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Quizzes > Books & Literature

Horus Heresy legion quiz: test your knowledge of key events

Quick, free Warhammer 40k legion test. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Josh KleinUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for Horus Heresy Legion events quiz on dark blue background

This Horus Heresy legion quiz helps you check your recall of key battles and turning points, from Isstvan to Terra, and learn a detail or two along the way. Warm up with our Space Marine legion quiz, find out which primarch are you, or broaden your knowledge with a Warhammer lore quiz.

On which planet did Horus first fall to Chaos, marking the beginning of his betrayal?
Istvaan V
Davin
Ullanor
Prospero
Horus's fall to Chaos occurred on Davin, where he was mortally wounded and then healed by the Warmaster's own ambitions, leading to his corruption. This event is depicted in 'Horus Rising' and is a critical turning point in the Heresy. Davin's ritual and the influence of Erebus sealed Horus's fate as the traitor Warmaster.
Which Primarch commanded the Iron Warriors when they betrayed the loyalist legions on Istvaan III?
Lion El'Jonson
Rogal Dorn
Leman Russ
Perturabo
Perturabo, Primarch of the Iron Warriors, led his legion in the betrayal of loyalist forces on Istvaan III during the Drop Site Massacre. His mastery of siege warfare made the Iron Warriors key agents in Horus's ambush. This act cemented the Iron Warriors as traitors early in the Heresy.
What was the name of Horus's flagship during the Siege of Terra?
Vengeful Spirit
Despoiler
Fate of Konor
Emperor's Fury
Horus commanded the forces of Chaos from his flagship, the Vengeful Spirit, throughout the Siege of Terra. This mighty battle barge served as his mobile command center and symbol of his power. The Vengeful Spirit's presence over Terra became synonymous with the final assault.
On which world did the Ultramarines suffer a brutal betrayal at the hands of the Word Bearers?
Macragge
Colchis
Terra
Calth
The Battle of Calth saw the Word Bearers ambush the Ultramarines in a devastating betrayal. The heretekal virus bombardment and surprise pod strike turned the defense into a slaughter. It remains one of the Horus Heresy's most infamous acts of treachery.
Which battle directly preceded Horus's mortal wounding by the Emperor's forces, setting the stage for his eventual corruption?
Strike on Isstvaan V
Battle of Signus Prime
Council of Nikaea
Scouring of Istvaan III
The Battle of Signus Prime resulted in Horus being grievously wounded when his ship, the Vengeful Spirit, was crippled by the Emperor's forces. This near-death experience made him vulnerable to Chaos manipulation. It is the pivotal moment before his true betrayal.
Which Primarch blatantly defied the Edict of Nikaea by openly using psychic powers, leading to the infamous Council of Nikaea?
Lorgar Aurelian
Magnus the Red
Corax
Jaghatai Khan
Magnus the Red's use of psychic sorcery forced the Emperor to call the Council of Nikaea to curb psychic powers within the Legiones Astartes. His defiance nearly resulted in civil conflict among the Primarchs. The council ultimately forbade the use of such powers in the Legions.
Which Primarch was left for dead during the Isstvaan V purges but survived to continue fighting in the Heresy?
Mortarion
Sanguinius
Ferrus Manus
Lorgar
Mortarion and his Death Guard were abandoned on Isstvaan V by Horus's forces and left to perish. Mortarion survived the acid mists of the planet and later pledged himself fully to Nurgle. His survival marked one of the most notorious acts of treachery in the Heresy.
Which Chaos God is most closely associated with Horus during the Horus Heresy?
Tzeentch
Nurgle
Slaanesh
Khorne
Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways, embodies plots, ambition, and deception, fitting Horus's arc of betrayal and manipulation. Horus came under Tzeentch's influence after his near-fatal wounding on Signus Prime. This alliance fueled much of the scheming that unfolded during the Heresy.
Who led the final ground assault on the Imperial Palace during the Siege of Terra after Horus was incapacitated?
Abaddon
Mortarion
Angron
Horus
After Horus was wounded aboard the Vengeful Spirit, Abaddon, his first captain, took command of the traitor forces to press the final assault on the Imperial Palace. Abaddon's leadership during those final hours established his legend among Chaos. His actions set the stage for his later rise in the wake of Horus's fall.
What was the name of Garviel Loken's strike cruiser, from which he led the defense on Istvaan V?
Hereticus
Fearless
Iterum
Vindex
Garviel Loken commanded the strike cruiser Vindex before the betrayal on Istvaan V. He led the Loyalists' ground forces and tried to save as many survivors as he could. The Vindex remains a key part of Loken's legacy in the Horus Heresy novels.
Which Primarch was notably absent from Horus's triumphant Ullanor Crusade debut?
Horus
Fulgrim
Ferrus Manus
Lorgar Aurelian
Lorgar was absent from the Ullanor Crusade, having been relegated to a religious retreat by the Emperor after his worship of the Imperial Cult was condemned. His absence illustrated the growing rifts among the Primarchs even before the Heresy erupted. The Crusade was otherwise seen as a high point of Imperial unity.
Which legion among the following turned against the loyalist forces on Istvaan III's Drop Site Massacre?
Emperor's Children
Death Guard
Sons of Horus
Iron Warriors
The Iron Warriors were among the four traitor legions (alongside the Word Bearers, Alpha Legion, and Night Lords) who turned on their brothers at Istvaan III. They massacred loyalists as part of Horus's plan to eliminate opposition. The betrayal shattered the Legiones Astartes.
What was the working title of the codex-like doctrine drafted during the Heresy that later evolved into the Codex Astartes?
Liber Malus
Codicil Terra
Legiones Astartes
Librarium Imperialis
The 'Legiones Astartes' was the primary doctrinal tome drafted by the Ultramarines and the Emperor during the Heresy to codify legion-based tactics and organization. After the Heresy, it was refined into the Codex Astartes. The treatise remains a foundational text in Imperial history.
During the final duel aboard the Vengeful Spirit, which weapon did Horus wield against the Emperor?
Terminus Est
The Talon of Horus
Malice
The Axe of Horus
Horus bore the Talon of Horus, a massive power claw, in his final confrontation with the Emperor aboard the Vengeful Spirit. This weapon embodied his rank as Warmaster and was key in their cataclysmic duel. The Talon's destruction alongside Horus marked the end of the Heresy.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Complete the Horus Heresy Legion Quiz Challenge -

