Age of Sigmar/Tactics/Chaos/Slaves to Darkness

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Grand Alliance Chaos

Slaves to Darkness

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Lore
Tactics
General Tactics

The old warriors of chaos enter the Mortal Realms as the re-done Slaves to Darkness. The Slaves to Darkness fight for any of the chaos gods or the gods as a pantheon, and can be built in a variety of ways with plenty opportunity for synergy between heroes and units.

Why Play Slaves to Darkness?

Pros

  • Reuses Warriors of Chaos models from WFB, making them a quasi-old-school faction (or at least a money-saver). And the new models themselves aren’t too shabby either.
  • Pals with most other Chaos factions, giving providing a wide range of allies, allegiances, and playstyles.
  • You have lots of options for battleline units.
  • If you have war bands from Warcry, you can include them in your army lists.
  • Your faction leader's killed a world, so his credentials are beyond reproach.

Cons

  • Your faction acronym is "STD"
  • Traits and abilities are now specifically for Slaves to Darkness, which isn't a con for this army, but hurts value in other Chaos armies.

Allegiance Abilities

Battle Traits

If your army has a SLAVES TO DARKNESS allegiance and chose to take the SLAVES TO DARKNESS allegiance abilities, it has the following rules:

Damned Legions: You must belong to one of these. If a model already has a keyword from one, they cannot gain another, it can still be included in your army but it can't benefit from the allegiance ability of that legion. Legions are: Ravagers, Cabalists, Despoilers, or the Host of the Everchosen.

Aura of Chaos Power: SLAVES TO DARKNESS HEROES can grant an ability to friendly SLAVES TO DARKNESS units which have the same Mark of Chaos as them. The units in receipt of the ability must be within x" of the HERO when they use the ability. A unit that is within x" of more than one friendly SLAVES TO DARKNESS HERO can only use the Aura of Chaos Power from one of them. If a model has more than one mark of Chaos, you can only choose one and it lasts for the duration of the battle. Sorry Archaon.

The abilities are:

  • Khorne: Re-roll hit rolls of 1 for attacks made with melee weapons by a unit granted this ability wholly within 12". If the aura-holder is the general, you get +1 to wound as well.
  • Slaanesh: Unmodified hit rolls of 6 explode into 2 attacks for a unit granted this ability wholly within 12". If the aura-holder is the general, you can reroll run and charge rolls as well.
  • Nurgle: Unmodified wound rolls of 6 get +1 damage for a unit granted this ability wholly within 12". If the aura-holder is the general, you get -1 to be hit by missile weapons as well.
  • Tzeentch: Re-roll save rolls of 1 for a unit granted this ability wholly within 12". If the aura-holder is the general, 5+ optional roll to ignore spell effects.
  • Undivided: Don't take battleshock for units granted this ability wholly within 12". If the aura-holder is the general, you get 6+ FNP.

Basically a variant to the Warshrine's Favour of the Ruinous Powers, without the need to pray. Solid enough already.

Eye of the Gods: If a SLAVES TO DARKNESS HERO with the EYE OF THE GODS keyword makes an attack in a combat phase that slays one or more enemy HEROES or MONSTERS, at the end of the combat phase, make a roll on the table below after the HERO’S attacks have been completed. Duplicates are treated like a 7 - nothing happens.

2D6 Reward
2 Spawndom: You can add a Chaos Spawn to your army. If you do, set up a Chaos Spawn model within 1" of the HERO, and then remove the hero. The Chaos Spawn does not cost reinforcement points in a Pitched Battle. It cannot attack in the phase in which it is set up. If you do not add a Chaos Spawn to your army, the hero suffers D3 mortal wounds instead.
3 Slaughterer's Strength: Pick a melee weapon for this HERO. Improve its rend by 1.
4 Murderous Mutation: Pick a melee weapon for this HERO. Add 1 to its attacks.
5 Iron Flesh: Add 1 to the HERO’s save rolls for the rest of the battle.
6 Flames of Chaos: The HERO can choose to ignore a spell or endless spell on a 5+.
7 Snubbed by the Gods: Your hero burps. Nothing else happens.
8 Unholy Resilience: The HERO gets a 5+ FNP.
9-10 Daemonic Legions: Add a unit to your army. Unit added depends on your HERO’s mark. 10 Bloodletters for Khorne, 10 Pink Horrors for Tzeentch, 10 Daemonettes for Slaanesh, 10 Plaguebearers for Nurgle, or 6 Furies for Undivided.
11-12 Dark Apotheosis: You can add a Daemon Prince to your army. If you do, set up a Daemon Prince model within 1" of the HERO, and then remove the hero. The Daemon Prince does not cost reinforcement points in a Pitched Battle. If the HERO was a wizard, the Daemon Prince is a wizard. If you do not add a Daemon Prince to your army, you can heal D3 wounds instead.

