How to Play Chaos Knights in Warhammer 40K
Today take a look at some basics of how to play and get started with Warhammer 40k Chaos Knights in 10th Edition. All hail the giant evil robots!
The Chaos Knights are fallen Knight houses, dedicated to the Chaos Gods, who go to battle in hulking, stomping warmachines in Warhammer 40K. Their armies consist of various sizes of evil Knights, from lowly War Dogs to gigantic Tyrant-class machines. Dedicated to Dark Gods, the Chaos Knights will do anything to achieve their goals.
So below, we will offer some tips on how to play Chaos Knights and get started with the army.
Who Are The Chaos Knights?
Since the Horus Heresy, thousands of individual Knights and even entire Knight Houses have been corrupted by Chaos and betrayed the Imperium. The first Renegade Knights appeared during the Horus Heresy, when many of the Knightly households sided with Warmaster Horus. However, since the Heresy, many more Knights have betrayed the Imperium. Some were corrupted after their worlds were swallowed by Warp Storms, while others were slowly driven mad by the endless carnage they witnessed and inflicted on countless campaigns.
Each Chaos Knight is a twisted reflection of the Imperial Knights. The Knight suits were first created using Standard Template Constructs during the Dark Age of Technology. Many have survived the innumerable wars that have characterized the long millennia since. Over years or even centuries, Chaos energies seep into the war engine, torturing its Machine Spirit and mutating its mechanical form. Where once the suit and its pilot were a gleaming beacon, the Chaos Knight and its Fallen Noble comprise a symbiotic beast of wrath and hate.
Fallen Nobles embark on campaigns for many reasons. Some do so to conquer territory in the name of the Ruinous Powers. These launch quests to unravel the very fabric of existence and transform the galaxy into a twisted hellscape. Chaos Knights are either sole traitors classified by the Ordo Hereticus as Dreadblades, or part of a greater Household that has turned its back on the Imperium.
Why Play Chaos Knights
Chaos Knights are great if you love big, stompy robots and hate the Emperor/ love the Gods of Chaos. They are truly the most elite army, guaranteed to be outnumbered, barring allies or mirror matches. Their impressive statlines and giant weapons give the army a real chance. This happens even when they are badly outnumbered – and they always are!
Strengths of the Army
- Good at fightin’ and shootin’
- Giant robots
- Few models
Weakness of the Army
- High point cost result in always being outnumbered
Chaos Knights Army Rules
- Harbinger of Dread: this rules gets stronger on battle round 3, first making the enemy more likely to fail battle-shock, and then giving bonuses against units that have failed battle-shock.
Chaos Knights Detachment Rules- Traitoris Lance
- Rules: The Forged in Terror (Aura) reinforces the army rule, by forcing more Battle-shock tests.
- Enhancements: Three of the four enhancements have some impact on battleshock or the previous auras.
- Stratagems: There is a lot of utility in the Chaos Knights stratagems, from giving invulnerable saves, to allowing your units to pass through walls.
Key Chaos Knights Units To Know
The army doesn’t have a ton of models, so knowing what units to take can be tricky. Here are some suggestions to get you off on the right track.
Battleline
War Dog Stalker
One of the diminutive (relatively) foot soldiers of Chaos Knight armies, War Dogs can still smack stuff well enough, and they have Objective Secured.
War Dog Brigand
These “little” guys are fast and lethal. Brigands provide pretty great ranged support.
War Dog Karnivore
The War Dog Carnivore only sports close combat gear. These fleet war machines can get into combat fast and hit hard.
War Dog Executioner
These War Dogs are great at picking off targets with their dual autocannons. This is especially true while finishing off damaged units thanks to the Executioner ability.
War Dog Huntsman
The Huntsman specialize in stalking and destroying vehicles and monsters with the fearsome Daemonbreath Spear. This makes it a nice, basic War Dog.
Other Units
Knight-Tyrant
The biggest and baddest of Knights available in plastic (Forgeworld resin has their own standards!), the Tyrant is a great centerpiece with a ton of firepower. The various upgrades that the fell powers of Chaos can bestow really pump the Tyrant up to 11 1/2.
Knight Abominant
This Knight has a cool gun and psychic abilities which cause, you guessed it, battleshock tests! Watch out Loyalists! Also you get sulky vultures up top.
Knight Desecrator
This Knight has a suped-up super laser and a great aura effect. Use the Desecrator to support ranged War Dogs and give them re-rolls on their shots.
Knight Rampager
The “choppy” version of the basic Chaos Knight. The Rampager excels at getting up close and ripping things up.
Knight Despoiler
The basic Chaos Knight, the Despoiler is infamous for its ability to “double-up” on guns, takings two battle cannons or gatling cannons.
Sample Starter Warhammer 40k Chaos Knights Army
Knight Abominant . 1 Model. It is equipped with: diabolus heavy stubber; volkite combustor; balemace; electroscourge; titanic feet
Wardog Executioner. 1 Model.
Wardog Executioner. 1 Model.
Wardog Executioner. 1 Model.
Wardog Executioner. 1 Model.
How to Play Chaos Knights
The most difficult part of playing this army is board control. You don’t have many bodies, and you will always be outnumbered. However, unlike their Imperial counterparts, these armies can make excellent use of War Dogs, and the Despoiler is a great purpose-built gunboat. Many of the Favors the Dark Gods provide are impressive, but despite their massive weapons, and seeming toughness, the Chaos Knights are a delicate army that takes skill to use well.
For the Dark Gods!
