The Eldar are among the most iconic Xenos factions in Warhammer 40,000. While one of the most iconic forms of Eldar are the Craftworld Eldar, the Dark Eldar or Drukhari are among the most distinct factions in Warhammer. While Warhammer 40,000 is often regarded for its notably “grim dark” tone, few factions can match the raw amorality of Drukhari.
Though many factions in the game are some shade of evil, the Drukhari are among the most blatantly abhorrent factions that one can play. So today, we’re going to examine one of the most vile factions in the forty-first millennium and explore ten things that you probably didn’t know about the Drukhari!
10 Reflections Of Slaanesh
One of the most impactful events in the Warhammer universe is the “Fall of the Eldar,” in which the excessive debauchery of the Eldar gave birth to the Chaos God, Slaanesh. Slaanesh, the Chaos God of excess and pain is viewed as the ultimate evil by the Craftworld Eldar.
However, while the Craftworld Eldar my view Slaanesh as their antithesis, the Drukhari have more in common with Slaanesh than anything else in Warhammer. Despite the Craftworld Eldar swearing off the debauchery that gave rise to Slaanesh in the first place, the Drukhari continue to relish in it within the safety of the Webway.
9 Deceptively Brilliant
Despite being among the most relentlessly cruel and aggressive, the Drukhari are among the smartest and most brilliant species in the galaxy. Unfortunately, as beings completely overcome with their own excess and deviant behavior, they focus their minds on creating even more means of torturing their enemies, and how to further push any boundaries that they hadn’t already shattered.
8 The Thirst
With the passage of time, The Drukhari suffer more and more from a forbidden desire called “The Thirst.” While Slaanesh, the ultimate enemy of all Eldar seeks to devour the souls of all Eldar, the Drukhari, “The Thirst” drives the Drukhari to commit the very same atrocities, devouring the souls of others. While this may appear counter-intuitive, it is believed that their consumption of souls appeases Slaanesh, temporarily protecting the Drukhari from the Chaos God.
7 No Psykers
While Psykers can be found in multitude of the factions in Warhammer 40,000, they are incredibly common within the Eldar. Despite this, the Drukhari refuse to use their psychic abilities, loathing and hunting psykers rather than utilizing them in their culture or military. This is due to the fact that utilizing their psychic capabilities would draw the unwanted attention of Slaanesh. While the Drukhari still possess latent psychic potential, due to the constant psychic inactivity, their potential psychic potency has waned greatly.
6 Terrifying Captors
Within the universe of Warhammer 40,000, if there’s one faction that a soldier wouldn’t want to be captured by, it’s the Drukhari. While factions such as the Necrons or Tyranids simply seek to destroy their enemies, the Drukhari actively seek out trophies in the form of slaves.
Driven by excessive desire for pain and agony, they perform numerous unnecessary surgeries on those they capture, trying to make the rest of their lives as excruciating as possible, all without actually killing their prisoner.
5 Copy Of The Golden Throne
One of the most noteworthy locations within the universe of Warhammer is the Golden Throne that currently holds the figurehead of the Imperium: the semi-living body of the immortal emperor of mankind.
While the reasons for its existence are still unknown, the Drukhari have created a desecrated copy of the Golden Throne. This copy is covered in excessive amounts of “blood and viscera,” and it had appeared after the Drukhari had reportedly captured numerous members of the Adeptus Custodes. The Drukhari even seemingly allowed numerous members of the inquisition report the finding of this throne, leading many to believe that this twisted copy of the throne was meant to be found.
4 The Capital Of Commorragh
Though each sub faction of Eldar use the Webway to some extent, no other faction relies on it as heavily as the Drukhari. This is because aside from using it for travel, the interdimensional Webway houses the City of Commorragh, the home of the Drukhari. Commorragh is a mammoth city that was a prominent Eldar civilization before the fall of the Eldar, serving as the home to countless dark Eldar. Accessing Commorragh is not a simple endeavor, making it quite secure from invaders, though it has been attacked by the forces of Chaos in the past.
3 Home To One Of The Oldest Beings In The Galaxy
One of the most prominent figures within the Drukhari happens to be one of the oldest living beings within the lore of Warhammer. Asdrubael Vect, the ruler of the aforementioned city of Commorragh, is a being who claims to have witnessed the cataclysmic Fall of the Eldar firsthand, with his own two eyes.
As Vect is currently alive and well within the lore, this would mean that his is roughly ten-thousand years old. While Vect did perish in the midst of a daemon attack, he was quickly revived and is still kicking to this day, serving as the most senior leader of the Drukhari.
2 Enemies Of The White Scars
While few Space Marines would be thrilled to encounter any form of Xenos, the White Scars chapter has an undying hatred for the Drukhari. This is due to the fact that their Primarch, Jaghatai Khan disappeared after pursuing a band of Drukhari raiders into the webway following the Horus Heresy. Though the Drukhari have many enemies throughout the galaxy, few loath the Drukhari with as much seething hatred as the White Scars.
1 Drazhar’s Possible Identity
Aside from the previously mentioned Vect, one of the most prominent members of the Drukhari is the champion of the incubi warriors, Drazhar. An incredibly skilled warrior, many believe that Drazhar is actually the “fallen phoenix,” Arhra.
Arhra was a former Phoenix Lord of the Craftworld Eldar who had defected to the Drukhari, then suddenly disappeared. One of the primary pieces of evidence towards this theory is that after being killed and having his armor donned by another, Drazhar’s mind and personality overtook the Drukhari warrior who donned his armor. This is a commonplace practice used by the Phoenix Lords in order to artificially extend their lives.
