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Did he actually defeat Skarbarand one on one? I pray that he did not, as I am all about Khorne more so than Slaanesh.

Slaanesh may take pleasure when a KoS defeats a Bloodthirster, but Bloodthirsters probably kill Keepers so much more often that it doesnt even phase Khorne anymore!

Hence why Shalaxi was created; To restore Slaanesh's pride while having something to get off on at the same time

We don't know - it's "rumoured".

Ultimately it's believable - shalaxi is a duellist, created to beat the best of slaanesh's enemies one on one, whilst skarbrand is a non-specific slaughter machine designed to butcher armies rather than fight pretentious single combats.

It's not a million miles from imagining Kharn and Lucius - Lucius is the better technical swordsman and would probably win a 'duel' but wind both of them up and point them at an enemy army and Kharn's trail of dismembered body parts will be longer, bloodier and generally more impressive.

Being defeated or "killed" isn't permanent for a daemon anyway so it's not the end of the world even if Shalaxi did defeat Skarbrand in the past. The only permanent way for a daemon to die is if its warp presence, its soul, is dissolved. The only known ways for that to happen are all fairly uncommon, such as the patron god being so angered they decide to dissolve the daemon, being killed by the Emperor's special sword (which Guilliman now wields), or maybe certain rituals which may be specific only to that particular daemon.

Based on Phoenix Rising the answer is definitely. Shalaxi is so OP they could probably beat Skarbrand while writing a thesis on what makes GW's writing so bad and painting a series of artworks to illustrate it.

pm713 wrote:
Based on Phoenix Rising the answer is definitely. Shalaxi is so OP they could probably beat Skarbrand while writing a thesis on what makes GW's writing so bad and painting a series of artworks to illustrate it.

I should have asked this in the AoS section as I just remembered theyre the ones with the Slaanesh Battletome. But anyway, what happens in Pheonex Rising?

123ply wrote:

pm713 wrote:
Based on Phoenix Rising the answer is definitely. Shalaxi is so OP they could probably beat Skarbrand while writing a thesis on what makes GW's writing so bad and painting a series of artworks to illustrate it.

I should have asked this in the AoS section as I just remembered theyre the ones with the Slaanesh Battletome. But anyway, what happens in Pheonex Rising?

In short Demons attack a group of Ynnari, Harlequins, Corsairs, Craftworlders and Dark Eldar on a Maiden World. While their armies work together the Visarch, Yvraine, a Solitaire, Jain Zar and Lelith Hesperax duel Shalaxi Hexbane. During the fight the Solitaire dies stupidly as does the Visarch shortly before resurrecting himself and Shalaxi is eventually beaten. Before vanishing they brag that this wasn't the full Shalaxi, just a small echo to play games with them.

So basically despite Slaanesh sending them to kill the Ynnari to stop an actual threat to itself Shalaxi still doesn't try and is supposedly so powerful that the best fighters from all the Eldar combined with a powerful psyker and her friend struggle to beat a fragment of Shalaxi.

pm713 wrote:

123ply wrote:

pm713 wrote:
Based on Phoenix Rising the answer is definitely. Shalaxi is so OP they could probably beat Skarbrand while writing a thesis on what makes GW's writing so bad and painting a series of artworks to illustrate it.

I should have asked this in the AoS section as I just remembered theyre the ones with the Slaanesh Battletome. But anyway, what happens in Pheonex Rising?

In short Demons attack a group of Ynnari, Harlequins, Corsairs, Craftworlders and Dark Eldar on a Maiden World. While their armies work together the Visarch, Yvraine, a Solitaire, Jain Zar and Lelith Hesperax duel Shalaxi Hexbane. During the fight the Solitaire dies stupidly as does the Visarch shortly before resurrecting himself and Shalaxi is eventually beaten. Before vanishing they brag that this wasn't the full Shalaxi, just a small echo to play games with them.

So basically despite Slaanesh sending them to kill the Ynnari to stop an actual threat to itself Shalaxi still doesn't try and is supposedly so powerful that the best fighters from all the Eldar combined with a powerful psyker and her friend struggle to beat a fragment of Shalaxi.

