"With a mighty shout he rose, brighter than the sun and more fierce. In his hand he held a rod of twisted bone, crossed and double-crossed to form the sign of his dark lord, a symbol of his power and fruit of mortal longings well-fulfilled. He rose above the company, far taller than they, and looked with black pride upon these, his frightened slaves. He snarled and heard the sound of noble hatred echoing from the skies. He stared the savage stare of immortal fury and death was in his gaze. And on that blasted hearth his ashen servants burned, cowed by fear and awe alike to see their lord transfigured into that most mighty of creatures which mortals call a Daemon Prince."
- —Liber Malefic[2a]
A Daemon Prince is a former mortal servant of the Chaos Gods who has been raised to become a Daemon as a reward for their extraordinary service to their divine patron during life. Daemon Princes are among the greatest and most powerful servants of Chaos.[1a]
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Role[]
"Once a mortal, the Daemon Prince is a great and powerful servant of the Ruinous Powers. Earning favour through acts of violent glory in battle, the Daemon Prince grows and mutates into a being of godlike power, forever bound to whims of his dark patrons."
- —Description of the Daemon Princes of Chaos in Total War: Warhammer III.[12]
Daemon Princes are those mortals who followed Chaos with a deep and fervent faith, pledging themselves body and soul to the service of the Dark Gods. They know that there is a great prize for those who show unflinching devotion. Should a Chaos Champion survive the endless battles and the ravaging mutations granted by their masters whilst still finding favour in the eyes of their fickle gods, they may attain the ultimate reward. The divine patron of the Champion will elevate him to his side as a Daemon Prince, a being of godlike power, forever bound to darkness and the will of their patron god.[1a]
Despite the fact that they were not born as Daemons, those Chaos Champions that attain the status of Daemon Prince gain immortality and become the enemy of all that is true and natural in the mortal world. All who set foot upon the path of Chaos eventually seek this apotheosis, the glorious moment of metamorphosis where they shrug off their mortal shell and become a being of undying darkness. But for every Chaos Champion who raises their horned head and roars their triumph to the skies as a newborn Daemon Prince, untold thousands perish on the field of battle or end their lives as mewling Chaos Spawn.[1a]
At the moment of a Chaos Champion's transformation, bat-like wings or mighty feathered pinions will sprout from his back, bearing him aloft that he might rule the skies as well as the earth. Other Daemon Princes might soar on crackling pillars of flame, arms outstretched as they cry praise to their blasphemous gods. Some are granted an ethereal beauty or hellish foulness that can freeze a man in place as the Daemon Prince descends from the skies to feed. There are even those with the ability to reshape reality itself, as skilled at manipulating the Winds of Magic as the most puissant of Chaos Sorcerers.[1a]
Daemon Princes are vast in stature, their gigantic forms twisted into new shapes more pleasing to their masters. They wield unholy weapons and abilities, and are bedecked in chains and jewellery covered with the symbols of their patron. The variations between these masters of misrule are legion. Nonetheless, it is common for these Princes of Chaos to retain their intellect and their memory, the better to recall the humanity they left behind. Some Daemon Princes enter the Realm of Chaos to serve their gods on other worlds and dimensions, but most serve as commanders of the mortal armies of Chaos, waging eternal war in their patron's name. Tirelessly they hunt the enemies of their masters, for their meat is Human flesh and their wine mortal souls.[1a]
Ultimately, all Chaos Champions walk a path to glory, hoping to earn the eye of their chosen patron and be found worthy of transformation into a Daemon Prince. These are large and powerful Daemons, second only to the mighty Greater Daemons. In order to please Khorne a mortal has to become a killer of men, slaying his foes without compunction or pause and hunting down magic users in particular. If a mortal is found worthy in the eyes of Khorne he undergoes a transformation. The recipient of daemonhood grows in size, becoming a hulking creature over ten feet tall and bulging with slabs of iron-hard muscle. He sprouts a tail and horns and fearsome claws. Those gifts of Chaos and mutations he earned in life remain, only scaled up to suit his new size.[6a]
Weaker alternatives to Daemon Princes are known as Exalted Daemons, Chaos Warriors who have survived the process of Possession.[8]
Daemon Princes of Khorne[]
"A true embodiment of the bloodiest side of warfare, aptly earning the moniker: “War Given Form”."
