Warhammer 40,000 players, lovers of the dark and the decadent—it’s finally happening.
The Emperor’s Children, the last of the “big four” Chaos Space Marine Legions, are stepping into the spotlight with a full-blown miniatures range and a Codex that’s as indulgent as their patron god demands. And if you’re wondering how the designers at Games Workshop tackled bringing these arrogant maniacs to life, this first installment of a three-part designer interview is full of juicy behind-the-scenes insight.
So pour a glass of whatever grotesque concoction fuels your heresy, and let’s get into it.
Designing Decadence – Focusing on the Legion, Not Just Slaanesh
According to the design team, one of the first big decisions was focusing the range specifically on the Emperor’s Children, rather than just doing a general Slaanesh-themed Chaos army. That’s a huge deal. It meant the range was essentially built from scratch, with the only real references being Lucius the Eternal and some older Noise Marine conversion kits.
The goal? Highlight what makes this Legion the Emperor’s Children—martial pride, excess, arrogance, and a haunting beauty beneath the corruption. The design team, led by Maxime and Filip, wanted them to be instantly identifiable, but not too busy. So while the models are ornate, the power armour is described as elegant and smooth, with fewer panel lines and more open space for painters—great news whether you love clean schemes or want to go wild with freehand and weathering.
But the real challenge was making sure they still looked like Chaos Space Marines. Maxime puts it perfectly—“If you lose that, they’re not the Emperor’s Children.” And he’s right. It’s a delicate balance between baroque beauty and battlefield brutality.
Character Spotlights – Pride, Precision, and Sonic Mayhem
Lucius the Eternal – Arrogant, Twisted, and Still Fabulous
Reimagining Lucius was always going to be tricky—his old model has a cult following—but the result? Absolutely worth it. The new sculpt plays up everything Lucius is: a towering, egotistical, sadistic swordsman. The new pose shifts the sword into the spotlight (it’s the Blade of Laer, and yes, it looks as alien and extravagant as it should), while his infamous lash was reworked to look more like torn ligaments than a tentacle—gnarly, but so Lucius.
There’s even a blood-wiping sash sculpted on for a little narrative flourish, a reminder that no matter how far gone Lucius is, he still takes pride in his weapon. The face is full-on manic joy, and an Iron Hands Space Marine corpse on the base adds a delicious grudge reference.
Lord Exultant – The Commander With Flair
Where Lucius is the ultimate duellist, the Lord Exultant is the ultimate commander. He’s got a more reserved but no less intimidating presence, armed with more weapons than most characters can dream of: power fist, power sword, plasma pistol, screamer pistol, and a phoenix power spear. The sculpt balances all this gear with a commanding pose and a flowing cape, showing off his elite status.
He’s designed to be more strategic than flashy—his armor is a bit more covered, but still richly detailed, and his backpack icon links visually with the new Infractor and Tormentor squads. He’s the guy who organizes the murder-party and makes sure no one forgets who’s in charge.
Lord Kakophanist – Sonic Fury Made Flesh
This guy. The Lord Kakophanist is basically the personification of the Doom Siren—and this redesign brings the sonic theme to life in a big, bass-booming way. The siren has gone from “looks like a Chaos exhaust pipe” to something way more deliberate, with subwoofer gargoyle horns and pipe-organ influence. It’s a sound weapon with style, and the mini’s heavy armor and grounded pose give him a powerful visual contrast against the sleeker, faster models in the range.
And while most Emperor’s Children are about speed and elegance, this guy is all about slow, thunderous pressure, projecting a literal wall of sound across the battlefield with his Noise Marine entourage.
Design Philosophy – Chaos with Character
The interview makes one thing very clear: this isn’t just a pretty range, it’s a narrative-driven design effort. Every sculpt decision was made to reflect the Legion’s warped psychology—arrogance, pride, indulgence, but still rooted in their origins as Astartes.
Even with all the stylistic flair, the designers were constantly reining themselves in to make sure the models didn’t feel too far removed from Chaos Marines. It’s a tightrope walk between beauty and brutality—and they nailed it.
Final Thoughts – Decadent Design Done Right
The Emperor’s Children are no longer the “faction waiting in the wings.” They’ve arrived—and in style. From Lucius’s twisted grin to the thunderous presence of the Kakophanist, this range screams character and theme. The design team clearly poured their love and lore knowledge into every sculpt, and if this is just part one of a design deep dive? We’re in for a real treat.
Everything mentioned is up for pre-order this weekend, so if you’ve ever dreamed of fielding a force of vain, violent virtuosos—now is your moment. Check back later this week for part two of the designer series, where they’ll be talking troops and what it means to be a foot soldier in Fulgrim’s army of excess.
Until then—keep your blades sharp, your lashes coiled, and your amps cranked to 11. The Emperor’s Children are here to perform, and the galaxy is their stage.
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
