The new Defiler is up for pre-order this weekend, and it’s an insanely versatile kit with even more optional parts than we’ve shown so far. Today, we’re opening up the box and laying out all of the heads, guns, and other chaotic knick-knacks with which you can equip your deadly daemon engine.
If you saw the reveal of the Defiler, you’ll have counted six different heads on display* – one with horns, a very Iron Warriors-esque skull mask, and one each for the Thousand Sons, World Eaters, Death Guard, and Emperor’s Children.
That’s already a lot, but did you know there are another four in the box? The Word Bearers get a suitably daemonic one of their own, while the other three are sufficiently spiky and intimidating for all your Chaos-worshipping needs.
The great curved carapace above their head slot also has three variants – one with the eight-pointed star of Chaos, one in the throes of mutation with teeth and claws emerging from its trim, and one left free of major details so you can decorate it to your fancy. The second can also be anointed with a wicked-looking trophy rack, while the third can mount a decorative cowl in Thousand Sons style for some extra Prosperan vibes.
Even the armoured mantlet around the central cannon – which can be your choice of an ectoplasma destructor or a Hades battle cannon – comes in two separate styles with an optional chain adornment, while up top you can arrange the six exhaust vents in any combination you choose.
Weapon-wise, you get a heavy reaper autocannon, Hades lascannon, or heavy baleflamer for the right hardpoint, and a heavy reaper autocannon, Hades lascannon, or heavy missile launcher for the left. There’s also a vicious electroscourge that can go on either side. All of the ranged weapons can be built with connecting cables if they fit your posing, or without if you prefer it that way.
Because that isn’t quite enough, you can also choose between excruciator cannons or magma cutters for your auxiliary carapace guns. Add in the optional armour panels for the waist – that can itself be posed in two different ways – and you’re already getting hundreds of different combinations before we even get to the legs.
The legs. Possibly the Defiler’s most iconic feature,** the six scuttling legs can be arranged in the dynamic box art pose with the help of guiding pegs and extra basing bits. The construction manual knows you’ll want to mix it up, and also shows you all the bits you can cut off if you want complete freedom to pose them yourself.
Each leg and claw arm has a hinge in the middle and a ball joint at the top, so you can get them in all sorts of crazy poses, with the claws also having articulated lower pincers in case you want them open or closed. In fact, even the pipes on the underside can accommodate your custom poses, as they slide into holes in the hollow body and can be trimmed down to fit most angles.***
Phew… that’s quite a lot, isn’t it? The new Defiler is nothing short of a hobbyist’s dream, and no matter what kind of Chaos army you have, there’ll be a combination for you. It’s also pretty handy in a fight – check out its new rules, and get ready to pre-order yours this weekend.
* We’ve been staring at it for weeks, and even we’re finding a head or two we didn’t know were in there!
** The original Defiler’s articulated legs were show-stopping in the halcyon days of 2004.
*** Definitely ‘most’ – we can’t wait to see how far you can push this kit.
