Are the Chaos Gods Afraid of the Necrons?

The short answer is: not in the traditional sense of fear, but with a healthy dose of loathing and, perhaps, a grudging respect for the unique threat they pose. The Chaos Gods, beings of immense power born from the warp and fueled by mortal emotions, don’t experience fear in the way a mortal does. However, the Necrons represent a singular and fundamental opposition to their very existence and ambitions, making them a significant problem. Let’s delve deeper into why.

The Fundamental Opposition

The Chaos Gods thrive on the emotions and souls of living beings. They are inextricably linked to the warp, a dimension of psychic energy that mirrors the material universe. The Necrons, on the other hand, are beings of cold, unyielding metal, largely devoid of souls. They are a product of ancient science and technology, far removed from the warp. This very nature puts them at odds with the Chaos Gods in several key ways:

• Soulless Existence: Necrons have sacrificed their souls to achieve immortality. This renders them largely immune to the direct corrupting influence of Chaos. The Chaos Gods feed on emotions and psychic resonance, and the lack of such in the Necrons means they are devoid of the emotional “food” the Chaos Gods crave. This makes them essentially worthless to the gods from a resource perspective.
• Technological Threat: The Necrons possess advanced technology capable of interfering with and potentially severing connections to the warp. This is perhaps the most direct threat they pose to the Chaos Gods. If the Necrons ever managed to sever the warp from the material universe, the Chaos Gods’ influence would be drastically diminished, and their power would wane significantly. This is the primary reason why the Chaos Gods view the Necrons as a significant obstacle to their plans.
• Complete Apathy: Most Necrons, beyond the high-ranking Overlords, are mindless automatons. This lack of individual consciousness means that Chaos cannot tempt or corrupt them with promises of power or pleasure. They simply do not react to the seductive whispers of the warp, further frustrating the Chaos Gods.
• Ancient Antagonism: The Necrons, or rather the Necrontyr, had knowledge of the True Powers of Chaos even before their transformation. They understand the warp and its inherent dangers, making them uniquely positioned to oppose it effectively. The Necrons, even in their current form, represent a continuity of that ancient hostility, which adds to Chaos’ antipathy towards them.

The Chaos Perspective

While not “afraid,” the Chaos Gods harbor a potent form of hatred and disdain for the Necrons. They hate them because:

• Competition: The Necrons represent an opposing force in the grand scheme of the galaxy. The Chaos Gods desire to dominate and control the galaxy, but the Necrons, with their own agenda of reclaiming their lost empire, stand as a significant barrier.
• Anathema to their Nature: The soulless, mechanical nature of the Necrons is antithetical to the very essence of the Chaos Gods, who feed on the souls and emotions of living beings. The lack of emotional energy the Necrons emanate is repulsive to them.
• Undermining Influence: The Necron capability to disrupt the warp is a significant threat to the Chaos Gods. A galaxy devoid of the warp would greatly weaken them, making this the biggest reason for the disdain.

Beyond Simple Fear

It’s crucial to understand that the Chaos Gods operate on a different plane than mortals. They don’t experience fear in the same way. Their “concern” about the Necrons stems from a more strategic viewpoint:

• Strategic Obstacle: The Necrons present a significant strategic threat to the goals of Chaos. They are a force that must be neutralized or, at the very least, controlled to ensure the supremacy of the Chaos Gods.
• Irritant rather than Terror: While they cannot be directly corrupted, the Necrons can still prove annoying due to their unwavering opposition. Think of them as an incurable rash, not a terrifying monster. The Chaos Gods can’t simply ignore or dominate the Necrons and they cannot feed from them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the relationship between the Necrons and the Chaos Gods:

1. Can Necrons be corrupted by Chaos?

While it’s generally believed that Necrons cannot be corrupted by Chaos due to their lack of souls, there is some debate among the lore. Technically, they are thought to be immune, but some stories hint at Nurgle’s diseases affecting even Necrons, which brings up questions of the exact definition of Chaos corruption.

2. What does Nurgle think of Necrons?

Nurgle, the god of disease and decay, generally doesn’t care about Necrons. They don’t have souls, so Nurgle sees them as worthless beings. They are not the sort of beings that can offer up suffering through disease and rot.

3. Do Necrons hate Chaos?

Yes, generally speaking. While individual Necrons may not possess personal feelings, their overarching directive as a race is to cleanse the galaxy of all life, which includes the warp-tainted forces of Chaos. They hate the warp, and by extension, anything associated with it.

4. Are Necrons immune to psychic powers?

Necrons are highly resistant to psychic powers. They are not immune, but their mechanical nature and advanced technology provide a significant buffer against many psychic attacks.

5. What are the Necrons’ main weakness?

Necrons are most vulnerable when their tomb worlds are destroyed, as they can no longer teleport back for repairs. Additionally, Necron characters are typically weak in close combat, and their heavily armoured formations are vulnerable to blast weapons.

6. Can Necrons be infected by Nurgle’s plagues?

There is some evidence to suggest that Necrons can be affected by Nurgle’s plagues. However, these effects are possibly based on the warp’s influence, and may dissipate when the Nurgle forces are defeated.

7. Do the Tyranids avoid Necron worlds?

While older lore suggested the Tyranids avoided Necron planets, more recent canon has downplayed this. Currently, there’s no explicit evidence that the Tyranids actively avoid them, though the Necrons are particularly well-equipped to fight them.

8. Do the Chaos Gods hate the Tyranids?

Absolutely. Tyranids consume all life, which also removes the souls the Chaos Gods feed on. If the Tyranids were to succeed, it would spell the end for the Chaos Gods.

9. What are the Mechanicus’ opinions of Necrons?

The Mechanicus are divided on Necrons. Some see them as xenos abominations to be purged, while others view them as a source of archaeotech to be plundered, based on how heretical the individual is.

10. How intelligent are Necrons?

Most Necrons are mindless automatons, but the high-ranking Overlords are highly intelligent, capable, and ambitious beings.

11. Can Necrons be permanently destroyed?

In the current lore, it is nearly impossible to completely destroy a Necron unless their tomb world is destroyed, preventing their teleportation and repair.

12. Are Necrons emotionless?

While Necrons are largely emotionless, there are hints that they can experience some emotion, especially in higher ranks like Immortals who can speak with feeling.

13. Are Necrons the strongest faction in 40k?

Necrons are considered one of the strongest factions in Warhammer 40k, due to their powerful technology, advanced weaponry, and large numbers. They pose a very significant threat to virtually any faction.

14. Why are Orks immune to Chaos corruption?

Orks are psychologically resistant to Chaos due to their collective psychic field, the ‘Waaagh!’ However, they are not entirely immune and are susceptible if their faith and focus waver.

15. Who would win in a war between Necrons and Tyranids?

In the lore, the Necrons are generally considered the best-suited faction to fight the Tyranids, with the capability to wipe them out with a more than considerable level of efficiency.