Drukhari – Warhammer 40k Guide

We are the Drukhari, the dark and exquisite denizens of Commorragh, the City of Shadows hidden in the webway away from the prying eyes of the Chaos god Slaanesh. A splinter group of the ancient Aeldari, we have embraced the seductive allure of pain and pleasure, thriving in a world where suffering is an art form to stay alive.

Our warriors, clad in sleek armor and armed with deadly weaponry, strike with unparalleled speed and precision. In our pursuit of eternal youth and satisfaction, we raid the realms for souls, capturing our enemies’ essence to stave off Slaanesh’s hunger.

We are the masters of torment and deception, reveling in chaos while dancing on the edge of oblivion.

Who Are the Drukhari?

The Drukhari, also known as Dark Eldar, are a sinister and decadent faction in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, emerging from the remnants of the ancient Aeldari race.

Residing in the labyrinthine city of Commorragh, they have embraced a life of excess, cruelty, and hedonism to stave off the predators of Slaanesh. The Drukhari are masters of speed and stealth, employing advanced technology and brutal tactics to raid and enslave their enemies.

Their society is divided into various Kabals, Cults, and Covens, each competing for power and influence. Driven by a relentless hunger for suffering, the Drukhari revel in chaos and destruction to extend their own lifespans and escape the hunger of Slaanesh.

What Are the Drukhari Army Strengths?

The Drukhari army excels in speed, agility, and shock tactics, making it a highly mobile and unpredictable force on the battlefield.

Their advanced technology allows for rapid deployment and devastating hit-and-run attacks, with units like Raiders and Reavers providing exceptional mobility. The army’s focus on close combat and precision shooting enables them to dismantle enemy forces before they can respond.

Additionally, their ability to inflict pain and suffering can enhance their combat effectiveness. However, the Drukhari also have weaknesses; many units are relatively fragile and can be easily overwhelmed by sustained fire or strong melee attacks.

Their reliance on speed means that losing key units can disrupt their overall strategy, necessitating careful positioning and tactical foresight to ensure victory.

Where Should Beginners Start?

Some of the best models for beginner Drukhari players include:

• Raiders: Dark Eldar transport vehicles. They excel at swiftly deploying troops into battle, providing mobility and cover while delivering devastating firepower against enemy forces.

• Reavers: Fast-moving Dark Eldar raiders known for their hit-and-run tactics. They excel in harassment and disruption, using speed and ranged weapons to outmaneuver opponents.

• Wyches: Agile Dark Eldar fighters specializing in close combat. They excel at swift assaults, using speed and deadly weapons to outmaneuver and eliminate foes effectively.

• Incubi: Elite Dark Eldar warriors known for their deadly precision and agility. They excel in close combat, delivering swift, lethal strikes against their enemies.

How To Paint Drukhari?

Here are three creative paint ideas for new players that bring out the dark, clandestine nature of the Drukhari:

Color Scheme Ideas

Shadow and Steel

• Base Coat: Start with a base coat of dark metallic silver or gunmetal for armor to reflect their sleek, high-tech aesthetics.

• Highlight: Highlight with lighter metallics to emphasize edges. For cloth and accents, use deep purples or blacks, highlighting with brighter shades like violet or electric blue.

• Skin: For skin, opt for pale tones with a slight blue or green hue, adding highlights for dimension.

• Wash: Finish with a wash of Nuln Oil to enhance shadows and details, creating a striking and shadowy appearance.

Vibrant Venom

• Base Coat: Use a base coat of bright green or neon turquoise for armor, capturing the vibrant and chaotic essence of the Drukhari.

• Highlight: Highlight with lighter shades of the same color to create depth. For cloth, use contrasting colors like deep red or black, highlighting with lighter tones.

• Skin: For skin, choose a ghostly pale color, accented with vivid hues for eyes and markings.

• Varnish: Finish with a gloss varnish on select areas to give a sleek, polished look, enhancing the overall vibrancy and allure.

Elegant Darkness

• Base Coat: Start with a base coat of matte black for armor, symbolizing their stealthy nature.

• Highlight: Highlight with a deep crimson or dark purple to create a rich contrast. For cloaks and fabrics, use dark shades of blue or green, highlighting with brighter shades to add depth.

• Skin: For skin tones, opt for a muted flesh tone with subtle purple or green undertones, emphasizing features with light highlights. Incorporate metallic accents in gold or silver for weapons and details.

• Wash: Finish with a dark wash to enhance shadows, creating a sophisticated and sinister aesthetic.

