Abaddon the Despoiler is the Warmaster of Chaos: once First Captain of the Sons of Horus and Horus's favourite son, now master of the Black Legion and the man who has led thirteen Black Crusades against the Imperium. He is the most dangerous mortal servant of the Dark Gods in Warhammer 40,000.
Abaddon at a glance
| Full name | Ezekyle Abaddon |
| Titles | Abaddon the Despoiler, Warmaster of Chaos, Lord of the Black Legion |
| Legion | Luna Wolves, then Sons of Horus, now the Black Legion |
| Homeworld | Cthonia |
| Wargear | Drach'nyen (a daemon sword), the Talon of Horus, Terminator armour |
| Allegiance | Chaos Undivided, though he claims to serve no god |
| Status | Alive, leading the war against the Imperium from the Eye of Terror |
Who is Abaddon?
Abaddon is the villain at the centre of Warhammer 40,000. He started as a loyal Space Marine, the toughest and proudest captain in the Luna Wolves. After the Horus Heresy he refused to accept defeat. Ten thousand years later he is still fighting the same war his father started, and in the current setting he has finally done what no one thought possible: broken the fortress world of Cadia and torn the galaxy in half.
Cthonia and the Luna Wolves
Abaddon was born on Cthonia, the same violent gang world that raised Horus. He was recruited into the XVI Legion, the Luna Wolves, and rose fast. Rumours in the Legion said he was so like Horus that he might even have been cloned from the Primarch. Whatever the truth, he became First Captain, commanding the Justaerin, the Legion's elite Terminators.
The Mournival
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Abaddon was part of the Mournival, Horus's inner circle of four captains, alongside Horus Aximand, Tarik Torgaddon and later Garviel Loken. Their job was to speak honestly to the Warmaster. Abaddon was the most loyal of them all, and that loyalty to Horus is the key to everything he did afterwards.
The Horus Heresy
When Horus turned to Chaos, Abaddon followed him without hesitation. He fought in the betrayal at Isstvan III, where Loken and Torgaddon died, and at the Drop Site Massacre. During the Siege of Terra, Abaddon led the assault on the Imperial Palace. Then came the worst moment of his life: the Emperor killed Horus aboard the Vengeful Spirit. Abaddon recovered his father's body and the Legion fled into the Eye of Terror.
The birth of the Black Legion
In the Eye, the Sons of Horus were hunted and broken by the other traitor Legions. Years later the twisted gene-scientist Fabius Bile tried to grow a clone of Horus. Abaddon destroyed it and burned his father's body, refusing to let anyone use Horus's memory. He took up the Talon of Horus, his father's lightning claw, repainted his armour black and renamed the Legion the Black Legion, in shame at having failed their Primarch.
Drach'nyen: the daemon sword
Abaddon's sword, Drach'nyen, holds a daemon said to be born from the first act of murder in human history. Taming it nearly killed him. Together with the Talon of Horus, it makes him one of the deadliest close-combat fighters in the galaxy.
The Black Crusades
Abaddon swore to finish what Horus started. He launched the Black Crusades, huge invasions pouring out of the Eye of Terror toward the Imperium. For a long time they looked like failures: he would attack, cause terrible destruction, then pull back. But each crusade had a hidden goal, and many were part of a long plan to wear down Cadia, the fortress world that guarded the only stable path out of the Eye.
The 13th Black Crusade and the Fall of Cadia
In his 13th Black Crusade, Abaddon finally succeeded. Cadia, which had stood for ten thousand years, fell when his forces destroyed the ancient pylons that kept the Eye of Terror in check, and a Blackstone Fortress crashed into the planet. The resulting disaster helped open the Great Rift across the whole galaxy, cutting the Imperium in two. It is the greatest victory any servant of Chaos has won since the Heresy.
The man who serves no god
What makes Abaddon different from most Chaos lords is his pride. He uses the power of the four Chaos Gods but refuses to bow to any of them. He wants to win as a man, not as a daemon prince. That makes him unpredictable, and it is why warbands of every kind follow him: he is the one leader who can unite the endless feuding forces of Chaos.
Abaddon on the tabletop
On the table, Abaddon leads Chaos Space Marines as one of the most powerful characters in the game, at his best leading a unit of Chaos Terminators. Read our Chaos Space Marines guide for how to start the army.
Abaddon FAQ
Is Abaddon a Primarch?
No. He is a Space Marine, Horus's First Captain, though rumours say he might be a clone of Horus.
How many Black Crusades has Abaddon led?
Thirteen. The 13th finally destroyed Cadia.
Why is the Black Legion black?
Abaddon painted the Sons of Horus black in shame for failing Horus, and renamed them the Black Legion.
Is Abaddon a daemon prince?
No. He refuses to be ascended by any Chaos god and stays a mortal, which is what makes him unique.
Books to read
- The Talon of Horus (Aaron Dembski-Bowden)
- Black Legion (Aaron Dembski-Bowden)
- Horus Rising (Dan Abnett), for young Abaddon in the Mournival
Find them as Black Library paperbacks and audiobooks, and get the Abaddon the Despoiler miniature.
More: Horus Lupercal and all 20 Primarchs.
Lore summarised in our own words from Black Library novels, codexes and community wikis. Warhammer and all related names are trademarks of Games Workshop; WIZY is an independent fan site.