The Hedonites of Slaanesh are a faction in the Warhammer: Age of Sigmar tabletop miniatures game, representing one of the many forces within the Mortal Realms. They are devoted followers of the Chaos God Slaanesh, the Dark Prince of Pleasure, Excess, and Indulgence. The Hedonites embody Slaanesh’s ideals of beauty, sensation, and self-indulgence, manifesting as a force that seeks to indulge in the most extreme experiences, whether they be pleasurable or painful. Below is a detailed exploration of the Hedonites of Slaanesh, their lore, gameplay, and aesthetics.
Origins and Lore
Slaanesh is the youngest of the Chaos Gods, created from the excesses of sentient beings’ desires for luxury, pleasure, and indulgence. While Khorne thrives on bloodshed, Tzeentch on change and manipulation, and Nurgle on decay, Slaanesh is the embodiment of excess—whether it be through indulgence in pleasures of the flesh, the pursuit of perfection in art or warfare, or the thrill of sensation.
In the Age of Sigmar narrative, Slaanesh was mysteriously imprisoned by the Aelves after the End Times, a monumental event known as the Aelven Pantheon’s Betrayal. This left his followers without their god’s direct influence. However, they believe Slaanesh’s return is inevitable, and they continue their orgies of excess in anticipation of their master’s freedom.
The Hedonites in the Mortal Realms
The Hedonites of Slaanesh roam the Mortal Realms, seeking out experiences and sensations that will bring them closer to their god. Their realms are grand palaces of excess, filled with extravagant feasts, orgies of violence, and lavish displays of hedonistic indulgence. The Hedonites are not simple brutes; they embody the pursuit of perfection, whether it be through combat prowess, artistry, or the fine-tuning of sensation. However, in their pursuit of pleasure, they care little for the lives or suffering of others.
While Slaanesh is imprisoned, the Hedonites find themselves in a state of fervent belief. They believe their excesses will resonate with Slaanesh, helping him break free. This faith drives them to ever greater acts of cruelty and excess.
Factions of the Hedonites
The Hedonites are divided into various sub-factions, each reflecting different aspects of Slaanesh’s domain. The two major archetypes are:
The Seekers of Excess – Those who are obsessed with chasing new sensations and experiences. They ride into battle on fast-moving steeds, seeking to overwhelm their enemies with speed and precision.
The Invaders – Brutal warbands that revel in spreading Slaanesh’s influence through violence and cruelty. They are not just conquerors; they see every act of violence as an expression of Slaanesh’s desire for indulgence.
Within these broader categories, various units and characters express different facets of Slaanesh’s excess, such as:
Daemonettes: These daemonic warriors are the embodiment of lethal beauty, blending alluring grace with terrifying combat prowess. They dance across the battlefield, cutting down foes with elegant precision.
Fiends of Slaanesh: Horrifying creatures that combine animalistic and humanoid forms, designed to bring terror and suffering to Slaanesh’s enemies. They are fast, vicious, and can easily disorient foes.
Seeker Cavalry: These are swift, mounted warriors that emphasise speed and hit-and-run tactics, riding their Seeker steeds to outrun or flank their enemies.
Greater Daemons: Keepers of Secrets: These colossal, four-armed daemons are the ultimate avatars of Slaanesh. They exude an aura of temptation and corruption, drawing in enemies before unleashing devastating attacks.
Mortals and Daemons
The Hedonites of Slaanesh are unique among Chaos factions because they seamlessly combine both mortal and daemon units into a single, cohesive force. Mortals, such as the Myrmidesh Painbringers and Symbaresh Twinsouls, are warriors driven by their desire for perfection and the promise of transcendence through Slaanesh. Daemons, on the other hand, are manifestations of the Prince of Pleasure’s will, existing solely to serve his dark desires.
Units and Heroes
The Hedonites field a wide variety of units, each with unique roles on the battlefield. Some of the most notable units include:
Keeper of Secrets: As Slaanesh’s greater daemons, Keepers of Secrets are terrifying opponents. They are fast, hard-hitting, and capable of manipulating enemies with their magic. They can cause enemies to lose control of their units or even force them to attack their allies.
Slaanesh’s Chariots: These units excel at dealing mortal wounds and can charge through enemy lines, disrupting formations and dealing significant damage.
Shalaxi Helbane: A unique named Keeper of Secrets, Shalaxi Helbane is a duellist who specializes in taking down enemy heroes in single combat.
Hellstriders: Mortal cavalry who ride into battle on daemonic steeds, Hellstriders focus on weakening enemy units with their cruel weapons and fast-moving assaults.
Sigvald the Magnificent: A powerful mortal champion of Slaanesh, Sigvald is the epitome of vanity and perfection. He is a skilled duellist, capable of cutting through enemy units with ease, and his presence on the battlefield demoralises opponents.
Aesthetics and Miniature Design
The Hedonites of Slaanesh are known for their aesthetic fusion of beauty and horror. Their models often feature a duality of elegant, flowing forms combined with unsettling or grotesque elements. For example, the Daemonettes are lithe and graceful, yet they bear sharp claws and twisted, alien features. This reflects the dark allure of Slaanesh, drawing in admirers before revealing their horrifying nature.
Slaanesh’s followers are also adorned with luxurious clothing, ornate armour, and gilded weaponry, symbolising their obsession with excess. Even their war machines, like the Exalted Chariots, are both deadly and extravagant, embodying Slaanesh’s love for over-the-top grandeur.
The palette used for painting the Hedonites often includes vibrant purples, pinks, golds, and whites, reinforcing the idea that they represent a deadly beauty that is as enticing as it is dangerous.
Conclusion
The Hedonites of Slaanesh represent one of the most unique and thematically rich factions in Age of Sigmar. Their focus on excess, indulgence, and sensation gives them a distinct identity within the Chaos pantheon. On the battlefield, they offer a fast, hard-hitting playstyle with a focus on debuffing enemies and generating Depravity Points for powerful summons. Their aesthetic blends beauty and horror in equal measure, making them an alluring and terrifying force to behold.
Whether you’re a fan of complex, tactically challenging armies or drawn to their dark lore, the Hedonites of Slaanesh offer a compelling and distinctive experience in the world of Age of Sigmar.
