Warhammer is full of BIG characters doing BIG things – colossal sieges, legendary quests, and planet-killing crusades. Despite many best efforts, only one character has achieved the true apocalypse, unleashing a calamity infused with such incredible uncreation that it ended the World-that-Was and eventually gave birth to the Mortal Realms.*
That one man is the Three-Eyed king, Lord of the End Times, and Everchosen champion of all four Chaos Gods – Archaon.
Archaon was a towering figure of such dark fury and iron will that he could unite the many unruly hordes of Chaos – from the jockeying tribes of the Northern Wastes to fallen and corrupted champions of the Empire. Through sheer ambition and will, he forged one of the largest armies the Old World had ever seen, before plunging it all into ruin.
Unlike the many warlords who came before him, including such heavy-hitters as Morkar, Asavar Kul, and even Be’lakor, Archaon actually won – marking him as the greatest champion of Chaos.
Long before his rise to power, Archaon was once a devout worshipper of Sigmar named Diederick Kastner – though the fates had decided a different path for him. When he learned of his true destiny, Kastner journeyed across the Chaos Wastes for 100 years in search of the Six Treasures of Chaos that would mark him as the final Everchosen. Now that’s dedication.
The best-known version of this character was released in the early 2000s, during the Hordes of Chaos project. This was a massive overhaul of the forces of Chaos which divvied up their roster between multiple linked army books, and concluded with the Storm of Chaos campaign book – in which players led their own Chaos Invasions against their friends with special army rules, scenarios, and even a massive online global campaign.
With his moulded Chaos Wastes base, great horned helmet set with the Eye of Sheerian, malevolent plate armour matched by the gnarly barding on the wild-eyed Dorghar, cape billowing in the corrupted winds of magic, and the Slayer of Kings held out in an imperious declaration of war, Archaon set the bar for all Chaos Lords – and all named characters – to follow in his hoofsteps.
This wasn’t Archaon’s first foray onto the tabletop, however. He was preceded by a slightly more understated model known as Archaon – Lord of Chaos Undivided, released in the late ‘90s. He’s a clear template for his fancier successor, with a rearing steed, daemonic sword held aloft, horned helm, and Mark of Chaos proudly displayed on his chest. Lucky attendees of Games Day 2004 were even able to snag a limited edition Archaon on Foot, who looked just as domineering without his steed.**
Archaon’s victory echoed through eternity. With his return to the Mortal Realms he conquered the Allpoints, began his assault on all eight realms, broke apart the Pantheon, and even handily beat Sigmar in a one-on-one fight, beginning the Age of Chaos. There really is no rest for the wicked…
In the Age of Sigmar, the big man of Chaos is still a mortal – a fact which Be’lakor is quick to remind people – though he is still gifted with powers beyond imagination.
His helmet did become just a little bit fancier, but it was Dorghar who saw the greatest change, feasting on three Greater Daemons of Chaos sent by the gods to challenge Archaon.*** This drastic transformation turned Archaon into towering a centrepiece miniature that encapsulates the sheer dizzying scale of the battles in the Age of Sigmar.
* Sorry Abaddon, blowing up a planet in Warhammer 40,000 is a big deal, but not as big a deal as unmaking reality itself.
** Time, as you all know, moves oddly in the Realm of Chaos, and our acolytes were unable to root out a picture in time for the article. He looked great!
*** Dorghar never had the chance to feast on a Greater Daemon of Slaanesh, as the Dark Prince was imprisoned and could not send an assassin.