Uncover the dark powers of Chaos Knights and the festive chaos of Grotmas with these new Warhammer 40k detachment rules!
The grim darkness of the far future just got a whole lot grimmer—and weirder. Whether you’re a fan of colossal war engines striding across the battlefield or you just enjoy the idea of sacrificing your followers for some good old-fashioned Chaos, the latest updates for Chaos Knights bring a whole new level of carnage to Warhammer 40K.
Warhammer 40k’s Newest Twists on Chaos and Steel
Warhammer 40k continues its saga of grimdark glory with a fresh detachment for Chaos Knights and the quirky tradition of the Grotmas Calander rules for December. For fans of the dark and chaotic, or those who simply enjoy watching big stompy machines annihilate hordes of enemies (and their own troops), there’s a lot to unpack.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes these updates so exciting, weaving brutal lore and strategic mechanics into the grim tapestry of the 41st Millennium. You can download the full rules here.
Chaos Knights: Mortals as Fuel for the Machine
The latest Chaos Knights detachment brings a sinister twist, showcasing how these towering war engines and their pilots exploit mortal followers for power. Through the Wretched Thralls rule, Chaos Knights gain the ability to field Damned units from the Chaos Space Marines codex. These unfortunate followers serve as pawns in a grand, blood-soaked game, their lives forfeit to fuel the ambitions of their masters.
At the heart of this depravity lies the Dark Sacrifice ability. When a Chaos Knight unit shoots or fights, it can choose to sacrifice nearby Damned units, slaughtering a portion of their own forces to unleash devastating effects. Whether you’re gunning for Lethal Hits or Sustained Hits 1, the result is an unholy synergy of sacrifice and slaughter, with mortal lives treated as mere currency.
And it’s not just about gameplay mechanics. This theme resonates deeply with Chaos lore. The idea of towering, corrupted engines of war fueled by the bodies and souls of their followers is as grim as it gets. The Chaos Knights are more than machines; they’re walking shrines to the gods of Chaos, embodying their cruel and callous philosophy.
Damned Units: Worthless Chattel, But Oh So Useful
Speaking of expendable followers, the new Worthless Chattel stratagem gives Chaos Knights another way to disregard their mortal allies entirely. You can effectively ignore Damned units in combat when targeting enemies with ranged weapons, allowing your cultists to pin down enemies while your Knights unleash devastation. It’s a brutal representation of the disregard Chaos holds for life.
Even in death, these Damned units aren’t done. The Wretched Masses stratagem allows you to bring them back—fresh, expendable, and strategically positioned for another round of bloodletting. This mechanic reinforces the unrelenting tide of Chaos, a thematic nod to the unstoppable spread of corruption across the galaxy.
Enhancements: Tools of Tyranny
The new enhancements available to Chaos Knights offer plenty of ways to crank up the carnage. Whether it’s the Profane Altar turning sacrificial losses into enhanced weapon capabilities or the Tyrant’s Banner, which spreads Chaos across the battlefield, these upgrades add strategic depth and a sinister edge to your list.
For those who want their Knights to be unstoppable engines of destruction, Diabolical Resilience offers a 6+ Feel No Pain save and immunity to movement modifiers. It’s a fitting enhancement for players who enjoy the image of a corrupted machine that laughs at attempts to stop it.
Sample Army List With the New Chaos Knights Detachment
Detachment: Dreaded Masters
Total Points: 1,940
Chaos Knights:
- Knight Abominant (Warlord)
- Enhancement: Profane Altar (20 pts)
- Total Points: 385
- Role: The Knight Abominant serves as the army’s Warlord, utilizing the Profane Altar enhancement to maximize the benefits of Dark Sacrifice, granting its weapons both [LETHAL HITS] and [SUSTAINED HITS 1] when sacrificing Damned units.
- Knight Desecrator
- Enhancement: Diabolical Resilience (35 pts)
- Total Points: 445
- Role: The Knight Desecrator provides ranged support and benefits from increased durability through the Diabolical Resilience enhancement, granting a 6+ Feel No Pain ability and ignoring movement modifiers.
- War Dog Brigand
- Total Points: 165
- Role: Equipped with an avenger chaincannon and daemonbreath spear, the War Dog Brigand excels at engaging infantry and light vehicles, benefiting from the Brigand ability to improve Armour Penetration against the closest eligible target.
- War Dog Stalker
- Total Points: 145
- Role: Armed with an avenger chaincannon and slaughterclaw, the War Dog Stalker is effective in both shooting and melee, with the Stalker ability adding 1 to Wound rolls when targeting isolated enemy units.
- War Dog Karnivore
- Total Points: 140
- Role: Specializing in close combat, the War Dog Karnivore charges into enemy lines, utilizing its speed and melee prowess to disrupt and destroy key targets.
- War Dog Executioner
- Total Points: 140
- Role: Providing long-range fire support with its autocannons, the War Dog Executioner targets enemy armor and heavy infantry from a distance.
Damned Units (Chaos Space Marines):
- Chaos Cultists (10 models)
- Total Points: 50
- Role: Serving as expendable units for Dark Sacrifice, Chaos Cultists can also hold objectives and screen more valuable units.
- Chaos Cultists (10 models)
- Total Points: 50
- Role: Similar to the first unit, these Cultists provide additional bodies for sacrificial purposes and board control.
- Chaos Cultists (10 models)
- Total Points: 50
- Role: This third unit offers further sacrificial fodder and can assist in controlling the battlefield.
- Chaos Space Marines (5 models)
- Wargear: 1 Plasma Gun
- Total Points: 90
- Role: More durable than Cultists, this unit can contribute to both offense and serve as a sacrificial unit when necessary.
- Chaos Space Marines (5 models)
- Wargear: 1 Plasma Gun
- Total Points: 90
- Role: Mirroring the first squad, they provide flexibility in both shooting and sacrificial roles.
- Havocs (5 models)
- Wargear: 4 Autocannons
- Total Points: 125
- Role: Offering long-range fire support, Havocs can target enemy armor and heavy infantry, and can be sacrificed to empower the Knights when needed.
Strategic Considerations:
- Dark Sacrifice Synergy: The inclusion of multiple Damned units allows the Chaos Knights to frequently utilize the Dark Sacrifice ability, enhancing their offensive capabilities by granting [LETHAL HITS] or [SUSTAINED HITS 1] to their weapons.
- Board Control: Chaos Cultists and Chaos Space Marines provide board presence, objective control, and screening, making it challenging for opponents to target the more valuable Knights.
- Ranged Support: Havocs equipped with autocannons deliver consistent long-range firepower, softening enemy targets before the Knights engage in close combat.
- Durability Enhancements: The Knight Desecrator’s Diabolical Resilience enhancement increases its survivability, allowing it to remain a threat on the battlefield longer.
This army list balances the overwhelming power of Chaos Knights with the strategic utility of Damned units, creating a force that embodies the dark and sacrificial nature of Chaos on the battlefield. However, points are always changing, so be sure to keep up with the latest Field Munitorum here!
Strategic Carnage with Grimdark Flavor
For new players, these updates offer engaging ways to bring thematic powerhouses to the tabletop. For veterans, they provide rich narrative hooks and fresh strategies to enhance their armies. Chaos Knights revel in destruction, using their followers as literal cannon fodder, while Imperial Knights march forward with the blessings of Mars, their noble pilots shining as beacons of hope.
See All the New 40k Detachment Rules Here
What do you think about the new Chaos Knights Warhammer 40k Detachment rules from the first Grotmas Calendar?
About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
