Though Warhammer 40,000 is drenched in grimdark science fiction flavor through and through, it possesses numerous elements that one would more likely expect to see in fantasy. One such example is the inclusion of Psykers. Psykers are incredibly powerful beings that are capable of wielding magical powers and casting spells, providing them with a unique edge in combat.
While not all factions can access many Psykers, with some not having access to any at all, there are numerous factions that are synonymous with these spellcasters. While these armies may have a higher learning curve than others, their access to numerous spells can make them both flexible and unpredictable. Therefore, let’s examine the factions of Warhammer 40,000 and see which are the most suited to boast a Psyker army.
10 Blood Angels
While the Blood Angels aren’t particularly known for their abilities as Psykers, players seeking to build a Psyker-themed Space Marine army would most likely have the best luck with the Blood Angels Chapter.
While the Blood Angels are mostly known as a melee-focused faction, their unique Sanguinary psychic discipline contains numerous powers that can be used to enhance melee capabilities. This allows the faction to function as a strong hybrid of Psyker and melee based offense. This faction even gets exclusive access to the powerful Psyker HQ, Chief Librarian Mephiston.
9 Imperial Guard
Though the Imperial Guard primarily regarded for their vast numbers and artillery, they have the potential to be some of the highest quantities of Psykers to a battle than any other army. This is because they have access to the unit, the Primaris Psyker.
While Psykers tend to be quite costly to deploy when it comes to points, a Primaris Psyker only costs fifty points. This means that a player can hypothetically include significant numbers of Primaris Psykers in their army, allowing them to manifest large sums of powers each turn.
8 Orks
Yes, you read that correctly. Orks have the potential to serve as one of the strongest psychic options in Warhammer 40,000. While Orks have access to only a single Psyker option, the Weirdboy, when used in large quantities, these Weirdboys can turn an Ork horde into a veritable psychic threat.
A Wierdboy has an incredible ability that allows them to add 1 to Psychictests taken for them for every 10 Orks within 10 inches of it, allowing this benefit to stack up to +3.
7 Genestealer Cults
Another Xenos faction, the Genestealer Cult are a faction that only has access to two types of Psykers, only one more than the Orks. However, like the Orks’ Weirdboys, these Genestealer Psyker’s can be deployed in sizable quantities.
What sets the Genestealer Cult away from its contemporaries is its access to the exceptional exclusive Broodmind psychic discipline. This can notably prevent an opponent’s units from firing overwatch.
6 Ynnari
The Ynnari are one of the most recently added factions to Warhammer 40,000 and can bring the three variations of Eldar together, fighting under one banner. While the Ynnari only have three unique units, two of these units, Yvraine and the Yncarne, are incredibly powerful Psykers that can each generate two psychic powers each turn.
As these armies must borrow units from other factions, a Ynnari player can choose to deploy Psykers from both the Craftwords and Harlequin factions.
5 Tyranids
Though one wouldn’t expect it at first glance, the monstrous Tyranids are a faction with stellar psychic potential. While Tyranids are most notably known for their melee capabilities, they have access to seven units with psychic abilities.
The HQ options of the Hive Tyrant, the Neurothrope, and the Swarmlord, are each capable of manifesting two psychic powers each turn.
4 Craftworlds
The Craftworld Eldar are an army that can seamlessly incorporate the use of psychic powers into the other elements of their gameplay. Craftworld Eldar have access to numerous useful Psykers such as Warlocks, Farseers, and the ever-excellent Eldrad Eldrad Ulthran.
These Eldar’s spell list gives them access to the Rune of Fate discipline that features the standout spells Guide and Doom. These spells can help to ensure that a player’s units successfully make their mark.
3 Chaos Daemons
One of the most destructive forces in the lore of Warhammer, the Chaos Daemons are a diverse army with phenomenal Psyker potential. When building a Daemon army, players are able to utilize Daemons in the service of the four Chaos Gods: Khone, Nurgle, Slaanesh, and Tzeentch.
Daemons of Tzeentch, in particular, are regarded for their spellcasting abilities, and they have access to numerous potent Psykers such as The Changeling and Kairos Fateweaver.
2 Grey Knights
Few factions scream “Psyker” quite like the daemon slaying Grey Knights. When it comes to the quantity of Psykers a faction can bring to the table, no other army comes even remotely close to the Grey Knights.
This is because every member of the Grey Knights is a Psyker. While this greatly increases the average point cost of the army’s units, a Grey Knights player will never have a shortage of psychic powers to manifest.
1 Thousand Sons
While Grey Knights are unparalleled when it comes to the quantity of Psykers, the Thousand Sons have consistent access to the strongest Psykers in the game. While they have access to Psyker troops in the form of Rubric Marines, their Psyker HQ options are nothing short of extraordinary.
Between the Daemon Prince of Tzeentch, Ahriman, and Exalted Sorcerers, and the Daemon Primarch of the Thousand Sons, aka Magnus the Red, no faction has a comparably deadly roster of Psykers
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