Part of our Daughters of Khaine hub: every Daughters of Khaine guide, lore page and painting tutorial in one place. Browse all Age of Sigmar army lists.
Daughters of Khaine are a fast, bloodthirsty army of aelf warrior-priestesses and snake-bodied Melusai. They charge hard, fight brilliantly and get stronger as the battle turns bloody. If you like melee, speed and some of the most striking models in Age of Sigmar, they’re a great choice.
The catch is that most aelves don’t have great armour. Daughters of Khaine win by picking the right fight, hitting first and getting stronger as units die on both sides. Charge one unit at a time into a solid enemy line and you’ll lose it. Charge together and you’ll tear through most armies.
New to the faction? Our Daughters of Khaine army guide covers the background, our Daughters of Khaine lore deep dive explains the murder-cult of Khaine, and who is Morathi introduces their scheming goddess-queen.
A quick note on rules and points
Daughters of Khaine use Battletome: Daughters of Khaine plus the free rules updates since its release. Matched play uses the General’s Handbook 2026-27, and the October 2026 rules updates added a small fix to the Blood Rites battle trait (you only get one blood rite per destroyed unit) and a reworded Melusai Ironscale ability.
Points come from Games Workshop’s official Battle Profiles, October 2026 document (published 28 October 2026). Every value below is points as of Battle Profiles, October 2026. Check the Warhammer Age of Sigmar app before you play, because points change several times a year.
Two things to know before you buy:
- Doomfire Warlocks are still legal, but the October 2026 document says they move to Warhammer Legends on 1 June 2027. We’ve left them out.
- The Avatar of Khaine is now a manifestation that a Bloodwrack Shrine can summon, not a unit you buy. Our Avatar of Khaine guide explains the change.
The General’s Handbook also adds optional “Scourge of Aqshy” seasonal rules, including alternative Melusai Ironscale and Khainite Shadowstalkers profiles. We’ve stuck to the battletome versions, which are simpler to learn.
How army building works at 1,000 and 2,000 points
The General’s Handbook 2026-27 is designed for 1,000- or 2,000-point battles. 1,000 points is a quick game on a smaller board, while 2,000 points is the standard size for events and most club nights. Our Age of Sigmar points explained guide goes deeper. Here’s what matters for Daughters of Khaine:
- Regiments. Your army has 1 to 5 regiments. Each is a Hero plus up to 3 non-Hero units, or up to 4 in your general’s regiment.
- Aelf and non-Aelf. This matters a lot. Hag Queens, Slaughter Queens and Cauldrons can only take Aelf units: Witch Aelves, Sisters of Slaughter, Khainite Shadowstalkers and Blood Hags. The Bloodwrack Medusa, Bloodwrack Shrine and Melusai Ironscale can only take non-Aelf units: Blood Sisters, Blood Stalkers and the winged Khinerai.
- Coven Matriarchs. A foot Hag Queen, Slaughter Queen, High Gladiatrix or Melusai Ironscale can join another Hero’s regiment as a “Coven Matriarch” if that Hero’s options allow one. They use up one of the regiment’s slots.
- Unit sizes. Witch Aelves and Sisters of Slaughter come in units of 10. The Spearhead’s two units of five Sisters make one full unit.
- Auxiliary units cost an extra 20 points each after the first in the 2026-27 season. We don’t use any.
- Enhancements. One battle formation, plus one heroic trait and one artefact of power, which can’t go on Unique heroes. Some Daughters of Khaine formations now cost points.
- Spare points. If you spend 50 or more points less than your opponent, you get an extra command point in the first battle round.
List 1: Khainite Shadow Coven (1,000 points)
This list is built on the Khainite Shadow Coven Spearhead box: a Slaughter Queen on Cauldron of Blood, a Hag Queen, a Bloodwrack Medusa, nine Khainite Shadowstalkers and ten Sisters of Slaughter. Our Daughters of Khaine Spearhead guide covers the box in detail. That’s 800 points straight out of the box, and two units of Khinerai Heartrenders take you to exactly 1,000.
| Regiment | Unit | Points |
|---|---|---|
| General’s regiment | Slaughter Queen on Cauldron of Blood (general) | 300 |
| General’s regiment | Hag Queen (as Coven Matriarch) | 120 |
| General’s regiment | 10 Sisters of Slaughter | 110 |
| General’s regiment | 9 Khainite Shadowstalkers | 130 |
| Regiment 2 | Bloodwrack Medusa | 140 |
| Regiment 2 | 5 Khinerai Heartrenders | 100 |
| Regiment 2 | 5 Khinerai Heartrenders | 100 |
| Total | 1,000 |
Battle formation: Cold-hearted Murderers (0 points). When your anointed Hero fights, a nearby unit can fight straight after it, with better critical hits. It turns one big combat into two.
