Editing Warhammer 40,000/10th Edition Tactics/Chaos Daemons

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This is the current [[Warhammer_40,000/10th Edition Tactics|10th Edition's]] [[Chaos Daemons]] tactics. [[Warhammer 40,000/9th Edition Tactics/Chaos Daemons|9th Edition Tactics are here.]]

==Why Play Chaos Daemons==

===Pros===
* Army-wide, deep strikes
* Removal of all Invulnerable save ignoring attack, returns the importance of Daemons' immunity to armour pricing.
** As sufficient AP is an important factor in weapon choices, in this Isometric game, rendering that factor inert, denying potential DPS value if your opponent didn’t expect daemons.

===Cons===
* Melee focused when shooting has aways been strong.
* Only a maximum of 25% of army points can start in strategic reserves.
* Depending on the game mission, Deepstrikeing daemons may become unreliable if not allowed until late in the game.
* Lack of reliable Ranged weapons out of Tzeench and lack of massable anti-vehicle weapons.
** want a tank dead; only a few greater Daemons can do so reliably.
* Benefit of cover is worthless to Most of your roster as the normal saves are so bad it's practically a placeholder. You only got a save stat for the sake of avoiding weird interactions.
** only Skarbrand, Bloodthirster, Skulltaker, Skullmaster, Rendmaster on Blood throne, Skull Cannon, Horticulous Slimux, Be’lakor, and Soul Grinder are the only units with Saves equal to or greater than thier invul that can benefit from Crover.
* in a strange way army wide invulnerability saves better than thier unused normal saves making certain weapon picks ignored in favor of other choices because of lack of sufficient Armour piercing shine when building against Daemons, as AP doesn’t matter in this matchup.
* Most units are engineered to perform one job with a lack of wiggle room in stats or customization to do anything else well.
** Understanding your game plan is beforehand is even more important when building your Daemon roster.

==Faction Rules==
*'''The Shadow of Chaos''': Somewhat familiar if anyone used daemons in the first edition of the Horus Heresy. Certain areas of the board will be under the shadow, which lets you buff units inside it. While you always have your DZ under the shadow, you can also take the middle of the board and the enemy's DZ, if you manage to cap over half of the objectives in that part of the board.
**'''Daemonic Manifestation''': When one of your units is under the shadow, you can add +1 to their Battleshock checks and can recover 1d3 wounds on a passed check, with {{W40kKeyword|Battleline}} units instead resurrecting 1d3 models.
*** This healing usually takes place only when the unit in question is Below Half-strength, letting them regain some lost power like returning monsters above the wound bracket. Some weapons and abilities can force battle-shock (often mandatory), which can be hilarious when that heals instead of harms you, but it doesn't mean you can't fail battle-shock, and often that forced battle-shock is attached to big guns (so mabey double the chance to be battle-shocked for double the healing to recover from that ass whooping). 
***good for single entity and {{W40kKeyword|Battleline}} units but not so useful on your other multi-model units as it don't revive thier expensive asses and is likely down to only one model.
**'''Daemonic Terror''': When an enemy is under the shadow, they suffer -1 to their Battleshock checks and suffer 1d3 MW if they fail in addition to the normal negatives.

*'''Daemonic Pact:''' The way you can ally in daemons with any other Chaos Army. That said, this detachment can only reach a certain limit (250/500/750 for Incursion/Strike Force/Onslaught), and this detachment can't take any enhancements.
**This does come with restrictions for the mono-god armies. The World Eaters can only take a mono-Khorne detachment, The Death Guard can only take a mono-Nurgle detachment, The Thousand Sons can only take a mono-Tzeentch detachment, and a CSM detachment led by Lucius (please don't make us wait for an EC army GW...) can only take a Slaanesh detachment.

==Detachments==

===Daemonic Incursion===
====Special Rules====
*'''Warp Rifts:''' You can set up your daemons anywhere within your Shadow of Chaos, so long as they're over 6" away from any enemies. The reduced distance means that your chances of charging out of a Deep Strike are significantly improved.

