Most "Evil" 40k Faction?

[Ealdwulf]

So one of the things I like about Warhammer in general is that every force has it's own motivation that can often times make you "see things" from their point of view, or at the very least understand why they do what they do. It's not just "these guys are EVIL!". That said, there is some seriously nasty stuff out there assailing the Imperium and other factions.

So what do you guys think: Which faction comes off as the most "evil". For me it's the Dark Eldar, they seem to relish in pain and torture and causing terror. Unlike many of the Chaos Space Marines, they are not loyal (some Chaos Marines could be said to have honor in a weird way). The Dark Eldar are conniving, cruel, malicious and utterly ruthless. To me the Chaos factions seem to attack with purpose, even if it is to serve some higher goal, Dark Eldar seem to me that they are random in their strikes and can come from anywhere.

I've often wondered about the Necrons, but they don't seem sentient enough (from my knowledge) to be really evil, they're more just....there...doing their thing.

(PS I don't play Dark Eldar, but I do like their fluff)

Edit: I added a poll, it only allows 10 choices so I grouped the Imperial Guard/Space Marines and the Inquisitorial forces. I realize it's far more complex than this, the motivations of the Black Templars are vastly different from Space wolves, but just roll with it guys ha ha.

[Angry SisterOfBattle Nerd]

I agree with Dark Eldar first. After that… Sisters are xenophobic religious extremist ready to maim and kill children (xeno or heretics) without a second thought, and that's without any outside corrupting power. Not for humanity survival, just out of pure hatred. And all the while parading as paragon of virtue. Morality is a subjective thing, but I think they can rank pretty high. Possibly above Chaos-corrupted people that kind of loose free will.
I like playing bad guys parading as good guys .

[Ealdwulf]

Yea I could definitely see that with Sisters, I mean they are the space inquisition after all. They're not really concerned with "truth" are they? Ha ha.

The Exorcist is still one of my all time favorite models. Are there any books centered around the Sisters?

[Sexiest_hero]

I agree, with dark eldar, but rank Grey knights above even them. Nobody, not orks Chaos or Darkeldar is more sure to turn on you than grey knights after a battle. They will destroy anybody anytime. In fact they are the only army with a rule stating they MUST turn on their allies (In Apocalypse). Even not warring daemons of chaos factions do that. Hell Chaosgodscan be prayed to, Nurgle loves those who love him,even Bloody Khorne spares those who fight bravely and well, not so grey knights where, daring to fight against chaos can doom a loyal world. Let that sink sin, you have a better chance at surviving fighting against Khorne, than with grey knights. In fact a world under attack from chaos has a better chance going renegade the instant they hear the words "We are sending the Grey knights". Now who is the true evil? *Does Chaos lord Laugh*

[Angry SisterOfBattle Nerd]

Do you mean Black Library ? Two books and an audio-book, if I remember well. And a graphic novel called daemonifuge.
If you mean GW stuff, then the best fluff is in some WD (I only have the French issue number, but it's the one with a white cover with a sister on it. Very old, dates from the release of Codex:Witch Hunter).

[Denny]

Imperium of Man.

At least when the other races subjugate and murder you they don't claim to be doing it for your own good and expect to you be pleased about it . . .

[OgreBattle]

I've often wondered about the Necrons, but they don't seem sentient enough (from my knowledge) to be really evil, they're more just....there...doing their thing.

This is literally what Necrons do in 40k

[aim]

I think most of the factions have a pretty evil twist to them don't they? Except maybe Eldar (who just stay out of the way unless they are going to be cost something from inaction), Orks and Tyranids, both of whom are more a force of nature than anything else. You don't get angry at the wind for blowing down your fence, nor could you call it evil.

[A.T.]

At least when the other races subjugate and murder you they don't claim to be doing it for your own good and expect to you be pleased about it . . .

Tau do, that's their thing.

IoM actually do subjugate their own people for their own good - since the whole species is just a step away from being a tasty daemon snack, and are fairly upfront about their xenocidal nature.
Various factions within the IoM like sisters and GKs actually believe what they are doing is in the best interests of their species.

All species look down on the others (queue "eldrad is a dick" jokes)


DE have to take it for me - much of what they do is for the evilulz.

The Exorcist is still one of my all time favorite models. Are there any books centered around the Sisters?

Daemonifuge (graphic novel), Faith and Fire, Hammer and Anvil, Red and Black, And they shall know no fear(Darren Cox's short story, though it's technically a templar story).