Painting Techniques for Drukhari

• Base Coating: Start with bold, dark colors that reflect the Drukhari’s sleek and sinister aesthetic. Use deep blacks, purples, or metallics for armor and weaponry. A solid base coat provides a foundation for subsequent colors, ensuring they appear vibrant and cohesive while capturing the dark, elegant style of the Drukhari.

• Drybrushing: This technique is effective for highlighting the intricate details of armor and weapons. Use a lighter metallic shade or a bright color to drybrush over raised surfaces and edges, creating a shimmering effect that enhances the sleek lines and details of the miniatures. This adds depth and dimension, making them visually striking.

• Washes: Applying washes is crucial for adding depth and shadow. Use dark washes, like Nuln Oil or Agrax Earthshade, to emphasize the recesses in armor, skin, and fabric. This technique helps create a three-dimensional appearance, accentuating details and giving the models a more realistic and layered look.

• Edge Highlighting: Use edge highlighting to draw attention to the sharp details of armor and weapons. Apply a lighter color along the edges to create crisp contrasts that enhance the definition of the models. This technique adds a polished look, emphasizing the craftsmanship and elegance of Drukhari design.

• Contrast Paints: These paints are excellent for achieving quick yet impactful results. Use contrast paints for larger areas, such as cloaks or skin, to take advantage of their self-shading properties. This allows for depth without extensive layering, making it easier for beginners to achieve striking results that capture the darkly alluring essence of the Drukhari.

Drukhari Lore and History

The Drukhari, also known as the Dark Eldar, are the sinister kin of the Aeldari who dwell within the labyrinthine extra-dimensional city of Commorragh — a vast port nestled within the Webway, hidden from the gaze of gods and mortals alike. While their Craftworld cousins fled the Fall of the Aeldari and the birth of Slaanesh aboard massive world-ships, the Drukhari survived by retreating into the Webway and sustaining themselves through the suffering of others.

The Fall — when the Aeldari empire’s unchecked hedonism birthed the Chaos God Slaanesh — was a cataclysm that devoured billions of Aeldari souls. The Drukhari escaped physical destruction but not spiritual consequence. Slaanesh constantly drains their souls, slowly consuming them from within. To stave off this soul-death, the Drukhari must absorb the psychic energy released by the suffering of sentient beings. This need drives their realspace raids — lightning-fast attacks on worlds across the galaxy to capture slaves and inflict maximum pain.

Commorragh itself is a nightmarish realm ruled by the Archons of the great Kabals — warrior aristocracies that compete for power through assassination, alliance, and open warfare. Supreme among them is Asdrubael Vect, the Supreme Overlord of Commorragh, who has ruled the Dark City for millennia through cunning, betrayal, and sheer ruthlessness. Beneath the Kabals, the Wych Cults provide gladiatorial entertainment in vast arenas, while the Haemonculus Covens practise their grotesque art of flesh-sculpting in hidden laboratories.

The Drukhari are among the most technologically advanced factions in the galaxy, their mastery of anti-gravity technology, darklight weapons, and dimensional manipulation surpassing even the Craftworlds. Their Raiders and Venoms skim across battlefields at incredible speeds, deploying warriors who strike with poisoned blades before vanishing back into the Webway. The Drukhari’s relationship with pain is complex — they are both its greatest artists and its most desperate addicts, trapped in a cycle of cruelty that is, paradoxically, the only thing keeping their souls from annihilation.

Drukhari in the Current Meta

Drukhari are a glass cannon army that excels at lightning-fast strikes and overwhelming alpha damage. Their transports — Raiders and Venoms — are among the fastest in the game, allowing Drukhari forces to strike anywhere on the battlefield with minimal warning. This speed, combined with potent dark lance anti-tank firepower and devastating melee from Wyches and Incubi, makes them a fearsome competitive choice.

Competitive Drukhari lists typically combine elements from all three sub-factions: Kabal units for ranged firepower and durability, Wych Cult units for melee dominance, and Haemonculus Coven units for resilient objective holding. The Realspace Raid detachment rewards this combined approach with powerful army-wide bonuses. Key units include Court of the Archon characters and the brutally effective Grotesque bodyguards.

The primary competitive challenge for Drukhari is their fragility — both infantry and vehicles die quickly when caught in the open, making deployment and first-turn decisions critical. The army punishes mistakes harshly but rewards precise play with devastating efficiency. Drukhari are considered a strong tournament army in the hands of experienced players who understand threat assessment and target priority. See the faction tier list for current standings.

