Learn the Death Guard’s noxious playstyles, from lore to tactics, and build the ultimate Plague Marines Warhammer 40k army with our comprehensive guide.
Updated December 16th, 2024, by Rob Baer with the latest new 40k rules information and links to relevant content.
In the grim universe of Warhammer 40k, the Death Guard stands as a testament to resilience, decay, and the patronage of Nurgle. This faction boasts an army as unyielding as the diseases they spread, turning the battlefield into a quagmire of attrition. Cloaked in rusted power armor and oozing corruption, the Death Guard thrives where others falter. With their bloated bodies housing pestilent gifts, these warriors revel in the chaos of war, embodying the unkillable essence of their master. If slow, steady, and unstoppable sounds like your style, the Death Guard offers an army you’ll grow to cherish.
Death Guard Playstyles and Tactics
When fielding the Death Guard in Warhammer 40k, adaptability reigns supreme. Their core strength lies in balancing an indomitable defense with a punishing offense. The hallmark of this army is durability—thanks to Disgustingly Resilient, units absorb damage like sponges. And who knows, maybe we’ll get to see this grinding playstyle represented in the upcoming Cavill and Amazon series!
Meanwhile, they excel at grinding down opponents in close quarters, leveraging plague-ridden weaponry (not the fancy stuff like the Emperor’s Children) to whittle foes to nothing. Whether you’re taking a methodical approach or prefer marching headlong into chaos, there’s a way to command this army with maximum impact.
Defensive Playstyles
A wall of rot, pus, and inevitability—that’s the Death Guard on defense. Units like Plagueburst Crawlers and Blightlord Terminators can create unbreakable fortresses. Spread contagions to sap enemy strength while your army shrugs off firepower. Positioning is everything: hold key objectives and let enemies exhaust themselves against your armored ranks. Timing, patience, and smart use of aura abilities like Contagions of Nurgle ensure your foes succumb to despair before you make your final push.
Offensive Tactics with Plague Marines 40k
Plague Marines shine as the relentless bruisers of the Death Guard in 40k. Armed with blight grenades and plague knives, they excel at wading through enemy lines with brutal efficiency. Take advantage of their unique melee profiles, maximizing every sickening blow. Pair them with synergistic characters like a Biologus Putrifier to amplify their carnage, and watch as they corrode even the most fortified enemy positions.
Utilizing Nurgle’s Gift in Strategy
The blessings of Nurgle provide more than flavor—they’re a tactical goldmine. Contagions weaken your opponents over time, creating a battlefield where your army grows stronger while theirs crumbles. Commanders should strategize around zones of decay, forcing enemies to fight on your terms. Whether it’s corroding armor or reducing toughness, Nurgle’s gifts ensure every confrontation tips further in your favor.
Common Competitive Lists
Building a competitive Death Guard 40k army is like crafting the perfect plague—it’s all about balance, strategy, and a splash of Nurgle’s special sauce. Whether you’re crushing foes in a tournament or spreading corruption at your local game night, there’s a list to match your style. Some swear by durable Death Guard armies that lock down objectives and drain opponents over time, while others prefer aggressive setups that bring the pain up close and personal. With a blend of resilient units, brutal Plague Marines, and Nurgle’s unique mechanics, crafting a killer list is both an art and a science in 40k.
Sample List: Balanced Approach
A balanced Death Guard list strikes harmony between offense, defense, and tactical flexibility. Start with Mortarion—because who doesn’t love a Primarch delivering Nurgle’s message personally? Pair him with Blightlord Terminators to form an unbreakable core, supported by Plagueburst Crawlers for ranged firepower. Add units of Plague Marines for objective control, equipped with plague-flavored melee weapons for maximum carnage. Sprinkle in characters like a Foul Blightspawn or Tallyman to enhance survivability and battlefield synergy. This list excels at holding the line while applying enough pressure to keep opponents sweating—just the way Nurgle likes it.
Sample List: Aggressive Tactics
For players who prefer to overwhelm their foes in an unstoppable wave, an aggressive Death Guard list is the way to go. Lean into Plague Marines loaded with blight launchers, plague knives, and power fists. Combine this with a Daemon Prince leading the charge, supported by Myphitic Blight-Haulers for mobile firepower and added toughness. Toss in a Biologus Putrifier to boost grenade damage, turning your Plague Marines into walking nightmares. With this list, you’ll smash through enemy lines and watch them rot from within, leaving nothing but devastation in your wake.
