The Knights of Blood are basically what happens when you take the "noble vampire" trope from the Blood Angels and strip away every single ounce of restraint. They’re a cautionary tale. A bloody, horrific, and oddly heroic mess that eventually got them declared Excommunicate Traitoris by the High Lords of Terra. But here’s the kicker: they never actually turned to Chaos. They were just too violent for the Imperium to handle.
Most Space Marine Chapters try to hide their flaws. Not these guys. While the Blood Angels spend their time painting or sculpting to keep the Red Thirst at bay, the Knights of Blood 40k lore reveals a brotherhood that leaned into the madness. They thought they could use the curse as a weapon. They were wrong. Sorta. It’s complicated, honestly.
Why the Knights of Blood Got Kicked Out of the Imperium
It wasn't a sudden rebellion. It was a slow slide into utter brutality. Originally a Second Founding successor of the Blood Angels, they started out with the same noble intentions as anyone else. But the Flaw—the Red Thirst and the Black Rage—hit them harder than most. They stopped caring about collateral damage. If a civilian got in the way of a chainsword while a Knight was in a frenzy, that was just "the price of victory."
The Inquisition eventually had enough. After several "incidents" where the Knights of Blood basically butchered everything on the battlefield (friend and foe alike), they were officially cast out. Most Chapters would have crumbled or turned to the Dark Gods at that point. The Knights didn't. They kept fighting for the Emperor, just from the shadows, as renegades. They became a Chapter of ghosts, roaming the galaxy and hunting the enemies of mankind without any support or resupply from the standard Imperial channels.
The Devastation of Baal: Their Final Act
You can’t talk about the Knights of Blood 40k history without mentioning the Devastation of Baal. This is the big one. When Hive Fleet Leviathan threatened to wipe out the Blood Angels' homeworld, Commander Dante called for every successor chapter to return and defend the nest. Even the outcasts.
Sentor Jool, the Chapter Master of the Knights of Blood, showed up. He didn't have to. He was a wanted man. But he brought his entire Chapter to Baal Primus to stand against the Tyranids. The scene in Guy Haley’s The Devastation of Baal is harrowing. Jool and his men weren't just fighting; they were venting centuries of repressed rage. They fought in the "unfettered" style, meaning they let the Red Thirst take over completely.
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Sentor Jool and the Confrontation with Ka'Bandha
One of the most metal moments in 40k history involves Sentor Jool facing off against the Bloodthirster Ka'Bandha. Now, Jool knew he wasn't going to win. He’s a Space Marine; Ka'Bandha is a literal daemon prince of Khorne who once broke Sanguinius’ legs. But Jool’s defiance was legendary.
The Knights of Blood were already deep in the Black Rage. They were basically lost. Ka'Bandha tried to tempt them, mockingly claiming they were already servants of Khorne because of their bloodlust. Jool’s response was basically a massive middle finger to the god of blood. He died fighting, but he died loyal. That’s the nuance people miss. They were monsters, but they were the Emperor’s monsters until the very end.
What Made Their Gene-Seed Different?
Technically, nothing. It’s the same gene-seed as the Blood Angels. However, many lore experts and fans speculate that their isolation accelerated their degradation. Without the guidance of the Sanguinary Priesthood or the stabilizing rituals of the Great Angel’s home world, the Knights of Blood simply had no "brakes."
They represent the "Thin-Blooded" fear that many Blood Angels successors have—the idea that eventually, the Flaw will consume them all. The Knights of Blood were just the first to reach the finish line.
Painting and Tabletop: Capturing the Renegade Look
If you’re looking to field a Knights of Blood 40k army, you’re looking at a very specific aesthetic. They aren't the shiny, gold-trimmed heroes of the main line. Their armor is typically a deep, dried-blood red with silver or gunmetal trim. It’s gritty.
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- Armor Color: Use a dark red base, like Khorne Red, but wash it heavily with Agrax Earthshade or Nuln Oil to give it that "unwashed renegade" vibe.
- Weathering: These guys don't have tech-marines at every starport. Their armor should be chipped, scarred, and covered in grime.
- Symbols: They use the winged drop of blood, but often it’s depicted more savagely.
Since the Chapter was officially wiped out during the defense of Baal, playing them in the current 10th Edition timeline usually means one of two things. Either you’re playing a "historical" force from before the Devastation, or you're playing a "what if" scenario where a few survivors formed a Crusade force. Honestly, the latter is way cooler for narrative play.
The Philosophy of the Damned
Why do people love the Knights of Blood? It’s because they’re tragic.
They knew they were damned. They knew the Imperium hated them. Yet, they still chose to die for a realm that had already spat them out. There’s a scene where the Flesh Tearers—who are also pretty close to being declared traitors—look at the Knights of Blood and see their own future. It’s a mirror. If Gabriel Seth and his boys don't keep it together, they become Jool.
It raises a big question in the 40k universe: at what point does "loyalty" stop being about laws and start being about the soul? The High Lords said they were traitors. The records say they were traitors. But in their final moments, they saved the Blood Angels. They saved Baal.
Misconceptions About the Chapter
A lot of people think they were Chaos Space Marines. They weren't. They never used warp-magic, they didn't sprout horns, and they didn't worship Khorne. They were just "Renegades." In 40k, there’s a big difference. A renegade is someone who broke the law but still keeps the faith (in their own twisted way).
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Another myth is that they were all mindless beasts. Sentor Jool was actually quite eloquent and tactical, even while harboring the Thirst. It takes a massive amount of willpower to be that far gone and still lead a Chapter.
How to Build a Knights of Blood Narrative Campaign
If you want to bring this lore to your local gaming club, focus on "The Last Stand" style missions. Since the Chapter is effectively gone, every model lost in your campaign should feel like a massive blow.
- Focus on Melee: Naturally, you’ll want to lean into Death Company units. Even if they aren't technically labeled as such, the Knights of Blood essentially were a Chapter-sized Death Company by the end.
- The Renegade Status: You could play a three-way battle where the Inquisition is trying to purge you while you’re both trying to fight off Orks or Tyranids. It captures that "no friends" vibe perfectly.
- No Primaris: This is a big one for lore purists. The Knights of Blood died out before Roboute Guilliman could get the Primaris reinforcements to them. If you’re playing a lore-accurate Knights of Blood 40k army, it’s all Firstborn marines.
Final Takeaways for the Lore Hound
The Knights of Blood remind us that the Imperium is a meat grinder. It doesn't care about your soul; it cares about your utility. When the Knights became more of a PR liability than an asset, they were discarded.
Their story ended in fire and blood on the moons of Baal, and frankly, that’s the only way it could have ended. They didn't want a cure. They wanted a worthy death.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Read "The Devastation of Baal" by Guy Haley. It’s the definitive source for the Knights' final hours and gives Sentor Jool the screen time he deserves.
- Check the Blood Angels Codex (Legacy Editions). Older editions often have more "flavor" text regarding the various successor chapters and their specific heraldry before the Primaris era simplified things.
- Kitbash a Sentor Jool. Use a mix of Blood Angels Vanguard Veteran parts and some "traitor" bits (like chains and trophies) to show his renegade status without making him look like a Chaos worshiper.
- Explore the "Index Astartes" articles. Occasionally, Warhammer Community or old White Dwarf issues feature deep dives into the heraldry of the Second Founding, which is where you'll find the specific markings for the Knights.
The Knights of Blood are gone, but their legacy as the Imperium's most loyal monsters remains one of the grittiest corners of the 41st Millennium.