The Cleaved are a warband of Chaos Space Marines devoted to Nurgle, feared for their unnatural endurance and the oil-like blood that oozes from their armour. They’ve turned up at some of the Imperium’s worst moments, from a planetary insurrection to a raid on Medusa itself.
What the Cleaved are
They’re a Chaos Space Marine warband with a pale, flesh-toned colour scheme and a reputation for shrugging off wounds that would drop anyone else. Their armour leaks a strange, oil-like blood from every joint, and reports suggest they can keep fighting through injuries that should be fatal.
What’s actually left inside that sealed armour is a mystery. Nobody’s cracked one open and written it down, which fits the warband’s whole unnerving vibe.
- Dedication: Nurgle
- Specialty: endurance
- Colours: pale flesh
- Battle cry: ‘Call with all your soul, little one. Call and we shall answer.’
Origins on Magma Cordelian
The Cleaved first showed up during the insurrection on Magma Cordelian. The loyalist Iridian 334th Regiment had fought its way into the rebellious Planetary Governor’s palace after a heavy artillery bombardment, only for the regiment’s Primaris Psykers to realise too late that the palace itself was a giant summoning circle.
The rebels called for reinforcements, and what answered wasn’t daemons. It was Chaos Space Marines with oil-like blood seeping from their armour. Massively outnumbered, they still ground the Iridian attack down and secured the planet for the traitors.
Known battles
The Cleaved have a handful of documented engagements across the timeline, mostly involving them appearing where the Imperium least wants them.
| When | Where | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Magma Cordelian | Summoned through a palace-sized circle; helped crush the Iridian 334th |
| 891.M39 | Space hulk ‘Lost Hope of Perdition’ | Dark Angels boarded and destroyed the hulk with cyclonic charges after Assault Squads got close behind three Dreadnoughts |
| ???.M41 | Cholercaust | The Cleaved took part |
| Early M42 | Medusa raid | Raided the Iron Hands’ homeworld alongside the Death Guard and the Purge |
| Early M42 | Charadon Campaign | Part of the wider war zone |
Notable members and assets
The Grave Harbinger is the warband’s most famous figure, described as the first apparition out of the Cordelian Shimmerportal. They also field at least one named Heldrake, the Oilheart.
If you’re tracking the warband through the lore, those two names are the ones that actually come up.
- The Grave Harbinger, first out of the Cordelian Shimmerportal
- Oilheart, a Heldrake
How they connect to wider Chaos lore
The Cleaved sit firmly in Nurgle’s corner, and their endurance gimmick lines up with that. But they’re more than another plague warband: they’re a mystery wrapped in sealed armour, which is part of why they keep getting referenced in codexes.
Their Medusa raid ties them to both the Death Guard and the Purge, so if you’re building a Nurgle-flavoured narrative, they slot in easily as a lesser-known ally or rival.
Key facts
- The Cleaved are a Chaos Space Marine warband dedicated to Nurgle.
- They specialise in endurance and can fight on through seemingly mortal wounds.
- Oil-like blood constantly oozes from the joints of their power armour.
- They first appeared during the insurrection on Magma Cordelian.
- Notable members include the Grave Harbinger, and they field a Heldrake named Oilheart.
- They fought in the Medusa raid alongside the Death Guard and the Purge, and took part in the Charadon Campaign.
FAQ
Which Chaos god do the Cleaved follow?
They’re dedicated to Nurgle. Their extreme endurance and the oil-like blood oozing from their armour both point that way, and the sources list Nurgle as their patron.
When did the Cleaved first appear?
During the insurrection on Magma Cordelian, when rebel forces summoned them through a palace-sized summoning circle to repel the loyalist Iridian 334th Regiment.
Who is the Grave Harbinger?
The Grave Harbinger is a notable member of the Cleaved, described as the first apparition to emerge from the Cordelian Shimmerportal.