Key Characteristics of Death Guard Armies
A Death Guard 40k army isn’t just an army; it’s a rotting, shambling powerhouse of pestilence. These armies thrive on durability, using Disgustingly Resilient to shrug off damage that would fell lesser mortals. With an emphasis on close-range firepower and brutal melee capabilities, Death Guard excel at grinding down their opponents over time. Their units, like Plague Marines and Blightlord Terminators, are notoriously tough, turning the battlefield into a slow but unstoppable crawl toward victory in 40k battles. Add in the crippling effects of Contagions of Nurgle, which weaken enemy units just by being near them, and the Death Guard become a nightmare for opponents who thought they’d seen it all.
Thematic Elements of Nurgle in 40k
The Death Guard brings the lore of Nurgle to life in grotesque glory. Everything about this faction oozes decay and entropy, from the corroded armor of their warriors to the bubbling, disease-ridden weaponry they wield. Thematically, they embody the paradox of Nurgle’s gifts—eternal life through endless suffering.
Units like Plague Marines and Daemon Engines are designed to look like they’ve been fighting for centuries, their bodies and vehicles fused with unnatural growths. On the table, this theme translates into a relentless playstyle that reflects their role as Nurgle’s unstoppable plague-bearers, spreading his blessings across the galaxy, one infected battlefield at a time.
Special Abilities and Features
Death Guard armies come packed with unique mechanics that set them apart from other Warhammer 40k factions. Their hallmark ability, Contagions of Nurgle, creates zones of decay that debilitate enemy units, lowering their toughness and making them ripe for destruction.
Plague weapons, another signature feature, allow rerolls of wounds, ensuring their attacks are as devastating as they are disgusting. Combined with the ability to soak up damage through Disgustingly Resilient and synergy-driven characters like the Tallyman, the Death Guard can outlast and outfight most opponents. This faction proves that in the grim darkness of the far future, slow and steady wins the race—and the war.
Core Units and Strategies
When constructing a Death Guard 40k army, it’s all about leveraging the faction’s unique combination of resilience and corrosive offense. Core units like Plague Marines and Poxwalkers form the backbone of most lists, offering a mix of objective-holding prowess and swarming potential in 40k.
Plague Marines dominate the mid-board with their plague weapons and sturdy profiles, while Poxwalkers provide cheap, expendable bodies to clog up the battlefield. Layer these units with characters like the Tallyman for efficiency boosts or a Foul Blightspawn to melt foes in close combat. For vehicles, a Plagueburst Crawler can anchor your army with devastating ranged firepower.
Building a Death Guard 40k Army
Building a Death Guard army requires careful consideration of synergy. Start with the basics: Plague Marines for your troop slots, Poxwalkers for cheap screen units, and characters like a Lord of Contagion to bring some leadership and melee clout. Add mobility with a Foetid Bloat-drone or Myphitic Blight-haulers, and round it out with Plagueburst Crawlers for ranged fire support. The trick is balancing durability with offensive options to wear your opponent down while remaining an immovable force. Always aim to control the battlefield with strategic use of Contagions and plague weapons.
To start playing them, you will need a Codex book (or index) or access to a reference site like Wahapedia, or the official Warhammer 40k army builder app (subscription required for most up-to-date rules.)
Essential Death Guard Units
Plague Marines: These guys are the poster children of the Death Guard 40k army. Tough, versatile, and packing a variety of plague-ridden weaponry, they thrive in close-range firefights and melee combat. Equip them with blight launchers for added punch or keep them cheap to hold objectives while spreading corruption.
Poxwalkers: The zombie horde of the Death Guard! They’re cheap, expendable, and have surprising synergy with characters like the Malignant Plaguecaster. Use them to soak up damage, tarpit enemies, or swarm objectives.
Supporting Units and Vehicles
Foetid Bloat-drone: Fast, deadly, and grotesque, this unit is perfect for flanking maneuvers or harassing enemy backlines. Armed with a Plague Spitter or Flesh Mower, it excels at clearing hordes or tearing apart tougher units.
