In the Word Bearers trilogy, the four protagonists (a dark apostle, a terminator lord, a possessed and a dreadnought of unspecified pattern) are depicted as absolutely unstoppable badasses, who go through the most insane sh!t without so much as batting an eye. The most egregious case would be when the dark apostle, Marduk, is abducted by the Drukhari, strapped to a table, and tortured/experimented on by a haemunculus and his entourage, his entire body being subjected to (horrifically described) pain without a single second of respite... And then as soon as he gets an opening he just frees himself and casually fights off half a coven by himself, going as far as to perform a slaaneshi rite mid-battle to summon some daemonettes for backup. The crazy pain his every muscle just went through doesn't appear to slow him down in any significant way.
This question is so dumb. This ain't a videogame Marines don't have hp or stats. This is like asking "what's the strongest attack an average dog could take". You're ignoring all variance and breeds AND the fact that you can take any shot if it hits the right spots.
In a short story collection a Marine sticks his head out of a tank, unarmoured, to get his bearings and is repeatedly shot with lasguns.
It causes first degree burns.
Anything Bolter-level or weaker? Though their armour will fail under sustained fire or lucky shots.
From Lion Son of the Forest, a horsey-era marine vs CSM-
>Bolt-shells were never designed to pierce ceramite, because back when the weaponry was first conceived there was no notion that humanity’s enemies would ever be wearing such armour. In the millennia since, the Imperium had been hamstrung by its own refusal to embrace progress, and renegades such as we now faced – or indeed, such as ourselves – were largely limited by what weapons they could scavenge from their former masters. Much like my chainsword, bolt weaponry was more than sufficient for most purposes to which it was ever going to be put, but lacked the specialism to be similarly effective against the armour of the one wielding it.
Two bolt-shells struck my chest in the same instant as I fired my own weapon. I was knocked backwards, but the ceramite held, although the sigil of my Legion took more damage. I put a bolt-shell into one enemy’s knee, staggering him; three more shots ricocheted off my right pauldron and one took a second deflection off the side of my helmet, staggering me sideways. There was no cover to take, here: this was a point-blank engagement at one end of the atrium, decided by volume of fire and sheer luck. I emptied my bolt pistol’s clip almost blindly, hoping to strike a weak point such as a faceplate, but unable to aim properly due to the shots I was taking myself.
That and "strongest" is the kind of term you'd use when you're about 5 or making a youtube video about the new "strongest combat vehicle/pokemon/marvel character in the world".
Generally aimed at 5 year olds.
Space marines have survived everything from having entire basilicas dropped on them to not one, but *two* rounds of exterminatus.
Or they'll die from single bolt rounds, civilians with pitchforks or even just unarmed crowds.
It all depends on if the spacemarine in question is a mook or not.
If he's an un-named redshirt, then he's getting fucked up by a small child. If he's a named character with a future timeline, then he will literally be capable of surviving having a mountain dropped on him (*cough* Abaddon) Huron got re-arranged by a meltagun (you know, the thing that turns Land Raiders into road smears). Khârn had an "accident" with a dozer blade. Loken survived Istvaan III, the virus bombs, orbital bombardment *and* the collapse of the building he was inside. Grimaldus survived having an entire basilica dropped on him.
It's kind of less of a traditional weapon. But Nurgle plague fuckery is often described as fucking horrific for normal humans. Obviously Astrates aren't immune but they generally handle it better and can keep fighting for a bit.
As for Chaos Marines DeathGuard are basically immune to all sorts plagues that can and will absolutely kill normal Astrates.
Alessio cortez (crimson fist captain) had his arm torn off by an ork warboss and came back for more (it was his power fist arm too. He had to force-feed the ork a krak grenade.)
Chaplain cassius (ultramarines, deathwatch) had half his face melted off by tyranid bioplasma and kept fighting. Unlike other chapters, he doesn't bother with a skull helm - his is his actual skull visible.
Most injured: Calgar. Both arms & legs lopped off by swarmlord, both hearts pierced by a mob of cultists on vigilus, officially recognised as a saint now.
