A daemon prince is a mortal Chaos champion elevated to daemonhood by the Chaos Gods, trading their humanity for immortality and terrifying power. They’re among the most powerful individuals in the galaxy, ruling daemon worlds or commanding legions, and most in the 41st millennium come from the Chaos Space Marines.
What a daemon prince is
Daemon princes are former mortals who’ve been raised to daemonhood by the Ruinous Powers. They’ve bartered their humanity for unearthly power, a daemonic existence in the warp, and immortality, though they don’t keep much of who they were. What usually survives is the ambition and ruthless cunning that got them there in the first place.
Most are hulking, mutated brutes covered in features like horns and wings, and their supernatural abilities often reflect whichever god they serve. In the 41st millennium, the majority come from the ranks of the Chaos Space Marines, since those warriors have both the skills and the body count to slaughter entire worlds in their patron’s name. Some are far older than that, though, dating back to the savage age long before humanity left ancient Terra.
- Former Chaos Champions elevated by the Ruinous Powers.
- Immortal, massively powerful, and usually heavily mutated.
- They keep the drive and ruthlessness that earned them their reward.
- Often command legions of daemons or rule Daemon Worlds.
How you become one
It’s not a promotion you apply for. You have to attract a god’s attention through great and terrible deeds, sacrificing enemies and allies alike, taking insane risks, and surviving things that should kill you. The path is lethal: most candidates die trying, and plenty end up as Chaos Spawn instead.
The ones who make it through are changed beyond recognition, becoming a new existence in the warp. There’s no going back, and no version of this where you stay yourself. The oldest princes ascended back when humanity was still stuck on Terra.
Status, privileges, and daemonic rank
Daemon princes rule supreme over mortal Chaos followers, and they’re usually granted reign over a Daemon World of their own. That’s the standard reward for ascension: a planet to call yours, with worshippers and warbands to command.
Not all of them stay put, though. It’s not uncommon for a daemon prince to leave the material plane entirely and join a daemonic legion, either serving as the right hand of a mighty Greater Daemon or, in some cases, commanding that daemon outright. Many also prefer to fight in the Great Game.
For all their rank and power, true daemons commonly regard daemon princes as inferior because of their human origin, though they rarely say it to their faces. That belief is rarely proven, since many princes have slain powerful daemons long before joining their immortal ranks. For raw strength, it varies; some princes are stronger than Greater Daemons and some aren’t. It’s more about the individual than the category.
Killing a daemon prince permanently is difficult. If they’re destroyed in realspace, they’re banished back to the warp and can eventually return. True death usually requires something special, like a powerful artifact or a god’s direct attention.
Wargear
Daemon princes frequently wield Hellforged Swords and Daemonic Axes in battle. These aren’t just weapons; they’re extensions of the prince’s own corrupted essence, and they hit with the weight of a being that’s already shrugged off death once.
Daemon primarchs
The daemon primarchs are a special case: the six traitor primarchs who turned against the Emperor during the Horus Heresy and later became daemon princes. Their Legions still revere and worship them, but it’s uncommon for them to personally lead from the front. Most prefer to scheme and fight within the Eye of Terror or the warp, leaving the direction of their Legions to loyal minions and Champions.
Each one is tied to a patron. Angron is a daemon prince of Khorne, Fulgrim of Slaanesh, Lorgar and Perturabo of Chaos Undivided, Mortarion of Nurgle, and Magnus the Red of Tzeentch. They’re the most famous daemon princes in the setting, and for good reason: they were already demigods before ascension.
| Daemon prince | Patron | Former Legion |
|---|---|---|
| Angron | Khorne | World Eaters |
| Fulgrim | Slaanesh | Emperor’s Children |
| Lorgar | Chaos Undivided | Word Bearers |
| Perturabo | Chaos Undivided | Iron Warriors |
| Mortarion | Nurgle | Death Guard |
| Magnus the Red | Tzeentch | Thousand Sons |
Notable daemon princes
Be’lakor is the first daemon prince, and his name carries weight even among daemons. He’s also a warning that the gods can be capricious: his story is one of pride and punishment, and he’s cursed to crown every subsequent daemon prince. Beyond him, the list gets long and varied, spanning every Ruinous Power and a few who serve Chaos Undivided.
| Name | Patron | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Be’lakor | Chaos Undivided | First daemon prince, cursed to crown others |
| Doombreed | Khorne | Ancient servant of the Blood God |
| Doomrider | Slaanesh | Daemon prince of Slaanesh |
| N’Kari | Slaanesh | Daemon prince of Slaanesh |
| Bubonicus | Nurgle | Daemon prince of Nurgle |
| The Witness | Nurgle and Khorne | Serves both patrons |
| M’Kar the Reborn | Chaos Undivided | Word Bearers champion who repeatedly returns |
| Tallomin | Khorne | Daemon prince of Khorne |
| Dhar’leth | Black Legion | Daemon prince of the Black Legion |
| Kit-itz | Unknown | Appears in miniature form |
Miniatures and hobby history
Daemon princes have been a staple of the Chaos range since the early days. The first metal versions appeared in 2nd edition, followed by a 3rd edition sculpt by Juan Diaz, a Nurgle-themed 4th edition model by Seb Perbet, and a 5th edition version by Mark Harrison. The 9th edition brought a new plastic kit with plenty of options.
The lore draws on a long list of sources, including the Chaos Space Marines Collector’s Guide, White Dwarf 274 with its Index Malleus article on daemons of the warp, Codex: Eye of Terror, and the classic Realms of Chaos books. These are the texts that built the daemon prince concept over decades.
Key facts
- Daemon princes are former mortal Champions of Chaos elevated to daemonhood by the Chaos Gods.
- They trade their humanity for immortality and supernatural power, keeping only their ambition and cunning.
- Most daemon princes in the 41st millennium are former Chaos Space Marines.
- They’re usually granted a Daemon World to rule, but some join daemonic legions instead.
- The six daemon primarchs are Angron, Fulgrim, Lorgar, Perturabo, Mortarion, and Magnus the Red.
- Be’lakor is the first daemon prince and is cursed to crown others.
FAQ
What is a daemon prince in Warhammer 40k?
It’s a mortal champion of Chaos who’s been elevated to daemonhood by the Chaos Gods. They gain immortality and immense power, but they lose most of their original identity in the process.
How does a mortal become a daemon prince?
By performing great and terrible deeds that catch a god’s attention, usually involving mass slaughter and sacrifice. Most candidates die or become Chaos Spawn before reaching daemonhood.
Who was the first daemon prince?
Be’lakor is named as the first daemon prince in the lore. He was elevated by the Chaos Gods but then punished, and now he’s forced to crown every subsequent daemon prince.
Do daemon princes rule their own worlds?
Usually, yes. They’re typically granted reign over a Daemon World of their own and rule supreme over mortal Chaos followers, though some leave the material plane to serve in a daemonic legion.
How do real daemons view daemon princes?
Many regard them as inferior because of their human origin, though they rarely say it to their faces. That opinion is rarely put to the test, since plenty of daemon princes have slain powerful daemons.
Are daemon princes stronger than Greater Daemons?
It varies. Some are, some aren’t. True daemons consider them inferior because of their mortal origins, but plenty of princes have killed powerful daemons. It’s more about the individual than the category.
Can a daemon prince be killed permanently?
In the warp, no. If they’re destroyed in realspace, they’re banished back to the warp and can eventually return. True death usually requires something special, like a powerful artifact or a god’s direct attention.