Summary

  • Warp Daemons in Warhammer 40k are relentless foot soldiers of Chaos Gods, stealing souls and spreading horror.
  • Fiends of Slaanesh lure victims with fragrances, immobilizing them with euphoria before tearing their souls apart.
  • Bloodletters of Khorne are formidable warriors wielding Hellblades, relentless in spilling blood for their god.

For the average human living in the Warhammer 40k setting, danger lurks behind every corner. From war-hungry xenos rampaging through hive cities, crazed zealots burning non-believers, to ruthless tech-priests looking for a new servitor, every day can bring a new horror.

Chaos Daemons in Warhammer 40k
Warhammer 40k: Strongest Daemons In The Lore

There are plenty of Daemons in Warhammer 40k; these are the strongest in the lore.

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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.

8 Fiends

Agile Monsters Prowling the Realm of Chaos

Warhammer 40k: 8 Most Common Chaos Daemons in the Lore Picture and models of Fiends of Slaanesh

These disturbing beasts of Slaanesh, also known as Unholy Ones, appear as a fusion of various monstrosities and 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.

7 Daemonettes

Slaanesh’s Warriors of Desire

Warhammer 40k: 8 Most Common Chaos Daemons in the Lore picture and models of Daemonettes of Slaanesh

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.

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In battle, Daemonettes are fast and agile warriors, whose crab-like claws can rend flesh from bone in a dance of blood and joy. They revel in slaughter and pain, giving praise to Slaanesh while smiling in gore-filled ecstasy.

6 Nurglings

Laughing and Taunting as They Spread Disease

Warhammer 40k: 8 Most Common Chaos Daemons in the Lore picture and models of Nurglings of Nurgle

While small in stature, Nurglings are some of the most numerous of the Grandfather's creations and have been named Little Lords by the Death 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.

5 Plaguebearers

Nurgle’s Endless Foot Soldiers

Warhammer 40k: 8 Most Common Chaos Daemons in the Lore Picture and models of Plaguebearers

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.

Warhammer 40k: 8 Worst Fates in the Lore Plagebearer, Servitor, Drukhari
Warhammer 40k: 8 Worst Fates in the Lore

Warhammer 40k's oppressive, grimdark setting has plenty to be horrified about, but few fates are as terrible as the following ones in the lore.

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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 same resilience to pain as all the Grandfather’s minions, making them very hard to kill.

4 Screamers

Hunting the Shifting Waves of the Warp

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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 the Thousand Sons legion often use this to their advantage and open portals to the warp, unleashing Screamers onto their enemies.

3 Horrors

Creatures of Magic and Sorcery

Warhammer 40k: 8 Most Common Chaos Daemons in the Lore Picture and models of Tzeentch Horrors

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.

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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.

2 Flesh Hounds

Hunting Khorne’s Enemies

Warhammer 40k: 8 Most Common Chaos Daemons in the Lore Pictures and Models of Flesh Hounds

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.

1 Bloodletters

Khorne’s Blood-Crazed Army

Warhammer 40k: 8 Most Common Chaos Daemons in the Lore Pictures of models of Bloodletters of Khorne

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 a formidable 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.