[dhagi]

I see your Sisters of Battle argument and raise you the Black Templar.
Not only are they going to kill everything not "standard" human (read: champion vows) they'll also refuse to ally with other space marines if a librarian (or rune priest) is around, save the Grey Knights.
But I agree with the argument in favor of the GK. "Hey, IG, thanks for providing us with cannon fodder to distract the enemy, but now we're going to put all of you to the torch because you survived."

[A.T.]

...they'll also refuse to ally with other space marines if a librarian (or rune priest) is around, save the Grey Knights.

The Emperor ruled against Librarians in the Council of Nikaea - all Space Marine chapters were prohibited from employing psykers other than navigators and astropaths and the official position of Chaplain was created to ensure fidelity to the Emperor's commands.

This command was later reversed as a result of the Heresy but the templars continue to follow the Emperors original ruling. Unsurprising given that it was likely reversed by Guilliman.

[Fugazi]

In before "whatever faction Ward most recently wrote the codex for."

The answer was not settled before, and I doubt it will be settled here, but from my view, the background is carefully constructed so that each faction has an element of "wow, what an awful thing to do" counterbalanced by some ulterior purpose. Even Dark Eldar. (In other words: they're all the worst. But maybe Dark Eldar are the worst-est.)

[Polaria]

I've often wondered about the Necrons, but they don't seem sentient enough (from my knowledge) to be really evil, they're more just....there...doing their thing.

Necrons are more sentient than the upstart race that messed up the whole galaxy while we were taking a nap. But evil? No, we aren't too impressed about what you guys did to our galaxy and we are here to fix it...

[eldargal]

Dark Eldar. While every other faction may be driven by some kind of justification for it (Orks just love to fight, nothing personal. IoM is fighting to survive. Tau ditto etc..) the Commorites are doing it primarily for lulz, even if said lulz is the means by which they don't get et by Slaanesh.

[Angry SisterOfBattle Nerd]

Various factions within the IoM like sisters and GKs actually believe what they are doing is in the best interests of their species.

I think Sisters don't care about the best interest of the species, they just care about what the Emperor asked. Would it be “genocide humanity”, they'll gladly do it. With fire.
[edit]Hey, why are Sisters with Death Watch ? Sisters are mainly Eclessiarchy, which is completely different from Inquisition.[/edit]

[Shamana]

Sisters don't have a problem if it involves killing "innocents." Dark Eldar and some of the CSMs/daemons actively enjoy it.

[Angry SisterOfBattle Nerd]

Yeah, that's why I put Dark Eldar first .

[A.T.]

I think Sisters don't care about the best interest of the species, they just care about what the Emperor asked. Would it be “genocide humanity”, they'll gladly do it. With fire.

If the Emperor asked it, they would believe it was in the best interests of the species - blind fanatical loyalty is one of their traits but only to the Emperor or what they perceive to be his will.

Beyond that they believe that the Emperor has laid out a path for mankind to follow and dedicate themselves to maintaining the universe he strove to create - be that with fire or compassion. The Sororitas are a diverse organisation which includes vast networks of surgeons, diplomats, scholars, and explorers in addition to the militant arms, and one of their functions is to ensure the ecclesiarchy doesn't fall into the hands of another Vandire.

It doesn't help of course that almost all of their appearances in fiction are those of the Order of Our Martyred Lady - the Khornes berzerkers of the Sisterhood.

Hey, why are Sisters with Death Watch ? Sisters are mainly Eclessiarchy, which is completely different from Inquisition.

Which is why they've had the inquisition symbol on their pads since 2nd edition...
The recent split from the inquisition is rather artificial, they've always served both the high lords and the ecclesiarch and would be the first to turn on the church should it fall towards another war of apostasy.

[The Red Pilgrim]

Dark Eldar. While every other faction may be driven by some kind of justification for it (Orks just love to fight, nothing personal. IoM is fighting to survive. Tau ditto etc..) the Commorites are doing it primarily for lulz, even if said lulz is the means by which they don't get et by Slaanesh.

It's exactly for that reason, that I see Chaos Space Marines as more evil than Dark Eldar. While the Eldar take pleasure in the terrible things that they do, they're also doing it in an attempt to stave off Slaanesh. Whilst Chaos Astartes are doing it just because they enjoy it.

[eldargal]

Well no, they are doing it to earn favour with their god and many of them are doing it for revenge of the Imperium. The Emperor's Children perhaps not but when Fabius Bile is going to learn from the haemonculi I think it is clear who are the masters of nastiness.

Remember the Dark Eldar were doing this sort of thing before Slaanesh appeared, it is in fact why She appeared.