- —Description of the Daemon Princes of Khorne in Total War: Warhammer III.[12]
The Daemon Princes of Khorne are far from uniform, for each represents the personalities and trademarks of the Chaos Champions they were in life, but there are some factors they hold in common. Many of them have large, leathery wings like those of a Bloodthirster, scaled skins the colour of blood, and the heads of massive hunting hounds.[6a]
Many Daemon Princes bear arcane weapons or suits of magical Chaos Armour. Because Khorne is the patron of warriors, his Daemonic servants are even more likely to bear such wargear than the Daemon Princes of other gods. Like all of Khorne's servants his Daemon Princes never use magic, and may well wear items that ward them from spells such as Brass Collars.[6b]
In order to walk Khorne’s path of glory and become one of His irrepressible Daemon Princes, one has to have a long and unrivalled history of murder, and lived a life dedicated to war without compunction or pause. Mortals found worthy by the Blood God undergo this transformation, becoming a hulking creature bulging with slabs of iron-hard muscle. A tail, horns, and a claw are added to the gifts of Chaos and mutations they earned in life, which are scaled up to their new stature. They become savage, bellowing creatures, with a bloodlust that extends far beyond what they once felt as mere mortals.[12]
Daemon Princes of Nurgle[]
"Those raised to Daemonhood by the Plague Lord walk the world revered by His grandchildren and feared by all."
- —Description of the Daemon Princes of Nurgle in Total War: Warhammer III.[12]
Mortal Chaos Champions who excel in service to Nurgle, bringing plague and ruin to the civilised lands, are sometimes rewarded by their divine patron. The unlucky perish from their diseases, or are bequeathed so many mutations that they devolve into mindless Chaos Spawn. A favoured few are brought before Nurgle himself, and if they survive the terrors of his foul garden in the Land of the Plaguelord, he raises them to Daemonhood.[4a]
Their body enlarges. Horns, talons, a tail, and sometimes wings sprout from their changing form. All manner of contagion erupts over their new body, yet they treasure each festering cyst and scabrous blister. Nurgle grants them a Daemonic blade that can split flesh with a mere touch.[4a]
Daemon Princes of Nurgle often remain at their master's decaying mansion as his devout servants yet sometimes return to their old tribe in the Chaos Wastes. They lead their former companions into battle, feared and revered as a veritable god, yet in reality they are nothing but the slaves of the Plague Lord, doomed to serve his every whim as every Daemon must.[4a]
Daemon Princes of Slaanesh[]
"An insatiable thirst for souls burns within, inspiring thoughts of absolute terror in Slaanesh's enemies."
- —Description of the Daemon Princes of Slaanesh in Total War: Warhammer III.[12]
Tales from the Liber Malefic tell how once-great warriors in service to Slaanesh, consumed by their desires and temptations, have literally transformed in front of others. At the moment of final, amazing alteration, skin falls from muscle, bone reshapes, wings and horns sprout, and all manner of foul appendages surface, basking in the glory of their fell master. Often three times or greater in size than their former stature, these creatures rightly inspire thoughts of absolute terror.[3a]
Once in such a state, these favoured Champions of Slaanesh also shrug off their mortality, destined to serve their foul god for eternity as a Daemon Prince. They gain an intense thirst for souls and rampage through the mortal and Daemonic realms, hunting their master's enemies.[3a]
As perverse as any other follower of Slaanesh, these Daemon Princes are twisted into a form more pleasing to their divine master. While sharing common traits such as wings, a powerful tail, and razor-sharp talons, Slaanesh's Daemon Princes are lither and far more graceful in their actions than Daemon Princes that serve the other Ruinous Powers. They may even wear fine robes or armour in a vile mockery of their original form. Their armour is often imbued with disgusting runes, and their potent weaponry is ancient and magical in nature, able to carve through flesh with the greatest ease.[3a]
Even more so than such creatures of the other Ruinous Powers, a Slaaneshi Daemon Prince will be at the forefront of its army, whipping the mortal and Daemonic troops into the lust of battle, caressing their senses with its words, and tearing through flesh with masterful strikes.[3a]
Daemon Princes of Tzeentch[]
"With Daemonic rebirth bequeathed by Tzeentch comes the perception of the multitudinous strands of fate."
