Skaven Clan Pestilens

Lore & Background

Clan Pestilens originated in the sweltering jungles of the Southlands, where they developed a unique culture centered on disease and decay. They view plagues as sacred gifts from the Horned Rat, and their priests—known as Plague Monks—are among the most zealous and dangerous Skaven in existence. Their fanaticism often puts them at odds with other clans, who see Pestilens as unpredictable and reckless, but their ability to unleash devastating epidemics makes them invaluable in times of war.

In the Old World, Pestilens has been responsible for some of the most horrific outbreaks of disease, including the Red Pox and the Creeping Death. They are known to use cauldrons of bubbling filth, censers filled with toxic fumes, and even living plague-ridden creatures as weapons. Their ultimate goal is to cleanse the world of all non-Skaven life through sickness, leaving only their kind to rule over a rotting paradise.

Within the Skaven hierarchy, Clan Pestilens operates with a twisted religious structure, led by Plague Lords and their fanatical followers. They are often summoned by other clans when a city needs to be softened for invasion, but their methods are so extreme that even other Skaven fear their plagues turning against them. In Vermintide, their presence in Ubersreik marks a deliberate attempt to corrupt the land with a cursed blade known as the Blightreaper.

In Their Own Story

The air in the sewers grew thick and wet, not with water but with a foul, greasy miasma. Kruber coughed, his hand pressed to his mouth as he squinted through the gloom. Ahead, a cluster of robed figures chanted in a guttural tongue, their voices rising and falling like the wheeze of a dying beast. They swung heavy censers on chains, and with each swing, a cloud of greenish vapor billowed forth, carrying the stench of rot and decay. One of the Plague Monks turned, its eyes burning with feverish zeal, and let out a shriek that echoed through the tunnels. The Ubersreik Five had encountered Clan Pestilens before, but never like this—never with such purpose. They were not just spreading disease; they were summoning something, and the ground trembled beneath their feet.

Reader's Guide

In Vermintide 2, Clan Pestilens serves as the primary enemy faction in Act 2, which takes place in the corrupted sewers and plague-ridden districts of Ubersreik. They are distinguished from the other Skaven clans by their focus on area-of-effect poison attacks, summoning Plague Monks that charge with devastating combos, and deploying special units like the Globadier (who throws poison globes) and the Plague Rat (a bloated, exploding enemy). Their hierarchy is led by Plague Monks and Plague Priests, who chant to empower nearby allies or spread toxic clouds.

Unlike the more militaristic Clan Fester or the mechanized Clan Skyre, Pestilens relies on attrition and corruption. Their goals in the game are tied to the Blightreaper, a cursed blade that spreads plague across the land, and they work in uneasy alliance with the Rotbloods (Norscan Chaos worshippers) to achieve this. In broader Warhammer canon, Pestilens is often more independent and hostile to other Skaven, but in Vermintide, they cooperate with the Rotbloods due to a shared interest in spreading corruption. Players must prioritize killing Plague Monks quickly to avoid being overwhelmed by their poison and speed.

Did You Know?

• Clan Pestilens is one of the four Great Clans of Skaven, alongside Mors, Skyre, and Eshin.
• Their sacred symbol is a horned rat with a plague censer, representing their devotion to disease.
• In Vermintide 2, the Plague Monk enemy can perform a three-hit combo that is one of the deadliest attacks in the game.
• The Blightreaper, a key artifact in the game, is a cursed blade that Pestilens seeks to unleash upon Ubersreik.
• Plague Monks believe that coughing in an enemy's face is a holy act, and they often sharpen their teeth to better spread infection through bites.