Slaves To Darkness (Warhammer Age of Sigmar)

Slaves to Darkness is the Warhammer Age of Sigmar faction for players who want armoured Chaos warriors, barbarian tribes, mounted knights and monstrous champions in one army. It suits collectors who like a varied, characterful force and enjoy building and painting a mix of infantry, cavalry and heroes. A good first purchase is a core infantry kit such as Chaos Warriors or Darkoath Marauders, a leader, and the faction battletome.

What are the Slaves to Darkness in Age of Sigmar?

The Slaves to Darkness are mortal followers of the Chaos Gods, devoted to the pursuit of power and glory. Their most famous figure is Archaon, the Everchosen, who leads the faction's greatest champions. The army draws together warriors from many different tribes and warbands, so it has room for very different looks: gleaming dark plate on one side, tattooed and wild-haired raiders on the other.

If you are new to the game as a whole, our Warhammer Age of Sigmar guide explains how the setting and the tabletop game fit together.

How does a Slaves to Darkness army play?

In broad terms, Slaves to Darkness is a hard-hitting melee faction built around heroes, elite warriors and fast mounted units. It rewards players who like to push forward, pick their fights and use characters to support the units around them. Its variety is part of the appeal: you can lean towards disciplined armoured infantry, savage tribal warbands, cavalry, or a mixture.

Exact rules change with each edition and book update, so check the current battletome rather than relying on older advice.

What should I buy first for Slaves to Darkness?

A sensible starting collection is one leader, one or two core units, and the rules book. That gives you something fun to build and paint straight away, and it keeps early spending under control.

1. The rules: the Chaos Battletome: Slaves to Darkness (English) explains the army, its abilities and how to build a force.
2. A core unit: Chaos Warriors are the classic armoured infantry, while Darkoath Marauders give you a wilder, more tribal look.
3. A leader: the Exalted Hero of Chaos or the Chaos Sorcerer Lord are both good first heroes.

From there, add a mounted or elite unit once you know which style you enjoy most.

Which Slaves to Darkness kits are worth knowing?

Infantry and elite warriors

• Chaos Warriors: heavily armoured followers of the dark gods, and a natural backbone for a more disciplined army.
• Chaos Chosen: the elite end of the infantry range, good for players who prefer fewer, more impressive models.
• Darkoath Marauders: a multipart kit with plenty of room to customise, ideal for a barbarian-style warband.
• Ogroid Theridons: large, imposing creatures that add bulk and variety to the battle line.

Cavalry and mounted units

• Chaos Knights: classic mounted warriors that suit an army built around charging in.
• Darkoath Fellriders: fast raiders on mounts, a good match for Darkoath collections.
• Varanguard: the elite knights associated with the Everchosen, and a centrepiece-quality unit.

Heroes and named characters

• Archaon Everchosen: the faction's most iconic figure and a major showpiece model.
• Chaos Lord on Karkadrak: a leader on a large beast, giving a strong sense of scale.
• Abraxia, Spear of the Everchosen and Eternus, Blade of the First Prince: named characters that give your army distinct personalities.
• Oath Fulfilled: Darkoath Warqueen: a leader for Darkoath-themed forces.
• Brand's Oathbound: a character-led set that adds a story-driven group to a tribal collection.

Terrain

The Nexus Chaotica terrain piece suits the faction's look and gives your table a themed focal point, which is useful for display photos as well as games.

How do I paint Slaves to Darkness?

The faction is flexible, so you can choose a scheme that matches your own story. Dark metals with a single bold accent colour, such as a red, blue or bone shade, look cohesive across a large army. Darkoath models work well with earthy skin tones, leather and fur, plus bright warpaint to make them stand out.

Armour is a large part of the army, so it is worth getting comfortable with metallics, washes and edge highlights. If you have never painted a miniature, start with our guide on how to start painting Warhammer miniatures. To understand base paints, layers, shades and contrast colours, read the Citadel and Warhammer Colour paints guide.

A good habit is to paint one test model first. Once you are happy with the recipe, you can repeat it across the whole unit.

Which book do I need for Slaves to Darkness?

The faction's rules are in its battletome. The Chaos Battletome: Slaves to Darkness (English) also covers the army's background and its range of units, so it is useful even when you are still deciding what to collect. You will also need the core rules for the game, which are covered in the general Age of Sigmar guide above.

Slaves to Darkness FAQ

Is Slaves to Darkness good for beginners?

Yes, as long as you start small. A leader and a core infantry unit give you a playable foundation, and the models are rewarding to build and paint. The wide range means you can add to the army gradually.

What is the difference between Chaos Warriors and Darkoath Marauders?

Chaos Warriors are heavily armoured fighters with a disciplined, knightly look. Darkoath Marauders are barbarian tribesmen with a wilder, more individual appearance. Many armies use both, depending on the theme the collector wants.

Do I need the battletome to play?

You need the current rules for the faction to build and play a legal army, and the battletome is where they are found. It is best to buy it alongside your first units so you can plan your collection around it.

Can I mix tribes and warbands in one army?

That is a core part of the faction's identity, as it is made up of many different followers of Chaos. Check the battletome for how the army is organised, since the options available in the game depend on the current rules.

Does Universe TCG ship Slaves to Darkness worldwide?

Universe TCG ships worldwide from Spain and has physical shops in Mollet del Vallès, Barberà del Vallès and Segovia. For a wider overview of the hobby, see our complete Warhammer buying guide.

Other Age of Sigmar factions to explore

If you want to compare Slaves to Darkness with other armies, these are good places to look. Stormcast Eternals offer a very different, heroic take on armoured warriors. Soulblight Gravelords suit collectors who like a gothic undead theme. Sylvaneth, Skaven and Seraphon each offer a distinct look and style of play.

Related guides

• Warhammer at Universe TCG: the complete buying guide
• Warhammer Age of Sigmar
• Soulblight Gravelords (Warhammer Age of Sigmar)
• Stormcast Eternals (Warhammer Age of Sigmar)
• Sylvaneth (Warhammer Age of Sigmar)
• Skaven (Warhammer Age of Sigmar)
• Seraphon (Warhammer Age of Sigmar)
• Citadel and Warhammer Colour paints: the complete guide
• How to start painting Warhammer miniatures