====Stratagems====
<tabs>
<tab name="Battle Tactic">
*'''Draught of Terror (1 CP):''' When one unit shoots or fights, the AP of their weapons is improved by 1. On top of that, this unit can re-roll to wound if the enemy is battle-shocked.
*'''Daemonic Invulnerability (1 CP):''' One unit that get shot at can re-roll all invuln saves of 1.
*'''The Realm of Chaos (1 CP):''' Taken from the Gray Knight's Teleport Strike Force detachment. At the end of the opponent's turn, place one unit not in engagement range, or two if both are within your Shadow of Chaos, into reserves to redeploy next turn.
</tab>
<tab name="Strategic Ploy">
*'''Corrupt Realspace (1 CP):''' During any command phase, you can corrupt one objective that you're already capping, not only making it always count as capped even when your units aren't next to it, but also making the area within 6" of it count as being under the Shadow of Chaos. Keep in mind that a battle-shocked unit has its OC set to 0, which means that it can't capture objectives- and, therefore, it'll remain controlled by you!
*'''Denizens of the Warp (1 CP):''' When a unit deep strikes, they can arrive at least 3" away from an enemy. While they can't charge, consolidation is still in the cards for entering a fight.
*'''Warp Surge (1 CP):''' A unit of daemons under your shadow can charge after advancing. Excellent for your Khornates and Slaaneshis, whom all live for charging into combat anyways.
</tab>
</tabs>

====Enhancements====
*'''A'rgath, the King of Blades:''' {{W40Kkeyword|Khorne}} only. +1A and S on the bearer's melee weapons, and while within your Shadow of Chaos, make that +2.
*'''The Endless Gift:''' {{W40Kkeyword|Nurgle}} only. Bearer gets a 5+ FNP, improving to a 4+ when within your Shadow of Chaos.
*'''The Everstave:''' {{W40Kkeyword|Tzeentch}} only. +1S and +3" on the bearer's ranged weapons that become +2 and +6" within your Shadow of Chaos.
*'''Soulstealer:''' {{W40Kkeyword|Slaanesh}} only. Whenever the bearer kills an enemy model in melee, they recover a wound on a 4+ - Doing this in your Shadow of Chaos grants you a +1 to the heal roll.

===Butchers of Hyporia (Combat Patrol)===
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A basic intro to the forces of Khorne.
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'''Composition:''' 1 Kh'har'ret the Butcher, 20 Bloodletters, 10 Flesh Hounds, 3 Bloodcrushers
*'''Kh'har'ret the Butcher:''' A Bloodmaster who lacks the +1 to wound but keeps the extended consolidation range.
*'''Bloodletters:''' Two packs of 10, each with an Icon and Instrument. Shame those items don't mean shit and lost their re-rolls to wound, making their only benefit come from Kh'har'ret's default Enhancement.
*'''Flesh Hounds:''' Two packs of 5. Lack their ability to spam Heroic Intervention but remain just as annoying to be tied up with.
*'''Bloodcrushers:''' Your big meanies, though they're far from big enough to threaten any tanks with their MWs on the charge going missing. Also come with a pointless icon and instrument.

<u>'''Enhancements'''</u>
*'''Incarnated Rage:''' Kh'har'ret the Butcher's squad gains ''[Lethal Hits]''. Pretty easy for a default option.
*'''Warp Locus:''' Anywhere within 3" of Kh'har'ret the Butcher is counted as the Shadow of Chaos, allowing you to throw Daemons in right as you're fighting someone.

<u>'''Secondary Objectives'''</u>
*'''Worthy Offerings:''' 6 VP if you kill the enemy warlord, 10 VP if Kh'har'ret the Butcher dealt the killing blow. Basic Khornate goodness in a default.
*'''Dark Conjunction:''' 1 VP per turn for each objective you hold under your Shadow of Chaos but outside of your DZ.