Collecting Drukhari

Drukhari offer a sleek, dynamic collection that looks fantastic on the tabletop. The sharp, angular aesthetic of Dark Eldar models — from the blade-like prows of Raiders to the lithe forms of Wyches — creates an army with tremendous visual impact. The models reward careful painting with their many smooth surfaces and fine details.

Begin with the Drukhari Combat Patrol for a solid foundation. Essential early purchases include Raiders (your primary transports — you’ll want several), Incubi (elite melee infantry), and a Succubus or Archon character. The Drukhari army structure naturally guides your collection — you’ll build out Kabal, Wych Cult, and Coven elements over time.

The classic Drukhari colour scheme of dark armour with contrasting spot colours is both striking and efficient to paint. Black armour with edge highlighting looks stunning and can be achieved with practice. The army’s moderate model count (more than Knights but far fewer than Guard) keeps the collection manageable. Our Drukhari painting guide covers techniques for achieving that sinister, edged appearance.

Painting Drukhari

Difficulty: Intermediate

Drukhari models reward precise, clean painting — the sharp edges and sleek surfaces of Dark Eldar models look best with crisp edge highlights and smooth colour transitions. The dark colour schemes (typically black or very dark purple/blue) create a sinister aesthetic that’s visually striking when combined with contrasting spot colours like green, red, or teal.

Key paints (Kabal of the Black Heart): Abaddon Black (armour), Dark Reaper (first highlight), Thunderhawk Blue (second highlight), Incubi Darkness (spot colour), Sybarite Green (bright accent), Leadbelcher (blades), Druchii Violet (wash for skin). For Wyches, skin tones are important — Rakarth Flesh with a Druchii Violet wash creates a convincingly pallid Commorrite complexion.

The key technique for Drukhari is edge highlighting. The angular armour panels are designed to be highlighted, and the transition from dark armour to bright edges creates the signature Dark Eldar look. Start with thin lines of Dark Reaper on all edges, then add Thunderhawk Blue on the most prominent edges only. Gemstone effects on soulstones and the glowing effects on darklight weapons add important pops of colour to an otherwise dark army. For a comprehensive step-by-step process, visit our Drukhari painting guide.

Related Armies

If you enjoy Drukhari, you might also like these armies:

• Eldar — The Drukhari and Craftworld Eldar are kin, descended from the same ancient Aeldari civilization.
• Genestealer Cults — Both armies excel at ambush tactics and striking from unexpected angles.
• Orks — Orks are frequent raiding targets and rivals of the Drukhari in the galactic fringe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the Drukhari?

The Drukhari, or Dark Eldar, are a sadistic faction of the Aeldari race who dwell in the dark city of Commorragh within the Webway. They sustain themselves by inflicting suffering on others, launching lightning raids to capture slaves and souls.

Are Drukhari good for beginners?

Drukhari are challenging for beginners due to their glass-cannon nature — they hit hard but die quickly. Success requires precise target priority, good positioning, and knowing when to commit. Mistakes are punished severely.

What are the strengths of Drukhari?

Drukhari excel at speed and damage output with fast transports, poisoned weapons, and devastating combat drugs. Their Raiders and Venoms are extremely mobile, and their Wyches and Incubi are deadly in close combat.

What are the weaknesses of Drukhari?

Drukhari are extremely fragile with low toughness and poor armour saves. Their vehicles are fast but paper-thin. A few bad turns of shooting can destroy most of your army, making them unforgiving for new players.

What is Commorragh?

Commorragh is the massive Dark City hidden within the Webway, home to the Drukhari. It is a sprawling, labyrinthine metropolis of spires and arenas where Drukhari nobility engage in constant political intrigue and gladiatorial combat to sustain themselves.

Are the Druchii the same as the Drukhari?

No, but they are closely related ideas. The Druchii are the Dark Elves of Warhammer Fantasy, ruled by Malekith from Naggaroth, while the Drukhari are the dark kin of the Aeldari in Warhammer 40,000, dwelling in Commorragh. Both draw on the same cruel, raiding dark-elf archetype, and Citadel’s Druchii Violet wash is named after the Fantasy faction.

Why are the Dark Eldar now called Drukhari?

Games Workshop renamed the Dark Eldar as Drukhari with their 8th Edition codex in 2018, part of a wider move to give factions distinctive names (Eldar became Aeldari around the same time). The lore is unchanged: Drukhari is the name they use for themselves. Many players still say Dark Eldar, and the two names mean the same faction.

Related Content

• 40k Factions Ranked — Competitive tier list
• 40k on a Budget — Start collecting cheap
• How to Play 40k — Beginner rules guide
• All Factions Guide — Every faction explained

Book review: Path of the Renegade Review — our review of the best Drukhari novel.