Killing a Space Marine

[Zor]

This is one thing which i have been wondering about involving warhammer 40,000 which the fluff has been somewhat inconsistant in regards to. This is of course also something rather critical in debating how space marines would fare in verses debates. If there is a thread on this subject already, please link it.

I remember reading things such as Lasguns (which are rated at about 17 Megajoules per shot) being unable to penetrate Space Marine armor, while things such as Choppas being able to do considerable damage to space marines (with orks comming in the billions on planetary attacks compared to the much more rare Marines). I know that space marines are supposed to be superhuman death machines that can easily carve through hundreds of normal Human Soldiers like a chainsword through butter, but the question still stands on what would it take to put a perminant end to one of the Emperor's finest?

Zor

[loomer]

A bullet to the brain is generally sufficient to finish off a Space Marine, if it's of a sufficient size. Similarly, the vaporization of the head or torso will also put them down for good. Those two are pretty much absolute guarantees. The only issue is, you also have to get through that crazy fucking armour first.

Generally speaking, severe trauma should be enough to do it. Take off an arm and keep it from clotting, even a Marine'll bleed out. High velocity penetrators into the chest and abdomen will probably fuck them up too.

Of course, if you're a necron, it becomes as simple as 'point, click, no more marine'.

[Shroom Man 777]

In Abnett's literature, Space Marines can get killed by getting stabbed by a (poisoned) knife by another (Chaos) Space Marine, though it could've been at a weak spot. A Space Marine with his face exposed also got shot in the face. Another Marine got mobbed by deranged Chaos-maddened villagers and got torn to pieces, by farming implements if I recall correctly.

In the Ciaphas Cain books, meltaguns do the trick while Cain himself was able to kill a shot-up marine in close quarters combat with a chainsaw. But Cain is a total hardass.

EDIT:

Choppas can kill Marines because Orks are crazy and have got the Waaaaagh! and shit.

[open_sketchbook]

Basically, a normal bullet or a lasgun shot can kill a Marine but it has to be a lucky goddamn shot, hitting a weak point and doing enough damage. Reliable kills are basically limited to heavy anti-tank weapons, power fists/claws and really big artillery.

Ork Choppas only go through Marine armour because of the gestalt psychic field the Orks have, which causes the axe to cut as they believe it should cut when swung.

[Ghost Rider]

So I'll ask this.

Why don't you dig through the Sapce Marine material we have here, and see what is the considered low end of durability instead of asking a question that might as well be as vague as what can kill a Norse god.

Lock, because the initial statement is just about puttering around instead of using the material.