What Are the Ynnari?

The Ynnari are a faction of Aeldari united by their devotion to Ynnead, the Eldar god of the dead. Unlike other Aeldari factions that fear Slaanesh’s hunger for their souls, the Ynnari embrace death as a pathway to salvation. They believe that when enough Aeldari souls are gathered, Ynnead will fully awaken and destroy Slaanesh, freeing their entire species from the curse of the Dark Prince.

The Ynnari draw members from every branch of Aeldari society — Craftworld Eldar, Drukhari, Harlequins, and Corsairs. This makes them one of the most diverse factions in the 40k universe. Their leader, Yvraine, the Emissary of Ynnead, was once a Craftworld outcast who survived the arenas of Commorragh before being chosen by the partially awakened god.

Who Founded the Ynnari?

The Ynnari were not founded in the traditional sense. They emerged when Yvraine, a former Dire Avenger, Corsair, and Commorrite Wych, was killed in the gladiatorial arenas of Commorragh. At the moment of her death, the Eldar god of the dead, Ynnead, partially awakened and chose Yvraine as his emissary, resurrecting her with incredible psychic power. This event sent shockwaves through the Webway and drew immediate followers.

The Visarch, a mysterious warrior whose identity remains debated, became Yvraine’s sworn protector. Together they fled Commorragh as the city erupted into chaos following Ynnead’s stirring. The Yncarne, a daemon-like Avatar of Ynnead, also manifested — a being of terrifying power that appears wherever large numbers of Aeldari die.

These three figures — Yvraine, the Visarch, and the Yncarne — form the triumvirate of Ynnead and serve as the spiritual and military leadership of the Ynnari movement. Their appearance fractured traditional Aeldari politics, as some Farseers saw them as saviours while others viewed them as dangerous heretics.

What Powers Do the Ynnari Have?

The Ynnari wield the power of death itself. Their unique ability, called Strength from Death, allows them to draw psychic energy and physical vitality from dying souls. When nearby creatures die — friend or foe — the Ynnari grow stronger, faster, and more resilient. This mechanic is reflected both in the lore and on the tabletop.

Yvraine can drain the life force of enemies at a distance, resurrect fallen allies, and unleash devastating psychic storms powered by gathered soul-energy. The Yncarne can teleport to locations where creatures have just died, appearing in an explosion of soul-fire to wreak havoc on survivors.

Their Croneswords are ancient artefacts of immense power. The Ynnari seek to gather all five Croneswords, which together would fully awaken Ynnead. So far, they have recovered four. The fifth is believed to be trapped within Slaanesh’s own realm, making its retrieval perhaps the most dangerous quest in the galaxy.

The Revenant discipline is their unique psychic school, granting powers like Word of the Phoenix (resurrecting a destroyed unit), Gaze of Ynnead (a deadly psychic attack), and Ancestor’s Grace (boosting nearby allies with the wisdom and strength of dead Aeldari).

How Do the Ynnari Differ from Craftworld Eldar?

While Craftworld Eldar follow the rigid Path system to keep their souls safe from Slaanesh, the Ynnari reject this cautious approach. They believe the Paths are a prison that limits the Aeldari’s true potential. Instead of protecting their souls through discipline and spirit stones, the Ynnari channel death energy directly, trusting Ynnead to shield them from the Dark Prince.

This philosophical divide causes significant tension. Craftworld Biel-Tan was the first major Craftworld to have a significant Ynnari presence, but even there opinions were sharply divided. Autarch Meliniel supported Yvraine openly, while other leaders saw her as a threat to the established order that had kept the Aeldari alive for ten millennia.

Craftworld Ulthwe’s Eldrad Ulthran initially supported the Ynnari cause — he had even attempted to awaken Ynnead himself through a ritual that cost him his position on the Seer Council. However, the relationship between Ulthwe and the Ynnari has been complicated by competing visions of the future.

Practically, Ynnari warriors are more aggressive and death-seeking than their Craftworld counterparts. Where an Aspect Warrior fights with disciplined precision to minimise casualties, a Ynnari warrior actively embraces the carnage of battle, growing stronger as bodies fall around them.

What Is the Ynnari Relationship with the Drukhari?

The relationship between the Ynnari and the Drukhari is deeply hostile. Commorragh’s power structure relies on soul-harvesting and the infliction of suffering to stave off Slaanesh’s hunger. The Ynnari offer an alternative — freedom from Slaanesh through Ynnead — which directly threatens the Drukhari way of life.

When Yvraine was reborn in the arenas of Commorragh, the resulting disturbance caused a massive Dysjunction that damaged parts of the Dark City. Asdrubael Vect, the Supreme Overlord of Commorragh, initially appeared to ignore the Ynnari threat, but he later orchestrated elaborate schemes to undermine them.

Despite this hostility, some Drukhari have joined the Ynnari cause. These converts often come from the lower castes of Commorragh — slaves, arena fighters, and disillusioned Kabals who see Yvraine’s path as liberation from the endless cycle of torment. This quiet exodus from Commorragh further enrages Vect and the ruling Archons.

How Do the Ynnari Play on the Tabletop?

On the tabletop, the Ynnari are a subfaction that can include units from multiple Aeldari codexes. Their army-wide ability, Strength from Death, gives them bonus actions when nearby units are destroyed. This creates a cascading effect where the loss of one unit empowers the survivors.

Yvraine is a potent psyker who can heal or resurrect models, while the Visarch is a close combat specialist who grows in power as the battle progresses. The Yncarne is a beatstick character that teleports across the battlefield to wherever models have just died.

List building with the Ynnari involves making careful choices about which Aeldari units to include, balancing the aggressive death-synergy playstyle with enough durability to survive the early game. Popular choices include Wraithguard, Incubi, and Howling Banshees — units that hit hard in close combat where the death triggers are most frequent.

What Is the Future of the Ynnari?

The Ynnari storyline is one of the most significant ongoing narratives in Warhammer 40k. The search for the fifth Cronesword drives much of their current plot. If they succeed, Ynnead would fully awaken and potentially destroy Slaanesh, which would reshape the entire galaxy.

The faction also played a crucial role in the resurrection of Roboute Guilliman, working with the Ultramarines Primarch to activate the Armor of Fate. This alliance of convenience between the Ynnari and the Imperium shows how desperate times create unlikely partnerships in the 41st Millennium.

Games Workshop has hinted at further developments for the Ynnari, and their unique position as a cross-faction Aeldari force gives them enormous narrative potential. Whether they succeed in their quest or are consumed by the very death energies they wield remains one of 40k’s great unanswered questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Ynnari good or evil?

The Ynnari are neither straightforwardly good nor evil. They seek to save the Aeldari species from Slaanesh, which is a noble goal, but their methods involve embracing death and causing massive collateral damage. They have allied with the Imperium when convenient but remain ultimately self-interested.

Can the Ynnari beat Slaanesh?

In theory, yes. If they gather all five Croneswords and fully awaken Ynnead, the god of the dead should have enough power to destroy Slaanesh. However, the fifth Cronesword is trapped in Slaanesh’s realm, making this an almost impossibly dangerous task.

Who leads the Ynnari?

Yvraine, the Emissary of Ynnead, leads the Ynnari. She is supported by the Visarch (her sworn protector) and the Yncarne (the Avatar of Ynnead). Together they form the Triumvirate of Ynnead.

Can you mix Ynnari with other Aeldari armies?

Yes. The Ynnari can include units from Craftworlds, Drukhari, and Harlequins codexes, though specific rules and restrictions apply depending on the current edition. This cross-faction flexibility is one of their defining features on the tabletop.