Chaos Daemons, the best army from Games Workshop.
Now, before some of you read further—I’m not writing this article because this army is the most competitive or the strongest (although it could be). If you're looking for an army just to win games, then Chaos Daemons probably aren’t it. I'm writing this because, in my opinion, they are simply the best hobby faction that Games Workshop has to offer. Why is that, you ask?
The Legacy of Chaos in Warhammer
Let’s go back to 1988. Before I even got into the hobby, Games Workshop released Realms of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness, a book that introduced Khorne and Slaanesh (and yes, it also included rules for Grey Knights in Rogue Trader, the first version of Warhammer 40,000). I started the hobby in 1990 and was around for the release of Realms of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned, which covered Nurgle and Tzeentch. These two books laid the foundation for the Chaos pantheon, both in the 41st Millennium and the Mortal Realms. I think this might end up being the topic of a future blog, to be honest.
But it was in these pages that the Chaos Gods and their Daemons really came alive. The sheer amount of lore and detail in these books was—and still is—staggering. I mean, the story of the Emperor's birth would ultimately lay the foundations for some of the Horus Heresy books. Those books weren't just rules; they were a deep dive into a universe of madness, power, and corruption that felt as though it was both ancient and eternal.
The 2008 Release and the Realms of Chaos Map
Fast forward to 2008. The Daemons of Chaos were finally released as a fully independent army for both Warhammer Fantasy (7th Ed) and Warhammer 40K (4th Ed). This wasn’t just a fluff faction anymore—they were fully playable, with rules, models, and battlefield identity. Each Chaos God had its own greater daemon, its rank-and-file troops, its hunting beasts, and its cavalry equivalents (Nurgle got cheeky with his swarms of Nurglings instead).
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| Bloodletters, Lesser Daemons of Khorne |
This release also brought us new characters - most importantly, the Heralds, Skarbrand, Karanak, Epidemius, the Masque. These became the mythological heroes and anti-heroes of the Chaos Pantheon, giving each god their own narrative weight. Honestly, the vibe reminded me of the gods in Greek mythology or that brilliant scene from Terry Pratchett’s Interesting Times, where gods play games using mortals as pieces. That’s the Chaos Gods in a nutshell.
And they weren’t just cool, they were strong. Tzeentch armies dominated for a while in and around the tournament scene.
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| Pink Horror, Lesser Daemon of Tzeentch |
One of the highlights of this release was the inclusion of a mind-blowing map of the Realms of Chaos. I still love this map. It’s not just a set of locations—it’s a window into the madness of the Warp itself, a reflection of the twisted and shifting landscape of Chaos. The map connects the various domains of each Chaos God, showing the places where their power is strongest. But what makes it even better is how it refers to the locations mentioned in the original Realms of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness from 1988. Take the Vale of Creatures, for example—a place referenced in the old lore that still sparks a feeling of excitement in me every time I see it. This deep lore connection was a brilliant way to honour the legacy of the early Chaos books while expanding the narrative and visual identity of Daemons. It’s like getting a long-lost piece of the original puzzle and seeing it reimagined for a new generation of players.
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| The Realm of Chaos |
The Ultimate in Hobby Variety
Jumping forward to the present day, except for a few special characters, the entire daemon range is now available in glorious plastic. Nearly 50 different unit choices for a single faction, from greater daemons through to Nurgling swarms. The variety for hobbyists is unmatched. Chaos Daemons really do offer variety that other factions simply can’t match. Space Marines may have a ton of different units, but in the end, they’re all Space Marines. Daemons, on the other hand, provide a huge array of options. And then there’s the painting.
I can get quite bored painting the same colour repeatedly. Daemons of Chaos not only have a large variety of models, but each Chaos God has its own associated palette of colours. Reds for Khorne, blues for Tzeentch, greens for Nurgle, and (currently) purples for Slaanesh. But because they’re Daemons, you can really choose any colour scheme you like. The main point here is that each unit can be different, while still fitting into the larger, chaotic whole. A Daemon army gives you the opportunity to have distinct colours and themes for each unit, yet maintain a cohesive look.
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| Daemons of Nurgle |
It is when we get to gaming that we really see the major advantage of this faction. Daemons of Chaos are the only faction playable in both 40K and Age of Sigmar (AoS). Now, to be fair, the Daemons of Chaos aren't directly a faction for AoS, but each Chaos Power has its own army in AoS: Blades of Khorne, Disciples of Tzeentch, Maggotkin of Nurgle, and Hedonites of Slaanesh—all capable of being fielded as pure Daemon armies.
But it doesn’t stop there. Because these Daemons are part of AoS, they can also be used in Warcry, Games Workshop’s skirmish-level game set in the Mortal Realms. Warcry is brilliant for fast-paced, narrative-driven play, and it lets you take small warbands of Daemons and play out battles in the twisted corners of reality. The same applies in the far future with Kill Team. Several Daemon units can be used or proxied into Chaos-aligned kill teams, giving you even more ways to explore the setting and get use out of your models. For a gamer low on time, money, or space (delete as appropriate), Daemons offer a route into multiple systems with a shared model pool.
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| Daemonettes, Lesser daemons of Slaanesh |
As a teenager, this army would’ve been my 'holy grail'—one carry case and I could have played all the different games! It's the sort of practicality that makes you appreciate them all over again.
