TheWarhammer 40,000universe 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 likeWarhammer 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 2is actually perfectly set for them to appear and fight alongside Titus and his squad. One of the many reasons the extremely positiveSpace Marine 2reviewspraised it was for its exploration of the wider40Kuniverse. 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
The Adeptus Custodes do not appear inWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2in any form. They don’t feature in the main campaign, even duringSpace Marine 2’sshocking 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 the40Kuniverse, 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.

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While the lack of their appearance hasn’t hurtSpace Marine 2’schances of becoming one of thebestWarhammergames 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
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 thatWarhammer 40,000:Space Marine 2is 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 theyneed to playSpace Marine 1before 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
This gives the perfect excuse for the Adeptus Custodes to appear in DLC or future Operations missions inWarhammer 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 ofSpace 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.

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There is also the distinct possibility that the Adeptus Custodes will simply never appear inSpace 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 otherWarhammermedia.