What changed for Chaos Daemons in 11th edition

11th edition handed the Chaos Daemons a genuine mix rather than a clean cut: the big Greater Daemons crept up while a good spread of chariots, cavalry and characters came down, and seven brand-new units piled into the range. If you played the Ruinous Powers in 10th, your collection plays the same — just expect the maths to have shifted in both directions depending on where your points sit. On balance the premium centrepieces pay a little more and the mid-tier got friendlier.

Summary

Detachments

The one genuinely new mechanic is Detachment Points. Detachments are no longer free — each now carries a points cost that comes out of your army total, scaling with game size: 2 at Incursion, 3 at Strike Force, 4 at Onslaught. That's a real budgeting decision on top of your unit choices, and it's the main thing to relearn coming from 10th. The Daemons field nine detachments in 11th — Daemonic Incursion alongside the mono-god legions like Blood Legion, Plague Legion, Legion of Excess and Scintillating Legion — including three new arrivals, so there's more to weigh before you spend that DP.

New in 11th: Cavalcade of Chaos, Lords of the Warp, Warptide. None removed.

DetachmentDP
Daemonic Incursion3
Legion of Excess2
Scintillating Legion2
Blood Legion2
Plague Legion2
Shadow Legion2
Cavalcade of Chaos1New in 11th
Lords of the Warp1New in 11th
Warptide1New in 11th

Points changes

The pattern is a two-way split: thirteen sheets rose against nine that came down, while the rest held steady and seven new units arrived. The increases concentrate on the god-tier centrepieces — the Keeper of Secrets, the Great Unclean One and Rotigus all crept up 15 — a tax on the models you take for impact. The savings sit lower down: the Daemon Prince of Chaos dropped 25 (190 to 165), the Skullmaster and Bloodcrushers came down 15, and the Rendmaster on Blood Throne 15. Several units are priced per squad size, so check the tier you actually field.

UnitRole10th11thΔNotes
Lord of ChangeCharacters285320+35
Daemon Prince of ChaosCharacters190165-25
Shalaxi HelbaneCharacters340315-25
Be'lakorCharacters375390+15
BloodcrushersMounted & Beasts3: 110
6: 220
3: 95
4: 190
-15
-30
BloodthirsterCharacters305320+15
Great Unclean OneCharacters250265+15
Keeper of SecretsCharacters240255+15
Rendmaster on Blood ThroneCharacters165150-15
RotigusCharacters265280+15
SkullmasterCharacters10085-15
The ChangelingCharacters90105+15
Beasts of NurgleMounted & Beasts1: 65
2: 130
1: 75
2: 140
+10
+10
Daemon Prince of Chaos with wingsCharacters180190+10
DaemonettesBattleline10090-10
FluxmasterCharacters6070+10
Kairos FateweaverCharacters295305+10
Pink HorrorsBattleline140150+10
SkarbrandCharacters305315+10
FiendsMounted & Beasts3: 95
6: 190
3: 90
4: 180
-5
-10
KaranakCharacters7570-5
NurglingsBattleline3: 40
6: 70
3: 45
4: 90
+5
+20
PlaguebearersBattleline110115+5
Skull CannonMounted & Beasts9590-5
TormentbringerCharacters140135-5
SeekersMounted & Beasts5: 80
10: 160
5: 80
6: 155
0
-5
Daemonic CharioteerCharacters120New in 11th
Daemonic HeraldCharacters60New in 11th
Immortal ChampionCharacters180New in 11th
Khorne Soul GrinderVehicles180New in 11th
Nurgle Soul GrinderVehicles180New in 11th
Slaanesh Soul GrinderVehicles180New in 11th
Tzeentch Soul GrinderVehicles180New in 11th
BloodlettersBattleline110110
BloodmasterCharacters6565
Blue HorrorsBattleline125125
Burning ChariotMounted & Beasts115115
ChangecasterCharacters6060
Contorted EpitomeCharacters100100
EpidemiusCharacters8080
Exalted FlamerCharacters6565
FateskimmerCharacters9595
Feculent GnarlmawFortifications100100
FlamersInfantry3: 65
6: 130
3: 65
4: 130
Flesh HoundsMounted & Beasts5: 75
10: 150
5: 75
6: 150
Horticulous SlimuxCharacters120120
Infernal EnrapturessCharacters6060
Plague DronesMounted & Beasts3: 110
6: 220
3: 110
4: 220
PoxbringerCharacters5555
ScreamersMounted & Beasts3: 80
6: 160
3: 80
4: 160
Skull AltarFortifications105105
SkulltakerCharacters8585
Sloppity BilepiperCharacters5555
Spoilpox ScrivenerCharacters6060
Syll'esskeCharacters120120
The Blue ScribesCharacters7575
The Masque of SlaaneshCharacters9595
TranceweaverCharacters6060

Biggest increases

Are Lord of Change still worth it?

Up 35 points in 11th — now 320 versus 285 in 10th.

Are Be'lakor still worth it?

Up 15 points in 11th — now 390 versus 375 in 10th.

Are Bloodthirster still worth it?

Up 15 points in 11th — now 320 versus 305 in 10th.

Frequently asked questions

Did the Chaos Daemons get better in 11th edition?

It's a wash on points, tilted by where your list spends. If you lean on Greater Daemons, expect to pay a little more; if you build around Daemon Princes, cavalry and massed troops, several of those got cheaper, and seven new units add options either way. It's a rebalance rather than a downgrade — the premium models cost more, the workhorses cost less.

What got more expensive for the Chaos Daemons in 11th edition?

The increases land on the big four Greater Daemons and their kin. The Keeper of Secrets, the Great Unclean One and Rotigus each rose 15, concentrating the "tax" on centrepiece profiles you take for their table presence rather than efficiency — while the Daemon Prince and the cheaper cavalry moved the other way.

What got cheaper for the Chaos Daemons in 11th edition?

The mid-tier came down. The Daemon Prince of Chaos leads the savings at 25 points off (190 to 165), with the Skullmaster, Bloodcrushers and the Rendmaster on Blood Throne each dropping 15. If you build around princes and fast daemonic cavalry rather than the god-shards, 11th makes that core a little easier to fit.

How do Detachment Points work for the Chaos Daemons in 11th edition?

Detachment Points are the new 11th-edition overhead: your chosen detachment costs points out of your army total, scaling with game size — 2 at Incursion, 3 at Strike Force, 4 at Onslaught. Every Daemon legion pays into that same budget, so it's a flat cost you factor in before you start summoning units.

Is now a good time to start a Chaos Daemons army?

It's a fine moment. The mid-tier is cheaper, seven new units widen the range, and whether you commit to one god or run a mixed host the options are broader than before. If the Ruinous Powers have caught your eye, see the Starting a Chaos Daemons Army guide for a sensible buying order.