The Nachmund Rift War is a sprawling M42 conflict in which Chaos forces, led by Haarken Worldclaimer, tried to seize the Nachmund Gauntlet and cut the Imperium Nihilus off from Terra. It’s the direct follow-on to the fighting on Vigilus, and it’s still grinding on.
Why the Nachmund Gauntlet matters
The Nachmund Gauntlet is the only stable passage through the Great Rift into Imperium Nihilus. If Chaos controls it, the half of the galaxy cut off from the Emperor’s light loses its last reliable lifeline.
Abaddon the Despoiler didn’t want to get bogged down in person after Vigilus, so he handed the job to Haarken Worldclaimer. Worldclaimer’s orders were simple: take the Gauntlet, strangle the Indomitus Crusade’s supply lines, and isolate Vigilus for good.
Part one: the conquest of the rift
The first phase centred on Dharrovar, a Chaos Knight world that Guilliman wanted retaken. The Wardens of the Gauntlet led the assault, backed by Battle Sisters, Imperial Guard, Knights, and Navy warships.
Dharrovar was a nightmare to besiege. Wild Warp surges made surrounding it almost impossible, and a debris field of wrecked ships and House Mandrakor vessels packed with renegades, xenos, and cultists choked its orbits. Chapter Master Ba’stien Grix of the Castellans of the Rift drove the main attack through the one viable route, using his heaviest ships as a spearhead while a cordon held off anything spilling from the debris.
- Dharrovar: Chaos Knight world, key Imperial target.
- Defenders: Wardens of the Gauntlet, Battle Sisters, Imperial Guard, Knights, Navy.
- Obstacles: Warp surges, orbital debris, Dark Mechanicus Forge Moon Omega-Threx.
Part two: the Sangua Terran war
The war escalated when Worldclaimer’s forces pushed into the Sangua Terra system. The Imperium threw together a Sangua-Terran War Council to coordinate defence, but the invasion still landed hard.
Planetfall brought brutal cityfighting and a campaign the sources call the War of Angels, with Saint Celestine among the Imperial defenders. Despite that, Chaos gained control of much of the Nachmund Gauntlet, and most of Sangua Terra fell. The Imperium’s losses were extremely heavy.
| Faction | Key figures | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Imperium | Saint Celestine, Chapter Master Ba’stien Grix, Canoness Superior Junith Eruita | Extremely heavy losses; most of Sangua Terra lost |
| Chaos | Haarken Worldclaimer, High King Kaligius, Fabricator-General Astamorkhus Grine-Theta | Gained control of much of the Gauntlet |
| Drukhari | Urien Rakarth | Raided both sides for their own ends |
The war isn’t over
The Nachmund Rift War is still ongoing. Vigilus itself remains largely in Imperial hands, but the wider Gauntlet is besieged, and the Imperium is stretched thin trying to hold the line.
The conflict ties directly into the War of Beasts and War of Nightmares on Vigilus. It’s also the narrative backdrop for the War Zone Nachmund: Rift War supplement, released in 2022.
Key facts
- The Nachmund Rift War is an ongoing M42 conflict in the Nachmund Gauntlet.
- Abaddon sent Haarken Worldclaimer to seize the Gauntlet after the fighting on Vigilus.
- The war’s first phase focused on the Chaos Knight world of Dharrovar.
- Saint Celestine fought in the Sangua Terran campaign, known as the War of Angels.
- Chaos gained control of much of the Gauntlet, and most of Sangua Terra fell.
- The War Zone Nachmund: Rift War supplement covered the conflict in 2022.
FAQ
Who is fighting in the Nachmund Rift War?
The Imperium faces off against Chaos, with Haarken Worldclaimer leading the assault. Drukhari raiders and other xenos opportunists attack both sides.
What is the Nachmund Gauntlet?
It’s the only stable corridor through the Great Rift into Imperium Nihilus. Losing it would sever the Imperium’s connection to half the galaxy.
Is the Nachmund Rift War still going on?
Yes. The Imperium still holds Vigilus, but Chaos has taken much of the wider Gauntlet and most of Sangua Terra.