The Ruinous Powers, ever desiring more power bide their time as they slowly devour the known universe. Residing in the warp, an alternate dimension comprised of pure psychic energy, the Gods of Chaos in Warhammer 40K feed on the emotions, hopes, and passions of mortal creatures for sustenance and to further their power. Though not necessarily divine or even having a physical stature, they are nevertheless extremely powerful sentient energies that seek to corrupt and consume the minds and souls of the galaxy’s inhabitants. For the dark gods can only grow through the acts and thoughts of mortals.
The four main Gods of Chaos are Khorne, the blood god who delights in primal violence, Tzeentch, the lord of change who relies on sorceries and knowledge to further ambitions, Nurgle, the plague father who represents disease, death, and rebirth, and finally Slaanesh, the dark prince of pleasure. Each resides within their realm inside the warp. Each is ready to outdo the others to become the ultimate chaos god in Warhammer 40K.
5 Malice/Malal
Oh yes, there’s a fifth chaos god. Though not considered one of the great four, Malice stands apart from the others due to being known as a bit of a renegade. Also known as the lost god, Malice represents anarchy, destruction, and vengeance (even against itself and its agents that serve the cause).
Malice was cast out and where Malice currently inhabits or resides is anyone’s guess. Followers of Malice must be willing to kill and bleed other chaos agents and creatures, which is no surprise that other chaos gods and their respective servants loathe and resent Malice. Though not worshipped by many and few devotees survive long enough to be worthy servants, Malice is still considered a threat by the other gods of chaos and by the Imperium.
4 Khorne
The Blood God and Lord Of Skulls himself, Khorne is the chaos god of strength, war, hatred, murder, and rage amongst others. Khorne draws his strength and power from the desires and acts surrounding brutality, hate, and primal destruction of one’s adversaries. It is said that every killing and murder empowers Khorne, the bloodier, the better. Yet Khorne also respects honor and pride in battle, favoring and rewarding acts that defy the odds in battle.
It is Khorne’s wish to engulf the galaxy in flames and slaughter, to destroy or dominate everything in existence everywhere until all that is left are broken bones and rivers of blood. To worship Khorne is to spill the blood of enemies and allies alike, for the battlefield is his temple as all the slain are deemed the same in Khorne’s eyes. It matters not if warriors kill or destroy consciously, for Khorne will feel the boon of all deaths. The only transgression for followers of Khorne is to let a day go by without killing as doing so raises the ire of the blood god.
Khorne’s greatest rival amongst the other chaos gods is Slaanesh and servants of Khorne look down on Slaaneshi warriors who fight for prestige and pleasure rather than truly testing their metal against powerful foes. Khorne also disdains the devotees of Tzeentch as they appear as sorcerers who are devious and do not fight honorably at all. Khorne’s favored traitor legion is the World Eaters led by the infamous daemon prince and Primarch, Angron.
3 Slaanesh
Known also as the Lord of Excess and Dark Prince to the Imperium Of Man and ‘She Who Thirsts’ by the Aeldari or Eldar race, Slaanesh is the masculine and feminine chaos god of pleasure, hedonism, and decadence. Those who fall to Slaanesh’s corruption are consumed by pride, self-indulgence, and full-blown lust. Anyone can become a devotee of Slaanesh, those who desire and revel in material goods or take solace in carnal desires can easily fall into Slaanesh’s embrace. Those who strive for perfection are vulnerable as well, be it the obsessed painter creating artistic wonders or the warrior refining his swordsmanship, Slaanesh feeds on this temptation, promising more from the shadows.
As the youngest of the chaos gods, Slaanesh was birthed in part because of the Eldar. According to lore, the ancient Eldar race began to devote itself to decadence and hedonism. Over time, pleasure cults whose only concern was the pursuit of pleasure only increased in their depravity and extremity. Eventually, the behaviors of the combined Eldar race culminated in Slaanesh’s ‘birth-scream’, signaling the fall of the Aeldari. The destruction and carnage were so great that billions of Aeldari were killed in a single night and consumed by Slaanesh. The dimensional rift-storm, known as the ‘Eye Of Terror’ was formed, a region where many chaos space marine legions and daemons reside.
In the ensuing chaos, Slaanesh slaughtered and devoured many of the Aeldari gods except for three of them. It is here that Slaanesh came to disdain Khorne for if the blood god had not interfered with its duel with Khaine, the Aeldari god of war, Slaanesh would have consumed Khaine’s essence. Slaanesh’s favored legion is the Emperor’s Children led by Primarch Fulgrim. A devious and manipulative entity, Slaanesh will slowly bide his/her time as mortal empires slowly succumb to their pleasures.
2 Tzeentch
The Lord of Change and Architect of Fate is the chaos god of knowledge, ambition, deceit, destiny, magic, and intrigue. Tzeentch draws strength from those who wish for change or seek advancement. Tzeentch also focuses on the nature of evolution and mutation amongst mortals and supposedly directs and influences that aspect as well. Tzeentch seeks to become the ultimate victor amongst the other chaos gods by weaving a complex and gigantic web of plots and subterfuge. Each thread is connected to a servant who has entered into a pact with Tzeentch and is used to further the Lord of Change’s designs.
Tzeentch thrives on his ability to manipulate and control and is drawn to using mortals as his puppets. Those who are lured to the Architect of Fate are typically scholars seeking forbidden or arcane knowledge, leaders who desire to politically crush their opponents, and even downtrodden civilians who want to change their society for the better. All are potential pawns for Tzeentch.
Embodying the ideals of development, progress, and hope, Tzeentch’s principles naturally come into conflict with Nurgle, the lord of decay who represents stagnation, dissolution, and decay. It is also common for servants of both sides to come into conflict with one another just as they wage war on other denizens of the galaxy. Tzeentch favors the Thousand Sons traitor legion led by Magnus the Red. Ever scheming and conniving, Tzeentch’s ultimate designs and endless web of deceit will eventually strangle everything in existence.
1 Nurgle
Affectionately known as the Plaguefather, Lord of Decay, and Grandfather Nurgle, the chaos god of disease, dissolution, despair, death, and rebirth is most concerned and directly involved in the plight of mortals. Nurgle recognizes the oldest fear of mortals, that of death, pain, and suffering. As decay is but one part of the cycle of life, Nurgle also represents renewal and survival. The Plaguefather favors those who revel in spreading his ichor and disease as well as those who wish to endure an uncaring and painful existence.
Although Nurgle can be seen as a morose figure of doom and gloom, the god also has a happy and affectionate disposition. For in death, there is life. Nurgle represents the idea that during one’s bleakest moments, lies the opportunity for hope and inspiration. Thus Nurgle concocts and spreads diseases and poisons as if they are a ‘gift’. His followers rejoice when a pandemic strikes as the plagues are seen as gifts and opportunities for infected mortals to overcome and even embrace.
Amongst Nurgle’s most devoted is the Death Guard traitor legion. It is said that his domain within the warp is filled with putrid and rotted gardens and swamps, enough to make even the most stalwart sick with one whiff. It is even noted that one of the surviving Aeldari gods, Isha, is held captive there. For Nurgle tests his newest plague brews on her due to her regenerative powers to perfect his recipes.
