40 Years of Warhammer: Miniature Retrospective – Kabalite Warrior
When the Dark Eldar were revamped and became the Drukhari the Kabalite Warriors led the charge!
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Warhammer and Games Workshop is taking some time to look back at miniatures that had a big impact on their work. Today the focus is on one spikey set of miniatures that really upped the style for the Dark Eldar and transformed them into the Drukhari. This one’s for the Kabalite Warrior!
“In 2010, the Dark Eldar – as once they were known – were reinvented, moving from their original Eldar-but-spiky conception to a deeper, richer, and much more horrifying incarnation. This design shift was summed up perfectly by the Kabalite Warrior.”
Drukhari Kabalite Warrior
The early Dark Eldar design was a lot more rigid. It really seemed like they were the “awkward pointy Eldar with spikes.” Maybe it was just a technology issue but it really wasn’t until that miniature range refresh that the Drukhari really came into their own.
The modern design took a lot of the core concepts and cleaned the up. They also added a bit more danger to the range as well as a sadistic elegance and grace.
“Their armour shares a design language with the Aeldari Guardians, but it’s all harder, sharper, and designed to inflict maximum pain. Unlike their austere and up-tight cousins, these sadistic warriors fight as a loose collection of pillagers, with weapon options to reflect their selfish streak. “
This was further enhanced by a reworking of their vehicles as well. The new Raiders and Ravager models as well as all the additional units that were added or updated helped a ton. The Drukhari range was redefined and really had a particular look and feel that made them stand out.
Fast forward to today and we can still see the influence of these updates. Recently the Incubi update really showcased those design updates. And you can even see the same ideas play out with the Corsair Voidscarred Kill Team, too:
The Drukhari army continues to push forward and the Kabalite Warriors are still leading the charge. The core of any Drukhari raid they are the backbone of the army. They represent that cruel elegance with their design and themes. They might look cool but you certainly wouldn’t want them to take you home if you catch my drift!
Here’s to the Kabalite Warrior! What’s your favorite Drukhari model from the range?
