Chaos Knight households are fiercely independent, but they prefer to take on the galaxy with support from powerful benefactors. Working alongside these forces as equals really isn’t their style, however – so the new Crusade Rules from Codex: Chaos Knights let you exert your control and extract powerful boons from those who would benefit from your might.

To keep their dark dominion running, Fallen Nobles must amass power with three distinct entities. The Idolators – as fallen sacristans are known – are responsible for keeping the Knights themselves in working order, and these are the first port of call for pilots hoping to attach some profane technology to their steed. War Dog packs are a valuable asset to be used and abused by their superiors, thrown into enemy guns or else sent to perform menial battlefield objectives while the true nobles earn their infamy. And the Dark Gods themselves, whose favour can grant powerful boons or malign curses in equal measure, if only a noble has the will to bargain.

Maintaining strong ties with all three Power Bases is a balancing act of titanic proportions, as a Chaos Knight’s influence wanes over time and those not brought to heel will gladly take their services elsewhere. Winning games and completing Agendas are the only ways to exert control, but the rewards for your efforts are exceptional.

Each Power Base grants its own kind of Battle Traits for your units to acquire instead of the usual options. The Idolators offer upgrades to your Knights’ legs, arms, torso, and head – and each location has three regular upgrades to pick from. Fleshmetal Servo-tendons grant your Knight an extra turn of speed, for instance.
There are two more upgrades reserved for those who have paid special attention to their influence, such as Damned Construction, which boosts armour saves.

LEGS D6
FLESHMETAL SERVO-TENDONS
These bundles of gruesomely harvested muscle and rune-etched machinery strain with unnatural vitality. They lend a Chaos Knight an obscene turn of speed.
Add 2" to the Move characteristic of this model and you can re-roll Advance rolls made for it.
TORSO D6
DAMNED CONSTRUCTION
Supplied by magi of the Dark Mechanicum itself, these armour plates are fashioned from the most infernal materials that endure with supernatural tenacity.
Only one model in your Order of Battle can have this Idolaters' Offering. While your Idolater Influence standing level is Aligned Interests, this model has a Save characteristic of 2+.
Domination over the War Dogs unlocks access to specialist Hunting Packs, ad-hoc formations that can benefit from shared abilities earned as Battle Traits. How many War Dogs you can fit in a pack depends on how friendly you are with them. When one member has acquired a Hunt Tactic, its special secondary effect is shared with the whole pack once they become Ascended – which requires one of them to have killed something in that game.

Hidden Stalkers is a great choice for longer-ranged War Dogs who want to dance at the edge of their enemies’ range, granting the Benefit of Cover and a facsimile of the Lone Operative rule. Brute Tactics is the complete opposite, extending your War Dog’s invulnerable save to include melee combat and letting them dole out mortal wounds simply by charging into the fight.

HUNT TACTICS
HIDDEN STALKERS
These hunters focus on evading their prey's notice, closing in through dense terrain and loping low to the ground.
This model has the Benefit of Cover. In addition, if this model's Hunting Pack is Ascendant, this model can only be targeted by a ranged attack if the attacking model is within 18”
BRUTE TACTICS
The pack's War Dogs close formation and present their thickest armour to the prey, bulling forward into their midst.
This model has a 5+ invulnerable save against melee attacks. In addition, if this model's Hunting Pack is Ascendant, each time this model ends a Charge move, select one enemy unit within Engagement Range of it and roll one D6: on a 2+, that enemy unit suffers D3 mortal wounds.
Finally, you could sign a Pact of Damnation, which – given the track record of the Chaos Gods – certainly entails no existential risk whatsoever. We’re kidding, of course: you get to inflict a random Battle Scar on yourself that lasts until you break the Pact with a special Requisition, but the Boons you get in return make it profoundly worth the cost.
Those at the Wary or Cautious levels of trust can pick a Minor Boon like Wrathful Aura, which fully doubles their Objective Control characteristic. However, if you’ve gained enough favour to reach Aligned Interests, you can pick one of the top-shelf options instead – like Brazen Heart, which can bring your titanic champion back from the brink.

MINOR DARK BOONS
WRATHFUL AURA
Raw Jury radiates from this Chaos Knight, crushing the will and courage of those it touches.
Double this model's Objective Control characteristic.

MAJOR DARK BOONS
BRAZEN HEART
The blood Jury of this raging power plant can reignite even after the most grievous damage.
The first time this model is destroyed, roll one D6 at the end of the phase: on a 3+, set this model back up on the battlefield as close as possible to where it was destroyed and not within Engagement Range of any enemy models, with 7 wounds remaining.
You also get the usual stock of Crusade Relics to earn, and three new Crusade Badges to achieve across the course of your campaign. You can begin your Crusade when Codex: Chaos Knights goes up for pre-order this weekend, and if you want to bulk out your War Dog packs to take advantage of their Hunt Tactics, make sure to pick up the Houndpack Lance Battleforce!