Lore of the Damned

1. Binding Damnation: CV7. Visible target within 12" fights last until your next hero phase.

  • Terrific effect, but fairly high casting value, so still a bit of a gamble.

2. Spike-tongue Curse: CV3. Visible target within 12" takes 3 mortal wounds. If this is unsuccessful or is unnbound, the caster takes 3 mortal wounds.

  • Very powerful if your opponent is out of unbinding attempts or doesn't have any in the first place. Probably too risky in any other situation.

3. Whispers of Chaos: CV7. Roll 1d6 for each model in a visible target unit within 12". For each 6, target unit takes 1 MW. If any models were slain, the target unit cannot move until your next hero phase.

  • Powerful. Lets you deal damage to blobs, and if the target unit has six or more models, you also have a fairly reliable way to keep them from moving.

4. Mask of Darkness: CV7. Pick a visible MORTAL SLAVES TO DARKNESS unit wholly within 12". That unit teleports anywhere outside of 9" of enemy models and can't move in the subsequent movement phase.

  • A game changer. It has alpha strike potential, especially with Marauders and their terrific charge rules, but it can also be used creatively if the opportunity presents itself.

5. Call to Glory: CV5. Pick a visible SLAVES TO DARKNESS HERO unit wholly within 12". They can reroll hit and wound rolls when attacking a HERO or MONSTER until your next hero phase.

  • Literally Daemonic Power but drastically worse. Only affects a Hero and is conditional. Skip.

6. Ruinous Vigour: CV6. Pick a visible SLAVES TO DARKNESS MONSTER unit wholly within 12". They act as though they haven't taken wounds for the purposes of the wounds table.

  • Now that our Manticores aren't just vehicles for their riders and can actually do damage, this is fairly nice, but the casting value is far too high for the effect.

Endless Spells

  • Eightfold Doom-Sigil: CV 5. This spell will only have use when things die around it, so you'd best make sure you make at least one model go down so you can power them up. Now a bonus attack won't sound too scary for your Chaos Lord, but throw it on a band of marauders and they won't be laughing anymore.
  • Darkfire Daemonrift: CV 6. This is a purely predatory spell, dealing d3 MWs to anything it goes through. It's damage potential also powered up by other Wizards and Endless spells, which is pretty trollish for, say, Tzeentch or the Sacrosanct Chamber and all their wizards.
  • Realmscourge Rapture: CV 7. This Predatory spell is like the Pendulum in that it can only move in straight lines. Anything that this goes through suffers not only d3 MWs, but their movement will also be halved, which can positively cripple a unit just in time for your vikings to flatten them.

Damned Legions

Ravagers

All Mortals All Day. More Generals, more Marauders, more Cultists.

Trait - Glory for the Taking
If your general is not a Daemon Prince, up to 5 Ravagers Heroes get a command trait. No duplicates, and only 1 on each. At the start of your hero phase, you can pick 1 non-Daemon Prince hero that has a command trait to be your general, and they remain your general until your next hero phase.
Command Ability - Rally the Tribes
At the end of your movement phase, the model that is currently your general can summon 1 unit of 10 Chaos Marauders, 1 unit of 5 Marauder Horsemen, or 1 Cultist units of up to 10 models wholly within 6" of the battlefield edge and more than 9" away from enemy units. A model cannot be chosen more than once per battle to rally.

Command Traits

1. Bolstered by Hate: +2 wounds.

2. Unquestioned Resolve Once per turn, you can use one of the basic 3 command abilities without a command point if the target is a CULTISTS unit within 12" of the general.

3. Favoured by the Pantheon: When rolling on the Eye of the Gods table, you can add or subtract 2 from the result.

4. Eternal Vendetta: Reroll wound rolls. If you're attacking ORDER units, you can reroll hit rolls.

5. Flames of Spite: Unmodified wound rolls of 6 do a mortal wound in addition to normal damage.

6. Master of Deception: -1 to be hit by melee weapons that target the general.

Artefact

1. Hellfire Sword: Once per battle in the shooting phase, pick a visible enemy unit within 8". Target takes D3 mortal wounds. Pass; a wizard already has better ways to deal Mortal Wounds and a combat character should have their combat capability boosted.

2. Blasphemous Curse: 5+ FNP.

3. Helm of the Oppressor: 6" -1 bravery aura.

4. Cloak of the Relentless Conquerer: Reroll charge rolls.

5. Mark of the High-Favoured: Aura of Chaos increases to 18" when affecting RAVAGERS units.

6. Desecrated Gauntlets: -2 to casting rolls for enemy wizards within 3", also +1 to wound rolls on a target with the WIZARD or PRIEST keyword. Good on a wizard hunting character.

