The Slaves to Darkness are the mortal armies of Chaos in Warhammer Age of Sigmar: armoured warriors, cavalry, tribes and champions who have pledged themselves to the Dark Gods in the hope of glory, power and immortality. This guide covers who they are, what the army does well, which units to start with, how to paint them and how they play in Age of Sigmar 4th Edition.
Who Are the Slaves to Darkness?
The Slaves to Darkness are a faction in Age of Sigmar dedicated to the worship of the Ruinous Powers of Chaos.
Their domains cover huge swathes of the Mortal Realms outside the cities of Sigmar. These are not places you’d want to wander into on a night out: skulls piled high, and ominous monoliths raised in honour of the Dark Gods dotted across the landscape.
They are found almost everywhere except Azyr, and their warbands are in constant territorial conflict with each other as well as with the forces of Order. That endless struggle pushes the strongest and cruellest to the top, each seeking the attention of the gods.
Not every follower begins as a monster, but the path of Chaos corrupts everyone who walks it.
What Are Slaves to Darkness Army Strengths?
The Slaves to Darkness have a wide range of unit types. Many players run them aggressively, built around heavy cavalry such as Chaos Knights and Varanguard: hit hard with the cavalry, then follow up with sturdy infantry to hold objectives.
You can also play a more controlling game, using tough Chaos Warriors to anchor objectives while heroes and monsters hunt key targets. Disruptive units such as the Mindstealer Sphiranx can add to this.
There isn’t much in the way of shooting, so expect to win your games in combat. You’re also likely to be outnumbered, so bear that in mind when you deploy and when you choose which objectives to contest.
Where Should Beginners Start?
This army has a wide range of models to choose from. These are strong, characterful choices for a first collection:
- Archaon the Everchosen: The supreme champion of the Ruinous Powers and one of the biggest centrepiece models in the game. He’s a large points investment, so he suits bigger games and players committed to the faction.
- Be’lakor, the Dark Master: The first Daemon Prince, with a great backstory and a striking model. Check the current battletome for exactly which armies he can join.
- Chaos Warriors: Heavily armoured infantry and the backbone of the army, very useful for taking and holding objectives.
- Chaos Knights: Hard-hitting, fast and well armoured heavy cavalry.
- Chaos Chosen: Elite infantry champions who hit harder than regular Warriors.
- Varanguard: Archaon’s elite cavalry, fast and powerful. Most Slaves to Darkness collections include at least one unit.
For an affordable start, the Slaves to Darkness Spearhead box is a good entry point; see the collecting section below.
Slaves to Darkness Lore and History
The Slaves to Darkness are the mortal heart of Chaos: countless warbands, tribes and champions who serve the Chaos Gods in their war against civilisation. Led by Archaon the Everchosen, they represent every mortal who has turned from the light and embraced the dark promise of power.
Archaon is the supreme mortal commander of Chaos in the Mortal Realms. In the World-that-Was he was a devout templar of Sigmar, until he learned of the coming apocalypse and his faith collapsed. He set out to claim the Treasures of Chaos, became the Everchosen, and led the hordes that ended that world. Now he rides the three-headed daemonic steed Dorghar and seeks the conquest of the Mortal Realms, and above all the fall of Sigmar.
The Slaves to Darkness field a vast range of warriors. Chaos Warriors, heavily armoured elite infantry, form the backbone of most warbands. Chaos Knights provide devastating cavalry charges. Darkoath tribes and other mortal followers swell the ranks, and Daemon Princes are champions who have earned the ultimate reward of daemonhood.
The Varanguard are Archaon’s personal bodyguard, the Knights of the Empty Throne, and are counted among the deadliest mortal warriors in the Mortal Realms. Each is a champion who has proven himself in the Everchosen’s eyes. Slaves to Darkness can also dedicate units to individual Chaos Gods, which makes them the most varied Chaos faction in Age of Sigmar and a good choice for players who want to explore the full breadth of Chaos.
Slaves to Darkness in the Current Meta
Competitive standings shift with every balance update and Battle Profiles revision. For the latest picture, check our Age of Sigmar faction tier list, which we update based on tournament results and community feedback.
What doesn’t change is the army’s flexibility. Marking units for different Chaos Gods lets you build very different armies within the same faction, from aggressive Khorne-marked cavalry to resilient Nurgle-marked infantry.
Archaon is one of the most powerful individual models in the game, and some lists are built around him. The faction works without him too: Chaos Warriors and Chaos Knights make a solid core, while Daemon Princes and Chaos Lords offer flexible hero options. Slaves to Darkness reward players who enjoy list-building.
Collecting Slaves to Darkness
The Slaves to Darkness Spearhead box is an accessible starting point. Check our Slaves to Darkness Spearhead guide for what you get and how to use it. Spearhead is also a good way to learn the faction before committing to a full 2,000-point army.
When expanding, focus on the units that define the faction’s core playstyle. Chaos Warriors and Chaos Knights form the versatile core of most armies. A Daemon Prince or a Chaos Lord on Karkadrak is a strong hero option, while Archaon is the ultimate centrepiece for experienced collectors.
Second-hand models and trading with other hobbyists can make building a collection more affordable, and many local stores run loyalty schemes. Check our Age of Sigmar faction tier list to see which units are performing well before investing in expensive kits.
Painting Slaves to Darkness
If you like brooding colour schemes, Slaves to Darkness could be the army for you. Their armour can be painted in almost any palette and dedicated to any Chaos God. The classic approach is dark metallic armour with gold or brass trim and red cloaks. God-marked armies take a dominant colour from their patron: red and brass for Khorne, blue and gold for Tzeentch, green and bone for Nurgle, or purple and pink for Slaanesh.
