The Chaos Gods are nothing if not competitive. The so-called Great Game isn’t just fought in the Warp or across shattered battlefields — it’s fought through one-upmanship, excess, brutality, cunning, and rot. With the reveal of four new Chaos Battleforce boxes for Warhammer 40,000, it’s clear that every Dark God demanded their own entry… and none of them were willing to be left behind.
Set to emerge from the warp in early 2026, these battleforces are not subtle starter kits. Each box leans hard into its god’s identity, offering focused, thematic armies built to hit the table running. Let’s break down what was revealed — and what it means for Chaos players.
Lords of Excess Battleforce – Emperor’s Children
The Emperor’s Children waste no time announcing their return to prominence. The Lords of Excess Battleforce is fast, aggressive, and unapologetically lethal — exactly what you’d expect from Fulgrim’s favored sons.
This force is built around overwhelming ranged pressure followed by a decisive melee collapse. Two units of six Noise Marines form the sonic backbone, saturating the battlefield with punishing firepower while 10 Tormentors add reliable bolter support. Once the enemy line buckles, a Daemon Prince and 10 Infractors surge forward to finish the job in close combat.
This box showcases a true combined-arms philosophy: soften the target with excess, then carve it apart in style. It’s an excellent signal that Emperor’s Children aren’t just about flair — they’re about control, tempo, and brutality executed with precision.
Sekhmet Coven Battleforce – Thousand Sons
The Sekhmet Coven Battleforce may be the most surprising reveal of the lot. Known for layered psychic play and methodical positioning, the Thousand Sons instead arrive with a brutal, elite-heavy hammer.
Gone are the familiar Rubric Marine blocks. In their place stands a devastating core: an Infernal Master, three Exalted Sorcerers, 10 Scarab Occult Terminators, and the towering Mutalith Vortex Beast. This is a list built to break enemy lines, not dance around them.
It’s a bold pivot that emphasizes resilience and raw power, while still retaining the sorcerous dominance that defines the legion. The Sekhmet Coven feels like a statement piece — proof that the Thousand Sons can win the Great Game through sheer force when required.
Vile Vectorium Battleforce – Death Guard
Nurgle may prefer patience, but competition demands urgency. The Vile Vectorium Battleforce reflects that reality, assembling a compact but horrifyingly durable strike force.
At its center is Lord Felthius, accompanied by his Tainted Cohort and a trio of Deathshroud Terminators — a brutal anvil that refuses to die. Supporting them are three Foetid Bloat-drones, adding mobility and relentless pressure, while 20 Poxwalkers provide board control and expendable screening.
This box is all about attrition dominance. It doesn’t overwhelm through speed or numbers, but through inevitability. Enemies are trapped, bogged down, and dismantled piece by piece — exactly as Grandfather Nurgle intends.
Khorne Daemonkin Battleforce – Blood for the Blood God
If subtlety exists in the Khorne lexicon, it certainly isn’t present here. The Khorne Daemonkin Battleforce is a pure expression of forward momentum and close-quarters annihilation.
Led by a Lord on Juggernaut, this force wastes no time crossing the table. Six Bloodcrushers thunder ahead, backed by 10 Khorne Berzerkers who exist solely to turn enemies into red mist. To ensure the skull tally never runs dry, 20 Bloodletters flood the battlefield, overwhelming objectives and reinforcing the assault.
This box is explicitly designed to synergize with the Khorne Daemonkin Detachment, and it shows. There’s no shooting safety net, no fallback plan — just relentless pressure and violent inevitability. If you want every turn to feel like a charge phase, this battleforce delivers.
