"We is strong. Strong like the mountains. Strong like the tide. Great Ones know this, like well our strength so they set us to guarding the special places. Holy places. Prey comes to us there. Mostly not worthy prey, but still tasty. The little ones call on us to make war for them and sometimes we do. But they also fear us and that is good. They should fear us. Their blood smells good too."
- —Kartush, Minotaur[3a]
Minotaurs are one of the most fearsome of the Beastmen breeds.[1a]
Minotaurs, also known as Bullgors, Bovigors, Bovi-Gors, or Bull Lords, are a massive, bull-headed breed of Beastmen that are known for their infamously savage tempers, great size, brute strength and an insatiable hunger for hot blood and raw flesh. Often growing to twice the height of a man and far greater in muscular bulk, their thick-skulled heads are broad and ugly, and their sharp horns can eviscerate with a single thrust. Many have the cloven-hoofed hindquarters of a beast and other deformities and mutations of the body that the touch of Chaos brings.[1a][5a]
Though they are less intelligent than even typical Beastmen, they are unnaturally strong and powerful, and make formidable warriors. Minotaurs are possessed of a terrible hunger for flesh, particularly the flesh of Humans. Yet it is not the gnawing hunger a mortal feels when deprived of sustenance, but a deep thirst for the unholy exhilaration the Minotaurs experience when they consume the flesh of their enemies. In this state, they join with the power of the Chaos Gods and share in a part of their glory.[1a]
Quick Answers
What role do Minotaurs play in the Warhammer universe?
What are some of the other names Minotaurs are known by in Warhammer?
What is the significance of Minotaurs guarding special places in Warhammer?
What is the relationship between Minotaurs and the 'little ones' in Warhammer?
How are Minotaurs depicted in fantasy art?
Role
A savage Minotaur, guardian of the Chaos-tainted temples of the Dark Gods.
Gathering in loose tribes ruled over by the strongest of their number, the Minotaurs live a nomadic existence, and they go wherever the scent of blood is strongest. Attracted by raw flesh and steaming gore, they often gravitate to the herdstones where the Beastmen make their unholy offerings to the Dark Gods.[1a]
During the most hideous of rituals, scores of sacrifices are made in savage offerings led by the Bray-Shamans, sending the Minotaurs into a frenzy which only the blood of yet more victims can sate. Even a glimpse of the colour red is sometimes enough to rouse the greed of a Minotaur tribe, for it reminds them of the glories of blood-mad gluttony.[1a]
It is said that Minotaurs are the keepers of dark shrines to Chaos and the tombs of fallen Exalted Heroes deep within the farthest reaches of the forests, where even other Beastmen fear to tread. Here they pile all of their trophies, including the weapons, armour and skulls of defeated foes in praise of the Chaos Gods, often in such quantities that the mounds of rusting treasure and foetid remains obscure the shrines they are actually guarding completely. Because of this, Minotaurs are held in a strange reverence by Beastmen, who are at once in awe and fear of the favour that the Minotaurs receive from their gods.[2a]
A render of a Minotaur as depicted in Total War: Warhammer.
Not every Minotaur is destined for a life of guardianship. The greatest among them catch the eye of the Ruinous Powers. These are favoured just like Human Champions of Chaos, exalted in the eyes of their fellows and given one of the Marks of Chaos. These Minotaurs are called "Doombulls" and they are dangerous in the extreme.[2a]
Those that have been especially favoured by one of the Ruinous Powers usually have traits that their god finds pleasing or abilities in keeping with their divine lord's sphere of influence. Thus, the Doombulls of Khorne are often covered in blood red fur, whereas the "Tzaanbulls" of Tzeentch are actually skilled sorcerers. Doombulls often rise to lead entire armies of Chaos followers, beast, man and Daemon.[2a]
Warfare
"A Minotaur, with axe in hand, can hold its own against dozens of enemies with vicious, brutal fury."
- —Description of Minotaurs in Total War: Warhammer.[4]
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A Minotaur as depicted in Warhammer: Vermintide II.
When called to war, the Minotaurs reach into the piles of weapons and armour heaped in offering before the herdstones, equipping themselves with the largest and most formidable weapons they can find. These weapons were laid before the herdstones in celebration of victory, their erstwhile owners slain upon some forgotten battlefield.[1a]
In amongst the rusted blades can sometimes be found those once carried by the warriors of long-lost empires, crafted using methods and metals no longer known to any of the peoples of the world of Mallus, fragments of tarnished armour that might have been made for the guards of long-dead, forgotten kings.[1a]
Concept art of a Minotaur created for Total War: Warhammer.
