Warhammer 40K : Over 3 Decades of Daemonettes of Slaanesh Minis

Take a look back all the back to 1988, at one of the most exotic and horrifying denizens of the GW universe – Daemonettes of Slaanesh

We are starting with today’s Daemonettes and rolling the clock back with each earlier version.

Daemonettes of Slaanesh Basics

Daemonettes are Lesser Daemons of Slaanesh. They are the most numerous of his daemonic minions and serve him as handmaidens, warriors and agents. Daemonettes appear as both beautiful and repulsive to those who look upon them. Their bewitching opal eyes and enchanting aura veil their androgynous features and grotesque claws, revealing an alluring appearance the beholder will always consider the epitome of beauty.

Depending on the situation Daemonettes can be gracious and swift warriors, using their razor-sharp claws when violent force is necessary, or subtle messengers and seducers who will haunt the dreams and nightmares of their victims. Those Daemonettes that excel in their servitude may serve the Lord of Pleasure personally as courtesans on his throne. The more privileged a Daemonette is, the closer she is allowed to approach the throne.

The Current Daemonette Minis

The most seductive Herald of Slaanesh wasbeen gifted with a brand new models in 2019. The newly updated version of the Masque is here to dance the night away.

With Slaanesh jailbreaking out of town in the Age of Sigmar and keeping his Hedonites enraptured, his loyal followers are also having a good time in the Grimdark, especially with Codex: Emperor’s Children on the way.

The current models. Out with the nudity, in with the corsets and the otherworldly hairdos (it’s the warp after all). Note the crabclaws – they change each edition. These are very much a PG-13 version of the previous daemonettes.

These ladies don’t feel like walking, the Seekers ride hard and fast across the galaxy – running their prey to ground.

We also get the more glamorous Daemonettes on chariots variants in the Tormentbringer/Hellflayers

Daemonettes Gone Wild – Welcome to 2002

Turning back the clock to CSM 3.5 Edition Codex from 2002 takes us to the most overtly sexual of the Daemonettes.  The last of the metal daemonettes was sculpted by Juan Diaz and they had a very different vibe than the minis that came before. Deadly stabbing claws and breasts (2-6) out front – these are still collected to this day. They are super fiddly and delicate – don’t drop them!

Out with the Crab Claws, in with the straps, stabbing hands and long knives. These ladies wanted your attention and weren’t shy about reaching out to get it.

The seekers looked much more sleek and fast in this edition. 

I Hear You Like Crab Claws – Welcome to the 1990s!

We’re headed back to 2nd Edition, and 1999.  These metal minis are the second incarnation of everyone’s favorite crab-ladies.

These are the most “horrific – daemonic” of the editions of Daemonettes. They have the largest crab-claws of the them all, an the same creepy bald inhuman heads. Giant eyes, fangs, and little to no nudity sum these ladies up. Note the Standard Bearer, Musician, and Champion holdovers from Warhammer Fantasy

Here we see the 2nd Edition daemonettes on a steed of Slaanesh (that kind of looks like a dragon). These have the largest crab claws of them all.

Welcome to 1988 – The Original Daemonettes of Slaanesh

Welcome to the 1980s! Here we see the original metal minis for the Daemonettes that accompanied the Realms of Chaos books in 1988.

I bet you didn’t know GW named them! These are very slight of build, with quite small crab claws, but set up the original design of the bald head with oversized eyes and horns, plus cloven hooves. The minis themselves are quite delicate, but one-piece each.

~Which ones are your favorite Daemonette models and who is still rocking some of these on the tabletop?

Dad, Gamer, Publisher, Pilot, Texan. All games all the time since junior-high.

I started BoLS Interactive in 2006. I’m a lifelong tabletop & RPG gaming enthusiast, and internet publisher working to entertain and inform my readers every day.

I’ve been playing RPGs and Tabletop Games since the 1970s. I’m been playing and covering Warhammer and Warhammer 40K for over 35 years.

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