Cabalists

Magic! Rituals! Killing your friends to power up!

Lore - Crippling Pain
All CABALISTS wizards know this in addition to any other spells. CV7. Target visible enemy unit within 18" suffers D3 mortal wounds. In addition, target unit has its movement characteristic reduced by a value equal to the mortal wounds suffered by this spell.
Trait - Binding Rituals
At the start of your hero phase, 1 CABALISTS WIZARD can perform a ritual.

Rituals

1. Ritual of Sorcerous Might: Pick a friendly CABALISTS unit within 3" of the caster. On a 3+, the friendly unit loses D3 models. For each model that was slain, all your CABALISTS WIZARDS get +1 to casting rolls until the end of the phase.

2. Ritual of Corruption: Pick a friendly CABALISTS unit within 3" of the caster. On a 3+, the friendly unit loses D3 models. Then you pick a predatory endless spell within 12" of the wizard performing the ritual. You can move it 3" for each model that was slain.

Command Traits

WIZARDS only

1. Bolstered by Hate: +2 wounds.

2. Lord of Terror: 6" -1 bravery aura.

3. Favoured by the Pantheon: When rolling on the Eye of the Gods table, you can add or subtract 2 from the result.

4. Mighty Ritualist: Ritual of Sorcerous Might succeeds on a 2+ instead of a 3+.

5. Blasphemous Influence: Ritual of Corruption succeeds on a 2+ instead of a 3+.

6. All for One: Once per battle, when your general successfully performs a ritual, for each model slain, he heals 1 wound.

Artefact

1. Soul Feeder: Pick a melee weapon. Unmodified wound rolls of 6 heal the bearer by 1.

2. Black Athame: Once per battle, the bearer can automatically succeed on a ritual, no roll required.

3. Infernal Puppet: Once per battle in your hero phase, pick a visible enemy wizard within 24". In your opponent's next hero phase, each time that wizard tries to cast, they take D3 mortal wounds before they roll to cast. If they are slain by the mortal wounds, the spell they were attempting to cast automatically fails.

4. Spelleater Pendant: Bearer gains the WIZARD keyword. They can attempt to unbind 1 spell. If already a wizard, they can unbind an extra spell.

5. Scroll of Dark Unravelling: Once per battle, you can automatically unbind a spell without rolling.

6. Spell Familiar: Know an extra lore spell.

Despoilers

Daemon Princes Ho!

Trait - Sacrilegious Might
Your general's Aura of Chaos increases from 12" to 18". In addition, if your general is a Daemon Prince, they get a 5+ FNP.
Trait - Blessed by the Unholy
In your hero phase, roll for each of your Daemon Princes and monsters. On a 4+, they heal D3 mortal wounds. Mutalith Vortex Beasts heal only 1 wound.
Trait - Twisted Dominion
When your Daemon Princes finish a move within 6" of a terrain feature, you can give it the Pitch-black and Nightmare Chasm rules until your next hero phase. Despoilers Daemon Princes and Despoilers Monsters are unaffected by these.

Pitch-black: If a straight line between two models passes over more than 1" of this terrain, they are not visible to each other.

Nightmare Chasm: At the start of each hero phase, on a 6+, each unit within 1" of this suffers D3 mortal wounds (wounds rolled separately for each unit).

Command Traits

DAEMON PRINCE only

1. Bolstered by Hate: +2 wounds.

2. Lord of Terror: 6" -1 bravery aura.

3. Lightning Reflexes: -1 to be hit by missile weapons.

4. Radiance of Dark Glory: In your hero phase, pick a friendly Despoilers unit wholly within 18". On a 3+, heal that unit D3 wounds.

5. Distorting Miasma: Your general can use Twisted Dominion within 9" instead of 6".

6. Paragon of Ruin: After set-up but before the first battle round begins, D3 Despoilers units can move up to 5".

Artefact

1. Crown of Hellish Adoration: Look Out Sir also applies a -1 to wound rolls for this model (but note this will affect anyone who holds it, even if they are a MONSTER). This gives "Look out Sir" -1 wound. Monsters don't get "Look out Sir" so therefore it does not effect Monsters.

2. Helm of Many Eyes: Bearer and their mount fight first.

3. Armour of Tormented Souls: Attacks targeting this hero have their rend reduced by 1.

4. Diabolic Mantle: If the bearer starts the first battle round on the battlefield, get D3 command points.

5. Doombringer Blade: After set-up but before the first battle round begins, pick an enemy hero or monster. Friendly Despoilers units can reroll hit and wound rolls when targeting that model.

