After fans celebrated what appeared to be the decanonization of female Adeptus Custodes in The Ultimate Guide to Warhammer 40k, the book’s co-writer has come out to claim that, despite the intentional gendered language he himself oversaw in the guide, custodians can still be female.
Tyrith Shiva Kyrus in The Tithes Episode 2 (2024), Games Workshop
READ: Warhammer 40k Guide Appeared to Remove Female Adeptus Custodes From Canon
The Warhammer 40K universe, renowned for its dark and intricate lore, is facing a significant controversy that has ignited frustration and confusion within its dedicated fanbase.
The heart of the dispute revolves around the Adeptus Custodes—the Emperor of Mankind’s elite personal guards—and the contentious inclusion and subsequent perceived removal of female Custodes from the canon. This situation raises critical questions about Games Workshop’s commitment to maintaining coherent lore versus succumbing to pressures for forced diversity.
A screenshot of the Dark Angels Bulwark cosmetic for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (2024), Saber Interactive
Earlier this year, official Warhammer channels announced the introduction of female Adeptus Custodes, a move that ostensibly aimed to diversify the ranks of these revered warriors. However, this announcement was met with immediate backlash from a substantial portion of the community. Long-time fans and influential content creators vehemently opposed the change, arguing that it disrupted the established male-only tradition of the group.
It seemed as though Games Workshop had reversed course when X-user Wokehammer L’s and YouTuber Marshall Bohemond highlighted excerpts from The Ultimate Guide to Warhammer 40K, authored by senior writers Guy Haley and Gavin Thorpe.
pic.twitter.com/dPX3vzXdUH
— Wokehammer Ls (@wokehammerLs) December 25, 2024
READ: The Witcher 3 Directors & Other Devs Leave CDPR to Start Rival Studios
They pointed out the use of exclusively male pronouns and gender-specific terms like “brotherhoods,” which, in the views of many, indicated an intentional erasure of female custodians from the lore.
“Armies, or Shield Hosts, are formed from across all five orders. Dozens of other suborganizations, brotherhoods and groupings run through the orders such as the Companions, Wardens, Shadowkeepers, or Solar Watch.”
Another passage used exclusively male pronouns to describe the soldiers who protect the Emperor.
“As custodians accumulate victories, they are awarded a name to commemorate each one, though these are kept secret from those outside the legion and in public a Custodian will continue to use the name granted to him upon his investiture.”
Wokehammer L’s went as far as to showcase a physical copy of the guide, reinforcing the argument that Games Workshop was retracting its commitment to forced diversity within the Adeptus Custodes.
Amidst the growing discontent, Gavin Thorpe, co-author of The Ultimate Guide to Warhammer 40K, made a statement on the social platform BlueSky that has only deepened the confusion and controversy.
Thorpe clarified that female Custodes miniatures remain a canonical part of Warhammer 40K, stating, “Not every miniature is included, and I don’t recall exactly, but we may have already finished that section when the series/miniature went public. (DK didn’t have access to pre-release pics).”
At face value, Thorpe’s statement appears to affirm the inclusion of female Custodes. However, this contradicts the earlier narrative presented in his own lore guide, where male-centric language seemingly excluded them.
A screenshot from Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (2024), Focus Entertainment
This discrepancy raises suspicions of gaslighting—where conflicting information is provided to manipulate the community’s perception—suggesting that Games Workshop might be wavering between inclusivity and traditionalism without clear communication in what could be an effort to placate both sides of the issue.
To fully grasp the gravity of the current situation, it’s essential to consider Games Workshop’s historical approach to the Adeptus Custodes.
In April, the company made deliberate efforts to eliminate gendered language surrounding the Custodes and make the bold claim on X that they were always a part of canon.
A post on X in which Games Workshop attempts to retcon female custodians into Warhammer 40K – Warhammer on X
A notable Codex revision changed up earlier statements, removing language that restricted Custodian recruitment to males. It emphasized that potential Custodians are selected based on merit from noble Terran houses, regardless of gender. Previous codices explicitly stated that Custodians were recruited from the “infant sons of noble houses,” underscoring the prestigious and male-dominated nature of this honor.
These past retcon initiatives were extremely deliberate, yet the recent shift back to male-centric language in The Ultimate Guide to Warhammer 40K undermines these efforts.
A screenshot of a Hierophant Bio-Titan Tyranid in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (2024), Saber Interactive
The guide released on October 29th, a full six months after the initial retcon took place. With Games Workshop being so steadfast in its quest to rewrite canon for the sake of forced diversity, how is it possible that it allowed such gendered language through?
When publishing a book, small changes (like a pronoun tweak or elimination of the word “brotherhood”) can be made up to the “proof” stage, which takes place shortly before release. The final proof is typically done around a week before printing but can differ depending on the publisher.
A screenshot from Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (2024), Focus Entertainment
The inconsistency between Gavin Thorpe’s public affirmation of female Custodes and the male-centric language in the official guide raises serious concerns about Games Workshop’s internal coherence and transparency.
If female Custodes are indeed still canon, the guide’s language appears either negligent or deliberately misleading, exacerbating feelings of distrust among the fanbase.
The conflicting messages surrounding female Adeptus Custodes have left the Warhammer 40K community deeply divided. Fans who welcomed the inclusion of female Custodes felt betrayed by the apparent erasure and then emboldened by Thorpe’s comments. On the other hand, those opposed to the inclusion viewed the initial language in the guide as validation of their concerns only to see their hopes for renewed lore respect dashed when Thorpe said what he said on Blue Sky.
A screenshot from Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (2024), Focus Entertainment
This division has fostered a climate of mistrust, with many fans demanding clearer communication and consistency in the lore. The lack of a definitive stance from Games Workshop itself only serves to heighten frustration, as the community grapples with conflicting information and the perceived manipulation of canonical content.
Do you believe female Adeptus Custodes have been eliminated from canon? Is Thorpe gaslighting the fans or telling the truth? And if he’s telling the truth, why wasn’t the gendered language of the guide changed like the Warhammer 40K codex in the six months before its release? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
