Most powerful 40k race? (lore-wise)

[AlanOC91]

Something I often like to do is try figure out who could potentially wipe out all other races in the 40k universe. There can be so many factors to take into consideration for each race that you can end up rooting for multiple races.
I am constantly reading the 40k wikis as I love the universe and the games (never played the TT).

I have always leaned towards either the Necrons or the Tyranids to be the most powerful. The Necrons seem to move slowly across the galaxy but also seem to destroy everything they encounter.
Same story with the Tyranids except they seem to devour galaxies at a much more rapid rate from what I have gathered.

My mate also once told me that if every single Ork clan managed to unite then they would easily be the most powerful due to the sheer number of them.

Also, am I right in thinking that the Imperium of Man is almost extinct and that they had to ally themselves with the Eldar? (and vice-versa)

So, in your opinion. Who is the most powerful 40k race?

Also, if any of you know any good books to read up on 40k lore I would appreciate it!

NOTICE: This is all opinion based. Please do not attack people based on their opinions. This is just for fun :)

[Murtle]

Need more threads like this.....fascinating.

[Legion]

İlk olarak -(SCP)-folklore(-{K.O.E}-) tarafından gönderildi:

İlk olarak bytestream64 tarafından gönderildi:

Havent played the last 3 editions so the lore might have changed but based on what I know from back when I played I would go with Tyranids. The swarm fleets currently invading our galaxis are just a tiny part of the whole race, countless more of them are out there in the void or in other galaxies absorbing all the biomass they can get.
And if that wouldn't be enough there are some books that discribe the hive mind to be powerful enough to suppress the Warp itself, which drastically limits the powers of Psykers and even hinders demons from entering our world.

They do indeed have that ability. I don't know about daemons, but a hive fleet has a visibile signature in the warp, that is best described as a shadow. Many pyskers or at least those of lower caliber are much more likely to burn themselves out or have other nasty things happen to them. Now it is of note, that eldar, chaos sorcerors/psykers, and orks suffer very little, if any damage unless trying to fight the hive mind through direct psionics.

This is no gurauntee that it will win. In dawn of war 2 librarian jonah survived direct contact with the hive mind. Though many of the pyskers and fellow librarians with him did die. They did succeed in their goal, and brought the third company of the blood ravens through the warp past the hive mind's influence.

I'm fairly certain that there have been cases where when the 'nid hive arrived in a sector, the psychic presence was so powerful that some human psyker's heads literally popped off... but otherwise you're right I think. I can't recall a single mention of the eldar or chaos being too terribly bothered to that degree by the shadow caused by the Hive mind, but I of course always am open to the fact that I could have missed something.

[Legion]

So I'm sensing an underdog here but I feel that the Imperium of Man could be considered the most powerful race in some respect. i say this because despite their leader being in a psychic coma essentially, and facing corruption (both heretical and political), and various ineffeciencies (such as a lack of technological progress) the Imperium still stands after being the focus of xenos attacks from the Tyranids, Eldar, Dark Eldar, Tau, Orkz, Necrons, and Chaos and yet haven't lost too much (if any) ground. Furthermore they have the Space Marines, whose very presence can turn the tide of battle in the Imperiums favor. They have put down multiple Chaos campaigns, killed Hive Queens, destroyed tomb worlds (via Exerminatus), and put down Ork WARRGHS. This is despite being limited to 1000 brothers for each chapter and being continually hassled by the Inquisiton. Then theres the Inquistion, normal humans who are able to stand up to the terrors of the Warp and at their word can order and Exterminatus and purge a world clean of all life, it doesn't matter if the planet is covered with Orks, or the 'nids decided to make the planet their personal buffet, it will be purged in the name of the Emperor. Of course some time it's because of suspected heresy and countless humans loose their lives. BUT, that leads me to my next point, that humanity has so many people that essentially mass-nuking an entire world doesn't even hurt their numbers all too much. Then theres the Imperial Guard, a faction which is the paragon of "we have reserves" and whose soliders who can be described as cannon fodder at best. However they can field massive numbers, which occasionally can put a Ork warband or nid force to shame. Ciaphas Cane for example (HERO OF THE IMPERIUM!) is a meer human but has fought off genestealers and won, and he's just one man and he can fight the xenos and win.