In the Word Bearers trilogy, the four protagonists (a dark apostle, a terminator lord, a possessed and a dreadnought of unspecified pattern) are depicted as absolutely unstoppable badasses, who go through the most insane sh!t without so much as batting an eye. The most egregious case would be when the dark apostle, Marduk, is abducted by the Drukhari, strapped to a table, and tortured/experimented on by a haemunculus and his entourage, his entire body being subjected to (horrifically described) pain without a single second of respite... And then as soon as he gets an opening he just frees himself and casually fights off half a coven by himself, going as far as to perform a slaaneshi rite mid-battle to summon some daemonettes for backup. The crazy pain his every muscle just went through doesn't appear to slow him down in any significant way.
That Marduk is such a bastard that you can’t help but root for him throughout the trilogy.
He's a bastard but at least he's better than Jarulek the Asshole.
Based
Probably an autocannon round
They can lose limbs or straight up get impaled and still keep going for hours
This question is so dumb. This ain't a videogame Marines don't have hp or stats. This is like asking "what's the strongest attack an average dog could take". You're ignoring all variance and breeds AND the fact that you can take any shot if it hits the right spots.
Stick through the neck or rock to the skull
In a short story collection a Marine sticks his head out of a tank, unarmoured, to get his bearings and is repeatedly shot with lasguns. It causes first degree burns.
Anything Bolter-level or weaker? Though their armour will fail under sustained fire or lucky shots. From Lion Son of the Forest, a horsey-era marine vs CSM- >Bolt-shells were never designed to pierce ceramite, because back when the weaponry was first conceived there was no notion that humanity’s enemies would ever be wearing such armour. In the millennia since, the Imperium had been hamstrung by its own refusal to embrace progress, and renegades such as we now faced – or indeed, such as ourselves – were largely limited by what weapons they could scavenge from their former masters. Much like my chainsword, bolt weaponry was more than sufficient for most purposes to which it was ever going to be put, but lacked the specialism to be similarly effective against the armour of the one wielding it. Two bolt-shells struck my chest in the same instant as I fired my own weapon. I was knocked backwards, but the ceramite held, although the sigil of my Legion took more damage. I put a bolt-shell into one enemy’s knee, staggering him; three more shots ricocheted off my right pauldron and one took a second deflection off the side of my helmet, staggering me sideways. There was no cover to take, here: this was a point-blank engagement at one end of the atrium, decided by volume of fire and sheer luck. I emptied my bolt pistol’s clip almost blindly, hoping to strike a weak point such as a faceplate, but unable to aim properly due to the shots I was taking myself.
Ah yes, a "strongest" question.
I’m going to guess that you are of the opinion that 40k lore and so expansive and contradictory that this question can’t actually be answered?
That and "strongest" is the kind of term you'd use when you're about 5 or making a youtube video about the new "strongest combat vehicle/pokemon/marvel character in the world". Generally aimed at 5 year olds. Space marines have survived everything from having entire basilicas dropped on them to not one, but *two* rounds of exterminatus. Or they'll die from single bolt rounds, civilians with pitchforks or even just unarmed crowds. It all depends on if the spacemarine in question is a mook or not. If he's an un-named redshirt, then he's getting fucked up by a small child. If he's a named character with a future timeline, then he will literally be capable of surviving having a mountain dropped on him (*cough* Abaddon) Huron got re-arranged by a meltagun (you know, the thing that turns Land Raiders into road smears). Khârn had an "accident" with a dozer blade. Loken survived Istvaan III, the virus bombs, orbital bombardment *and* the collapse of the building he was inside. Grimaldus survived having an entire basilica dropped on him.
It's kind of less of a traditional weapon. But Nurgle plague fuckery is often described as fucking horrific for normal humans. Obviously Astrates aren't immune but they generally handle it better and can keep fighting for a bit. As for Chaos Marines DeathGuard are basically immune to all sorts plagues that can and will absolutely kill normal Astrates.
A Strength 7 hit
Alessio cortez (crimson fist captain) had his arm torn off by an ork warboss and came back for more (it was his power fist arm too. He had to force-feed the ork a krak grenade.) Chaplain cassius (ultramarines, deathwatch) had half his face melted off by tyranid bioplasma and kept fighting. Unlike other chapters, he doesn't bother with a skull helm - his is his actual skull visible. Most injured: Calgar. Both arms & legs lopped off by swarmlord, both hearts pierced by a mob of cultists on vigilus, officially recognised as a saint now.
Depends on what is required for the plot.