A Custodian standing next to a Space Marine in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.The Warhammer 40,000 universe is rich with so much lore that it would be impossible to cram everything into one game. As such, when it comes to a game like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, fans are left in the dark wondering whether their favorite facet of the Adeptus Astartes will appear or not. This could include the elite bodyguard of the Emperor himself, Adeptus Custodes.

While many may know these super soldiers as the best of the best, destined to a life of servitude as the guards of the Imperial Palace, Space Marine 2 is actually perfectly set for them to appear and fight alongside Titus and his squad. One of the many reasons the extremely positive Space Marine 2 reviews praised it was for its exploration of the wider 40K universe. So, it’s completely understandable for fans to assume that the Adeptus Custodes would appear.

The Adeptus Custodes Don’t Appear In Space Marine 2

They Aren’t Included In The Campaign Or Operations

Players standing together, ready to play in Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine's 2.
Warhammer Space Marine 2 Titus commander Marine with customization options. Titus fully armored holing a bolt gun in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2.Players standing together, ready to play in Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine's 2. Warhammer Space Marine 2 Titus commander Marine with customization options. Titus fully armored holing a bolt gun in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2.

The Adeptus Custodes do not appear in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 in any form. They don’t feature in the main campaign, even during Space Marine 2’s shocking ending, nor do they encounter the player in any of the Operations missions. Unfortunately, there currently isn’t even a way to cosplay as a Custodian, as the available armor sets do not include one that resembles the Adeptus Custodes.

This may not come as a great shock to most fans of the 40K universe, as the Custodians are typically resigned to guarding the Imperial Palace where the Emperor of Mankind resides. While they are substantially more powerful than a regular Space Marine, they aren’t generally used in combat, or at least they weren’t for an extremely long time. Instead, their sole purpose is to protect the Emperor, acting in more of a custodian role, hence the name, and less of an offensive one.

While the lack of their appearance hasn’t hurt Space Marine 2’s chances of becoming one of the best Warhammer games of all time, it certainly would have been a fan favorite moment and a great way to further explore their backstory and lore. However, while they haven’t appeared yet, it doesn’t mean they won’t be in a future Operations mission or even potentially DLC. After all, there’s certainly precedence for them appearing on the battlefield.

The Adeptus Custodes Were More Active During The Time Space Marine 2 Is Set

They Were A Key Part Of The Indomitus Crusade

A Space Marine holding a chainsword while walking with guardsmen, all following a tank through a muddy battlefield.

The Custodians have a complex history with combat, with some serving alongside the Emperor during his crusade as his own personal Custodian Guard. For the most part, it was a rare occurrence to see them in battle despite their enormous strength and combat abilities. However, during the time that Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is set, Roboute Guilliman, the Primarch of the Ultramarines Chapter, decided to finally put them to good use, taking many of the Custodians with him on the Indomitus Crusade.

For those wondering if they need to play Space Marine 1 before the sequel , it is worth noting that the Adeptus Custodes do not appear in that game either. They are completely absent from the first entry.

They were largely used to usher in the creation of the Primaris Space Marines, an advanced version of the Space Marine warrior that was taller, faster, and stronger. The Custodians, outside of following Guilliman into battle, existed to reassure the so-called “Firstborn” Space Marines that the existence of the Primaris technology was not only a good thing, but ordained by the Emperor himself. They took a far more active role during the Indomitus Crusade, and interacted with regular Space Marines in ways they simply had never done before.

The Adeptus Custodes Could Appear In Space Marine 2 DLC

They May Be Included In Future Operations Missions

Loyalist Space Marines fighting enemy Space Marine faction members in a forest.

This gives the perfect excuse for the Adeptus Custodes to appear in DLC or future Operations missions in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. There are absolutely logical reasons for them to turn up, potentially to even assist Titus in his attempts at culling the Chaos hordes. Seeing them in battle would certainly be an impressive moment for fans.

However, shortly after the start of Space Marine 2, Titus becomes a Primaris Space Marine. So, there wouldn’t be much reason for the Custodians to appear to let him know about the Primaris Space Marines in the first place. Alternatively, they could appear as a class in the PvP mode, or as a simple cosmetic, although one can only imagine the power imbalance of putting a Custodian against a regular Space Marine.

There is also the distinct possibility that the Adeptus Custodes will simply never appear in Space Marine 2. After all, while they are a significant part of the Era Indomitus, there is more than enough going on that excluding them seems reasonable. Fans will undoubtedly want to see them appear and have their lore fleshed out further, as well as see how they interact with other Space Marines, but for now, they’ll have to settle with their appearances in other Warhammer media.