Necron Dynasties Explained — Lore & Rules Guide

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What Are Necron Dynasties?

Necron Dynasties are the ancient ruling houses of the Necron race — interstellar empires that predate almost every other civilisation in the Warhammer 40,000 galaxy by millions of years. Each dynasty is led by a Phaeron and controls a network of tomb worlds where legions of Necron warriors have slept in stasis, waiting to be awakened. The dynasties differ in their military traditions, colour schemes, territorial ambitions and relationships with one another and the galaxy’s other factions.

For tabletop players today, choosing a dynasty is mainly a choice of colour scheme, character and lore identity for your Necron army. The rules side is covered further down: dynasty-specific rules no longer exist in the current game.

The Szarekhan Dynasty

The Szarekhan Dynasty is the royal dynasty of the Silent King, Szarekh himself, making it the most prestigious of all Necron dynasties. Its heraldry reflects the supreme authority of the Necron race’s ultimate ruler.

In lore, Szarekh was the last of the Silent Kings who ruled the Necrontyr — the Necrons’ original, organic form. It was Szarekh who accepted the C’tan’s offer of biotransference, transforming the whole Necrontyr race into the undying metal bodies they inhabit today. He later turned on the C’tan, shattering them into Shards, and the decision to accept biotransference haunts him still.

Before the Great Sleep, Szarekh released his people from his direct command and departed into self-imposed exile beyond the galaxy. He has since returned, driven by the growing Tyranid threat, and is working to bring the dynasties back under his rule. The Szarekhan Dynasty serves as his instrument, and its warriors fight with the disciplined precision you would expect from the Silent King’s own forces.

The Mephrit Dynasty

The Mephrit Dynasty is associated with solar fury, and their warriors are known for devastating ranged firepower. Armies are typically painted with fiery, warm accents that evoke burning suns.

In lore, the Mephrit were renowned star-destroyers during the War in Heaven, wielding technology that could drive a sun to go supernova, and their weapons harness stellar energy to terrible effect. When a Mephrit phalanx opens fire, the effect is meant to resemble a solar flare given form — armour melts and flesh burns.

The Novokh Dynasty

The Novokh Dynasty is the blood-red dynasty of war, and their warriors fight with a ferocity that is unusual even for the implacable Necrons. Their crimson livery makes them one of the most recognisable Necron schemes.

In lore, the Novokh were a martial dynasty long before biotransference, steeped in ritual combat and honourable warfare. As they wake from the Great Sleep, echoes of those old warrior traditions resurface in their soldiers, making them savage and relentless in close combat.

The Nihilakh Dynasty

The Nihilakh Dynasty is defined by pride in its past and a fierce possessiveness over its territory. Nihilakh nobles fight to defend what they consider their rightful domain and view any incursion into their space as an unforgivable trespass.

Their turquoise and gold colour scheme gives them a striking, regal visual identity among Necron armies.

In lore, the Nihilakh are obsessed with reclaiming the lost glory of their dynasty, and their nobles are known for their opulence and their unwillingness to give up anything they regard as theirs.

The Nephrekh Dynasty

The Nephrekh Dynasty is the golden dynasty, and their warriors gleam with an unearthly golden light. They are masters of translocation: Nephrekh warriors can transform their bodies into beams of living light, flashing across the battlefield with a speed other dynasties cannot match.

Their gold colour scheme creates a visually stunning army that looks unlike any other Necron force on the tabletop.

In lore, the Nephrekh are fascinated with transcendence. They see their metal bodies as a stepping stone towards existence as beings of pure light, and they pursue the refinement of their translocation technology with near-religious fervour.

The Sautekh Dynasty

The Sautekh Dynasty is one of the largest and most expansionist of all Necron dynasties, ruled by the infamous Phaeron Imotekh the Stormlord. The Sautekh are empire builders, driven by Imotekh’s strategic genius to conquer neighbouring worlds and bring other tomb worlds under their control.

Their colour scheme is the classic gleaming silver with green glow that many players associate with the Necron race as a whole, which is fitting given that the Sautekh are in many ways the “default” dynasty.

In lore, Imotekh the Stormlord is one of the greatest military minds in the galaxy, Necron or otherwise. His campaigns rely on feints, traps and devastating flanking manoeuvres, and under his leadership the Sautekh have reawakened and absorbed a great many tomb worlds since the Great Awakening began. Imotekh is a proud and ambitious ruler, and the return of the Silent King creates an obvious tension for a Phaeron used to answering to no one.

Other Notable Dynasties

Beyond the major dynasties, the Necron race includes many smaller dynasties, most of which appear only briefly in codexes and novels. The best known is:

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Maynarkh Dynasty: A dynasty ravaged by the Flayer Virus, the curse that drives Necrons to flay their victims and wear their skin. Other dynasties shun them, and the Maynarkh fight as savage, unpredictable warriors.

Lesser dynasties are often only lightly sketched in official material, which is part of why so many players invent their own.

