Chaos Daemons lost their codex spot as Games Workshop shifted them into Chaos Space Marine legion armies and a permanent index slot for 10th edition; here are their current rules.
Updated on April 24th, 2025, by Rob Baer with new changes on how you can take Daemonic allies.
Chaos Daemons in Warhammer 40k have just had another massive shake-up, and if you’ve been keeping an eye on Games Workshop’s latest changes, you know it’s not just a few tweaks here and there; this new index is the replacement for a full codex.
We’re talking about a full-scale revamp that makes this feel like a brand-new army. So, whether you’re a diehard Daemons player or just chaos-curious, let’s break down what these changes mean for the Chaos Daemons rules in 40k now.
Allies Update:
If you’re one of the many dedicated god (Emperor’s Children/Thousand Sons/World Eaters/Death Guard) players who liked tossing in a Daemon or two for flair (or tactical edge), well, things just got spicier—and not necessarily in a good way. Thanks to the recent shake-up in how Chaos Daemons work with other armies, the way you build your list might need a rethink.
Here’s the short version: Daemonic Pact is the new rule that lets you bring in Legiones Daemonica units, but only if your army is 100% Heretic Astartes (regular Chaos Space Marines) or Chaos Knights. And there’s a hard cap—500 points of daemons in a standard 2,000-point game. That’s right, no more casual Nurglings chilling with your Death Guard.
If you’re playing Death Guard, World Eaters or Emperor’s Children, (and probably Thousand Sons when they drop) you’ll need to use the full-on chaos daemon detachment from their codex to bring them along, which means you’re swapping out your usual tricks for a lot of warp-fueled weirdness.
It gets weirder. The Masque of Slaanesh? Still perfectly legal in a Chaos Knights list, but not in an Emperor’s Children army. Let that sink in.
This shift hits a lot of players who were simply looking to splash a unit or two into their faction-themed force. Want one Fiend of Slaanesh to harass backline units? Sorry, that’s a detachment commitment now. Want to give your World Eaters a daemon-vibes look? Better start reallocating points and picking out your relics.
Two Units Returning
On the bright side, two familiar faces are back from the warp. Karanak returns with a few glow-ups: a new torrent shooting attack, AP-3 claws, anti-character 3+, and—thank the Dark Gods—a 3+ Feel No Pain that actually works against mortals now. Plus, he buffs his pals with rerolls to wound instead of the old lethal hits nonsense. Not bad for 75 points.
And for Slaanesh fans, Hellflayers have rolled back onto the battlefield, sharper than before but slightly squishier. The invuln took a hit, but the offensive output is up, making them a glass cannon with more… cannon.
A Whole New Daemonic Playground
Games Workshop has reworked Chaos Daemons to fit more seamlessly with Codex: Emperor’s Children and the upcoming books for Death Guard, Thousand Sons, and World Eaters. This means a lot of stat changes, new abilities, and a few unit send-offs to Legends territory. Plus they mention that the Chaos Daemons codex will now be a permanent index for 10th Edition just like Deathwatch, meaning no codex release is in sight.
Index: Chaos Daemons will join Index: Deathwatch as a living online document usable in any game of Warhammer 40,000 – including at tournaments. We plan to continue to make updates and point changes to both forces as required.
Some of the biggest shifts include tougher Bloodthirsters and Bloodcrushers (rocking a 3+ armor save now), Daemonettes always fighting first, and Great Unclean Ones turning nearby Nurgle units into walking walls of Toughness.
The big boss himself, Be’lakor, also got a serious overhaul. Not only has his datasheet changed, but he’s bringing an entirely new detachment: the Shadow Legion. This lets players mix Daemons with Heretic Astartes, with each Chaos God getting a unique boost or, if you’re just a mortal looking to make a pact, some extra power to work with. It’s a game-changer for anyone who wants to run a force that blends daemonic horrors with corrupted warriors.
The Shadow of Chaos – Playing the Battlefield
One of the major mechanics getting a facelift is the Shadow of Chaos. This isn’t just some fluff-driven rule—it’s a fundamental part of how this army operates on the board. Controlling objectives spreads your army’s influence, and when your forces fight within the Shadow, things get nasty for your opponent.
- Your deployment zone? Always in the Shadow.
- Control half of No Man’s Land? It’s in the Shadow for the phase.
- Dominate half of your opponent’s deployment? You guessed it—more Shadow.
The kicker? Your units gain battle-shock buffs, recover wounds, and even bring back lost models. Meanwhile, enemy units suffer battle-shock penalties, and if they fail, they take mortal wounds. Winning the mission now doubles as a way to pressure your opponent into chaos-fueled despair.