<u>'''Stratagems'''</u>
*'''Blood-Maddened Banishment (1 CP):''' Lets a pack of Bloodletters fight on after dying on a 4+. Pretty much all you can do since they'll die pretty quick anyways.
*'''Empyric Predators (1 CP):''' When an enemy moves or falls back to a spot within 6" of your Flesh Hounds and they weren't hit with overwatch, they can immediately move 6" towards the foe, catching them in melee while immune to any overwatching.
*'''Manifest Hate (1 CP):''' Grants a 4++ save to one unit being shot at.
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==Equipment==
*'''Daemonic Icon:''' Improves the Leadership of your units by +1, which means a lot more thanks to Shadow of Chaos letting you resurrect units on a successful Battleshock Test. While bonuses can't stack, this can offset any penalties you may encounter.
*'''Instrument of Chaos:''' Adds +1 to any charge rolls.

==Unit Analysis==
As per the Chaos Knights index, you can have up to 1 {{W40Kkeyword|titanic}} or 3 {{W40Kkeyword|war dog}} [[Warhammer_40,000/10th_Edition_Tactics/Chaos_Knights|Chaos Knights]] models in your army. See those tactica pages for an in-depth analysis, but remember, in both cases anything you field will ''lose'' its Faction rules (what happens in terms of Detachment rules will still be Detachment-specific, but you'll have to pick a Chaos Daemons Detachment).

===Undivided===
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All the daemons that can be used with any alignment.
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====Characters====
*'''Daemon Prince:''' While beefed at T10 W10 with a 2+/4++ save with a one-use 3++, they can no longer hide behind the other daemons - instead, those daemons instead want to be within 6" to get ''Stealth''. Their Hellforged Weapons is pretty much an amalgamation of their old sword, axe and claws with a split profile, though their Strike only sees them able to take on other smaller monsters and tanks while their swipes make them only somewhat able to handle MEQs while their Infernal Cannon lets them shoot something.
**Of course, each god gives a bit of a boost on the prince. Khorne provides a hefty boost to the Strength of the melee weapons, Tzeentch only boosts the number of shots the cannon makes, Nurgle adds extra Toughness and Slaanesh adds to the Movement. What you don't get from any of this is any psychic power whatsoever.

=====Epic Heroes=====
*'''Be'lakor:''' Considerably beefed up with T10 W18 while still benefiting from both a 4+/4++ save (meaning last edition's variable saves are dead) and Stealth. On top of that, he's also a mobile emitter of the Shadow of Chaos, letting him assist any allies within 6" of him...and that's on top of his Shadow Master auras in that same range, which lets him pick one psychic power each turn (Enemies can only attack allies in the bubble when they're within 18", any enemies inside the bubble below their starting strength must take Battleshock tests, or friendly units can re-roll Battleshock or Leadership checks).
**His Blade of Shadows remains just as versatile, with the sweep profile giving 14 S8 AP-3 attacks to carve mobs while Strike gives 6 S14 AP-4 D1+d6 with ''Lethal Hits'' so you can more easily carve apart enemy monsters and tanks. This is supplemented by a new ranged psychic weapon that gives him a cover-negating barrage of S5 AP-2 ''Devastating Wounds'' shots or an even bigger barrage of S6 AP-3 shots with ''Devastating Wounds'' and ''Hazardous''.

====Monsters====
*'''Soul Grinder:''' A towering beast with T11 and W14 3+/4++ but it remains plenty mobile by its ability to walk over terrain and friendly {{W40kKeyword|Monsters}} and {{W40kKeyword|Vehicles}}. The Harvester Cannon gives a pretty powerful weapon to take on tanks, the Iron Claw can tear those tanks apart and is supported by your choice of either the more numerous attacks of the Warpclaw or the higher-damage Warpsword thanks to ''Extra Attacks''.
**While the Grinder can also be dedicated to a god, these only give you extra guns. Khorne provides you with a heavy flamer to cook through crowds. Tzeentch offers a Warp Gaze to blast apart mobs with prejudice. Slaanesh gives a Scream of Despair which can pierce through armor with ''Devastating Wounds''. Nurgle gives a Phlegm Bombardment, offering traditional artillery with ''Indirect Fire''.
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===Khorne===
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All the daemons aligned with Khorne
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====Characters====
*'''Bloodthirster:''' Remains the combat monster it was meant to be with both the axe and great axe providing terrifying attacks on both profiles while also letting you roll 8d6 for a chance to deal MWs on each 4+ after all the attacks. Naturally, all he has is the basic +1 to hit aura to friendly {{W40kKeyword|Khorne}} units.
**Pick between high strength two-handed ax or more attacks with a one-handed ax paired with an autocannon or lascannon whip for ranged heart-piercing poke.

