New AoS battleforces are coming out soon and one early favorite is the Chaos Slaves to Darkness one, which looks to be the best point value/unit type out there.
Travis Perkins here! If you haven’t read my break down of the Holiday AoS boxed sets comparisons, make sure you read that article first.
A little over two years ago I wrote an article on building a 1000 point army based the Start Collecting Slaves to Darkness army (with the General’s handbook 2016).
Looking at that I think this is a perfect time to combine the two to create a Slaves to Darkness 2000 point army that won’t break the bank!
Special Rules: (From 2018 Generals Handbook)
All slaves to darkness can choose one of the 4 chaos gods to worship when you set them up and they gain that key word if you choose to do so.
Choose one of the following:
- Khorne: Re-roll hit rolls of 1 while wholly within 8” of friendly hero.
- Slaanesh: Re-roll run and charge rolls while wholly within 6” of friendly hero.
- Nurgle: Re-roll wound rolls of 1 while wholly within 7” of friendly hero.
- Tzeentch: Re-roll save rolls of 1 while wholly within 9” of friendly hero.
- No Mark: Add 1 to bravery while wholly within 12” of friendly hero.
Eye of the God Table: If a hero slays one or more enemy heroes or monsters they can roll on a table that buffs them (or turns them into a Daemon Prince… or Chaos Spawn)
Various command abilities and unique artifacts.
From our 1000 point article, we built the list mostly around the Slaves to Darkness start collecting box set as it has great value.
- Chaos Sorcerer Lord on Foot: 160 points (Leader 1 of 6)
- Chaos Chariot: 80 points (Battleline 1 of 3 required)
- 5 Chaos Knights: 160 points (Battleline 2 of 3 required)
- 12 Chaos Warriors: 180 points for 10 (Battleline 3 of 3 required)
Chaos Sorcerer Lord on Foot: Move 5”, 5+ Save, 7 Bravery, 5 Wounds.
He has two different attacks the first is a Runestaff: Range 2”, 1 Attack, Hitting on a 4+, Wounding on a 3+, with -1 Rend, for D3 Damage. Then his Runesword: Range 1”, 1 Attack, Hitting and Wounding on a 4+, for 1 Damage. He can pick a friendly unit within 10” and let them reroll save rolls of 1.
He is also a Wizard and can cast / unbind 1 spell a turn with his unique spell being Daemonic Power: Casting Value 5, Range 18”, Targets a friendly unit and lets them re-roll any hit rolls of 1, wound rolls of 1, and save rolls of 1.
Chaos Chariot: Move 8” (Plus a D6), 4+ Save, 6 Bravery, 7 Wounds.
They have either a Greatblade Attack: Range 2”, 3 Attacks, Hitting on a 4+, Wounding on a 3+, with -1 Rend, for 1 Damage or a War Flail: Range 2”, D6 Attacks, Hitting on a 4+, Wounding on a 3+, for 1 Damage. Then they have a Whip Attack: Range 2”, 2 Attacks, Hitting and Wounding on a 4+, for 1 Damage. Finally, the Horse Attack: Range 1”, 4 Attacks, Hitting and Wounding on a 4+, for 1 Damage. (On a charge the horse attack lets you add 1 to all hit and wound rolls.) The leader of this unit makes his greatblade or war flail hit on a 3+ rather than a 4+.
Chaos Knights: Move 10”, 4+ Save, 7 Bravery, 3 Wounds.
Have 2 different options for hand weapons the first being Ensorcelled: Range 1”, 3 Attacks, Hitting on a 3+, Wounding on a 4+, for 1 Damage. The second option is a Chaos Glaive: Range 1”, 2 Attacks, Hitting on a 4+, Wounding on a 3+, for 1 Damage. (Becomes -1 Rend and 2 Damage on a charge). Then you have the Horse Attacks: Range 1”, 2 Attacks, Hitting and Wounding on a 4+, for 1 Damage. This unit ignored mortal wounds on a 5+ and subtracts 1 from the bravery of enemy units within 3”. Finally, the Standard adds +1 Bravery, the Champion adds 1 to hit rolls, and the Hornblower adds 1 to charge and run rolls.
Chaos Warriors: Move 5”, 4+ Save, 6 Bravery, 2 Wounds.