- —Description of the Daemon Princes of Tzeentch in Total War: Warhammer III.[12]
The ambition of every mortal worshipper of Tzeentch is to achieve ultimate power and be elevated to the immortal rank of Daemon Prince. However, only the most treacherous, deceitful, manipulative, and dedicated of Tzeentch's servants will ever achieve this glory. When a mortal is transformed into a Daemon Prince, they grow immeasurably in size, and sprout a long, snaking tail of sinewy flesh. Their hands and feet become fearsome talons, and large horns erupt from their distended skull.[5a]
However, these distinguishing features are the only similarities that Daemon Princes share, as their personalities, traits and even the mutations they received in their former life can dictate the outcome of their transformation, and they are infinitely varied in shape and hue. These Daemon Princes are powerful spellcasters, many of them having been sorcerers or powerful Champions of Tzeentch before their Daemonic rebirth. They often have enormous, feathery wings in a style similar to the Lords of Change. A Daemon Prince is so large and powerful that it can kill a man with but a casual swat of its murderous talons, but most of them carry an ornate blade or a lavishly decorated staff, the better to slay their victims.[5a]
Daemon Princes of Tzeentch are second only to the Lords of Change, the Architect of Fate's Greater Daemons, in power and prestige, but retain much of their individuality, and are not merely extensions of their master's will in the same way as the other Daemons of Tzeentch. The fact that they were once mortal themselves allows these Daemon Princes a far greater understanding of those that serve them, and they ruthlessly use this knowledge to corrupt and manipulate their mortal pawns to achieve their goals. Existing as they do in both the mortal and magical realms, they can perceive the various strands of fate with a skill that not even the most favoured of Tzeentch's mortal vassals can rival.[5a]
Daemon Princes of Chaos Undivided[]
"Daemon Princes are amongst the greatest and most powerful servants of Chaos."
- —Description of the Daemon Princes of Chaos Undivided in Total War: Warhammer III.[12]
These beings are those who follow Chaos with a deep and fervent faith, pledging themselves body and soul to the service of the Dark Powers. They know that there is a great prize for those who show unflinching devotion. Should a champion survive the endless battles and the ravaging mutations granted by their masters whilst still finding favour in the eyes of his fickle gods, he may attain the ultimate reward.[12]
Daemon Princes of Chaos Undivided, raised to their immortal status by the power of all the major Chaos Gods, have been known to empower themselves with the souls of the slain, while those who follow a single Chaos God possess abilities more in-keeping with the unique temperament and goals of their chosen deity.
Since the ascension of Be'lakor to Daemonhood and the betrayal of his divine patrons that followed, Daemon Princes of Chaos Undivided have become comparatively rare, as the Ruinous Powers are fickle and jealous gods who dislike having servants who will not fully commit to one god's path over another.
Daemonic Gifts[]
"Many are the gifts bestowed upon them in their daemonhood, many are the weapons and magicks at their disposal to slay the enemies of Chaos, to befuddle their minds and terrify their souls. By these gifts are the Daemon Princes known, each individual from his dark brothers, a mighty warrior, a potent spellcaster, lord of the armies of the Chaos Wastes and heralds of the world's destruction."
- —The Daemonic Gifts of Chaos[11]
Daemon Princes and Exalted Daemons may be given Daemonic Gifts by their divine patron, further enhancing their lethality, as described below.
