Skullcrushers of Khorne

"Knights in hell-forged armour, rewarded for their savage duty with Daemonic mounts from which to spill ever-deeper rivers of blood."

—Description of the Skullcrushers of Khorne from Total War: Warhammer III.^[3]

Khorne crusher — A Skullcrusher armed with axe and shield mounted atop his fearsome Daemonic Juggernaut.

The Skullcrushers of Khorne are among the most devout Chaos Knights dedicated to Khorne. Their legendary skill at arms has earned them the right to ride the fearsome Daemonic Juggernaut into battle as a mount.

Role

Warhammer Khorne Army — Charge of the Juggernauts

Skullcrushers are unsubtle Chaos Knights who revel in battle and live only for the shedding of blood in the name of Khorne. Only those Chaos Knights who devote themselves utterly to the Lord of Slaughter and offer to him a mountain of skulls are destined to become Skullcrushers. Anyone or anything foolish enough to stand before them is destined only for a short and brutally violent fate, for Skullcrushers are completely without mercy and leave only a trail of broken bodies and a river of spilt gore in their wake.^[1a]

So favoured in the eyes of Khorne are these murderous knights that the Blood God has gifted them with Daemonic Juggernauts to carry them to war. These massive Daemonic mounts are made of living metal and pure rage; they are dealers of untold destruction who grind their foes beneath steel sinews and brass hooves. As formidable as a Chaos Knight is, when mounted upon a Juggernaut, he is nigh-unstoppable.^[1a]

Skullcrushers Total Warhammer III — Skullcrushers atop their Daemonic Juggernaut mounts as depicted in *Total War: Warhammer III*.

As the blood-crazed knights bellow their battle cries, their fearsome mounts snort steam and paw out divots the size of shallow graves before stampeding towards the ranks of their enemy and flattening anything in their way. The Chaos Knights themselves are no less brutal, hacking their opponents apart with axes and cleavers, or else running them through with jagged lances. Mightiest of all their number is the Skullcrusher called the "Skullhunter," he 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.^[1a]

A9021163-CCAA-442D-88E5-25E1AE853D10 — A Skullcrusher Chaos Knight as rendered in *Total War: Warhammer III*.

Skullcrushers can be seen roaming the Realm of Chaos and the lands of Norsca and the Northern Wastes, butchering all who cross their path. Such is their need to kill that Skullcrushers will charge the moment a foe is sighted. Only the will of a truly mighty Chaos Lord can hope to quell their thirst for battle with the promise of an even greater and more bountiful battlefield in return for their service.^[1a]

Ultimately, it is the Chaos Knights' own Khorne-fuelled rage that will be their downfall, for it blinds them to mortal dangers and even basic reason. Eventually, Skullcrushers will challenge a monster that dwarfs even their massive stature, or pile into a foe whose numbers are simply too overwhelming. Outnumbered or outmatched, their bodies will be torn asunder into grisly pieces by their vengeful foes. However, the Skullcrushers see even their own deaths as a victory of sorts, for Khorne cares not whose blood is spilt, so long as it flows.^[1a]

Notable Regiments

Skullcrushers of Khorne — A Skullcrusher riding a fearsome Daemonic Juggernaut into battle.

Knights of the Brazen Throne - A legendary regiment of dual-wielding Skullcrushers, all in the path of their murderous rampage have little chance to react before being trampled into a fine red mist.^[3]

Crimson Rampage - This band of Chaos Knights pledged themselves to Skarr after the siege of Averheim during the End Times.

Skullrage - This ancient unit of Skullcrushers fought for the first Everchosen Morkar during his invasion of the Empire and have continued his fight against the heirs of Sigmar ever since.

Kruld's Rampagers - These Skullcrushers serve Vaslo Kruld, a former Gryphon Legion soldier who forsook his service to Kislev for the sake of Khorne as he was consumed by his own bloodlust.