Necron Dynasties

Necron Dynasties are the royal houses that rule the Necron race in Warhammer 40,000. Once family lines of the mortal Necrontyr, they’re now independent factions, each with its own Overlord, territory, and agenda.

What is a Necron Dynasty?

A dynasty is the basic political unit of the Necrons. In the distant past, these were the great houses of the Necrontyr, bound by blood and tradition. After the biotransference and the rebellion against the C’tan, those ties were reforged through conquest and programmed loyalty.

Today, each dynasty acts on its own. The Silent King shattered the protocols that once controlled the entire race, so dynasties now pursue their own goals, whether that’s reconquest, extermination, or simply survival.

At least some dynasties take their name from their original Necrontyr founder, though records are fragmentary.

How a dynasty is organised

A typical dynasty controls multiple Tomb Worlds. One crownworld serves as the seat of the Phaeron, the supreme ruler. Coreworlds surround it, and fringeworlds mark the outer edges of the territory.

Each Tomb World is governed by a Regent, a high-ranking Overlord who commands several tessarions. These break down into decurions, legions, cohorts, and phalanxes, with Necron Warriors forming the smallest unit.

Aircraft follow a similar structure but are grouped into flights instead of phalanxes, and the intermediate ranks between dynasty and cohort level differ. Some chosen aces, like the Sautekh’s Lordsblades, bear special heraldry.

Notable Necron Dynasties

The Sautekh Dynasty is the largest and most aggressive, led by Imotekh the Stormlord. It’s long been considered the greatest dynasty, though the Szarekhan have risen fast since the Silent King’s return.

The Szarekhan are the Silent King’s own dynasty. They wield ancient artefacts and are especially resistant to mortal wounds, making them a nightmare for psyker-heavy armies.

The Mephrit were once the executioners of worlds, specialising in close-ranged firepower. The Novokh excel in bloody melee, carving through enemy lines with industrial efficiency.

The Nephrekh bask in the light of their crownworld’s trinary stars, their warriors marching in gilded bodies of living metagold. They’re notoriously tough, with a 6+ invulnerable save.

• Sautekh: expansionist, led by Imotekh the Stormlord.
• Szarekhan: Silent King’s dynasty, resistant to mortal wounds.
• Mephrit: executioners, close-range firepower.
• Novokh: melee butchers, industrial slaughter.
• Nephrekh: gilded warriors, extra invulnerable save.

Why the dynasties matter

Without a central ruler, the Necrons are a patchwork of rival powers. Some dynasties might ally against a common foe, but just as often they’ll ignore or even attack each other.

This fragmentation makes them unpredictable. A Tomb World might awaken to reclaim its old territory, while a neighbouring dynasty has completely different plans. For the Imperium and other races, that’s both a threat and an opportunity.

In game terms, dynasties give your army its identity. Each has its own Dynastic Code, a set of rules that shapes how you play, from the Szarekhan’s durability to the Novokh’s melee focus.

Key facts

• Necron Dynasties are the royal houses of the Necron race, once Necrontyr families.
• Each dynasty is led by an Overlord or Phaeron and controls multiple Tomb Worlds.
• The Silent King’s destruction of the control protocols made dynasties independent.
• Hundreds of dynasties likely survive, with Sautekh and Szarekhan among the most powerful.
• Dynastic Codes give each dynasty unique tabletop rules.

FAQ

Related reading

• Necrontyr
• Overlord
• The Necron Warriors
• The Silent King
• The Stormlord
• Imotekh the Stormlord