Bloodletters are the lesser daemons of Khorne, the Blood God. They’re his foot soldiers, and they exist to do one thing well: charge into melee and take skulls for their master.
What bloodletters are
Bloodletters are Khorne’s rank-and-file daemons, the core of his vast legions. They’re wiry and hunched, with bestial snarling faces and skin the colour of blood, and they carry a reek of gore with them wherever they manifest.
They’re daemons, so their strength doesn’t match their size. Pound for pound they hit far harder than a mortal soldier, and each one is a natural fighter, having spent its existence in the warp brawling with its own kind when there’s no battlefield to fight on.
Discipline, then frenzy
What separates bloodletters from most other daemons is how they fight as a unit. Led by veteran champions called Heralds of Khorne, they march in ordered ranks to the sound of horns and drums, manoeuvring with eerie precision. It’s a very Khornate kind of militarism, and it looks nothing like the chaotic swarms of the other Ruinous Powers.
That discipline doesn’t survive first contact. Once they charge, the competition for skulls and personal glory takes over, and the formation dissolves into a frenzy. They’re famous for brutal charges, but they’re just as happy to use dirty, low tactics when it gets them the kill.
Weapons and champions
The signature bloodletter weapon is the Hellblade. Some carry instruments of Chaos, banners of blood, or plain swords, axes, and spears. In the lore these blades can also strike at range, acting as a conduit for Chaos that warps and destroys the target’s flesh.
Bloodletter champions are called Bloodhunters. The strongest of them can claim a Juggernaut of Khorne as a mount, becoming Bloodcrushers, daemonic knights whose charges are close to unstoppable.
- Hellblade: the standard bloodletter weapon
- Bloodhunter: a bloodletter champion
- Bloodcrusher: a bloodletter mounted on a Juggernaut of Khorne
Where you’ll see them
Bloodletters turn up anywhere Khorne’s influence bleeds into realspace, from full daemonic incursions to smaller summonings by cultists and sorcerers. Named bloodletters like Borgh’a’teth and Kinslayer show up in the fiction, though most are nameless and interchangeable by design.
They’re a staple of Chaos Daemons armies on the tabletop and have appeared in video games such as Space Marine, usually as fast, aggressive melee threats you don’t want to let close the distance.
Key facts
- Bloodletters are the lesser daemons of Khorne, forming the core of his legions.
- They have blood-coloured skin, bestial faces, and strength far beyond their body mass.
- They march in disciplined formations before descending into a frenzy once they charge.
- Their standard weapon is the Hellblade, though they also use banners, instruments, and mundane melee weapons.
- Champions are called Bloodhunters; those who claim a Juggernaut become Bloodcrushers.
- Heralds of Khorne lead them into battle.
FAQ
What are bloodletters in Warhammer 40k?
They’re the lesser daemons of Khorne, the Blood God. They serve as his foot soldiers and are built for aggressive melee combat, charging in disciplined ranks before breaking into a frenzy.
What weapon do bloodletters use?
Most carry a Hellblade, though some wield instruments of Chaos, banners of blood, or ordinary swords, axes, and spears. In the lore these weapons can also strike at range by channelling Chaos energy.
What’s the difference between a bloodletter and a Bloodcrusher?
A Bloodcrusher is a bloodletter strong enough to claim a Juggernaut of Khorne as a mount. They function as daemonic cavalry, feared for their devastating charges.
Who leads bloodletters?
Heralds of Khorne lead them into battle, and individual champions are called Bloodhunters.