Enhancements: Hand of Khaine (heroic trait) on the Slaughter Queen on Cauldron of Blood, giving her a chance to kill an enemy Hero outright, and Crimson Draught (artefact, re-roll charge rolls) on the Hag Queen.
Why the Khinerai? The Medusa can only lead non-Aelf units, so the Sisters and Shadowstalkers have to go with the Cauldron. Khinerai Heartrenders are winged javelin-throwers and are cheap, fast and non-Aelf, which makes them the perfect partners for her.
How it plays: At the start of the battle you pick a non-Unique Hero to be anointed. Choose the Slaughter Queen on Cauldron of Blood. When she charges, a nearby unit such as the Sisters of Slaughter can charge straight after her, so you can hit one target with your two best fighters. The Hag Queen stays next to whichever unit is about to fight and makes its attacks deadlier. The Shadowstalkers can vanish and reappear elsewhere once per battle, so use them to steal a far objective or snipe a lonely support Hero. The Medusa chips away at enemies with her gaze while the Khinerai fly onto objectives and pick off weakened units.
What to buy: Spearhead: Daughters of Khaine (Khainite Shadow Coven) and two boxes of Khinerai. The Khinerai kit builds either Heartrenders or Lifetakers.
List 2: The Twin Cauldrons (2,000 points)
At 2,000 points we add a second Cauldron, more Witch Aelves and a Melusai wing. The Aelf regiments do the killing in the middle while the Melusai and Khinerai hold the flanks.
| Regiment | Unit | Points |
|---|---|---|
| General’s regiment | Slaughter Queen on Cauldron of Blood (general) | 300 |
| General’s regiment | Hag Queen (as Coven Matriarch) | 120 |
| General’s regiment | 10 Witch Aelves | 120 |
| General’s regiment | 10 Witch Aelves | 120 |
| General’s regiment | 10 Sisters of Slaughter | 110 |
| Regiment 2 | Hag Queen on Cauldron of Blood | 280 |
| Regiment 2 | 9 Khainite Shadowstalkers | 130 |
| Regiment 2 | 10 Sisters of Slaughter | 110 |
| Regiment 3 | Bloodwrack Medusa | 140 |
| Regiment 3 | 5 Blood Stalkers | 150 |
| Regiment 3 | 5 Blood Sisters | 170 |
| Regiment 4 | Melusai Ironscale | 100 |
| Regiment 4 | 5 Khinerai Heartrenders | 100 |
| Battle formation: Fervent Ritualists | 10 | |
| Total | 1,960 |
Battle formation: Fervent Ritualists (10 points). Your units contesting objectives can bring slain models back at the end of the turn, which makes the Witch Aelves much better at holding ground.
Enhancements: Hand of Khaine on the Slaughter Queen on Cauldron of Blood and Witchbrew (artefact, which can let a nearby unit ignore negative modifiers to its save rolls) on the Hag Queen on Cauldron of Blood.
Spare points: At 1,960 points you’re 40 under the limit. If your opponent spends the full 2,000, that’s not quite enough for the bonus command point, so check their total.
How it plays: The two Cauldrons are your anvils. They’re tough by aelf standards and they boost the units around them. Push them up the middle with the Witch Aelves and Sisters, and use Strident War Cry to send a unit charging in after your anointed Hero. Every enemy unit you destroy can earn a blood rite, and each blood rite unlocks a Blessing of Khaine for the rest of the battle: +1 to hit, +1 to wound, extra Move and more. The longer the fight goes on, the more dangerous your army gets. The Medusa’s regiment holds one flank: Blood Stalkers shoot from range while the Blood Sisters wait to counter-charge anything that comes close. The Ironscale and Heartrenders cover the other flank. If enemies kill models in units right next to the Ironscale in combat, she can hit them back with mortal damage.
What to buy next: A second Cauldron of Blood kit (built as a Hag Queen), two boxes of Witch Aelves (the same kit builds Sisters of Slaughter), a box of Blood Stalkers, a box of Blood Sisters and a Melusai Ironscale.