6. Realmwarper's Twistrune: Friendly Despoilers units wholly within 12" are unaffected by the Pitch-black and Nightmare Chasm rules

Host of the Everchosen

ALL HAIL ARCHAON, EVERCHOSEN AND SUPREME BEING. NO COMMAND TRAITS FOR YOU. NO ARTEFACTS FOR YOU. ONLY ARCHAON.

Trait - Exalted Grand Marshall of the Apocalypse
If Archaon is your general and on the battlefield, his Aura of Chaos is 18".
Trait - Fearless in His Presence
If Archaon is your general and on the battlefield, friendly units are immune to battleshock.
Trait - The Will of the Everchosen
If Archaon is your general and on the battlefield, in your hero phase you can pick 1 enemy unit on the battlefield. You can reroll hit and wound rolls of 1 for melee weapons by Host of the Everchosen units targeting that unit until your next hero phase.
Command Ability - Dark Prophecy
If Archaon is your general and on the battlefield, you can use this at the start of your hero phase. Roll a die and keep it hidden from your opponent. Reveal it at the start of the next battle round before determining who goes first. On a 1-3, your opponent must take the first turn. On a 4-6, you must take the first turn.

The Eight Circles of the Varanguard

Pick one. All Varanguard units share this.

1. At the start of the first battle round, before determining who gets first turn, you can redeploy Varanguard with this.

2. -1 to bravery for enemy units within 6". In addition, if enemy units within 6" fail a battleshock test, D3 extra models flee.

3. -1 to hit rolls for missile attacks targeting these Varanguard.

4. In your hero phase, pick 1 terrain feature within 3" of any unit of your Varanguard. Each enemy unit within 3" of it takes D3 mortal wounds, rolled separately for each enemy unit.

5. Reroll hit and wound rolls for attacks targeting a HERO or MONSTER.

6. +1 damage on the turn that you charge.

7. At the end of the combat phase, if your Varanguard destroyed an enemy unit, that Varanguard unit heals D3 wounds.

8. Your Varanguard can fly.

Warscrolls

Heroes

Named

  • Belakor: (Deamon, UNDIVIDED, 240pts.) Having somehow escaped Alarielle's ruby from The End Times, the Dark Master is back and trolling with the best of them. Has Ghostly immunity to rend and heals from Battleshocks. His best ability is The Dark Master: During deployment, pick 1 enemy unit, then reveal which unit you picked to your opponent at the start of one of their hero phases. Every time that unit wants to move, shoot, cast a spell or attack in combat, they have to roll a dice and can only do so on a 5+. This ability is straight busted, but only works for 1 turn.
  • Archaon The Everchosen: (DAEMON, KHORNE, TZEENTCH, NURGLE, SLAANESH, HEDONITE, UNDIVIDED, MONSTER, 800pts.) The heads no longer work all at once, but one of the three abilities can be used once each hero phase; the Khorne head heals D3 wounds, the Tzeentch head can stop one endless spell within 18" and the Nurgle head has a breath weapon that does D3 Mortal Wounds on a 3+. Archaon is as tanky as ever, but can also rebound Mortal Wounds on a 6+ (note this doesn't specify combat, so it effects wizards and shooting units too). He also provides a free command point each hero phase when he's on the table. Also gimps Death Armies, as the Eye of Sheerian means any hit rolls of 6 that target him must be re-rolled.
  • Theddra Skull-Scryer: (Mortal Wizard, 70pts)
  • Godsworn Hunt: (Mortal, 60pts)
  • Slambo:

  • Sayl the Faithless: (Mortal wizard, 200pts) (Forgeworld) A nice wizard wizard that was already hard to justify and has been rendered redundant by the new battletome. Only casting one spell a turn is disappointing, but his special Traitor's Mist spell makes up for it especially when you can get a nearly-as-good version of his unique spell from the lore spells (Mask of Darkness) on any other wizards that cost half the points or cast twice as much. The only way to justify him is if you build a list focused heavily on alpha strike and want to use both Traitor's Mist and Mask of Darkness to teleport 2 units in the same turn. Can also deal D3 mortal wounds to a unit within 8", which can be handy for picking off wounded heroes or forcing battleshock. Finally, if Nightmaw is around (less than 3" away) Sayl can redirect his wounds on him/her/it on a 4+.

  • Nightmaw: (Forgeworld) Sayl's pet is a cute little hellspawn devoted to his master. 6HP, a 4+ save (increased to 3+ against spells and shooting) coupled with a special 5+ save against mortal wounds, as well as healing himself 1 wound per turn, makes him a competent enough distraction. He is capable of tying up and slowly making his way through a basic infantry unit, but he should only really be considered to tank wounds for Sayl.