Chaos Undivided[]
- Chaos Disruption - The air around the Daemon seethes with chaotic energy, deflecting arrows and bolts.[11]
- Blade of the Ether - The Daemon wields a hell-forged weapon that exists partly in other dimensions, bypassing armour.[11]
- Radiance of Dark Glory - Raw Chaos power emanates from the Daemon, strengthening its presence in the material realm.[11]
- Soul Hunger - The Daemon craves the deaths of all mortal creatures.[11]
- Spell Breaker - The Daemon is able to drain away the power of enemy spells.[11]
- Diabolic Splendour - The Daemon's grip on the mortal realm is particularly strong, protecting it against its normal vulnerabilities.[11]
- Master of Mortals - Mortal warriors form the vast majority of the Daemon's army.[11]
Khorne[]
- Collar of Khorne - The Daemon wears a heavy studded collar as a mark of Khorne's potent protection against magic.[11]
- Axe of Khorne - The axe is the favoured weapon of Khorne, and this unholy blade screams with the power of the Daemon bound within it.[11]
- Armour of Khorne - The Daemon wears armour fashioned from materials unknown to mortals.[11]
- Might of Khorne - The Daemon has been blessed with monstrous strength.[11]
Tzeentch[]
- Tzeentch's Will - The Daemon is party to Tzeentch's knowledge of the intricate strands of fate.[11]
- Spell Destroyer - The Daemon can wrench magical power from its foes, using its own Chaos essence to attack the minds of enemy wizards.[11]
- Master of Sorcery - The Daemon has great magical knowledge.[11]
- Power Vortex - The Daemon uses the magic binding its physical essence to the world to power its spells.[11]
Nurgle[]
- Cloud of Flies - A swarm of flies envelopes the Daemon, distracting the enemy by flying into eyes, ears and mouths, and crawling under armour and clothing.[11]
- Stream of Corruption - The Daemon spews forth a noxious stream of disease and filth.[11]
- Plague Flail - The Daemon wields an immense ball and chain which instantly infects any wounds it inflicts.[11]
Slaanesh[]
- Aura of Slaanesh - The Daemon is surrounded by a mind-altering aura that befuddles the enemy.[11]
- Soporific Musk - Enemies close to the Daemon find their minds confused, and their limbs heavy and slow.[11]
- Gaze of Acquiescence - Transfixed by the magical gaze of the Daemon, the enemy cannot bring themselves to strike.[11]
Notable Daemon Princes[]
- Agrammon (Slaanesh) - Agrammon is the Daemon Prince of Slaanesh who serves as the Keeper of Dorghar, the Steed of the Apocalypse used by each Everchosen of Chaos Undivided.
- Alkhor (Nurgle) - Alkhor is a Daemon Prince who attempted to transform Athel Loren into a part of the Garden of Nurgle.
- Axarath (Tzeentch) - Akarath was a champion and protector of the Harbinger, a powerful Tzeentchian witch.
- Azazel (Slaanesh) - Azazel is a former mortal companion of Sigmar named Gerreon who ultimately betrayed and tried to slay the founder of the Empire. Azazel is now a Daemon Prince of Slaanesh and the captain of the Dark Prince's Daemonic Ecstatic Legions.
- Barakus the Godslayer (Khorne) - Warden of the Inevitable City's Bloodwrought Enclave.
- Be'lakor (Chaos Undivided) - Be'lakor was the first Daemon Prince ever created from a mortal in the early years of the Known World's existence. he betrayed the trust of the Ruinous Powers and was cursed with permanent insubstantiality. He must now crown each Everchosen of Chaos Undivided rather than be the instrument of the mortal world's destruction himself.
- Bloodwrack (Khorne) - Bloodwrack is a former Bjornling that was raised to Daemonhood by Khorne. Bloodwrack is worshipped as a maritime deity in Norsca.
- The Crimson Cyclops (Tzeentch) - The Crimson Cyclops is said to be the highest among the Daemon Princes of Tzeentch, though he has thankfully never been encountered in the mortal world.
- Godslayer (Chaos Undivided) - The Godslayer was formerly Yuri Barkov, a nobleman and prince of Kislev. He was deceived by Be'lakor into travelling far into the Chaos Wastes and eventually trying to kill the Kislevite Bear God Ursun who the Dark Master had captured and bound in the Realm of Chaos. Barkov managed to mortally wound the Bear God but not slay him outright. Seeking vengeance against Be'lakor for his deception, Barkov called out to the Chaos Gods for aid, and they transformed him into a Daemon Prince of Chaos Undivided who became known as "Godslayer."
