Warhammer 40K Skaven Guide: Everything New Players Need to Know

If you've recently discovered the world of Warhammer and stumbled across the rat-like creatures known as the Skaven, you're not alone. As one of the most unique and lore-rich factions in the Warhammer universe, Warhammer 40K Skaven have captured the imagination of players worldwide — from veteran generals to complete beginners picking up their first miniature.

Whether you're drawn to their chaotic energy, their bizarre technology, or their sheer unpredictability on the battlefield, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Skaven in the Warhammer universe — written specifically for new players who are just getting started.

And if you're already thinking about building your Skaven collection, don't miss our Warhammer 40K Skaven dice — faction-accurate D6 dice designed to match your Skaven army on the tabletop.

What Are the Skaven? A Beginner's Introduction

The Skaven are a race of intelligent, bipedal rat-men who lurk beneath the surface of the world in vast underground cities called the Under-Empire. They are one of the oldest and most dangerous civilizations in the Warhammer lore — despite appearing chaotic and disorganized on the surface, they are a highly structured society driven by paranoia, ambition, and an insatiable hunger for power.

For new players, the Skaven are a fascinating faction because they break almost every rule you'd expect from a "normal" army. They are cowardly yet numerous, technologically brilliant yet dangerously unstable, and politically fractured yet capable of overwhelming force when united under a common threat.

Their society is divided into four major Clans, each specializing in a different form of warfare:

• Clan Skryre — the engineers and weapon-makers, masters of warp-powered technology
• Clan Pestilens — plague monks devoted to disease and biological warfare
• Clan Eshin — assassins and spies who operate in shadow
• Clan Moulder — beast-shapers who breed monstrous war creatures

Did Skaven Exist in 40K?

This is one of the most common questions new players ask — and the answer is nuanced.

The Skaven originated in Warhammer Fantasy Battles (now known as Warhammer: The Old World) and later became a major faction in Warhammer Age of Sigmar, where they are called the Skaven or Clans Pestilens / Skryre depending on the subfaction.

In Warhammer 40,000 (40K), the Skaven do not officially exist as a playable faction. The 40K universe is a separate setting — set 38,000 years in the future — with its own distinct races including Space Marines, Tyranids, Necrons, and Chaos forces.

However, there are several important connections worth knowing:

• The Hrud — a mysterious alien species in 40K lore — are widely believed by fans and some lore scholars to be the 40K equivalent of the Skaven, sharing similar characteristics of underground dwelling, warp-sensitivity, and entropy-based abilities.
• With the release of Warhammer: The Old World and the ongoing expansion of the Warhammer multiverse, many players now run Skaven armies across multiple game systems.
• Games Workshop has hinted at cross-universe lore connections, and the Skaven's relationship with the Warp mirrors the Chaos corruption seen throughout 40K.

For new players: if you love the Skaven aesthetic and want to play in the 40K setting, the closest equivalent is exploring Chaos factions — particularly those aligned with Nurgle (plague and decay) or Tzeentch (change and scheming), which share thematic DNA with Skaven Clans Pestilens and Skryre respectively.

Are Skaven Good or Evil?

Short answer: unambiguously evil — but in the most entertaining way possible.

The Skaven are not a morally grey faction. They worship the Horned Rat, a Chaos god of ruin, pestilence, and gnawing destruction. Their entire civilization is built on betrayal, backstabbing, and the ruthless elimination of rivals. Even within their own clans, Skaven constantly scheme against each other — a Skaven who doesn't watch his back will quickly find a blade in it.

For new players, this makes Skaven one of the most fun factions to play narratively. Their evil isn't the brooding, dramatic kind — it's chaotic, comedic, and deeply unpredictable. A Skaven warlord might sacrifice an entire regiment of his own troops just to gain a slight tactical advantage, then blame the resulting disaster on a subordinate.

Key traits that define Skaven morality:

• Cowardice as survival strategy — Skaven are not brave. They run when losing, push weaker units forward as shields, and only fight when they have overwhelming numbers.
• Ambition without loyalty — every Skaven wants to be the supreme ruler of the Under-Empire. Alliances last only as long as they're useful.
• Worship of destruction — the Horned Rat demands ruin, and the Skaven deliver it enthusiastically.

How Are Skaven So Advanced?

This is perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the Skaven for new players: how can a civilization of paranoid, backstabbing rat-men produce some of the most terrifying weapons in the Warhammer universe?

The answer lies in Warpstone.

Warpstone is a crystallized form of pure Chaos energy — essentially solidified magic. The Skaven have built their entire technological civilization around harvesting, refining, and weaponizing Warpstone. It powers their engines, fuels their weapons, and mutates their bodies. It is simultaneously their greatest resource and their greatest curse, as prolonged exposure to Warpstone causes madness, mutation, and death.

Here's why Skaven technology is so terrifyingly advanced:

• Warp-Lightning Cannons — artillery that fires bolts of pure Chaos energy capable of vaporizing entire units
• Doomwheels — giant hamster-wheel war machines powered by enslaved Skaven and Warpstone generators
• Plague Catapults — biological weapons that spread engineered diseases across battlefields
• Warp-Grinders — tunnel-boring machines that allow Skaven armies to appear anywhere on the battlefield

The key insight for new players: Skaven technology works despite the Skaven, not because of them. Their weapons are brilliant in concept but catastrophically unstable in practice. This unpredictability is baked into their game mechanics — and it makes playing Skaven one of the most exciting (and nerve-wracking) experiences in tabletop gaming.

Playing Skaven: Tips for New Players

• Embrace the numbers game. Skaven win through overwhelming quantity. Don't be afraid to field large units of cheap Clanrats — they're expendable and that's the point.
• Use your technology wisely. Warp-powered weapons are powerful but unreliable. Position them carefully and always have a backup plan for when they malfunction.
• Master the art of the ambush. Clan Eshin units and tunnel-based deployment rules let you appear where the enemy least expects. Use this to disrupt backlines and capture objectives.
• Don't neglect your heroes. Skaven heroes — Grey Seers, Warlords, and Plague Priests — provide crucial buffs and abilities that make your horde function as a cohesive force.

To complete your Skaven tabletop experience, check out our full range of Warhammer 40K dice — including faction-themed sets for Skaven and dozens of other armies.

Frequently Asked Questions About Warhammer 40K Skaven

Final Thoughts: Should You Start a Skaven Army?

If you're a new player looking for a faction that is unique, lore-rich, visually striking, and genuinely fun to play — the Skaven are an excellent choice. They reward creative thinking, aggressive play, and a willingness to embrace chaos (literally).

Their combination of overwhelming numbers, unstable but devastating technology, and deep narrative lore makes them one of the most rewarding armies to build and play in the entire Warhammer universe.

Ready to start your Skaven journey? Explore our Warhammer 40K dice collection and find the perfect faction dice to roll with your army — because every great Skaven warlord deserves dice worthy of the Horned Rat.