Few factions in Warhammer Fantasy carry as much grim mystique as the Chaos Dwarfs. Twisted reflections of their western kin, these cruel forgemasters of the Dark Lands are masters of industry, dark sorcery, and diabolical ingenuity.
The Birth of the Dawi Zharr
Long ago, during the Time of Chaos, a group of Dwarfs migrated eastwards into the blasted, volcanic wasteland known as the Dark Lands. When the northern Chaos gates collapsed and the world was flooded with raw magic, the eastern Dwarfs were cut off from their kin and became forever changed. Exposure to the raw stuff of Chaos twisted their bodies and minds, driving them to worship Hashut, the Father of Darkness, a bull-headed god of fire, greed, and tyranny.
Industry of Fire and Blood
Where the Dwarfs of the west remained proud craftsmen, the Chaos Dwarfs turned to mass production and cruel invention. Their ziggurat-cities, like the infamous Zharr-Naggrund, became towering furnaces of industry. They churned out daemon-bound war machines, fire-belching artillery, and the dreaded Bull Centaurs, part Dwarf, part beast, wholly terrifying.
The Dawi Zharr’s reliance on slave labour is legendary. Greenskins, men, and even other Dwarfs are dragged in chains to fuel their empire’s endless forges. Their mastery of alchemy and daemon-binding allows them to twist reality itself, forging weapons and armour infused with dark, malevolent power.
Chaos Dwarfs on the Tabletop
Chaos Dwarfs first appeared in the 1980s, with a more recognisable and “classic” army taking shape during Warhammer’s 4th edition in the 1990s. The iconic big-hatted warriors, Earthshaker Cannons, and Great Taurus Lords remain some of the most beloved (and sought-after) sculpts from the era.
Although they disappeared from the mainline Warhammer Fantasy Battle range in later years, Chaos Dwarfs have remained a fan favourite. Forge World revived them for Warhammer Forge in Tamurkhan: The Throne of Chaos, introducing the Legion of Azgorh with a darker, more brutal aesthetic.
The Return of Hashut’s Chosen
Now, with Warhammer: The Old World breathing new life into classic factions, the Chaos Dwarfs are once again striding forth from their forges, bringing their cruel engines of war and sorcerous firepower back to the tabletop.
Whether you love them for their unique aesthetic, their dark lore, or their devastating battlefield presence, the Dawi Zharr remain one of Warhammer’s most fascinating and feared factions.
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