Generic

  • Chaos Lord: (110pts.) Cheaper and more killy, with a decent command ability to boot. This has come at the cost of the amazing 2d6 damage ability and is no longer able to ascend to Daemonhood automatically on killing the enemy general (let's face it though, how often did that happen?). Don't send him alone against characters more expensive than he is, or he will die. The increased rend and attacks values will mean he's good at killing line infantry and when to send alongside another unit he won't auto-bounce against characters like he used to. Side modelling note, the option to take a flail can be achieved by taking the Chaos Chosen off of a Chaos Chariot and basing him and using his as a Chaos Lord, jury is still out on whether this is official or not.
  • Lord on Daemonic Mount: (170pts.) Your budget (for a Slaves to Darkness character) mounted Lord. With the new update, cursed Warhammer now has the potential of mortal wounds on 6s to hit, with the added bonus of healing d3 wounds for killing whelps with your big mallet. Also great for other Slaves to Darkness units as his command ability only affects the mounting options but provides a re-roll to their charge and +1 to hit.
  • Chaos Lord on Karkadrak: (250pts.) The new mounted lord has arrived, and he rode in style as a fully plastic kit. How does this character scream build around? Movement 9", 9 wounds and the always welcomed 3+ save, this lord on battle lizard loves keeping up with his fellow cavalry and bring nothing short of utter destruction. Without any adages, this character boasts no less than 13(!) attacks across 4 profiles, has mortal wound potential both on the charge and with his sword, and can heal with his attacks with his big axe. Sporting classic mortal wound protection that Slaves to Darkness units are spoiled with, and the same command ability as his horse-riding brethren, he is an excellent pick for a Slaves focused army. Pair him with some Chaos Knights or Chariots and reap all the skulls you can.
  • Chaos Lord on Manticore: (Monster, Behemoth, 280 pts.) The Lord on Manticore can have a choice between Flail and Sword, with the Sword being better in most circumstances and a choice between Runeshield, Daggerfist, and Lance. The Lance might be awesome, but since everyone and their grandma will be gunning for your Manticore, the 5+ save against Mortal Wounds might be the best choice. The Manticore is no slouch itself in addition to rerolling Hit against Monsters for its Claws and Jaws attacks. His Command Ability allows a unit of Chaos Warriors wholly within 18" to reroll charge and Battleshock rolls.
  • Daemon Prince: (210pts.) He’s gone through a reworking since his last outing. He no longer has the ability to taken Unmarked and the buff for killing heroes, but now he gains a unique command ability for each of the gods. Khorne Princes create an 18 inch aura around them that half run and charge rolls for enemy units. Tzeentch Princes add +1 to a friendly wizard’s casting roll. Nurgle Princes grant a friendly unit within 12 inches exploding 6s that deal D3 mortal wounds. And Slaanesh Princes have a 12 inch aura that gives +1 to hit rolls and attacks to friendly units if a MODEL is slain by enemy melee. All in all, the daemon prince now has a more clear role as General for any god-centric army.
    • Wall of Blood: A Khorne Daemon Prince sitting behind a unit of Chaos Warriors with Runeshields makes an excellent defense against charge happy factions like the Ogor Mawtribes.
  • Exalted Hero of Chaos: (90pts.) Largely unchanged from pre-tome, with an increase of 10 points. D6 attacks make this unit a variance engine (either amazing or garbage, down to luck) even though he activates twice in melee. With Chaos Lords only 20 points more, who has more (and better) guaranteed attacks and the command ability to make a unit fight twice, the usefulness of an Exalted Hero Thier real value is cheaply emitting a God's aura rather than reliable killing, as the next cheapest is Sorcerer Lord for 30pts more and he can't join Khorn.
  • Chaos Sorcerer Lord: (110pts.) The support wizards Dropped in points and buffed in power. His Oracular Vision ability and Daemonic Power spell have gone from rerolling 1's to flat rerolls for units. This factor, combined with some pretty tasty endless spells and reduced points costs makes for an appealing option for a backfield objective holder who can cast spells to buff combat units and cause damage with endless spells. Further made dangerous under Cabalists Legion and with Mark of Tzeentch. Potential for several to be taken for mass-buffs as they are cheap enough to pseudo-spam.
  • Chaos Sorcerer Lord on Manticore: (Monster, Behemoth, 260 pts.) Classic Wizard riding a big monster. They are still ok fighters and caster while being cheaper than the Chaos Lord variant. Wind of Chaos will clean up groups.
  • Gaunt Summoner on Disc of Tzeentch: (260pts.) your master Wizard, with 2 casts/unbind, his own crowd slaying spell, and can give up one casting to summon a Min size deamon unit. He cost more than two Chaos Sorcerer, so make use of his flying disk and summoning powers.
  • Darkoath Chieftain: (90pts.) Further improved to be a Barbarian blender. He doesn't get to choose a Mark of Chaos so he can't get any god benefits, but he does get 7 attacks on the charge, deals one MW to surrounding units after he kills something, and gets a CA that lets Marauders and Cultists around him fight even when killed.
  • Darkoath Warqueen: (90pts.) If the Chieftain is a sweeper, Warqueens are duelists. She has a consistent 6 attacks, a 6++ FNP, she fights before others, and deals more damage against Heroes and Monsters. Her CA adds 3" to nearby Marauders and Cultists charge rolls, pushing them to an altogether 11" charge minimum (7" charge roll, +1" Drummer, +3" Warqueen's CA).
  • Ogroid Myrmidon: (140pts.) The new beatstick hero option with a Gladiatorial Spear, Great Horns, and a shield. The spear may be thrown up to 12" and does D3 wounds but where this model excels is in melee as it can deal out a surprising amount of damage for a single model. The Ogroid Myrmidon has 6 attacks with the spear and 3 with its horns as well as being pretty tanky with a 4+ save, 8 wounds and Bravery 8. But the fun does not end there as Arcane Fury allows 6's to hit to count as 2 hits and Berserk Rage allows him to re-roll hit and wound rolls if it suffered a wound or mortal wound earlier in the turn, which can be decent if your opponent gets turn priority and manages to score a wound or two. It's command ability is called Pit Marshall and unfortunately can only be used on a Cultist unit wholly within 12" granting them immunity to Battleshock, which is good if you want a big unit of cultists to stick around. And with this his role is made much more clear, your go to leader option for cultist heavy armies. You could take him as just another hero, but his points cost might come back to bite you.

