Favorite Pre-Primarch Legions?

[Icarus1138]

With Malevolence out, we now have details on what all but one of the legions were like in their initial incarnation. I'm interested in everyone's take: what are your favorites, and why? I personally enjoyed how different and unique the IXth legion was, the Vth being in essence many many mini-chapters was very cool, and the XVth had an interesting look and culture all of their own.

[Captain_Krash]

I love my Night Lords but even they were pretty screwed up Pre Konrad...

 

My favorite has to be the Warhounds. A loyal, honorable, and brotherhood focused legion. That. And I really love Khârn

 

Krash

[No Foes Remain]

Is all of them a valid answer? They all had cool stuff that were lost when their primarchs were united with them and though in universe it was mostly for the better, some were better without them and are a cool reason as to why the primarchs weren't always the best for the legions.

[Leif Bearclaw]

Somewhat strangely, given my distaste for their later form, it's the XVII. A legion of Fahrenheit Firemen is plenty cool, and a unique expression of the darker side of the Imperial Truth era (which sometimes get flanderised into '40k with the serial numbers filed off'). The only bit I find weird is how easily they apparently went from 'Iconoclast' to 'Scripture and Verse'. Although it would've been pretty funny if, having realised what he was doing, the Ashen Circle just dogpiled Lorgar one day and killed him for trying to spread false religion (except of course, then none of the plot would work ).

[Kelborn]

Hm... Still reading Malevolance but as of now and due to the following reasons: War Hounds (basically honorable Warriors Like Russ Vlka without the Viking schtick), Terran Night Lords (necessary monsters for a brighter Future) and Terran XIXth (Charcharodons and Nomad Predation Fleets).

 

We got several Legions which didn't differ from when they were reunited with their Primarchs, like the Fists or the Sons, though.

Difficult to decide.

[Marshal Rohr]

Terran Raven Guard are my favorite

[bluntblade]

Storm Walkers and Dusk Raiders for me.

[Elzender]

Somewhat strangely, given my distaste for their later form, it's the XVII. A legion of Fahrenheit Firemen is plenty cool, and a unique expression of the darker side of the Imperial Truth era (which sometimes get flanderised into '40k with the serial numbers filed off'). The only bit I find weird is how easily they apparently went from 'Iconoclast' to 'Scripture and Verse'. Although it would've been pretty funny if, having realised what he was doing, the Ashen Circle just dogpiled Lorgar one day and killed him for trying to spread false religion (except of course, then none of the plot would work ).

You know, I would actually like to make a small force of Imperial Heralds that were forgotten about and come back mid-Heresy, just to go full berserk when they find out what Lorgar did (if I do it, it would be either shattered legions with another legion, don't know which one yet, or blackshields, although I would lose in the Ashen circle, which got a nice buff in the last beta rules, and whose models I really like).

[Charlo]

Dusk Raiders were cool as hell.

 

Quite partial to the XIIIth War-Born too.

 

While similar, proto Salamanders are also amazing for the Tempest galleries alone.

[lordhellblade]

I'm with no foes remain in liking all the pre primarch legion, but the Vth, IXth and Dusk Raiders are my top picks.  The Pre Russ VIth are pretty cool just for having Space Marine Commissars. 

[b1soul]

The Pioneer Companies. Essentially hundreds of 40K-size chapters each with its own culture.

[Pacific81]

The Pioneer Companies. Essentially hundreds of 40K-size chapters each with its own culture.

 

I'm deeply torn about whether I'd like to read about things like this (i.e. for their to be more background about the Unification Wars, proto-astartes etc.) On the one hand it would be super cool to know more details, on the other hand it is still interesting that there is this vague background that we can wonder about and fill with our own imaginations.

 

I suppose it's kind of like the Heresy was before the card game and Collected Visions came along - at the beginning you could make more or less anything you wanted, and their wasn't an official account to conflict it, now we pretty much have a full account of everything from who wore what armour where to the bowel movements of all 18 primarchs for the entirety of the Heresy. Which does dispel some of the magic somewhat. 

[UtariOnzo]

We still have the mystery of the two ‘missing’ legions to scratch that itch, but yeah technically they fell some time before the Heresy itself.

 

Anyways, as per the OP, I have to say the 1st intrigues me. Being the proto-legion, the whole shtick with Astelan and so on. That’s followed up by the Dusk Raiders and the War Hounds.

[Pacific81]

I definitely think the War Hounds take the prize for being most adversely affected by their Primarch. It doesn't seem like there was much very notable about them, but they certainly seemed pretty competent. Then came along Angron who was a really, really bad choice of leader beyond his rubbish name, and made the whole Legion nose-dive in a pretty short space of time by the sound of things (in fact, you have to wonder what the hell the big E was thinking!)

 

(UtariOnzo - excellent avatar by the way!)

[Kelborn]

Gonna add the pre Khan Vth Legion. Pioneer companies are perfect to create your own forces/ implement your own ideas / introduce future successors.

 

Funny as I had a similar idea for my Predators Legion. :)

[Daemon Prince Marbas]

War Hounds

[Droz_64]

Pre-Perty Iron Warriors were pretty badass, albeit  somewhat morbid. And the nickname the "Corpse Grinders" is amazing. 

[bluntblade]

I'm pretty sure the "Corpse Grinders" epithet came in after Perturabo took charge. Let me find my copy of Extermination , though.

 

Edit: confirmed, it was due to Perturabo's methods.

[Marshal Loss]

The Terran RG were deliciously grim - they take the cake for me.

[Daemon Prince Marbas]

Actually I take that back, the Alpha Legion back when they were just nicknamed the Ghost Legion.

[Ekim_Trub]

The XIXth Legion before Corax intrigues me greatly. (As does the Raven Guard with Corax though.)

[noigrim]

Emps children even back then they were fab