    Test your knowledge by naming every major event in the Horus Heresy saga and gauge your score against fellow Warhammer 40k enthusiasts.

  2. Identify Key Battles of the Horus Heresy -

    Recall the most pivotal engagements featured in our quiz and understand their impact on the conflict's outcome.

  3. Analyze Legion Allegiances and Rebellions -

    Distinguish which Space Marine Legions stayed loyal to the Emperor and which turned traitor during crucial Heresy moments.

  4. Recall Dramatic Plot Twists and Betrayals -

    Summarize the surprise betrayals and narrative shocks that defined the rise and fall of the Warmaster Horus.

  5. Compare Motivations of Primarchs and the Warmaster -

    Evaluate the personal drives and external pressures that influenced each primarch's decisions during the Horus Heresy.

  6. Evaluate Strategic Turning Points -

    Assess how key decisions and battlefield tactics shifted the balance of power throughout the galactic civil war.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Horus's Corruption on Davin -

    Dive into the moment Warmaster Horus succumbed to Chaos on the moon of Davin, as chronicled in the Black Library Archives. Use the mnemonic "Blood on the Moon" to remember Horus's chalice ritual, which is a must-know for any horus heresy quiz or horus heresy legion quiz challenge.

  2. Dropsite Massacre on Isstvan V -

    The betrayal at Isstvan V saw three loyalist legions ambushed by traitors, reshaping galactic power (source: Warhammer 40k Lexicanum). Recall "Five Zones, Five Deaths" to map each Drop Site and its doomed legion, a handy trick for Horus Heresy events quizzing.

  3. Siege of Terra -

    Study the two-year Siege of Terra, the climactic defense of the Emperor's Palace against Horus's forces, outlined in official Imperium records. Visualize the walls of the Palace as concentric rings of defense - "Ring, Fall, Stand" - to lock down the final Horus Heresy trivia.

  4. Primarch Allegiances: Loyalist vs. Traitor -

    Memorize the split of Primarchs (nine loyalists, nine traitors) using the phrase "Nine Two Sides" to instantly sort each legion's allegiance (source: Games Workshop Codex). Knowing which Primarch led which legion is essential for acing any Warhammer 40k Horus Heresy quiz.

  5. Chaos Gods' Influence -

    Explore how Khorne, Tzeentch, Nurgle, and Slaanesh manipulated key events - summarized in the Chaos Compendium - to steer Horus's rebellion. The acronym "TSKN" (Tzeentch, Slaanesh, Khorne, Nurgle) helps cement which god fueled which turning point in Horus Heresy events quizzes.

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