So while ineffcient at times, the fact that the Imperium still stands is a testament to its strength as a faction and as people loved to state that if all the Orkz would unite they would faceroll across the universe, I would like to postulate a theory for the Imperium of Man. If they could unite completely (no more chaos worship, political backstabbing, etc.) begin to start researching new technology, and remove the limit on the numbers of Space Marines; I feel the Imperium would be a force to be reckoned with.

Also theres the idea that if the Emperor truely would die, he would become a god in the Warp, and then humanity would have its greatest defender able to actively aid them in their endless war.

[Lucious]

İlk olarak grungegetto tarafından gönderildi:

i just want that 40k mmo the one thq was making. to be picked up by some one. that game would be fun or even a remake of epic 40k final liberation the old dos one ♥♥♥♥ i love that game and i still play it

You are in luck. http://www.eternalcrusade.com/

[Atermi]

Most powerful lore-wise: The Imperium.
Most powerful potentially: Tyranids, who are unstoppable and are described as an ever-multiplying scourge for all living.

The best of what Orks could offer was beaten by men numerous times. And as the bloodthirsty warbeasts they totally fade compared to Tyranids.

[Mordred of Fairy]

Well, i read quite some parts of this thread, but i'll have to stay with my initial belief:

Tyranids.
First, they are incursing from outside the galaxy...quite likely they already stripped one or more(considering angles) galaxys clean of life, giving them an immense amount of biomass.

Secondly: If they simply expand outward towards all new galaxies from those they consumed, then those first incursions do by far not represent the full power they could bring to bear, as not all galaxys may be so "covered" with battle-hardened races, which, assuming an equal distribution of assault forces, would mean they could "shift back" towards such tougher nuts to crack and kick the invasion into overdrive with an army worth the biomass of 1-2 whole galaxies.

Thirdly: They consume. They die? Thats just more biomass. Losses are meaningless to a hive fleet. While most other races get worn down, they just reabsorb.

Fourthly: They are guided by a hivemind. Unlikey the orcly competitors, there is no infighting. There is no "need to unite" that can be negated. All you can do is take out a synapse creature to make them fight for themselves until a new one takes over. Any additional losses you manage to deal them? See third point.

Fifth: They are a shadow in the warp and not guided by emotion, but a rather basic desire to devour worlds. Chaos gains no strenght from them.

Sixth: They avoid necron Tomb Worlds because there's nothing for them there. While the necrons ARE immensely powerful, they'll be faced with the humiliation of being ignored by Tyranids. Unless:...(continued in 7)

Seven: They evolve faster than and more flexible than all other races...They adapt to their foes.
So, once all other races in this galaxy are gone, the hivemind may just as well turn his attention to learning how to devour and integrate beings of living metal into the swarm...focusing a whole galaxys worth of biomass plus whatever the invasion force brought in on the solitary goal of wiping out the necron tomb worlds.

Eight: They are tools for a purpose. There is no overhead. There are no arts, no consumer goods, no luxuries, no deliberation, no morals, no attrition, no hope. They WILL overcome.

Lorewise, though, that will take a long time...not that they are in a hurry, but the other races are pretty save from a fluff perspective on staying alive in the universe. Unless they bring out Warhammer 50k: Tyranids vs Necron Edition.

[Mojojojo]

Most "powerful": Chaos / Eldar

The Eldar, through their hubris created a Chaos god (Slaanesh).
Chaos has existed before time and will continue after time too.

Most dangerous: Tyranids

Most lore points towards the fact that the Tyranids are a threat from beyond the galaxy and all the confrontations so far have been nothing compared to "the big one" that's going to arrive eventually.
The Tyranids also devour all biomass in order to replenish and produce more soldiers/ships/everything. Every planet that lost its defence force would then sacrifice all the "civilians" (be they human, ork, eldar etc.) which only go to increase the overall biomass of the swarm. The Necrons technically have no "biomass", but just don't have the numbers to battle the threat of the Tyranids.