*'''Bloodmaster:''' leads Bloodletters. Foot Herald Gives +1 to wound rolls and 6" Consolidates.

*'''Skullmaster:''' Leads Bloodcrushers. Herald on Juggernaut Makes Juggernaut more dangerous by giving the horns [DEVASTATING WOUNDS]. Units changed must take a Battle-shock test.

*'''Rendmaster on Blood Throne:''' Rids a chariot. may want to keep in reserves until your Khorne is in charge range as he can designate one enemy to have all weapons targeting it be +1 Str, AP, and Damage for that fight phase. the rest of the time on the board, he want finish off Characters (though he lacks PRECISION without EPIC CHALLENGE) and Monsters, gets re-roll wounds, and he heals when getting the finishing blow.
=====Epic Heroes=====
*'''Skarbrand:''' 
*'''Skulltaker:'''
*'''Karanak:'''

====Battleline====
*'''Bloodletters:''' Remain dependent on their deep-striking abilities to last long enough to actually get somewhere with those standard-issue power sword alikes, 5++ save or not. Fortunately, those same swords can re-roll 1s to wound and can re-roll any wound if the enemy's below half-strength.

====Beasts====
*'''Flesh Hounds:''' Your very mobile hunters. Each one comes with a pretty decent bite with S5 AP-1 while their leader also gets a flamer-like roar to give them some form of shooting. To your benefit, these hounds can always use the Heroic Intervention stratagem for free, even after using it on someone else.
**Regrettably, these hounds are pretty flimsy. A mere T4 and 5++ save is rather underwhelming against most things so expect to use Daemonic Manifestation a lot to raise them. Their only truly good defense is their collars, which provide a 3+ FNP against psychic weapons.

====Mounted====
*'''Bloodcrushers:''' The Juggernauts remain tanky things with T7 W4 and a 4+/4++ save.While their Hellswords remain plenty dangerous against GEQ and MEQ alike, the Juggernaut's horn gives some impressive additional attacks with ''Lance'' offering a bonus to wound on the charge and Brass Stampede giving them a chance to deal d3 mortal wounds against the enemy they just charged.

*'''Skull Cannon:''' Your long-range, anti-GEQ battle-shock weapon. bonus points if the target is in SoC.

====Fortification====
*'''Skull Altar:''' Surprisingly has ''Infiltrator'' so it can arrive where you want. While not a permanent structure, it does act as cover and gives a giant 6" bubble for your Shadow of Chaos with friendly {{W40kKeyword|Khorne}} units inside it able to re-roll Battle-shock checks so you can spawn more troops.
**Surprisingly more useful for Daemons as a whole than just Khorne, Especly the shooting and deep striking side. In DAEMONIC INCURSION detachment, you could easily set up a turn 1 Deep strike charge if the mission allows it.
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===Tzeentch===
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All daemons aligned to Tzeentch.
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====Characters====
*'''Lord of Change:''' This big chicken has shifted careers from nerdy master of magic to master of (magical) artillery ordinance. It starts with an aura that boosts ranged attacks of friendly {{W40kKeyword|Tzeentch}} units with +1 strength. Then add a barrage of 9 S9 AP-1 attacks (or AP-2 Dd3 if you want to risk ''Hazardous'') from Bolt of Change that could have the ''Ignore Cover'', ''Lethal Hits'', or ''Sustained Hits D3'' rule for that turn.

*'''Exalted Flamer:''' A self-important flamer (despite being a character, it can't be the warlord or take Enhancements) with double the wounds and the ability to join other flamers, granting the ever-vital '''Assault''' rule so they can always keep torching things. Unlike their lessers, the Exalted Flamer has two settings on their torches, with Pink Fire being the more familiar heavy flamer with 2d6 hits and the Blue Fire requiring to roll to hit but negates cover and is powerful enough to melt a marine. Whichever way they use it, any non-{{W40kKeyword|Vehicle}} non-{{W40kKeyword|Monster}} unit they hit ''in the Shooting Phase'' has a 50/50 chance of being set on fire until the end of their next turn, dealing no further harm but robbing -2" to their movement and -2 to any advance or charge rolls they make.