Units

  • Chaos Warriors: (Battleline Min5, Max:30 100pts.) The Chaos rival to Liberators. they are a flexible and durable holding unit with 2wounds, 4+Sv, and hover at 8 Bravery, rerolls all saves when at 10+, and shields that ignore MW on 5+ that could be traded for paired weapons that reroll all hits, or Greatweapons with Rend. They can be tailored with marks and spells to fulfill a specific role, particularly good at being the anvil in big blocks of 20+ and holding the line, whilst cheaper marauders grab objectives, and bigger units act as a hammer.
  • Chaos Chosen: (Min5, Max:20, 140pts.) Fairly underwhelming for supposedly elite infantry. Their attacks lack much punch when compared to the elite troops of, say, Stormcast. They do now cause mortal wounds on 6's. Their ability has slaves units rerolling wounds within 12" if they kill something, but if you're not already getting that buff from a spell, command ability or mark, are you even StD'ing right? (then again those resources could of be used reallocate to other places)
    • Actually, as Slaves to Darkness is a keyword, you can use this re-roll ability if you have any Slaves units in armies loyal just to one of the gods - a tough anvil of chaos warriors in a Hedonites of Slaanesh army could make good use of this ability, for example.
  • Chaos Marauders: (Battleline Min20, Max:40 150pts.) Our favorite Vikings are back and bringing the pain to bear! They did not get a model update, which they sorely need in comparison to the new models being released. I for one will be using Warcry models and kitbashing them to represent Marauders. But down to brass tacks, they boast an average stat line that is bolstered by numbers. 10 or more and your get +1 to hit, 20 or more you get +1 to Rend. But the most important ability boost they got is their charge ability. They can change the lower die on a charge roll to a 6 automatically. Add in a drummer and you'll be making a minimum 8" charge every time. Combine this with the Ravagers Legion and you'll have a unit of 10 Marauders entering any battlefield edge, more than 9" away from enemies, only needing to roll a 2 on one of the two dice to make that charge. Enemy Warmachines beware!
  • Chaos Marauder Horsemen: (Battleline in StD Min5, Max:30 90pts.) Placing Barbarians on horses will be your speedy objective Grabbers. They do get a +1 to hit when 10+ strong. You get the option for Axe and Shield (they can get dangerous when combo with a gods melee buffs), Flails (letting a 20+ hoard all fight), but the default you should think of is Spear and Shield as you get a Melee/Shooting weapon with -1 rend and make flexible with Horsemen's ability to Retreat/Shoot/and charge.
  • Chaos Knights: (Battleline in StD Min5, Max:20, 180pts.) Weapon output largely unchanged from pre-tome. The addition of the war-flail will add a handful of extra attacks. Doom Knight gets extra attack instead of +1 to hit (presumably for quicker dice). Knights are known for bouncing off even clan-rats, and being unchanged you WILL want to buff these guys with spells and abilities before charging them in, probably with Lord (either mounted or on crocodile) or chariots for support. Unfortunately, They have gone up by 20 points.
  • Chaos Chariot: (Battleline in StD Min1, Max:3 120pts.) While they seem to want to be taken in units of 1 to maximize the amount of exalted upgrades you can take, an argument can be made to take a unit of 2-3 with a Chaos Lord on Karkadrak (or demonic mount) with an Undivided Mark. The Lord, if he's your general, will through out an 18" bubble of immune to Battleshock and the Chaos Lord's command ability will affect more than 1 chariot which will maximize the hurt dealt when they charge. The Chariot's innate ability to run and charge once per game will only maximize this benefit and possibly ensure a turn 1 charge. A 12" move, plus a run, plus a re-rollable charge will catch many an unwary opponent off-guard.
  • Furies: (Min:6, Max:30, 100pts)
  • Fomoroid Crusher: (Monster, 100pts) a big brute, having a ogor charge, throw stones, and inflict MW to other units that think they can hid in a terrain.
  • Mindstealer Sphiranx: (Monster, 100pts) a big psychic cat, able to support offensives with 12" of -2 bravery and make an enemy fight last. when paired with Knights and Mauraders, you can impose -4 Bravery.
  • Chaos War Mammoth: (Forgeworld) (Monster, Behemoth, 320pts) This monster has 22 wounds! Although it's only packing a 5+ save. All of his attacks cause at least D3 wounds, making it an exceptional monster-killer when at full strength. Its real strength lies in supporting a Marauder charge, however - as well as imposing -2 to any Battleshock tests to any unfortunate unit that gets charged, the Mammoth can also help Marauder or Marauder Horsemen get in a little extra movement and increase their damage output in combat. Wounding and even killing this thing just makes it cause more damage. If you're playing with a big Chaos horde then there's no finer feeling than running this guy into the enemy's biggest and toughest-looking infantry blob, although expect a few dirty looks for doing so. Keep in mind that he doesn't like magic missiles or war machine fire, however.