General tactics
Pick your anointed Hero carefully. Anointed Ritualist chooses a non-Unique Hero at the start of the battle, and many of your best tricks key off that Hero. If it dies, Bloody Succession lets you anoint another.
Plan your blood rites. You earn blood rites when enemy units die to your anointed Hero, when you destroy enemies on objectives you don’t control and in a few other ways. Get the first one early so the army starts snowballing. Pick Blessings that suit the next turn: Haste to reach a far objective, Ruthlessness or Hatred for a big combat.
Charge in waves, not alone. Strident War Cry lets a nearby unit charge after your anointed Hero, and you can re-roll its charges. Use it to make sure two units hit the same target.
Use your prayers. The Cauldrons and Hag Queens are Priests. Prayers of the Khainite Cult can make your units hit harder or survive longer, so give each Priest a prayer to chant every turn.
Mind the shooting. Aelves have light armour. Hide behind terrain on the way in and let the Cauldrons draw fire.
What to buy first
- Spearhead: Daughters of Khaine (Khainite Shadow Coven). Most of List 1 in one box.
- Khinerai. Cheap, fast and they partner the Medusa.
- Witch Aelves. Your core infantry at 2,000 points, and the kit also builds Sisters.
- A second Cauldron of Blood. The kit builds a Hag Queen, a Slaughter Queen or a Bloodwrack Shrine.
- Melusai. Blood Stalkers for shooting, Blood Sisters for melee.
Our Daughters of Khaine painting guide covers classic red-and-black schemes and faster options for a big army.
Common mistakes
- Mixing Aelf and non-Aelf units in the wrong regiment. A Hag Queen can’t lead Blood Stalkers, and a Medusa can’t lead Witch Aelves. Check the Hero’s options before you build.
- Charging piecemeal. One aelf unit on its own gets wiped out in the swing back. Line up two charges on one target.
- Forgetting the Coven Matriarch slot. A Hag Queen joining another Hero’s regiment uses up one of its unit slots.
- Leaving the Cauldron behind. It’s your toughest model and your best fighter. Keep it at the front with the infantry.
- Buying units that are leaving. Doomfire Warlocks go to Legends in June 2027, so they’re not a good long-term buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Khainite Shadow Coven Spearhead enough for 1,000 points?
It covers 800 of the 1,000 points in List 1. Add two units of Khinerai Heartrenders and you’re at exactly 1,000.
Can I still use the older Heartflayer Troupe Spearhead box?
Yes. Its Melusai Ironscale, Witch Aelves and Blood Stalkers are all current units. The Doomfire Warlocks are legal until they move to Legends on 1 June 2027.
Why can’t my Medusa lead Sisters of Slaughter?
The Bloodwrack Medusa can only take non-Aelf units in her regiment, so she needs Melusai or Khinerai. Sisters of Slaughter are Aelves, so they go with a Hag Queen, Slaughter Queen or Cauldron.
Are Daughters of Khaine good for beginners?
Yes, if you enjoy melee. The plan is simple: charge together, earn blood rites and grow stronger. The hard part is picking the right fights, which comes with practice.
Is 1,000 points a real game size?
Yes. The General’s Handbook 2026-27 is designed for 1,000- and 2,000-point battles. Start at 1,000 and build up.
Do Daughters of Khaine have any shooting?
Yes, but it’s a support tool rather than the main plan. Blood Stalkers are the dedicated archers, Khinerai Heartrenders throw javelins as they fly in, and the Bloodwrack Medusa chips away with her gaze. Most of your damage still comes from melee, so use the shooting to soften targets and pick off weakened units before the charge.
Can you play Daughters of Khaine without Melusai?
Yes. An all-aelf army led by Hag Queens, Slaughter Queens and Cauldrons of Blood, filled out with Witch Aelves, Sisters of Slaughter and Khainite Shadowstalkers, is perfectly legal. You lose the Melusai’s shooting and their flank-holding, so you’ll rely even more on charging together and earning blood rites early.
Why isn’t Morathi in these Daughters of Khaine lists?
These lists are built to grow from the Spearhead box with affordable, beginner-friendly kits, and Morathi is a big centrepiece that takes up a large share of a 2,000-point army. She’s a strong choice once you know the faction. If you want to add her, check her current points in the Warhammer Age of Sigmar app and trim units to make room.
Related guides
See every faction in our Age of Sigmar army lists hub, or start smaller with our Age of Sigmar Spearhead guide. For another fast aelf army, try our Idoneth Deepkin army list or the Lumineth Realm-lords army list.