Speculation like "Well if all the Orks united..." is interesting to a point, but the Orks are not united, and shouldn't be considered so for this arguement. Same goes for gods fightning gods, while it has happened, such as Harlequin vs C'tan (iirc), currently they are not actively participating and should not be considered.

[Plasma Jesus & Knuckles]

Chaos. Destroyed the Eldar and effectively destroyed the Imperium as well. Plus daemons are immortal and the gods are insanely powerful. If they finally kicked Abaddon to the curb they'd take over most of the universe withing 20 minutes.

[j.rubino]

Blaspheme! Heretics and Xeno sympathisers! burn in cleansing flame...... None can stand the fury of the Adeptus Astartes!! Baal's finest struck the ♥♥♥♥♥ in Horus's armour thus allowing the Emperor to finally smite the beast down. Without Sanguinius sacrifice, the galaxy would be lost to Chaos' hellish desires. An Inquisitorial death squad has your location, & your demise is a foregone conclusion..... Better to diefor the Emperor than to live for yourself....

[[$entinel]]

İlk olarak j.rubino tarafından gönderildi:

Blaspheme! Heretics and Xeno sympathisers! burn in cleansing flame...... None can stand the fury of the Adeptus Astartes!! Baal's finest struck the ♥♥♥♥♥ in Horus's armour thus allowing the Emperor to finally smite the beast down. Without Sanguinius sacrifice, the galaxy would be lost to Chaos' hellish desires. An Inquisitorial death squad has your location, & your demise is a foregone conclusion..... Better to diefor the Emperor than to live for yourself....

CLEANSE PURGE KILL!

[Trash_Jackson TTV]

Individually, Chaos champions are the strongest, such as corrupted primarchs. I'm sure (because of plot and character shields), Angron could single handedly take on a hive fleet.

But like orcs, Chaos breaks down because of in fighting, ambition and the whim of fickle gods.

I mean, IF WH40K were reality, tyranids would be hands down the most powerful race from just a logical standpoint. 1 genestealer can bare handed kill a terminator? The most powerful of all powerful unit? That's pretty broken. Oh wait, there are a trillion genestealers?

My favorite faction are always human factions..... Being a human and all. I have to always root for "team people". But GW made some of their races WAY too powerful, and the only reason humans overcome them seem to be because of Deus Machina.

[Folklore]

İlk olarak Xellos of Fairy tarafından gönderildi:

Well, i read quite some parts of this thread, but i'll have to stay with my initial belief:

Tyranids.
First, they are incursing from outside the galaxy...quite likely they already stripped one or more(considering angles) galaxys clean of life, giving them an immense amount of biomass.

Secondly: If they simply expand outward towards all new galaxies from those they consumed, then those first incursions do by far not represent the full power they could bring to bear, as not all galaxys may be so "covered" with battle-hardened races, which, assuming an equal distribution of assault forces, would mean they could "shift back" towards such tougher nuts to crack and kick the invasion into overdrive with an army worth the biomass of 1-2 whole galaxies.

Thirdly: They consume. They die? Thats just more biomass. Losses are meaningless to a hive fleet. While most other races get worn down, they just reabsorb.

Fourthly: They are guided by a hivemind. Unlikey the orcly competitors, there is no infighting. There is no "need to unite" that can be negated. All you can do is take out a synapse creature to make them fight for themselves until a new one takes over. Any additional losses you manage to deal them? See third point.

Fifth: They are a shadow in the warp and not guided by emotion, but a rather basic desire to devour worlds. Chaos gains no strenght from them.

Sixth: They avoid necron Tomb Worlds because there's nothing for them there. While the necrons ARE immensely powerful, they'll be faced with the humiliation of being ignored by Tyranids. Unless:...(continued in 7)

Seven: They evolve faster than and more flexible than all other races...They adapt to their foes.
So, once all other races in this galaxy are gone, the hivemind may just as well turn his attention to learning how to devour and integrate beings of living metal into the swarm...focusing a whole galaxys worth of biomass plus whatever the invasion force brought in on the solitary goal of wiping out the necron tomb worlds.

Eight: They are tools for a purpose. There is no overhead. There are no arts, no consumer goods, no luxuries, no deliberation, no morals, no attrition, no hope. They WILL overcome.

