Chaos Knights

"Knights of Chaos are awesome fighters, raised from strong Northmen stock, their skills honed over the years by constant battle amongst themselves and against other races. They are held in fear and awe by the tribes of the north, and have great respect and authority amongst the tribes."

—Description of the Chaos Knights^[2]

Caballero del caos (3) — A Chaos Knight atop his steed seeks out new foes of the Dark Gods.

Chaos Knights are towering Chaos Warriors clad in the thickest Chaos Armour, and whose dreaded reputation is known throughout the realms as some of the Known World's most feared horsemen.

Role

The grizzled generals of the Old World are constantly called upon to fight unholy and repulsive foes. They battle against the shambling hordes of the living dead and the rampaging armies of Greenskins, meeting invasion after invasion with little more than cold steel and iron resolve. These brave individuals fight against hulking monsters and twisted mutants psychotically devoted to the overthrow of civilisation itself, but there is one sight that strikes the cold chill of dread into the hearts of even the most battle-hardened commander -- the sight of a regiment of Chaos Knights galloping towards them through the mists.^[1a]

Caballero de Nurgle - forgeworld GW by adrian-smith — A Plague Knight of Nurgle, one of the Fly Lord's chosen Chaos Knights

Chaos Knights are feared throughout the Old World and beyond as merciless butchers capable of turning the course of battle with a single thunderous charge. They ride unto battle atop immensely powerful Chaos Steeds, with both rider and mount clad in thick Chaos Armour, each section of armour having been crafted by a Chaos Dwarf master Daemonsmith.^[1a]

A Chaos Knight's greaves are jagged blades, well-suited for slicing through the flesh of the enemy. Even the frightful reputation of the Chaos Knights is a weapon in its own right, crippling those who would stand against them before a single blow is struck.^[1a]

Many Chaos Knights ride to war with great lances, cavalry swords, or evil-looking polearms designed to impale and tear through enemy armour and flesh in equal measure. Others wield a deadly assortment of weapons, from cleavers and war-picks to heavy maces. Some Chaos Knights even brandish magical blades, each bearing a small measure of power. Regardless of the form or the hexes inscribed upon these magical weapons, they are all enchanted in order to kill, and most flicker with dark fire.^[1a]

Chaos Knights are a highly egotistical group of warriors. Most if not all consider themselves superior even to other Champions of Chaos. They bow to none save perhaps a Chaos Lord or an exalted Daemon Prince, and even then they will not dip their banner, for their collective pride is the equal of their martial prowess.^[1a]

Each Chaos Knight is a paragon amongst his warrior brethren, for he has trod the path of damnation for many years and now holds the favour of the Dark Gods far more than the common ranks of Chaos Warriors.^[1a]

Few mortals are left unmarked by the stigma of mutation after becoming a Chaos Knight. A Chaos Knight's horned helmet may conceal a twisted and permanent rictus smile of sharp metallic fangs, or a striking and cold beauty that steals the breath away.^[1a]

In battle, a full squadron of Chaos Knights, galloping at full-speed, will hit a battle line like the mailed fist of the gods. Few mortal soldiers can truly survive a charge from a Chaos Knight and not be left scarred by the encounter.^[1a]

Marked Chaos Knights

While they may often fight for the glory of Chaos Undivided or venerate multiple Chaos Gods, Chaos Knights may dedicate themselves to one of the four great Ruinous Powers: bloodthirsty Khorne, scheming Tzeentch, depraved Slaanesh and pestilent Nurgle. Bearing the Mark of one of the Chaos Gods, those this devoted to one of the gods will change in mind, body and soul to better match their divine patron's nature and will.

Chaos Knights of Khorne

To aid his Chaos Warriors -- particularly those who were formerly Knights or Marauder Horsemasters -- the Blood God grants them the most vicious and bloodthirsty Chaos Steeds of all the ruinous hordes. Khorne cares not to also gift an innate mastery over these creatures, for if a Chaos Knight is not worthy to tame and break the beast himself then he is not worthy to fight in Khorne's hosts. For those that fail in this task, the Blood God will allow his "gift" to tear their bodies apart, break their bones to marrow, and devour them.