Detachments – More Ways to Play
Chaos Daemons now have six different detachments, offering plenty of rules variety. If you’re into general mayhem, Daemonic Incursion and Shadow Legion are solid all-around picks. Prefer a god-specific approach? Each of the four Chaos Gods has a detachment tailored to their playstyle:
- Blood Legion (Khorne) – Extra movement when enemies get too close and objective stealing when you wipe out units.
- Scintillating Legion (Tzeentch) – Build up tokens for powerful re-rolls, but your opponent gets to use weaker versions too.
- Plague Legion (Nurgle) – Forces enemy battle-shock tests and stacks buffs for damage output.
- Legion of Excess (Slaanesh) – Trade Fight First for rerolls and use abilities that transfer damage between units.
Each brings a unique playstyle, making monogod armies more viable than ever.
The Datasheet Overhaul – Winners and Losers
With all these changes, some units got a massive glow-up while others took a hit. Keep in mind too that the Slaanesh Daemons that were updated in the Emperor’s Children codex are now the current versions in this index. Here are a few standouts:
Winners:
- Skarbrand – Now an absolute wrecking ball. His armor save got better, his melee attacks hit harder, and he’s more mobile.
- Flesh Hounds – These went from an okay pick to a must-have with their ability to pop back into reserves at the end of your opponent’s turn.
- Be’lakor – Tankier than ever with T11, a 3+ save, and healing built into his aura abilities.
Losers:
- Bloodthirsters – The big axe is now the clear winner, as the smaller axe’s damage took a hit.
- Slaanesh Daemons – A rough patch for mono-Slaanesh players. They lost Fight First mechanics in some places and took some survivability nerfs.
- Bloodcrushers – The save improved, but the invulnerable save got worse, making them easier to remove with AP-heavy weapons.
The Legion of Excess Grotmas Changes
The Legion of Excess was starting to live up to its name a little too much. The Seductive Gambit rule has been toned down—units no longer get full re-rolls to Hit and Wound outside of Shadow of Chaos. They’ll still be nasty in the right circumstances, but this stops them from steamrolling opponents without effort.
The Thieves of Pain Stratagem also got a small but meaningful tweak: now the unit absorbing the damage has to be visible to the attacker. No more sneaky shenanigans where wounds magically disappear into hidden units. Lastly, the Overwhelming Excess Stratagem loses its Battle-shock effect, but now it gives -1 to Hit in both the Shooting and Fight phases. This makes it a bit more reliable, even if it’s lost a bit of its psychological warfare potential.
Lost to the Warp: The Units Moving to Legends
Not every daemon gets to bask in the chaotic glow of the latest update. Some have been gently escorted off the battlefield and into the ever-growing list of Legends units. This time, it’s a farewell tour for Hellflayer, Karanak, Seeker Chariot, and Tormentbringer on Exalted Seeker Chariot—a mix of speedy Slaanesh chariots and the infamous Karanak, Khorne’s three-headed hunting hound.
Karanak’s departure stings a little for those who loved running him as a hyper-focused character assassin. The Seeker Chariots? Well, let’s be honest—while they had their moments, they were never the all-stars of the Slaanesh roster. They looked cool, and they were fast, but they always felt a little fragile for what they brought to the table.
You can get the rules and points for the units here, but in Legends, they are called Legiones Daemonica, so look for that and not Chaos Daemons!
If you’re a fan of these units, they’re not gone gone—you can still use them in friendly games. But if you were hoping to ride into competitive battle on a wave of slicing daemon wheels, it’s time to look at other options. Maybe it’s a sign to try out the updated Keepers of Secrets or double down on Daemonettes. One thing’s for sure—Chaos always finds a way to keep things… interesting.
Where This Leaves Chaos Daemons & Their Codex Hopes
Overall, this is an absolute shake-up to the rules that makes Chaos Daemons stronger, more flexible, and more interesting to play. Most of the changes push them toward aggressive board control, rewarding players who can lock down objectives and keep the Shadow of Chaos spreading.
The Shadow Legion detachment is set to make waves in competitive play, with Daemons and Chaos Space Marines players both eager to test their limits. Nurgle got some great buffs, Khorne gained a faster playstyle, and even Tzeentch saw some intriguing changes that will keep opponents guessing. Slaanesh, well… let’s just say monogod players will have some adjusting to do.
If you’re running Daemons, there’s never been a better time to start testing new lists and combinations. The army just became more dynamic, with plenty of options to tailor your force to how you want to play. Chaos reigns, and it’s looking stronger than ever.
See The Latest Balance Dataslate Here!
What do you think about the latest Chaos Daemons codex rules for 10th Edition?