Have 3 different weapon options the first being hand weapons: Range 1”, 2 Attacks, Hitting on a 3+, Wounding on a 4+, for 1 Damage. (Re roll 1’s to hit if you duel wield hand weapons) Next option is Chaos Halberd: Range 2”, 2 Attacks, Hitting and Wounding on a 4+, for 1 Damage. Finally the Chaos Greatblade: Range 1”, 2 Attacks, Hitting on a 4+, Wounding on a 3+, with -1 Rend, for 1 Damage. If this unit has 20 or more models re roll save rolls of 1. If they carry shields they ignore mortal wounds on a 5+. Finally, the Standard Bearer adds 1 to Bravery, the Hornblower adds 1 to run and charge rolls, and the Champion adds 1 to hit rolls.
The total is 580 points and it gives you all three of your battleline troops! This is a phenomenal start collecting set. Then let’s add in the Holiday Bundle and see what our point total comes out to now.
- Chaos Chariot: 80 points (Battleline 1 of 3)
- 10 Chaos Knights: 320 points (Battleline 2 of 3)
- 16 Chaos Warriors: 270 points for 15 (Battleline 3 of 3)
- Chaos Warshrine: 160 points (Behemoth 1 of 4)
- Lord on Manticore: 250 points (Behemoth 2 of 4, Leader 1 of 6)
Chaos Warshrine: Move Damage Table (8” down to 4”), 4+ Save, 7 Bravery, 12 Wounds.
Has two different attacks the first is blades: Range 1”, 4 Attacks, Hitting and Wounding on a 4+, for 1 Damage. The second in Clubbed Fists: Range 1”, Damage Table Attacks (6 Down to 1), Hitting on a 4+, Wounding on a 3+, for 2 Damage. Each time a mortal from your army suffers a wound or mortal wound within damage table range (9” down to 1”) roll a dice and on a 6+ it is ignored. The warshrine then can pray on a 3+ to the god it is dedicated to on a unit within 16” with the following effects.
All gods: You can re roll hit and wound rolls of 1. Khorne: You can re roll hit rolls of 1, or if it is a mortal khorne unit re roll all failed hit rolls. Tzeentch: You can re roll save rolls of 1 or if it is mortal Tzeentch unit all failed save rolls. Nurgle: Re roll all wound rolls of 1 or if it is mortal Nurgle unit re roll all failed wound rolls. Slaanesh: Re roll all failed charge rolls or if it is mortal Slaanesh then re roll all failed charge rolls and immune to battleshock tests.
Lord on Manticore: Move Damage Table (12” down to 4”) fly, 4+ Save, 8 Bravery, 12 Wounds.
He is armed with either a Daemon Blade: Range 1”, 4 Attacks, Hitting and Wounding on a 3+, for D3 Damage or a Flail: Range 2”, 6 Attacks, Hitting and Wounding on a 3+ for 1 Damage. Then he carries either a Lance: Range 2”, 3 Attacks, Hitting and Wounding on a 3+, -1 Rend (On Charges), for 2 Damage (3 Damage on a Charge) or carries a shield (+5 save against mortal wounds) or a dagger fist (successful save rolls of 6 deal mortal wound back).
Then the Manticore have its Claws and Jaws: Range 1”, 5 Attacks, Hitting on a 4+, Wounding Damage Table (2+ up to 5+), with -1 Rend for 1 Damage. Then his Tail Attack: Range 3”, Attacks Damage Table (D6 down to 1), Hitting and Wounding on a 4+, for 1 Damage. If the target is a monster the Manticores hit rolls of 1 can be re rolled and if that target is in your territory it is instead all failed hit rolls.
Depending on the god chosen for him it confers special abilities: Khorne: he can pile in 6” instead of 3”. Nurgle: He has a 3+ save rather then 4+. Tzeentch: This model can cast and unbind 1 spell a turn. Slannesh: Enemies within 3” subtract 1 from their Bravery in the battle shock phase. His Command Ability lets you select a chaos warriors’ unit within 15” that can re roll charge, wound and battle shock dice.