*'''Fluxcaster:''' Herald on disc. Fast-moving flyer, but Pink and Blue Horror are not fast so this only sees use as a means of escape. Buffs the defenses of horrors by making them -1 to hit. Got a selfish ability to turn one Hit, wound, or Saving throw into a 6 once per battle round incase you want that one model dead or to keep himself alive.

*'''Changecaster:''' Herald on foot. The shooty leader, gives Horror fireballs [SUSTAINED HITS 1] and makes one unit take Battle-shock.

*'''Fateskimmer:''' Herald on Chariot. He leads the Screamers giving thier bites [LETHAL HITS] and returning the unit to Reserves once per battle at the end of the opponent's turn as to deep strike the next.

=====Epic Heroes=====
*'''Kairos Fateweaver:''' While the basic bird can act a bit like ordinance, the two-headed one is absolutely dedicated to it with Infernal Gateway having ''Blast'' and ''Indirect Fire'' to get past any campers. While he has a buff aura for friendly {{W40kKeyword|Tzeentch}} units, it doesn't improve anything for them - Instead, whenever you use a stratagem on those units, you have to roll a d6 against the round number and refund a CP if you beat that number. On top of that, he has a single-use ability to force one stratagem that the enemy uses to cost an additional CP to throw the enemy off their game.
*'''The Blue Scribes:''' Exist only as a destraction bomb. Inflict MWs to every enemy within 6" (so only during the same turn from Deep strike with DAEMONIC INCURSION detachment). Better Agienst Psycic spam armies like Grey Knights with a 12" -1 to wound aura for Psycic weapons. Job is deep-strike annoy enemy and sponge shot meant for other stuff.  
*'''The Changeling:''' Loses out on weapon copying but still an Agient of Disruption. Usual Lone Operative, Stealth and even force enemies to pass Battle-shocked to even target him. Has a psychic heavy flamer, but its main use is his Mischief and Confusion ability that causes one enemy in the shooting phase to have -1 to hit or even be unable to shoot at all.

====Battleline====
*'''Pink Horrors:''' Your tarpit unit, still with nesting doll ability for one Pink split into two Blues and Blue into a Brimstone with a 50% chance each time a model is destroyed. Paired with +4 Invul save and Daemonic Manifestation, they are a pain to remove.
**'''Blue Horrors:''' As your horrors split, you'll notice that not only do their weapons degrade in Strength and WS/BS, they also lose a point in Leadership and OC. However, a unit comprised entirely of Blues have some special rules not triggered while there are Pinks.
*'''Blue Horrors:''' Starting at a weaker form, blues want to get into your face rather than the more range-focused Pinks. ''Infiltrators'' and -1 Leadership within 6" plus Brimstone Horrors exploding into MWs in the fight phase show they want to claim objectives.

====Infantry====
*'''Flamers:''' A bunch of floating S4 AP-1 flamers (that is, actual flamers and not whatever the fuck last edition errata'd them into) with ''Psychic'', protected only by a 4++ save. Fortunately, they remain pretty nimble with a 9" movement and remain able to shoot after falling back.

====Beasts====
*'''Screamers:''' Surprisingly effective S6 AP-2 D2 bites on a very fast if frail platform. In addition, one unit they fly over still get a 50/50 chance of eating a mortal wound.

====Mounted====
*'''Burning Chariot:''' Exalted Flammer shooting combined with some Screamer melee and on a light vehicle profile. If using lots of shooting Daemons, attack with remove Benefit of Cover from one enemy.

