It’s rather arrogant for Sigmar to name an age after himself, when mighty Chaos still reigns supreme over the Mortal Realms, isn’t it? If you answered “yes” to this question then we have some friends you’d love to meet, as we continue our look at each of the factions at play in the new edition of Warhammer Age of Sigmar (if you missed checking out the Stormcast Eternals and Orruk Warclans, give them a read too).
Over the coming weeks, in the run-up to the release of the new edition and Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Dominion, we’re asking our supernally knowledgeable playtesters to give us the low-down on their favourite factions and how the new edition is affecting them. As you might have guessed, today we find ourselves in the domain of the Slaves to Darkness.
Who Are the Slaves to Darkness?
While the Cities of Sigmar may offer an illusion of safety and civility within their walls, the truth is that the world outside is beset by uncounted roving tribes of bloodthirsty warriors who fight and scrap for their very survival. They are the most widespread human inhabitants of the Mortal Realms, and with the taint of Chaos permeating the land itself, they exist at the whims of the Dark Gods and their herald, Archaon Everchosen.
That is not to say that all are naturally evil, as many have known nothing else but the worship of strange powers and arcane rituals, but the deeds they perform empower Chaos nonetheless and their souls are destined for their gods’ dark designs whether they like it or not.
On the battlefield, the Slaves to Darkness are a highly varied army that ranges from waves of lightly armoured raiders to disciplined ranks of ironclad warriors, speckled with all manner of powerful wizards, champions and daemonic beasts. Some warbands dedicate themselves to the service of one god in particular, such as the Bloodmarked of Khorne, while others follow in the footsteps of Archaon himself.
It takes an experienced commander to know every angle of such a wide-ranging faction, so we’ve asked our playtester Russ Veal for his thoughts on how the Slaves to Darkness are set to perform in the new edition. After all, he’s been marching with the mortal followers of Chaos since before the World-that-Was fell.
Russ: Slaves to Darkness really shine in the new edition of Warhammer Age of Sigmar, thanks to their access to lots of abilities and spells, which can greatly increase a unit’s power when combined with the new command abilities. The Chaos Lord on Daemonic Mount’s ability, The Knights of Chaos, is a great example. It lets you re-roll charges and adds 1 to rolls to hit, but it’s applied during the hero phase, allowing you to use All-out Defence on the same unit in the combat phase.
Slaves to Darkness also have some of the best, most resilient Battleline units in the game. Chaos runeshields protect against mortal wounds, and you have multiple ways to improve armour saves through Oracular Visions and the spell Demonic Power, among others. This makes the Hold the Line grand strategy a great choice for your army.
With the new Heroic actions, hard-hitting characters like a Chaos Lord on Karkadrak can use Their Finest Hour at a key moment, allowing you to seize the favour of the Dark Gods! Access to cheap Monsters can’t be underestimated, as they let you use the new Monstrous Rampage rules. The Fomoroid Crusher and Mindstealer Sphiranx are great, as they have the Monster keyword without using up Behemoth slots.
The Biggest Winners
Many of the changes made in the new edition have an impact on existing units and their presence on the battlefield. To show off how the Slaves to Darkness are reaping their rewards from the new rules, Russ picked out three of the warscrolls that benefit most.
Chaos Warshrine
Russ: The Warshrine’s Totem and Priest keywords make it a versatile support piece. Totem lets it issue commands to units within 18” – equalled only by your General. Priest unlocks powerful new prayers, Smite and Bless, and gives you a way to banish invocations and dispel endless spells. The new Enhancement rules also grant access to additional general prayers like Heal, Curse, and Guidance – all very good picks for Slaves to Darkness.
Chaos Knights
Russ: Chaos Knights are simply one of the best Battleline units in the game. A unit of 10 makes a great target for Rally and other enhancements. Combine the Daemonic Power spell with the command ability The Knights of Chaos to make them nigh unstoppable. Add the Mark of Khorne and All-out Defence to turn them into an absolute powerhouse!
Chaos Sorcerer Lord on Manticore
Russ: Wizard and Monster all in one – not too shabby. Not only do you get a powerful buff from Oracular Visions, but you can use the Monstrous Rampage ability Roar to prevent your opponent from using command abilities like All-out Defence in the combat phase. Team your Sorcerer up with Chaos Knights, send him off to destroy enemy faction terrain with Smash to Rubble, or use him to hunt Heroes – it doesn’t get much more versatile.
Thank you for your Chaotic prophecies, Russ. If you find yourself drawn to the service of the Dark Gods or just think you’ll look fantastic in a solid mass of armour, the Slaves to Darkness would be happy to have you. Begin your warband with a Start Collecting! Slaves to Darkness boxed set and add whatever you like from there – some Varanguard here, a Gorebeast Chariot there, and don’t forget the battletome.