The Chaos Knights of Khorne hasten a tithing of skulls for their master when in combat atop their gifted steeds. In battle, their deadly lances sunder battle lines like the knuckles on the mailed fist of Khorne himself.^[3]

Chaos Knights of Tzeentch

The Chaos Knights of Change are mighty and terrible warriors, not bred only from the ranks of the tribes of the Northmen but also from the lands of the Empire, Bretonnia, Tilea and Estalia who have turned apostate, abandoning their native lands for the dubious favours of Tzeentch. Many were individuals of great importance and temporal power in their former lives, such as statesmen and nobles, while others were famous templars or renowned military men.^[3]

Atop their great Chaos Steeds, they carry ostentatious weapons in a grotesque echo of the illustrious knightly orders to which many of them once belonged. Mounted warriors of great intellect and cunning, as well as great tactitians, they wield their lances with otherworldly precision.^[3]

Chaos Knights of Slaanesh

With their elevated status amongst the Lord of Excess' battle ranks, Chaos Knights of Slaanesh are set apart by their aloof persona, even by Slaaneshi standards. It is a predisposition that fuels the blind adoration of those who go to war alongside them, as well as the fear of those unfortunate enough to face them. With immensely powerful Chaos Steeds and ostentatious suits of Chaos Armour, these warriors are proud of the unwholesome gifts that Slaanesh blesses them with. From their high horses, they bathe openly in the praise heaped upon them by those they regard as lesser mortals.

A Slaaneshi Chaos Knight's charge always foreshadows an orgy of pain and despair, as they trample their foes again and again. The Dark Prince's cruelty is carried forth by the tip of their lances, piercing hearts and souls alike in excruciating agony.^[3]

Chaos Knights of Nurgle

RotKnights — The "Rot Knights", an elite unit of Chaos Knights of Nurgle commanded by the Champion of Nurgle Kayzk the Befouled as depicted in *Total War: Warhammer III*.^[4]

Like their fellow acolytes of the Plague God, the Plague Knights of Nurgle's hordes are always infected with all manner of disfiguring diseases. They are driven forth by a strange and morbid energy, enabling them to survive wounds that might otherwise slay another Chaos Knight. Their originally splendid wargear, coats of arms and banners are always tattered and filthy, like the rags of a leper, and their once-opulent silk or fur cloaks hang from their shoulders like the shroud of corpses.^[3]

The Chaos Knights of Nurgle bear their disfigurements openly, proud of their dribbling sores and discoloured skin at odds with their exalted positions on the battlefield. Indeed, the foetid appearance of the Plague Lord's malicious Chaos Knights belies their illustrious standing, their sickening surge spearheaded by lances glistening with ichor and droplets of pus.^[3]

Certain elite Chaos Knights of Nurgle known as "Rot Knights" have been blessed with the Mark of Nurgle and the power to ride the monstrous mutant steeds known as Rot Beasts, Chaos Warhounds "blessed" by Nurgle, into battle. Although the Chaos Armour they wear has grown rusty with time, Rot Knights can still take a beating, sacrificing some of their speed for thicker skin with the ability to regenerate even the most mortal of blows.^[4]

Chaos Knight Types

Wh main chs knights — A Chaos Knight as depicted in *Total War: Warhammer*.

The standard Chaos Knight is an elite warrior, whether they worship the Dark Gods equally in the form of Chaos Undivided or bear the Mark of a single divine patron. Some, however, are held in even greater esteem, having ascended through sheer experience and martial might, or due to the gift of a powerful Daemonic Chaos Steed.

Doom Knights - Doom Knights are those veteran Chaos Knights who lead their less experienced brethren into war.

Chosen Chaos Knights - The most favoured and powerful Chaos Knights.

Plague Knights - Plague Knights are the elite, pestilence-spreading Chaos Knights who serve the Plaguelord Nurgle exclusively.

Rot Knights - Rot Knights are the most elite of the Nurglish Plague Knights who are granted the right to ride one of the Plaguelord's mutant Rot Beasts into battle and receive a blessing of unusual regenerative capabilities from their divine patron.

Skullcrushers of Khorne - Elite Khornate Chaos Knights mounted upon half-Daemon, half-machine Juggernauts.

Skullhunter - The Skullhunter is the greatest Chaos Knight found amongst the Skullcrushers of Khorne. It is the Skullhunter who has spilt the most blood in Khorne's name and who has gifted his dark patron with the skulls of mighty kings and great heroes.