- Hrothgar Daemonaxe (Khorne) - Hrothgar was the chieftain of the Norscan Varg tribe.
- Htarken the Everchanging (Tzeentch) - Htarken was a Daemon Prince who was defeated by Snorri Whitebeard and who later walked among the Dwarfs during the War of the Beard to prolong the conflict between the Dawi and the Asur.
- Kaarn the Vanquisher (Khorne) -- Kaarn was the Guardian of the Steps of Ruin within the Bastion Stair.
- Kastaghar the Adulant (Unknown) - Kastraghar was a Daemon Prince who opposed Archaon in the Southern Wastes of Chaos.
- Kastragar (Khorne)
- Khastarax (Khorne)[7a]
- Knut the Bloody (Khorne)
- Kragen'ome'nanthal (Khorne) - Kragen'ome'nanthal was a Daemon Prince who challenged Grimnir, the Dwarf Ancestor God on his journey north to find the source of the Daemonic corruption afflicting the world after the Great Catastrophe.
- Kz'ar'aka (Khorne) - Kz'ar'aka is the Harbinger of Sorrows and Chosen of the Blood God.
- Locephax (Slaanesh) - Locephax is a Daemon Prince of Slaanesh who once challenged Valkia the Bloody while she was still mortal to become his concubine. Valkia slew him and travelled into the Realm of Chaos to present his head to Khorne as an offering, though the journey cost Valkia her life. She was resurrected as a Daemon Prince by the Blood God, and Locephax's essence was affixed onto her shield.
- Ghur'urgh Bu'yuel (Nurgle) - Ghur'urgh Bu'yuel is the Nurglite Daemon Prince also known as Lothar Bubonicus.
- Mathrag Brainmangler (Unknown) - Brainmangler was a Daemon Prince slain by Harald Hammerstorm during the Battle of Khorsvold.
- Samael (Slaanesh) - Samael was a Daemon Prince who was the master and corruptor of the High Elven Champion of Slaanesh Dechala.
- Slaa'Ulaan (Slaanesh) - This Slaaneshi Daemon Prince was known to the Lizardmen as "The Nether-thing of the Second Moon." He was defeated at Xuhua Lake.
- Surthrond (Khorne) - Surthrond was purported to be a half-Giant, half-Dragon Daemon Prince and the patron of the Dragon Fleet of Valbrand Fireblade.
- Thorgar the Blooded One (Khorne)
- U'zhul the Skulltaker (Khorne) - U'zhul is a legendary Daemon Prince of Khorne who takes the form of a hulking Bloodletter.
- Tzy'y chy ikch (Tzeentch) - Tzy'y chy ikch is a Tzeentchian Daemon Prince also known as Werner Flamefist.
- Xathrodox (Khorne) - Xathrodox is a monstrous Khornate Daemon Prince that stands over twenty feet tall.
Miniatures[]
Videos[]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Warriors of Chaos (8th Edition)
- 1a: pg. 30
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Warriors of Chaos (7th Edition)
- 2a: pg. 53
- 3: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Edition: Liber Ecstatica - The Book of Pleasure (RPG)
- 3a: pg. 14
- 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Edition: Liber Infectus - The Book of Plague (RPG)
- 4a: pg. 24
- 5: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Edition: Liber Mutatis - The Book of Change (RPG)
- 5a: pg. 24
- 6: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Edition: Liber Carnagia - The Book of Blood (RPG)
- 7: Warhammer Armies: Core (6th Edition)
- 7a: pg. 103
- 8: Warhammer Fantasy Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Tome of Corruption (RPG)
- 9: Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (PC Game)
- 10: Knight of the Realm (Novel) by Anthony Reynolds
- 11: Warhammer Armies: Hordes of Chaos (6th Edition), pg. 48
- 12: Total War: Warhammer III (PC Game)