Total is 1080 points for this sweet bundle. Now let’s combine it and max out our chaos warriors by buying 2 more that you will need (3 dollars each on ebay)
Combined Army:
- Chaos Sorcerer Lord on Foot: 160 points (Leader 1 of 6)
- Lord on Manticore: 250 points (Leader 2 of 6, Behemoth 1 of 4)
- Chaos Warshrine: 160 points (Behemoth 2 of 4)
- 15 Chaos knights: 480 points (Battleline 1 of 3 Required)
- 30 Chaos Warriors: 480 points (Battleline 2 of 3 Required)
- 2 Chaos Chariots: 160 points (Battleline 3 of 3 Required)
Your total is 1690 and costs just $250 dollars (Start Collecting $75, holiday bundle $170, 2 chaos warriors $10) which is cheap for this hobby. (Note the $170 is a rumor seen here). You need another 310 point though and some leader characters for this army and lucky for you GW has a pair that will go nicely with them.
- Lord on Daemonic Mount: 140 points (Leader 3 of 6)
- Lord of Chaos: 140 points (Leader 4 of 6)
Lord on Daemonic Mount: Move 10”, 4+ Save, 8 Bravery, 7 Wounds:
He has a Warhammer: Range 1”, 4 Attacks, Hitting and Wounding on a 3+, with -1 Rend, for 2 Damage. His Horse Attack: Range 1”, 3 Attacks, Hitting on a 4+, Wounding on a 3+, for 1 Damage. Each time this model slays a hero or monster roll a D6 on a 2+ he heals D3 wounds, or if at full health adds 1 to his max wounds. His shield lets him ignore mortal wounds on a 5+. He can choose one of the following dedicated powers: Khrone: Re roll hit rolls of 1 with his Warhammer. Nurgle: He has 8 wounds instead of 7. Tzeentch: Can re roll failed save rolls. Slaanesh: This model and run and charge in the same turn. Finally his command ability you can select a unit of Chaos Knights or Chaos Chariots within 15” and re roll charge rolls for that unit and add 1 to hit rolls.
Lord of Chaos: Move 5”, 4+ Save, 8 Bravery, 6 Wounds.
He has a Reaperblade: Range 2”, 3 Attacks, Hitting and Wounding on a 3+, with -2 Rend for 2 Damage. Then a Sword: Range 1”, 3 Attacks, Hitting and Wounding on a 3+, for 1 Damage. In combat once per battle he can choose to make a single Reaperblade attack that if it hits and wounds deals 2D6 damage rather than just 1.
If he kills the opposing armies general he becomes a Daemon Prince, or if he is killed he turns into a Chaos Spawn. He chooses one dedication giving the following bonuses: Khorne: Re roll hit rolls of 1. Tzeentch: Re roll save rolls of 1. Slaanesh: Can run and Charge in the same turn. Nurgle: Can Re-roll wound rolls of 1. You can use his command ability to give that bonus you selected to any Slaves to Darkness unit within 10” of him.
Your new total in points is 1970, and with a little luck on eBay you can snag both these models at a discount and come in at under $300 for the entire army.
Loadouts:
So, this is a tough one in that your Chaos Warriors greatweapon attack is the best weapon profile for them but 10 great weapons will run you another $15 bucks. So if you are willing to pay $45 to upgrade your unit awesome otherwise take hand weapon and shield. For your Knights take the Chaos Glaives as they will be doing a turn 1 Charge. For the Chariot also go with the greatblade as on average it is better than the flail. Finally, for your Lord on Manticore go with the Daemon Blade and Lance to maximize his damage output.
Tactics:
This army is all about mobility and your core chunk of warriors taking whatever you need and cleaning anything up. Your knights along with the Lord on Daemonic Mount should be able to run over anything in their path and survive a counter punch so plan on getting a turn 1 charge in with them. They are way better on the charge to don’t throw out retreating turn 2 to get a charge the following turn. With your chaos warriors they are going to near impossible to kill off entirely and can dish out some pain with the help of the Lord of Chaos on foot and Manticore. Put them in the middle and watch as they withstand charge after charge and claim objectives for you.
About the Author: Travis Perkins
An avid homebrewer and Detroit sports fan (yes even the Lions). I am new to the world of wargamming and very much enjoying the journey. If you have any suggestions or comments feel free to comment on the article or email me at perki116@msu.edu
