Summary
For the average human living in theWarhammer 40ksetting, danger lurks behind every corner. Fromwar-hungry xenosrampaging through hive cities, crazed zealots burning non-believers, to ruthless tech-priests looking for a new servitor, every day can bring a new horror.
However, some creatures in the setting are much worse than anything else and can inflict madness on unwitting souls simply by being seen. Warp Daemons are the endless spawn of the four Chaos Gods and make up the core of their hellish armies. While the Greater Daemons wield unimaginable power, these Lesser Daemons are the terrifying foot soldiers of Chaos, blindly following their god’s whims to steal the souls of mortal men and women.
8Fiends
Agile Monsters Prowling the Realm of Chaos
These disturbing beasts of Slaanesh, also known as Unholy Ones, appear as a fusion ofvarious monstrositiesand enjoy unnatural speed and grace, with their sleek, agile bodies and razor-sharp claws making them deadly hunters. Often called to war alongside Daemonettes, these creatures roam Slaanesh’s Realm of Chaos, seeking unwitting prey.
Fiends rarely engage in frontal combat. Their bodies exude a powerful fragrance that easily attracts and immobilizes mortals. This toxin infects their victims’ dreams, showing them visions of their wildest desires and placing them in a euphoric stupor. Once helpless, the Fiends move in and tear the sorry soul apart while singing strange, discordant songs to Slaanesh.
7Daemonettes
Slaanesh’s Warriors of Desire
These lithe and twisted creatures of Slaanesh are the most numerous of their god’s daemons. Acting as warriors, messengers, and servants in the Palace of Pleasure, Daemonettes are hedonistic monsters that will seduce mortals' souls before tearing them apart. They will whisper into the dreams of their victims, tempting them with every desire, before enslaving them to the will of Slaanesh.
In battle, Daemonettes are fast and agile warriors, whose crab-like claws can rend flesh from bone in a dance of blood and joy. Theyrevel in slaughter and pain, giving praise to Slaanesh while smiling in gore-filled ecstasy.
6Nurglings
While small in stature, Nurglings are some of the most numerous of the Grandfather’s creations and have been named Little Lords by theDeath Guard traitor Astartes. Nurglings are giggling, happy creatures with razor-sharp claws and teeth that will slash and gnaw on their helpless victims while further spreading outbreaks of disease.
They are spawned from the boils and pustules of Great Unclean Ones, the Greater Daemons of Nurgle. While seemingly silly creatures, they are revered by Nurgle’s followers as each one is a pint-sized clone of the god of decay himself. While most humans could defend themselves against a single Nurgling, their power comes in numbers, overwhelming foes with chittering and taunting terror.
5Plaguebearers
Nurgle’s Endless Foot Soldiers
Plaguebearers are the terrifying foot soldiers of Nurgle’s army, endlessly marching towards their enemies while spreading disease and death in their wake. Each Plaguebearer was once a mortal who succumbed to Nurgle’s greatest plague, Nurgle’s Rot. This warp-touched disease infects the body and soul, with the helpless victim eventually sprouting a single horn and a cyclopean eye as they turn into a new Plaguebearer.
Plaguebearers have no independent thought and mindlessly count the numerous plagues and infections they come across. These walking drones of disease are compelled by Nurgle’s will and are gifted with the sameresilience to painas all the Grandfather’s minions, making them very hard to kill.
4Screamers
Hunting the Shifting Waves of the Warp
Screamers are monstrous, ray-like creatures that can glide across skies, space, and the warp. These simple daemonic beasts are more animalistic and hunt across the immaterium searching for prey. They have even been known to breach a spaceship’s Gellar field, dooming all onboard.
When in battle, Tzeentch will send forth swarms of these flying monsters to tear apart mortal creatures' flesh, delivering their souls to the god of change. Like true predators, these daemons are often drawn to the chaos of battle. The sorcerers of theThousand Sons legionoften use this to their advantage and open portals to the warp, unleashing Screamers onto their enemies.
3Horrors
Creatures of Magic and Sorcery
Horrors are the common lesser daemons created by the Chaos God Tzeentch and are used as slaves by the Lords of Change, Tzeentch’s bird-like sorcerous Greater Daemons.
Molded from the Warp itself, these twisted creatures are gnashing balls of flesh and teeth, with ever-changing bodies of undulating limbs and features. Found in two separate forms, the Pink Horrors are the first stage of the daemon and are cheerful, howling monsters that can induce madness in the weakest of minds. Once killed, however, the Pink Horrors split into two smaller Blue Horrors, which are just as powerful as the former, but without the cheerfulness.
2Flesh Hounds
Hunting Khorne’s Enemies
Flesh Hounds are the relentless Daemons of Khorne that hunt down their deity’s enemies with ferocious tenacity and hunger. Taking both a canine and reptilian form, these monstrous creatures are fast, powerful, and loyal to their dark god.
Especially vicious against those who wield sorcery due to their Collars of Khorne protecting them against psychic attacks, the Flesh Hounds will never stop hunting their prey once they have its scent. Surprisingly fast for their huge size, the Flesh Hounds are often used for killing specific targets and will mercilessly rip apart anything in their way.
1Bloodletters
Khorne’s Blood-Crazed Army
The Bloodletters are the red-skinned, rage-fuelled lesser daemons of Khorne. They make up the vast majority of the chaos god’s army, with each single Bloodletter being aformidable warrior in battle. Few humans, barring the gene-enhanced Astartes, could stand against a Bloodletter and survive.
Wielding large Hellblades, these weapons are formed from the Bloodletters' rage and bloodlust. Like all followers of Khorne, Bloodletters attack head-on, running towards their enemies in large packs as they spill blood for the Lord of Skulls. While it is not known how Bloodletters are made, it is thought they are formed from the souls of Khorne’s most loyal followers.