For an efficient approach, prime black and drybrush metallic paint over the armour, wash with a dark shade, then pick out cloaks, trim and mutations. Neat edge highlighting on armour plates does most of the visual work, and techniques like non-metallic metal (NMM) can make display pieces shine. Our guide on painting Slaves to Darkness has full paint lists and step-by-step instructions for the classic scheme, bone-white armour and the four god dedications.
How to Play Slaves to Darkness
Slaves to Darkness play as a durable Chaos army that can be built around heavy infantry, powerful cavalry or monstrous heroes. Their signature tools are the Marks of Chaos (in 4th Edition, the Pledge to Chaos ability, which pledges a unit to a particular Chaos God during your hero phase), and the Eye of the Gods, which lets one chosen hero earn Dark Apotheosis points by fighting and contesting objectives in enemy territory, then cash them in to heal and gain a ward or ascend into a Daemon Prince. Exactly how these work, along with the current battle traits, battle formations, enhancements and points, is set out in the current battletome and Battle Profiles, so check those for exact values.
Like every army in 4th Edition, you’ll win mainly by controlling objectives and completing battle tactics rather than by wiping out the enemy. Objective control uses each model’s Control characteristic, so tough units that can stand on an objective for several turns are valuable. You have 4 command points each battle round (plus 1 if you’re the underdog), and each unit can use only one command per phase. Our Slaves to Darkness army list page has example 1,000- and 2,000-point builds.
Key Tactics
- Use marks with purpose: choose a god for each unit based on the job you want it to do, and check what the current battletome gives for each mark.
- Anchor with Warriors: Chaos Warriors are tough, heavily armoured infantry. Use them to hold key objectives while your faster units strike.
- Push your chosen champion forward: the hero you pick for the Eye of the Gods earns Dark Apotheosis points by fighting and by holding objectives outside your territory, so get it into the action early.
- Cavalry hammer: Chaos Knights and Varanguard hit hard on the charge. Use them to flank and smash into weak points, and watch for units that can strike first.
- Plan for the double turn: the priority roll can give your opponent two turns in a row. Keep your expensive units out of reach where you can.
Best Slaves to Darkness Units
Chaos Warriors
The foundation of most Slaves to Darkness armies. Heavily armoured, durable and dependable in melee, they are excellent objective holders. Their weapon options and exact profile are on the current warscroll.
Varanguard
Elite cavalry who serve Archaon directly. They are fast, durable and devastating in melee, and make a crushing hammer that breaks through enemy lines.
Daemon Prince
A winged, monstrous hero with strong combat ability that can be dedicated to any of the Chaos Gods. It’s both a powerful fighter and a solid leader for a regiment.
Chaos Knights
Heavy cavalry with strong charges and good durability. They provide the mobile punch that complements slower Warrior blocks.
Chaos Lord on Karkadrak
A mounted hero who hits hard and adds impact damage on the charge. A natural choice to lead a cavalry-focused regiment.
Related Armies
If you enjoy Slaves to Darkness, you might also like these armies:
- Blades of Khorne: Slaves to Darkness can dedicate units to Khorne, and the two armies share a lot of theme.
- Disciples of Tzeentch: the sorcerous side of Chaos, a natural fit for Tzeentch-marked Slaves to Darkness collectors.
- Chaos Space Marines: the Warhammer 40,000 equivalent of armoured, Undivided Chaos warriors.
Everything Slaves to Darkness on Warhammer Guild
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Slaves to Darkness?
The Slaves to Darkness are mortal warriors who have pledged themselves to Chaos in Age of Sigmar, either to Chaos Undivided or to one of the four gods. Led by Chaos Lords, Daemon Princes and ultimately Archaon, they march to war in heavy armour, seeking glory and the favour of the Dark Gods.
Are Slaves to Darkness good for beginners?
Yes, they’re a good beginner army. They have straightforward, durable units, a clear melee playstyle, and the ability to dedicate units to specific Chaos Gods for thematic and tactical variety.
What are the strengths of Slaves to Darkness?
Slaves to Darkness have durable, well-armoured infantry and powerful cavalry. The Eye of the Gods can turn a chosen hero into a Daemon Prince, and Marks of Chaos let you tailor units to each Chaos God.
What are the weaknesses of Slaves to Darkness?
Slaves to Darkness lack strong ranged options and can struggle against shooting-heavy armies. Their infantry, while durable, can be outpaced by faster armies, and they lack some of the specialist tricks of the dedicated god-aligned factions.
What is the Eye of the Gods?
The Eye of the Gods is the Slaves to Darkness mechanic for a champion’s rise. In 4th Edition you pick one non-unique Warriors of Chaos or Darkoath hero at deployment; it gains Dark Apotheosis points each time it fights and for contesting objectives outside your territory. With 8 or more points you can heal it and give it a ward, or replace it with a Daemon Prince. In the lore, the ultimate reward is daemonhood, while the unlucky are twisted into Chaos Spawn.
Are Slaves to Darkness the same as Warriors of Chaos?
Largely, yes. Slaves to Darkness are the Age of Sigmar successor to the Warriors of Chaos army from Warhammer Fantasy Battle, with many of the same units, such as Chaos Warriors, Chaos Knights and Archaon. The faction was renamed and expanded for the Mortal Realms with new kits, including the Varanguard and Darkoath tribes.
Related Content
- Slaves to Darkness Spearhead — Box Review & Guide — Spearhead guide for this faction
- All Age of Sigmar Factions Ranked — Tier List — tier rankings of all Age of Sigmar factions
- How to Paint Slaves to Darkness — Colour Schemes Guide — painting guide for this faction