The Tallymen are the spiritual leaders of the Death Guard, the Traitor Legion devoted to Nurgle. They’re part priests, part demagogues, and part quartermasters, and they march to war counting everything they can to invoke their plague god’s favour.
What a Tallyman actually is
A Tallyman is a Death Guard warrior who leads the Legion’s worship of Nurgle. They’re preachers of the Sevenfold Path, which fixates on the number seven in all its forms. Their incantations are a constant drone of counting, boomed out through huge vox speakers mounted on their shoulders.
They’re also quartermasters of a sort. Their tomes record enemy woes, spent shells, wounds, screams, flies, and the slain, all tallied in sevens. Nurgle’s faithful are said to be empowered and inspired by the count itself.
On the battlefield they’re terrifying. Off it, their order is isolated and secretive.
The vaults of the Plague Planet
Mortarion himself entrusted the Tallymen with the numerological codes that unlock hidden vaults on the Plague Planet. Inside are the Death Guard’s most appalling viral weapons, strains that are precious and irreplaceable.
A Death Guard Lord who wants access to those weapons had better be ready to pay a Tallyman’s price. The Tallymen don’t part with such things lightly.
Known Tallymen
Two named Tallymen show up in the lore so far. Philemon appears in the novel The Lords of Silence, and Scribbus Wretch is a miniature released by Games Workshop.
Don’t confuse them with Epidemius, a Daemon known as the Tallyman of Nurgle. He’s a separate entity entirely.
- Philemon: featured in The Lords of Silence
- Scribbus Wretch: a Tallyman miniature from Games Workshop
- Epidemius: a Daemon called the Tallyman of Nurgle, not a Death Guard Tallyman
On the tabletop
In 10th edition, the Tallyman is a Death Guard character on a 40mm base. He moves 5″, has Toughness 6, a 3+ save, 4 wounds, Leadership 6+, and Objective Control 1.
He carries a plasma pistol, which can be fired standard or supercharged (the supercharge is hazardous), and a melee weapon. He’s a support piece, not a frontline beatstick.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Move | 5″ |
| Toughness | 6 |
| Save | 3+ |
| Wounds | 4 |
| Leadership | 6+ |
| Objective Control | 1 |
Key facts
- The Tallymen are the spiritual leaders of the Death Guard, the Traitor Legion sworn to Nurgle.
- They’re part priests, part demagogues, part metaphysical scribes and quartermasters.
- They preach the Sevenfold Path, fixating on the number seven in all its forms.
- Their tomes record enemy woes, spent shells, wounds, screams, flies, and the slain.
- Mortarion gave them the numerological codes to unlock the Plague Planet’s hidden viral weapon vaults.
- Named Tallymen include Philemon (from The Lords of Silence) and Scribbus Wretch (a miniature).
FAQ
What is a Tallyman in Warhammer 40k?
A Tallyman is a spiritual leader of the Death Guard, the Chaos Space Marine legion devoted to Nurgle. They count everything in sevens to invoke their god’s favour and guard the codes to Mortarion’s viral weapon vaults.
Are Tallymen the same as Epidemius?
No. Epidemius is a Daemon of Nurgle sometimes called the Tallyman of Nurgle, but he’s a separate being from the Death Guard’s Tallymen.
Do Tallymen fight on the battlefield?
Yes, they march to war with their tomes and vox speakers, counting kills and screams. They’re feared in combat, though their main role is spiritual and logistical.