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===Slaanesh===
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All daemons aligned with Slaanesh.
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====Characters====
*'''Keeper of Secrets:''' A fleet-footed menace, but it's still relatively frail with T10 and a 5+/4++ save. Fortunately, Mesmerising Form makes all attacks targeting it suffer -1 to hit. Its Witstealer Sword remains a pretty effective weapon with S8 AP-2 D3 and Snapping Claws giving ''Extra Attacks'' with S6 AP-2 D3 with ''Devastating Wounds''. You can also pick up another set of attacks with the Ritual Knife with S6 AP-2 D2, a Living Whip for a ranged attack that doesn't bother with casting, or a Shining Aegis to gain a 5+ FNP save. Its lone ranged attack is Phantasmagoria, a psychic power at 18" S6 AP-2 with ''Devastating Wounds'', given the option of either the basic attack or an extra couple of attacks at the risk of ''Hazardous''. Other Slaanesh Daemons also benefit from being near a keeper, as it has a 6" aura that improves the AP of their weapons by 1.

*'''Contorted Epitome:''' A giant mirror that can join some Daemonettes, providing a 4+ FNP against mortal wounds and psychic weapons. While it has no shooting, it does have a power during the enemy's shooting phase for a chance to make enemies take -1 to hit their unit. In combat, it can provide a good lot of claw swipes from the attending Daemonettes while the mirror has tentacles that can spring out and take some additional swipes.

*'''Infernal Enrapturess:'''

*'''Tranceweaver:'''

*'''Tormentbringer on Exalted Seeker chariot:'''

=====Epic Heroes=====
*'''Shelaxi Helbane:'''
*'''Syll'Esske:'''
*'''The Masque:'''

====Battleline====
*'''Daemonettes:''' Fragile but fleet-footed, the Daemonettes make up for their less-than-stellar claws by using ''Devastating Wounds'' and re-rolling 1s to hit, which is upped to all hits if they're on an objective.

====Beasts====
*'''Fiends of Slaanesh:'''

====Mounted====
*'''Seeker Chariot:'''

*'''Hellflayer:'''

*'''Seekers:'''
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===Nurgle===
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All daemons aligned with Nurgle.

A common trend among the forces of Nurgle here and in the Death Guard is a reliance on ''Lethal Hits''. That said, it's not quite as frequent here outside of melee - a field that tends to otherwise be neglected.
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====Characters====
*'''Great Unclean One:''' Still that fat rancid bastard we know, complete with a vomit weapon. Gives out that missing 6+ FNP to {{W40kKeyword|Nurgle}} units within 6" and a power to make an enemy within 12" suffer -1 Toughness. Gets choice between Plaguesword for versatile damage or Doomsday Bell to resurrect nearby Plaguebearers with each kill, and between Plague Flail vs Plagueblade for many very short-range attacks or more reliable extra attacks.
*'''Poxringer:''' The no-nonsense combat hero when compared to his gimmicky contemporaries.
*'''Sloppity Bilepiper:''' Support hero that adds +1" movement and re-rolls advance rolls for their Plaguebearer unit. Has a second role in that enemies within 6" of them during the Fight phase have to make a battle-shock test.
*'''Spoilpox Scrivener:''' Support hero with hand flamer that gives an attached Plaguebearer unit ''Sustained Hits 1'' and +1 OC. Pretty good for helping a unit wrest control from the enemy with OC 3 Plaguebearers who trigger both an instant wound and extra hit from a critical hit.
=====Epic Heroes=====
*'''Rotigus:''' 
*'''Epidemius:'''
*'''Horticulous Slimux:'''

====Battleline====
*'''Plaguebearers:''' Pretty much only protected by a 5++ save and can only fight with their S4 AP-1 Plagueswords with ''Lethal Hits''. While they're just as slow as ever, any objectives they cap will remain capped.

====Swarms====
*'''Nurglings:'''

====Beasts====
*'''Beasts of Nurgle:'''

====Mounted====
*'''Plague Drones:'''

====Fortifications====
*'''Feculent Gnarlmaw:''' A giant but relatively frail pile of rot that acts as cover to anyone behind it as well as giving a 6" bubble of ''Stealth'' for any {{W40kKeyword|Nurgle}} units inside it.
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{{Warhammer 40k Tactics}}
[[Category: Warhammer 40000 Tactics (10E)]]