Dreadnought

Dreadnoughts are the siege walkers of the Space Marines. They're piloted by a Space Marine who almost died, but survived only with the Emperor's grace and loads of plot-armor favoritism. If the apothecaries managed to save the life of a marine from wounds that would out-right kill a Space Marine (Which is saying a lot since they can take as much punishment as a heavy battle tank), but can't be restored to battle-capable condition anymore, the marine has the option of being interred into a Dreadnought and pilot it from the confines of his armored sarcophagus.

Dreadnoughts are incredibly tough and their pilots even tougher; they're totally fearless and won't mind that they're gonna die a painful death under the hail of anti-armor fire. In fact, the only way to technically kill a Dread is by destroying the Sarcophagus or blowing it up completely. Some Dreadnoughts contain the oldest warriors in the Imperium; at least one, Bjorn of the Space Wolves, is older than the Horus Heresy. As such, they generally have a ton of combat experience.

Tabletop wise, Dreads are an effective all-rounder and are fairly cheap to boot. They're good at any role they're tooled for, whether that's punching tanks to pieces or mowing infantry down from a distance with weapons like the assault cannon or lascannon. You can also deep-strike them in Drop Pods, ensuring hilarity when you get lucky and they end up where they precisely need to be.

Do note, however, that many enemies focus anti-armor weapons on them (especially if there isn't a Land Raider to distract them. A footslogging Dread, without heavy use of cover, probably won't get very far, relying on the deep striking Drop Pods to get them where they need to go.

On another note, Blood Angels like to lock psykers up in them, creating unholy amalgamations called Furioso Librarians. In addition to the badassery above, Furioso Librarians are capable of flying. WAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRDDDDDDDDDD.

Meme

Even in death, the mighty Astartes warrior still serves for the Emperor.

"Even in death, I still serve" was a phrase scattered throughout Warhammer 40k, but it didn't become a meme until the original Dawn of War game, where it's one of the Dreadnought's more common quotes.

The making of a Dreadnought

1: Take 1 outstandingly badass Space Marine

2: Shoot him in the kneecaps, puncture a couple of his lungs, break some bones, and make sure he is good and properly fucked up.

3: Leave the dying body on the doorstep of some Adeptus Mechanicus guy

4: ???

5: PROFIT!!! DREADNOUGHT!!!

Gallery

• 
  After his internment into a Dreadnought, Brother koolaidius has specialized in dynamic entry at any location, usually attending to battle brothers with refreshment needs.
• 
  Fear the fucking Breadnought.
• 
  Even in death, I still fuck your army.
• 
  I have come to destroy your anus.
• 
  The Dreadnoughts of the Angry Marines are also known as the Belligerent Engines.
• 
  Suck it.

See Also

• Tankred
• Donovan
• Chaos Dreadnought, the evil (well, more evil) version
• Grandpa Dreadnought
• Bjorn the Fell Handed, of the Space Wolves, and the oldest living Space Marine in the Imperium.
• Davian Thule, of the Blood Ravens, also known as Davian Cool.
• Belligerent Engine, a catch-all term for the Dreadnoughts of the Angry Marines.
• Spared, a short story about a Dreadnought and some Tau.
• Entombed, a not-so-short story about a Dreadnought.