Moreover, there are so many ways to field and play Daemons. Do you use a mixed army of all the Chaos Gods? Are you more 'traditional' like me and field armies of only one Chaos power? I have a big Maggotkin (Daemons of Nurgle) force, plus a smaller Khornate force and a tiny Tzeentchian army. From these Daemon armies, you could add traitor marines or Chaos mortals. I even have a few Nurgle Daemon Engines from the Death Guard, as well as some Blightkings for AoS.
Do you like centre-piece models? If so, you can field Greater Daemons. These absolute powerhouses in combat make fantastic focal points for your army. I’ve always been a fan of horde armies, so I love seeing swarms of lesser daemons on the board. But some people prefer elite armies of daemon cavalry. These elite forces are fast and hit extremely hard, but they lack the objective-grabbing resilience of hordes. There are so many options available with this faction—whether you’re into hordes or elite strikes, Daemons can deliver it all.
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| The Thricefold Discord from Warhammer Underworlds |
If you're looking to dip your toes into the faction or expand your collection with minimal effort, Warhammer Underworlds offers a brilliant entry point. Several Chaos Daemon warbands have been released over the years, and they make perfect heralds or character models in larger armies. For Slaanesh, the Thricefold Discord provides a trio of exquisitely sculpted daemons, each full of personality and ideal as leaders for your Hedonites or 40K daemonettes. Nurgle gets some twisted garden-guardians in Grandfather’s Gardeners, a festering bunch that can easily serve as Plaguebearer champions or even unique Heralds. And for lovers of magic and madness, Ephilim’s Pandemonium brings Tzeentchian chaos in miniature form—with an elegant sorcerer and a cadre of bizarre familiars, they slot beautifully into a Disciples of Tzeentch force or a Thousand Sons daemon detachment. Not only are these warbands fun to paint, but they also give you unique centerpiece models and conversion inspiration with minimal investment. Small boxes, big impact.
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| Grandfather's Gardeners from Warhammer Underworlds |
Greater Daemons: The Ultimate Hobby Experience
And let’s not forget the Greater Daemons—they make for absolutely stunning centrepiece models. Whether it’s the brutish might of a Bloodthirster, the grotesque bulk of a Great Unclean One, the elegant menace of a Keeper of Secrets, or the arcane majesty of a Lord of Change, each one is a sculptural masterpiece. They’re not just powerful on the table; they command attention in your display cabinet. For hobbyists, they’re a dream—massive canvases where you can push your painting, try wild effects, or even go full diorama mode with scenic bases. They define the visual identity of your army and give it that iconic Warhammer silhouette. Every Chaos army deserves at least one towering embodiment of madness, right?
Personally, I really enjoyed painting my Great Unclean One—but I’ll be honest, it was also a challenge. The level of texture and detail on that model is both a blessing and a curse. Every pockmark, tentacle, and rusted bell tells a story, but it can be overwhelming at first. I took my time, focusing on the skin tones first, then building up the layers of rot, slime, and decay. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, but the result felt truly rewarding—like I’d summoned something straight out of Nurgle’s garden. It’s one of those models you can get lost in, and even after finishing it, I still find little details I missed. That’s the kind of hobby experience that sticks with you.
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| Great Unclean One, Greater Daemon of Nurgle |
Finally, did I mention that all great stories need a fantastic antagonist? Would Star Wars have been as good without Darth Vader? Games Workshop's big bad is Chaos. It’s the creeping terror behind all the stories. Chaos brings the grimdark to the Imperium and the Mortal Realms. The wars of men, Aelves, Aeldari, Orks, and Necrons are nothing compared to the threat of Chaos. The main threat from Chaos is not corrupted mortals; it’s the Daemons scratching at reality. This sense of cosmic, incomprehensible horror is a concept borrowed from the works of H.P. Lovecraft, where mankind is perpetually at the mercy of ancient, uncaring forces—gods whose whims are impossible to understand.
Their very existence is antithetical to reality, clawing their way into the mortal realms from the roiling, unknowable Warp. They’re not just monsters; they’re concepts—rage, lust, decay, and madness—given horrifying flesh. It’s pure Lovecraft. The Great Old Ones weren’t evil because they had motives; they were terrifying because they didn’t. That’s what Chaos Daemons are. They’re not evil in the way we understand it—they’re simply alien. Beyond comprehension. Unbound by reason. A Lord of Change isn’t a villain—it’s a force of narrative entropy, twisting fate like a spider playing with its own web. A Keeper of Secrets doesn’t want something—it just is, an impulse in stiletto heels.
Moreover, the chaotic nature of the Daemons and the ever-present struggle against impossible odds mirrors the Eternal Champion series by Michael Moorcock. In his stories, forces of chaos and law are locked in an endless battle, with figures like Elric and his dark sword embodying the tragic and destructive power of Chaos itself. Much like Moorcock’s works, Daemons are agents of a greater, uncontrollable entropy that shapes the fate of worlds, and their ongoing war against the forces of order provides the thematic backdrop to much of the grimdark setting of Warhammer.
As such, Daemons have always been part of the games we love, and GW will keep them as such. They are the great antagonist that our heroes fight against. They are, without a doubt, the greatest faction in both 40K and Age of Sigmar.
So, for me, the Daemons of Chaos are the best faction from Games Workshop—not because they are a winning machine, but because of all the hobby opportunities they offer. Please feel free to leave a comment. Which are your favourite Chaos Daemons and why?
Here are a few of my daemon painiting guides:
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