Necron Ranks and Hierarchy

Necron society is rigidly stratified, and the hierarchy maps neatly onto the units you field:

The Silent King: supreme ruler of the whole race.
Phaerons: rulers of entire dynasties, such as Imotekh of the Sautekh.
Overlords and Lords: nobles who govern tomb worlds and lead armies.
Crypteks: a separate caste of techno-sorcerers who serve the nobility.
Lychguard and Immortals: elite soldiers and bodyguards.
Necron Warriors: the rank and file, whose minds were dulled by biotransference.

The Triarch, and its Praetorians, stand somewhat apart from the dynasties as enforcers of ancient Necrontyr law.

Dynasties and the Current Rules

In older editions, each dynasty had its own subfaction rules (Dynastic Codes), so Mephrit boosted shooting, Novokh boosted melee and so on. Those rules were removed in 10th Edition and replaced with codex detachments, and that remains the case in 11th Edition. Today your army’s special rules come from the detachments you buy with Detachment Points, not from the dynasty you paint. See Detachment Points explained for how that works.

That frees you to choose a dynasty purely on looks and lore. If you want a theme, the old associations still make good inspiration:

Shooting-heavy army? Mephrit fits the solar-fury theme.
Melee-heavy army with Lychguard and Destroyers? Novokh suits a blood-red warrior force.
Defensive, objective-holding army? Nihilakh fits their territorial pride.
Fast, teleporting army? Nephrekh matches their translocation lore.
The iconic Necron look? Sautekh, with the classic silver and green.
Want the lore centrepiece? Szarekhan lets you build your army around Szarekh, the most important Necron character in the setting.

Custom Dynasties

Many players create their own Necron dynasty with a unique colour scheme and backstory. It’s an excellent option if you want a distinctive visual identity, and since dynasty choice no longer changes your rules, there is no downside on the tabletop.

When creating a custom dynasty, consider:

Colour scheme: Choose colours that distinguish your army on the tabletop and that you enjoy painting. Popular custom schemes include black and red, white and blue, and copper and teal.
Lore: Create a backstory for your dynasty — its homeworld, its Phaeron, its relationships with other dynasties. This adds depth to your army and makes games more engaging.
Theme: Let the backstory guide your unit choices and detachments, so the army plays the way its lore suggests.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Necron Dynasties are there?

Six major dynasties get the most attention in the Necron codexes: Szarekhan, Mephrit, Novokh, Nihilakh, Nephrekh and Sautekh. Many minor dynasties, such as the Maynarkh, are mentioned in supplementary lore, and players are free to create their own.

Which Necron Dynasty is the strongest on the tabletop?

None of them, in rules terms. Dynasty-specific rules were removed in 10th Edition, and in 11th Edition your army’s rules come from the detachments you choose with Detachment Points. Pick the dynasty you like the look of and choose detachments for how you want to play.

Do I have to choose a dynasty for my Necron army?

No. Dynasty choice is now a hobby and lore decision rather than a rules one. You can paint your army in any colour scheme you like, official or custom.

What is the difference between a dynasty and a clan or Chapter?

In lore terms, a Necron dynasty plays the same role as a Space Marine Chapter or an Ork Clan: it is the sub-group that gives your army its colours, history and identity. The terminology differs because Necrons are an ancient civilisation with a very different social structure from other factions.

Can the Silent King be used with any dynasty?

Szarekh, the Silent King, belongs to the Szarekhan Dynasty in the lore, but because dynasties no longer carry rules, nothing stops you including him in an army painted as any dynasty. Check the current Necron datasheets and the Munitorum Field Manual for his points and any army-building restrictions.

Which dynasty is best for beginners?

Sautekh is often recommended for beginners because it has the classic Necron colour scheme, and the silver-and-green look is one of the easiest to paint, making it ideal for new hobbyists.

Who were the Necrontyr?

The Necrontyr were the Necrons’ original flesh-and-blood species: short-lived, sickly beings whose harsh home star gave them brief, cancer-ridden lives. Their envy of longer-lived races drove the War in Heaven against the Old Ones. Szarekh, the Silent King, then accepted the C’tan’s offer of biotransference, and the Necrontyr gave up their bodies and souls to become the undying metal Necrons.

What is the Maynarkh Dynasty?

The Maynarkh are a Necron dynasty infamous for being badly afflicted by the Flayer Virus, the curse that drives Necrons to flay and wear the skin of their victims. Other dynasties shun them for it, and the Maynarkh fight as savage, unpredictable warriors. If you want a Flayed Ones-heavy army with a grisly look, the Maynarkh are the natural lore choice.

What is the Necron hierarchy?

The Silent King sits at the top, with each dynasty ruled by a Phaeron. Below the Phaeron are Overlords, who command tomb worlds, then Lords and lesser nobles. Crypteks form a separate caste of scientist-sorcerers who serve the nobility. The rank-and-file Warriors had their minds dulled by biotransference and act as obedient soldiers, while the nobles kept their full personalities.

How old are the Necrons?

The Necrons are around sixty million years old. The Necrontyr went through biotransference during the War in Heaven, about sixty million years before the 41st Millennium, and then entered the Great Sleep in their tomb worlds. They are now waking up across the galaxy, which makes them far older than humanity, the Aeldari or any other major faction in the setting.