at some point.”
Speculation and the Future of Warhammer 40,000 Lore
Despite the cheeky deflection, fans continue to dissect the possibility of more returns. Within the existing Warhammer 40,000 lore, the fate of several characters remains shrouded in ambiguity:
- Jaghatai Khan: Thought to be lost within the Webway.
- Rogal Dorn: Presumed dead, though capable of operating behind enemy lines.
- Leman Russ: Said to be awaiting the "Wolf Time" before making a dramatic comeback.
- Sanguinius: Generally accepted as truly deceased.
Games Workshop holds the power to bring any loyalist primarch back at any time, much like they did with Guilliman and the Lion. From a commercial standpoint, a new primarch model would undoubtedly be a massive seller, making it feel less like a matter of "if" and more like "when."
Will the Brothers Finally Meet?
Rather than a new arrival, the next major narrative beat might involve the characters we already have. A recent campaign book included a cryptic message from Lion El'Jonson intended for Roboute Guilliman: “Brother. We need to talk.”
When asked if these two would finally clash or converse in the upcoming edition, Troke remained non-committal. “I mean, the galaxy is a big place,” he noted. “So, maybe. Maybe not. I kinda hope so.”
Whether the 11th Edition focuses on a new primarch's arrival or the long-awaited reunion of the two surviving brothers, it is clear that the Warhammer 40,000 lore is heading toward another era-defining moment.