  • Curs’d Ettin: (Forgeworld) (Monster, Behemoth, 200pts) A two-headed monstrosity. Its fists can do plenty of damage and heal if it kills something, has plenty of stomp attacks. it has an attack similar to Banshees that effect every enemy unit within 3" and deals D3 Mortal wounds if you beat its leadership on a 2d6. it also has an ability to kill a single model with less than 3 wounds on a 6+ giving you the of a chance to kill a pesky leader, Special weapon or Musician.

Cultists

The original warbands from Warcry. Generally, they all play as Marauders with special gimmicks and no marks of chaos. They now have more synergy with the Hero units, making them arguably more viable than the stock. If playing the Ravagers, each unit is part of your toolbox. If you’re making an army geared to a certain Realm, definitely considering bringing one of these guys from that respective Realm.

  • Iron Golems: (Min:8 Max:32 70pts) Chamon Cultists. Cheap and heavy armour make them good cheap objective holders. Having a 4+ rerollable Sv, 8 bravery, and a 3W guy per 8 models to pawn wounds, let them hold on for a while longer than their contemporaries.
  • Splintered Fang: (Min:10 Max:40 70pts) Snake men from Ghyran who deal MW on an unmodified hit roll of 6+ and have a resurrecting snake to pawn wounds. They don't live long but can bypass some tough armour saves with a reroll and luck.
  • The Unmade: (Min:9 Max:36 70pts) Shyish Cultists. They're made to break units through fear and locking them from escaping via auras. However, their weapons are only about average, with one guy per 9 getting a weapon that can wound better and has -1 Rend. Rather than letting them make the kills, have them back up another team and use their auras to force unfavorable battles.
  • Corvus Cabal: (Min:9 Max:36 70pts) Ulgu Cultists. Flexible with both shooty and choppy. They're also very agile with an 8" movement on foot and effectively act like they're flying. One out of 9 guys also lets the entire squad re-roll charge distances, which is really good for such nimble folks.
  • Cypher Lords: (Min:8 Max:32 70pts) Hysh Cultists. Another unit with both shooty and choppy. One guy out of 8 let them chuck smoke bombs to impact the enemy's chances of hitting them, while the other lets them add +1 to charge rolls. Neither makes them stand out offensively, but those bombs can definitely help protect a unit fighting someone capable of flattening them. Or to just ruin hordes.
  • Untamed Beasts: (Min:9 Max:36 70pts) Ghur Cultists. Like the Iron Golems, these savages can let one guy out of 9 become a saber-tooth tiger and be 2W, while another gets to throw harpoons. with -1 Rend & D2. While being mostly melee isn't helpful in an army full of melee, these guys have two tools for mobility: A free move before the game starts, and the ability to move and then charge in the same turn. That makes the Beasts better for alpha-striking.
  • Spire Tyrants: (Min:9 Max:36 70pts) Cultists from the Varanspire. They are a pure damage Cult. The Pit Champion and Bestigor Destroyer both get +2 attacks, the Headclaimer gets +1 damage and the whole unit gets +1 to hit if they charged the same turn.

