Jun 3, 20233 min read

Grab your ticket on the Pain Train…

The Drukhari are a sadistic and hedonistic faction born from the debauched excesses of Aeldari society.

Unlike their fellow survivors, the Drukhari chose to embrace their dark desires and feed on pain and suffering to sustain themselves, evading the clutches of Slaanesh, the Chaos God of excess.

These heartless reavers now traverse the galaxy, driven by their insatiable appetite for violence and spectacle.

Led by merciless Archons, thsse Drukari leaders command legions of Kabalite Warriors and are accompanied by Succubi and their Wych mobs. The twisted Haemonculi unleash their macabre experiments upon their hapless foes.

United by their goal to inflict maximum pain for maximum profit, the Drukhari operate through warring cults, kabals, and covens, each vying for dominance through schemes, displays of wealth, and outright violence.

The Drukhari excel at lightning-fast realspace raids, preying on mortals whom they regard as mere cattle or playthings. They earn Pain tokens by slaughtering their enemies, gaining Power From Pain and reaching new heights of ecstatic violence.

These tokens can be spent at the start of relevant phases to empower Drukhari units. Empowered Through Pain allows units to re-roll Advance or Charge rolls in the Movement or Charge phase, while in the Shooting or Fight phase, they can re-roll Hit rolls, ensuring maximum agony for their victims.

Within the inscrutable Drukhari society, internecine competition is the norm, but Realspace Raiders Detachments thrive on this rivalry, goading each other to new levels of sadism. The Venom, a swift transport craft, plays a vital role in their realspace raids. With the Stealth ability, it subtracts 1 from shooting Hit rolls targeted at it. Additionally, Kabalite Warriors and Wyches can now be split into two units, with one boarding the Venom while the other makes its own way.

The Athletic Aerialists rule allows the Venom to perform daring aerobatic maneuvers, transporting units from one combat to another.

INFANTRY units benefit from the Drukhari's sadism-fueled taxi service, with Kabalite Warriors being particularly attractive. These Sadistic Raiders can secure objectives and utilize the Firing Deck rule found on Drukhari transports to unleash their deadly splinter weapons, designed to inflict maximum agony with their Anti-Infantry 3+ ability.

Haemonculi, skilled torturers, bring a variety of tools to inflict pain upon their subjects. The Talos, versatile pain engines, possess inhuman resilience and advanced weapons such as Drukhari haywire blasters, which bypass armor plating to disable tanks and terrify their occupants.

The Wych Cults, masters of arena combat, make a spectacle of up-close and personal slaughter. Lelith Hesperax, an exemplar of murder, wields humble knives with deadly skill, tearing apart entire squads of INFANTRY. Once per battle, Lelith can unleash her Thrilling Spectacle, increasing her attacks and invulnerable save, turning her into an untouchable blender of blades.

While the Drukhari fiercely compete among themselves, the Realspace Raiders Detachment provides tools for those who set aside their antagonism for enlightened self-interest. The Alliance of Agony Stratagem allows an Archon, a Succubus, and a Haemonculus to benefit from the same Pain token, facilitating cooperation and maximizing their sadistic potential.

The Drukhari embody a sophisticated and intelligent form of warfare, utilizing Pain tokens

Their unique Power From Pain mechanic allows them to accumulate Pain tokens, which fuel their abilities and grant them advantages on the battlefield. Units can be empowered to excel in movement, charging, shooting, and close combat, ensuring that maximum pain is inflicted upon their enemies.

While the Drukhari may compete among themselves, the Alliance of Agony Stratagem allows key leaders, such as an Archon, a Succubus, and a Haemonculus, to unite and benefit from the same Pain token, forging temporary alliances out of enlightened self-interest.

The Drukhari faction offers players a unique and sophisticated playstyle, focusing on inflicting pain, maximizing sadistic potential, and reaping the rewards of their twisted desires. With their lightning-fast raids, versatile units, and intricate society, the Drukhari are a force to be reckoned with in the grim darkness of the 41st millennium.