The Nighthaunt are a ghostly faction in Warhammer Age of Sigmar, embodying the souls of the damned and restless dead. They are the spectral legions of Nagash, the Great Necromancer and god of death, who uses these tortured spirits to enforce his will across the Mortal Realms. The Nighthaunt are not only a terrifying, ethereal force, but they also represent the fear and inevitability of death, haunting the living with their spectral presence. As an army, they are defined by their incorporeal forms, unrelenting assault, and their chilling ability to cause terror and despair.
Origins and Lore
The Nighthaunt are the product of Nagash’s immense power over death, created from the souls of mortals who, in life, either defied him or failed to adhere to their proper place in the cycle of death. These spirits are cursed, doomed to suffer an eternity of torment in service to the Great Necromancer. Their afterlife is one of unrelenting agony, and their existence serves as a warning to all those who seek to cheat death or oppose Nagash’s dominion.
Nagash is the supreme master of the Nighthaunt, a god of death who sees all souls as his rightful property. In the Age of Sigmar setting, Nagash’s ultimate goal is to enforce the Necroquake, a cataclysmic event that has unleashed waves of undead across the realms. He seeks to dominate the Mortal Realms, absorbing all life into the realm of Shyish (the Realm of Death) and ensuring that no soul escapes his grasp.
The Nighthaunt are a direct extension of Nagash’s will. They are sent to hunt down those who would escape death or who oppose his rule. As spectral manifestations of death itself, they embody his relentless pursuit of total control over all mortal souls.
The creation of the Nighthaunt began with Nagash’s experiments in raising spirits and bending souls to his will. The souls that become Nighthaunt are often those who, in life, were guilty of acts of treachery, cowardice, or betrayal—people who failed to fulfil their mortal duties or wronged others in grievous ways. Upon their death, rather than passing peacefully into the afterlife, these souls are twisted into horrific, ghostly forms that reflect their sins.
Each Nighthaunt spirit suffers a curse that corresponds to their actions in life, and these curses are part of what makes them such a terrifying force on the battlefield. For instance, a cowardly soldier who fled battle may become a Chainrasp, forever bound in spectral chains and forced to fight without escape. A cruel executioner might return as a Lord Executioner, wielding an ethereal axe and forever carrying out Nagash’s grim justice.
The Ethereal Nature of the Nighthaunt
One of the defining traits of the Nighthaunt is their ethereal nature. As spirits, they are able to phase through physical objects, making them immune to many of the usual tactics employed in battle. They are not hindered by armour or terrain, allowing them to move freely across the battlefield, passing through walls, obstacles, and even enemy soldiers with ease. This ethereal nature makes them difficult to kill, as only the most powerful weapons and magic can harm them.
However, the Nighthaunt are not invincible. While they are immune to the physical limitations of mortal warriors, they are still bound by the will of Nagash and can be banished or destroyed by powerful enough enemies. Additionally, despite their ghostly forms, the Nighthaunt experience their own form of torment, suffering from the pain of their eternal existence as Nagash’s unwilling servants.
Key Characters of the Nighthaunt
The Nighthaunt are led by a series of powerful characters, each representing a different aspect of death and punishment. These spectral leaders guide their legions in battle and enforce the will of Nagash across the Mortal Realms.
Lady Olynder, Mortarch of Grief: Lady Olynder is one of the most important figures within the Nighthaunt and serves as Nagash’s Mortarch of Grief. Once a noblewoman who betrayed those closest to her, Lady Olynder was cursed by Nagash to forever embody sorrow and despair. She wields immense magical power, and her presence on the battlefield spreads a palpable aura of grief, causing despair and hopelessness in those who face her.
Lady Olynder’s grief is so overwhelming that it can crush the will of even the strongest warriors, making them fall to their knees in sorrow before being struck down by her spectral attendants. She is accompanied by the ghostly spirits of those she betrayed in life, who now serve her in death.
Kurdoss Valentian, the Craven King: Kurdoss Valentian is known as the Craven King, a ruler who, in life, sought power through deceit and betrayal. His ambitions led to his downfall, and as punishment, Nagash condemned him to serve as a spectral king, forever denied the throne he so desperately craved. Kurdoss is now a bitter and resentful figure, lashing out in battle with his spectral mace, seeking to take from others the power he was denied.
Kurdoss is often seen as a lieutenant to Lady Olynder, but his ambitions remain unchecked even in death. He constantly plots to usurp those above him, though his schemes are futile against the will of Nagash.