Lorewise, though, that will take a long time...not that they are in a hurry, but the other races are pretty save from a fluff perspective on staying alive in the universe. Unless they bring out Warhammer 50k: Tyranids vs Necron Edition.

I'd like to point out several things. First the Necrons already almost wiped the galaxy clean of life, they had to stop has food for the C'tan before they were overthrown was getting scarce. Second Necron weapons don't leave behind biomass, they strip them apart atomically.
The reliance on a pyshic link is both an increadible strength that gives them unity that is hard to beat, at the same time it is a weakness. Both humans and the necrons have ways of severinga link besides killing the synapse creatures. Necrons invented the pariah gene which is what gives humans the ability to dampen or eliminate psionic connections. Necrons themselves can seperate the warp from realility.
Another point i'd like to bring up, necrons hate psionics. Generally unless directed otherwise they will start seeking out the nearest area with the highest amount of psykers and destroy it. They will also destroy anything in the way, but thats just part of the job description.
Anyway the hiveminds might as a psionic creature will act as a beacon telling necrons kill this thing.
Number eight applies to the necrons, and orks as well.

[Folklore]

İlk olarak Demoth tarafından gönderildi:

Individually, Chaos champions are the strongest, such as corrupted primarchs. I'm sure (because of plot and character shields), Angron could single handedly take on a hive fleet.

But like orcs, Chaos breaks down because of in fighting, ambition and the whim of fickle gods.

I mean, IF WH40K were reality, tyranids would be hands down the most powerful race from just a logical standpoint. 1 genestealer can bare handed kill a terminator? The most powerful of all powerful unit? That's pretty broken. Oh wait, there are a trillion genestealers?

My favorite faction are always human factions..... Being a human and all. I have to always root for "team people". But GW made some of their races WAY too powerful, and the only reason humans overcome them seem to be because of Deus Machina.

Ahh the primarchs. In some ways they actually have their powers decreased by becomming daemon princes. While their physical, and sorceror powers are increased; they can no longer leave the warp or come and go as they please.
For example Magnus the red. Many times has the thousand sons tried to summon him outside the eye of terror. Every time they have failed, as magnus has been forced back into the warp before he could fully materialize. The space wolves in particular seem to show up at the worst time for him. Angron himself had this happen to him via grey knights.

[HesH]

İlk olarak toonzmei tarafından gönderildi:

Judging from the tabletop , the Imperial Guard are certianly the strongest. :D

in some cases yes but a lot no. they have large numbers the have verry weak moral. verry and i mean verry suseptiable to the taint of chaos. allthough they have the holy tech priests and the mars factorys and ravager class and warlord class titans. but chaos at the great betral battle at the god emp palace. the managed to convert a titan and commit it to the warp. and have yet to feild. it the eldar also have a few titans but not as many. the orks have a few diffrent kinds but often break down. and even the nids have titans. look at epic 40k that shows you the sheer scale of what the battles would be like

http://onyxworkshop.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/legio-victorum-2.jpg

[*Primach*]

As of current state, i'd say: Chaos, if you look back to what tge different races have achieved through time, then necrons, though they are nothing compared to what they used to be, even they're overall leader: The Silent King, finds the tyranids a foe that they cannot fight alone.

Necrons have a device on a world, that is a copy of the entire galaxy that it is in, and if they so wish, they can "destroy" any point in space by simply removing its counterpart copy in the stellar copy.

However, Chaos is Eternal. Each of the gods feed on different aspects of emotions, actions, war, creation and so on.. There is a whole seperate endless realm, which they control and dominate, even further, areas of real-space that has been completly claimed by Chaos, will bend completly to their will (Such as a World of Khorne, where everyone who is on the planet, can never leave, and is forced to endless war, reborn upon death). And these worlds are not even part of the true Chaos Realm.

Chaos like Tyranids spans more than a single galexy, as evident by tyranids traversing the great void, between galexies, but Chaos does the same, they are present in all of reality, even past the universe that Warhammer 40.000 is.

Tyranid needs biomass, Chaos does not. Chaos weaknesses are that of their siblings, Tyranids has many, as already discussed by others.