Battalions

  • Chaos Horde: Your mega-battalion. 1 Godsworn Champions of Ruin + 4-8 battalions of any combination from the rest. Once per turn, you can use 1 command ability for any unit from this battalion for free, and units from this battalion get +2" movement for the first battle round.
  • Godsworn Champions of Ruin: 1 hero selected from Chaos Lord (any kind), Sorcerer Lord (either kind), Exalted Hero of Chaos, Ogroid Myrmidon, Daemon Prince, Darkoath Warqueen, and Darkoath Chieftain; 4-8 units selected from Chosen, Knights, Warriors, Marauders, and Marauder Horsemen. The HERO of the battalion can fight in the hero phase if within 3" of an enemy unit.
  • Godswrath Warband: 1 hero selected from Chaos Lord (any kind in the battletome) and Sorcerer Lord (either kind); 4-8 units selected from Chosen, Knights, Warriors, Marauders, and Marauder Horsemen; 1+ Chaos Warshrine. Choose one of the battalion's warshrines and roll a D6 for each visible enemy unit within 24". If the roll for an enemy unit is a 6, it takes D3 mortal wounds.
  • Ruinbringer Warband: 1 hero selected from Chaos Lord on Daemonic Mount and Chaos Lord on Karkadrak; 4-8 units selected from Knights, Chariots, Gorebeast Chariots, and Marauder Horsemen. Each time a unit from this battalion completes a charge, choose one enemy unit within 1". On a 2+, the enemy unit takes D3 mortal wounds.
  • Overlords of Chaos: 3-6 Host of the Everchosen Varanguard. Each unit gets a[n additional] circle.

The following Battalions can also be used in their respective god allegiance.

  • Bloodmarked Warband: Khorne Warband. 1 Mortal STD Khorne Hero, 8 Mortal STD Khorne units. If a hero from this btn slays any models during the combat phase, you can pick a unit from this battalion wholly within 12" of said hero. That unit gains +1 attack until your next hero phase. A unit cannot benefit from this more than once per battle round.
  • Fatesworn Warband: Tzeentch Warband. 1 Mortal STD Tzeentch Hero, 9 Mortal STD Tzeentch units. At the start of your hero phase, one unit from the battalion can become able to cast 1 spell and dispel 1 endless spell. It also knows the Stolen Sting spell: CV7, target a visible enemy unit within 18". Target's melee weapons have their rend worsened by 1.
  • Plaguetouched Warband: Nurgle Warband. 1 Mortal STD Nurgle Hero, 7 Mortal STD Nurgle units. Unmodified wound rolls of 6 on attacks targeting units from this btn result in the attacker taking 1 mortal wound. Also, in your hero phase, pick an enemy target within 1" of any unit in the battalion. On a 3+, that enemy unit take D3 MW.
  • Pleasurebound Warband: Slaanesh Warband. 1 Mortal STD Slaanesh Hero, 6 Mortal STD Slaanesh units. If a model from this btn dies during the combat phase, units from this btn can pile in an extra 6" until your next hero phase.

Allied Armies

  • Beasts of Chaos
  • Blades of Khorne
  • Maggotkin of Nurgle
  • Hedonites of Slaanesh
  • Disciples of Tzeentch

Mercenary Companies

  • Blacksmoke Battery: Chaos Dorfs with artillery but not really Chaos Dorfs.
  • Greyfyrd:
  • Grugg Brothers: Up to three Gargants that can reroll hits when near each other. A bit expensive but definitely worth it.
  • Gutstuffers: Bring back the chaos ogres of old for some adaptable heavy hitters and hoard clearance.
  • Nimyard’s Rough-Riders:
  • Order of the Blood-Drenched Rose: Remember how in the World-That-Was Isabella Von Carsteain was resurrected as a servant of Nurgle while being possessed by a demon? You can bring her back as a vampire lord, also followed by a bunch of other vampires! Arguably you don’t need them since you got the Varanguard and Chaos Knights already, but at least you got options.
  • Rampagers: Only reason you’re take this is for the troll factor of a near-endless movement phase. Other wise, pass.
  • Skroug’s Menagerie: Want some Chaos beasts without breaking allegiance? Well here you go.
  • Sons of the Lichemaster:
  • Tenebrous Court:


Age of Sigmar Tactics Articles
General Tactics
Order
Chaos
Death
Destruction
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