Reikenor the Grimhailer: Reikenor is a powerful Nighthaunt sorcerer, known as the Grimhailer, who serves as Nagash’s executioner. In life, he was a necromancer who defied Nagash, and his punishment was eternal servitude. Reikenor rides into battle on his winged steed, the Nightmare Kyallaron, spreading death and destruction with his powerful magic. His primary task is to hunt down those who have defied death or cheated Nagash of his rightful souls.
Reikenor is a figure of fear on the battlefield, casting deadly spells that can drain the life from his enemies and raise the dead to fight again in Nagash’s name.
Nighthaunt Units and Warfare
The Nighthaunt army is characterised by its spectral, ethereal warriors, who phase through terrain and armour to strike fear into the hearts of their enemies. They specialise in overwhelming foes with sudden charges, exploiting their incorporeal forms to bypass defences and spread terror. Nighthaunt armies are typically fast-moving, able to outmanoeuvre slower, more heavily armoured foes. Their ability to cause fear and despair in the living makes them particularly devastating against morale-based armies.
Chainrasps: The Chainrasps form the core of most Nighthaunt armies. These lowly spirits are the souls of cowards, traitors, and criminals, bound in spectral chains for their sins in life. Despite their lowly status, Chainrasps are relentless attackers, driven by their cursed existence to strike out against the living.
On the battlefield, Chainrasps fight in large numbers, overwhelming their enemies with sheer weight of numbers. Their incorporeal nature makes them difficult to kill, and they are often supported by more powerful Nighthaunt entities.
Grimghast Reapers: The Grimghast Reapers are fearsome spectral warriors wielding massive scythes. They are the spirits of executioners and killers, cursed to forever swing their blades in the service of Nagash. Grimghast Reapers are among the most terrifying units in the Nighthaunt army, as they glide across the battlefield with deadly precision, cutting down enemies with their sweeping strikes.
Spirit Hosts: The Spirit Hosts are swirling masses of vengeful souls, bound together by dark magic. These spectral entities move as a single unit, drifting through the battlefield like a storm of angry spirits. Spirit Hosts are nearly impossible to stop, as their ethereal forms allow them to pass through armour and physical defences, tearing at the life force of their enemies.
Hexwraiths: The Hexwraiths are the cavalry of the Nighthaunt, spectral knights riding ghostly steeds. They were once mortal knights who betrayed their oaths, and as punishment, they now ride eternally, hunting down the living in service to Nagash. Hexwraiths are fast and deadly, able to move through terrain with ease and strike fear into the hearts of their enemies with their ethereal scythes.
Black Coach: The Black Coach is a spectral carriage, drawn by ghostly steeds and powered by the souls of the dead. This terrifying war machine serves as both a transport for Nighthaunt leaders and a deadly weapon on the battlefield. The Black Coach absorbs the souls of the slain, growing more powerful as the battle progresses. It can unleash devastating magical attacks and tear through enemy lines with its spectral wheels.
Nighthaunt Aesthetics and Miniatures
The Nighthaunt models are some of the most visually striking in the Age of Sigmar range, emphasizing their ethereal and spectral nature. Their miniatures feature flowing, ghostly forms with wisps of ectoplasm and spectral chains. The overall aesthetic is one of otherworldly terror, with an emphasis on dark, mournful tones like pale greens, blacks, and ghostly blues.
Chainrasps appear as wretched souls in ragged robes, bound by chains and shackles that symbolise their cursed existence.
Grimghast Reapers wield massive scythes, their bodies little more than skeletal figures wrapped in flowing shrouds.
Spirit Hosts and Hexwraiths feature ghostly forms that seem to emerge from the mists, emphasising their incorporeal, haunting nature.
Lady Olynder’s model is a dramatic centrepiece, depicting her as a regal figure of death, adorned in veils and attended by ghostly bridesmaids.
Conclusion
The Nighthaunt are the embodiment of death’s inevitability, haunting the Mortal Realms as Nagash’s relentless enforcers. Their spectral forms, terrifying abilities, and fast, mobile playstyle make them a unique and powerful force in Warhammer Age of Sigmar. As the damned souls of those who wronged the Great Necromancer in life, the Nighthaunt serve as a grim reminder of the fate that awaits those who defy the will of death. Whether commanding a horde of Chainrasps or the powerful Lady Olynder herself, Nighthaunt players can enjoy a spectral army that emphasises fear, mobility, and the unrelenting grasp of the afterlife.