Plagueburst Crawler: A cornerstone of Death Guard strategy, this tank offers long-range firepower and serious staying power. Use it to soften up enemy lines or hold critical positions, forcing your opponent to contend with its relentless presence.
Overview of the Death Guard in Warhammer 40k
The Death Guard, one of the most iconic forces in Warhammer 40k, are a study in grim transformation. Once the noble 14th Legion under the banner of the Emperor, they were renowned for their endurance and determination. However, betrayal and a pact with the Chaos God Nurgle changed them forever. Their once-pristine armor now festers with rot, and their bodies bear the grotesque “blessings” of disease and decay.
Led by Mortarion, their Daemon Primarch, the Death Guard is a force of nature on the battlefield, bringing slow, crushing doom to their enemies. They don’t just fight to win—they fight to spread Nurgle’s gifts across the galaxy. Their march is relentless, their resilience unmatched, and their methods horrifyingly efficient. If you’re up against a Death Guard 40k army, prepare for an opponent that won’t quit until you’re buried under a mountain of rusted armor and plague-ridden corpses.
The Influence of Nurgle
Nurgle, the Chaos God of Disease, is both a benefactor and a tormentor to the Death Guard. To the Plaguefather, death and decay are not merely weapons—they are blessings. His gifts come in the form of diseases that warp the body, granting unholy resilience while spreading misery to foes. The Death Guard embody Nurgle’s ethos: they’re a walking paradox of death and life, spreading plagues that rot their enemies while sustaining their own twisted vitality.
On the tabletop, Nurgle’s influence is apparent in every aspect of the Death Guard’s mechanics. Contagions weaken nearby enemies, reflecting the inevitable creep of corruption. Meanwhile, Disgustingly Resilient ensures that Death Guard units shrug off wounds as though Nurgle himself refuses to let them die. The result? A faction that feels as inevitable as the rot they represent.
Final Thoughts on Death Guard in Warhammer 40k
If you’re looking for a Warhammer 40k faction that laughs in the face of enemy fire and grinds down opponents with unrelenting pestilence, the Death Guard 40k army is your perfect match. With their combination of durability, thematic flavor, and tactical versatility, they bring a unique style of play to the tabletop.
Commanding a Death Guard force is not about flashy, lightning-fast moves. Instead, it’s a slow and inevitable march toward victory, like watching rust consume steel. The synergy between their units—Plague Marines, Poxwalkers, and vehicles like the Plagueburst Crawler—ensures you’re always applying pressure in all the right places. Meanwhile, their signature abilities, such as Contagions of Nurgle and Disgustingly Resilient, make every battle a grueling test of your opponent’s patience and endurance.
But beyond their mechanics, the Death Guard are a faction steeped in rich lore and grotesque charm. They embody Nurgle’s paradoxical gifts: life through decay, strength through corruption, and joy in spreading misery. Whether you’re drawn to their role as harbingers of disease or simply can’t resist the visual appeal of corroded armor and dripping plague weapons, the Death Guard offers a satisfying mix of grim aesthetics and strategic depth.
In the end, the Death Guard is more than just an army—it’s a statement. It’s about showing your opponent that no matter how many shots they fire or how many objectives they try to hold, they’re only delaying the inevitable. So, if you’ve got the patience to outlast, outmaneuver, and outgross your enemies, the Death Guard will ensure your foes remember the name of Nurgle long after the game is over. After all, rot is eternal.
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What do you think about the Death Guard in Warhammer 40k? Do you like the playstyle, Plague Marines, and units in 40k?
About the Author: Andrew Schrank
Andrew Schrank
Job Title: Miniatures & Warhammer Hobby Staff Writer
Socials: Facebook
About Andrew Schrank: Over the past 15 years, Andrew has played all the games, including tabletop and video games, and immersed himself in the associated lore. Andrew joined the Spikey Bits team in 2018 and covers the Warhammer hobby and tournament scene, along with the latest in tabletop miniatures, each week.
Aspiring diplomat, Lord of Fluff, and Master of Ice Hammer, He loves Star Wars, Chaos Undivided, and Gundam. During his free time, he hunts Platinum trophies on PS5 and reads international news. On weekends, Andrew plays commander and cEDH games, often with unique strategies that push the limits.
He believes each day presents a new opportunity to grow and be challenged.