In truth, a Minotaur is capable of tearing a warhorse apart with its bare teeth and cares not for the heritage of such items, but these tools of war make them even deadlier still. Though normally ponderous and slow-witted, battle turns Minotaurs into raging bulls and the scent of blood drives them to violent excess. The scent of gore in their flaring nostrils drives them wild and they bellow their hunger for all to hear.[1a]
They charge with a thundering impact, horns lowered to impale, then strike blow after blow against their hapless enemy. Once their victims have been hacked apart the Minotaurs slake their thirst for blood by tearing at raw flesh with their gore-encrusted nails and gulping down great hunks of steaming meat and the blood of the dying even whilst the battle rages on around them.[1a]
Minotaurs and Bovigors
The cattled-headed Beastmen Gors known as Bovigors are very similar to Minotaurs in appearance, although they are, of course, much smaller. They have the same bovine horns as Minotaurs and often have the heads of bulls, much like Minotaurs. The Bovigors look up to true Minotaurs as big brothers and protectors.[7a]
Bovigors will sometimes seek out a Minotaur warherd and join its retinue. It is quite common for whole groups of Bovigors to do this if their own Beastlord is slain. Minotaurs also recognise this kinship between themselves and Bovigors, referring to them affectionately as "little brothers" and "little calves."[7a]
Minotaur warbands and warbands led by a Bovigor Champion will rarely fight if they meet by chance, instead holding a truce to discuss their differences, only resorting to combat if no other option presents itself. Minotaurs are more likely to form alliances with Bovigors than with any other breed of Beastmen. Sometimes a Minotaur champion will even allow a Bovigor to enter his Chaos shrine and witness, for himself, the dark glowing warpstone within.[7a]
Minotaur Breeds
Within the dark forests of the Old World, the Minotaur race has since gone through many transformations throughout their long and horrible existence. The mutating power of Chaos is strong in places that harbour these creatures, and as such, in time, some Minotaurs begin to mutate ever further into Chaos beasts of even more grotesque appearance.
- Ghorgon - A Ghorgon is a cannibalistic variant of the more common Minotaurs. The Ghorgon is a four-limbed, ox-headed creature that has a thirst for flesh that is beyond even those of the largest and most ferocious Minotaurs. Consumed entirely by its bloodlust, the Ghorgon hunts down and slaughters every living creature it finds, be it Beastmen, Human, Greenskin or fellow Minotaurs alike.[1c]
- Cygor - A Cygor is a distant cousin of the Minotaurs, but because they hail from the most tainted of all the realms of the Old World, they have diverged greatly from their kin. They are huge, hideously malformed giants, similar in form to Minotaurs, yet each possessed of but a single eye in the centre of its forehead that barely sees the mortal world.[1b]
Minotaurs of Khorne
Concept art of a Minotaur of Khorne created for Total War: Warhammer III.
Minotaurs of Khorne, sometimes referred to as Khornataurs, are those Minotaurs that have dedicated themselves to Khorne, the Chaos God of war and murder, and in turn have been blessed with the Mark of Khorne by the Blood God, embracing his gifts to better butcher their prey.[6]
Their lust for blood and gore have naturally drawn them into serving the Lord of Rage above his divine brothers, for who better to provide that which they so crave? They often march to war not only as their own tribes or alongside the warherds of the Beastmen, but as part of larger Khornate armies drawn from both mortal servants of the Blood God and his Daemons.[6]
Notable Regiments
- Butchers of Kalkengard - This unit of Minotaurs under the command of Ragush of the Bloody Horn annihilated the town of Kalkengard.[6]
Miniatures
.jpg "6th Ed - Minotaurs, Two Hand Weapons (2).jpg (132 KB)")
.jpg "6th Ed - Minotaurs, Standart Bearer (3).jpg (71 KB)")
.jpg "6th Ed - Minotaurs, Great Weapon (1).jpg (45 KB)")
.jpg "7th Ed - Minotaurs (1).jpg (90 KB)")
.jpg "7th Ed - Minotaurs, Two Hand Weapons (2).jpg (116 KB)")
.jpg "7th Ed - Minotaurs, Hand Weapon and Shield (6).jpg (58 KB)")
.jpg "7th Ed - Minotaurs, Champion (5).jpg (142 KB)")
.jpg "7th Ed - Minotaurs, Drummer (4).jpg (140 KB)")
.jpg "7th Ed - Minotaurs, Banner Bearer (3).jpg (84 KB)")
Videos
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Beastmen (7th Edition)
- 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Tome of Corruption (RPG)
- 2a: pp. 104-105
- 3: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Old World Bestiary (RPG)
- 3a: pg. 15
- 4: Total War: Warhammer (PC Game)
- 5: Liber Chaotica (Background book)
- 5a: pg. 261
- 6: Total War: Warhammer III (PC Game)
- 7: White Dwarf 125
- 7a: pg. 33
Gallery
