Chaos Warhound

Chaos Warhounds

Chaos Warhounds are canines warped by Chaos, with over-muscled bodies and maws accommodating an unnatural number of fangs whose ferocity and savagery are well loved by the Dark Gods.^[1a][3a]

Some Kurgan tribes delight in pit hounds fighting against Bears, Trolls and other creatures with selective breeding resulting in powerful and vicious beasts. ^[6]

Nature

Warhounds are the mutated descendants of dogs and wolves twisted by the power of Chaos.^[5b] Some descend from a variety of other predatory animals, such as big cats. ^[3a]

Most Warhounds bear mutations such as horns, tusks and spines, and display intelligence similar to a Gor's. Some display much more extreme alterations, such as human limbs or faces, tentacles, scorpion tails, rock-hard scales, or long, bladed tongues.^[5b] It may be that some grow and evolve into the fearsome Giant Spined Chaos Beast.^[4b]

Chaos Warhounds are bloodthirsty beasts, but they are not usually brave enough to attack anything stronger than themselves. However, particularly extreme hunger or bloodlust may drive the normally cowardly creatures into hurling themselves at much stronger targets.^[4a]

In War

These beasts are used by both Warriors of Chaos and Beastmen. They are ranked beneath Marauders and Gors, as the lack equipment and are chased away quite easily. While their mutations can't give them the strength, resilience or armour of Chaos Warriors, they are cunning enough to easily dodge enemy blows and strike back at the right time, bypassing their defences and ripping enemies apart.^[1] When in combat, they run tirelessly towards the small and fractured groups of enemy, running ahead of infantry and alongside Chaos Knights or Razorgors, before pouncing upon the foes and ripping them apart. ^[4a]

Warhounds have a close connection to the Beastmen. Packs of warhounds often gravitate towards Beastman encampments, wandering around their camps and eventually become as much part of the warherd as the Gors. Beastmen often use Warhounds as hunting animals, setting them to chase and harry prey and victims. In times of war, Beastmen lash Warhounds to trees and starve and taunt them in order to increase their viciousness and to weed out the weakest among their number.^[5b]

Binding

They can be bound relatively easily to the will of a powerful sorcerer, but when they scent blood they are difficult to control and may turn on their would-be master. One legend of the death of Necromancer Kadon is that he was torn apart by hounds that broke free of his mastery. ^[4a]

Weapons and Equipment

• 2nd Edition: 1-6 Hounds controlled by a Chaos Dwarf or Chaos Warrior. ^[3b]
• 8th Edition: May have Fangvenom and Scalehide. ^[4a]
• W:TOW: Claws and Fangs (Hand Weapon), May have a Chaos Warhound Handler with Hand Weapon and Heavy Armour. Hanlder may have Additional Hand Weapon or Whip ^[6]

Gallery

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  Image from Warhammer Online

Miniatures

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  Chaos Warhounds (6th edition)

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  Chaos Warhounds (7th edition)

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  Chaos Warhounds

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  Beastmen Warhounds for Mordheim (game)

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  Chaos Hounds for Warmaster

Quotes

When the hounds of the waste bay at Morrslieb, the foul moon bays back. ~ A proverb of Kislev.[1]

Sources

• 1: Games Workshop Official Site
• 2: Warhammer Armies: Hordes of Chaos (6th Edition), pg. 73
• 3: Ravening Hordes (2nd Edition)
  • 3a: Chaos Army List, pg. 38
  • 3b: Chaos Army List, pg. 39
• 4: Storm of Magic
  • 4a: Chaos Warhounds, pg. 114
  • 4b: Giant Spined Chaos Beast, pg. 123
• 5: Warhammer Armies: Beastmen (7th Edition)
  • 5a: Chaos Warhounds, pg. 42
• 6: Ravening Hordes (TOW): Warriors of Chaos Army List, Chaos Warhounds, pg. 70