Stormfiend

Lore & Background

The Stormfiend is the pinnacle of Clan Moulder's flesh-shaping and warpstone experimentation, a Rat Ogre that has been surgically implanted with weaponized limbs and reinforced with metal plates. Unlike their more feral cousins, Stormfiends are fitted with a control mechanism—often a smaller Skaven handler or a crude harness—that directs their rage toward specific targets. The weapons vary: some belch gouts of green warpfire, while others launch explosive warpstone shards, turning the creature into a mobile artillery platform. The process of creating a Stormfiend is notoriously unstable; many subjects die or go berserk, but those that survive become instruments of terror on the battlefield. The lucky ones simply explode. The unlucky ones live long enough to feel every rivet and crystal grafted into their screaming flesh.

In Their Own Story

The Ubersreik Five had fought through the sewers, the stench of Skaven filth thick in the air. As they emerged into a cavernous chamber, a grinding roar echoed off the walls. From the shadows, a hulking shape lurched forward—a Rat Ogre, but wrong. Its arms ended not in claws but in smoking, metal barrels, and its back was a mess of pipes and pulsing green crystals. A Skaven handler clung to its neck, shrieking commands. The creature's eyes glowed with malevolent intelligence. Kruber swore under his breath as the Stormfiend raised an arm, and a jet of warpfire screamed toward them, igniting the very air.

Reader's Guide

In *Vermintide 2*, the Stormfiend is a boss enemy that appears in various campaign missions, often as a climactic threat or a roaming monster. It has two distinct attack modes: a close-range warpfire breath that leaves a damaging area on the ground, and a long-range volley of warpstone projectiles that can stagger or knock down players. Its armored back reduces damage from behind, forcing players to focus on its exposed front or head. The creature is often accompanied by a Skaven handler, which can be killed to briefly stagger the Stormfiend. Unlike generic Warhammer Fantasy Stormfiends, the *Vermintide* version is more agile and aggressive, with a moveset designed for tight corridors and chaotic melee. Key relationships include its handler (a Skaven who can be targeted) and the Ubersreik Five, who must coordinate to dodge its fire and break its armor. Its lore distinguishes it as a product of Clan Moulder's desperation during the End Times, making it a symbol of Skaven corruption.

Did You Know?

• The Stormfiend's warpfire attack can leave burning patches on the ground that persist for several seconds, punishing players who stand still.
• Its handler is a Skaven that can be killed with a well-aimed shot, causing the Stormfiend to briefly stumble and become vulnerable.
• The creature's design in *Vermintide 2* draws from the Warhammer Fantasy Battles Stormfiend model, but its behavior is adapted for first-person combat.
• Stormfiends are often deployed alongside other Skaven elites, making them a priority target in mixed enemy groups.