Although Shalaxi survived the Ynnari and made that boast, its claim could be interpreted as a sour grapes face saving statement. "I meant to do that. I wasn't really trying else I would have won." We have only rules for Shalaxi not "Shalaxi's fragment" so it is possible Shalaxi was lying.

Iracundus wrote:

pm713 wrote:

123ply wrote:

pm713 wrote:
Based on Phoenix Rising the answer is definitely. Shalaxi is so OP they could probably beat Skarbrand while writing a thesis on what makes GW's writing so bad and painting a series of artworks to illustrate it.

I should have asked this in the AoS section as I just remembered theyre the ones with the Slaanesh Battletome. But anyway, what happens in Pheonex Rising?

In short Demons attack a group of Ynnari, Harlequins, Corsairs, Craftworlders and Dark Eldar on a Maiden World. While their armies work together the Visarch, Yvraine, a Solitaire, Jain Zar and Lelith Hesperax duel Shalaxi Hexbane. During the fight the Solitaire dies stupidly as does the Visarch shortly before resurrecting himself and Shalaxi is eventually beaten. Before vanishing they brag that this wasn't the full Shalaxi, just a small echo to play games with them.

So basically despite Slaanesh sending them to kill the Ynnari to stop an actual threat to itself Shalaxi still doesn't try and is supposedly so powerful that the best fighters from all the Eldar combined with a powerful psyker and her friend struggle to beat a fragment of Shalaxi.

Although Shalaxi survived the Ynnari and made that boast, its claim could be interpreted as a sour grapes face saving statement. "I meant to do that. I wasn't really trying else I would have won." We have only rules for Shalaxi not "Shalaxi's fragment" so it is possible Shalaxi was lying.

I think it would feel a bit like when they tried to fix the Draigo and Mortarion fight if that were the case.

pm713 wrote:

Iracundus wrote:

pm713 wrote:

123ply wrote:

pm713 wrote:
Based on Phoenix Rising the answer is definitely. Shalaxi is so OP they could probably beat Skarbrand while writing a thesis on what makes GW's writing so bad and painting a series of artworks to illustrate it.

I should have asked this in the AoS section as I just remembered theyre the ones with the Slaanesh Battletome. But anyway, what happens in Pheonex Rising?

In short Demons attack a group of Ynnari, Harlequins, Corsairs, Craftworlders and Dark Eldar on a Maiden World. While their armies work together the Visarch, Yvraine, a Solitaire, Jain Zar and Lelith Hesperax duel Shalaxi Hexbane. During the fight the Solitaire dies stupidly as does the Visarch shortly before resurrecting himself and Shalaxi is eventually beaten. Before vanishing they brag that this wasn't the full Shalaxi, just a small echo to play games with them.

So basically despite Slaanesh sending them to kill the Ynnari to stop an actual threat to itself Shalaxi still doesn't try and is supposedly so powerful that the best fighters from all the Eldar combined with a powerful psyker and her friend struggle to beat a fragment of Shalaxi.

Although Shalaxi survived the Ynnari and made that boast, its claim could be interpreted as a sour grapes face saving statement. "I meant to do that. I wasn't really trying else I would have won." We have only rules for Shalaxi not "Shalaxi's fragment" so it is possible Shalaxi was lying.

I think it would feel a bit like when they tried to fix the Draigo and Mortarion fight if that were the case.

Gee, why would a Daemon of Pride and Perfection ever lie?

Shalaxi also had apparently only just been released by Slaanesh from punishment for some other failure, so Shalaxi would have every incentive to make it seem like everything was still going to plan even if it wasn't, in order to avoid further punishment from Slaanesh for failure. Also its claim seems to have had the effect of fracturing the Eldar alliance.

Considering that Shalaxi is part of Slaanesh it doesn't seem like it CAN decieve her/it/him.

Why would Shalaxi lie? There's no motive to lie to the Eldar and honestly bad writing seems far more likely than some subtle plot to me.

The motive to lie to the Eldar would be to conceal one’s defeat, salvage pride, and sow dissent (successfully) by portraying their victory as all part of the plan of toying with them. Neither Shalaxi nor Slaanesh would want all the Eldar factions continuing to work together.

The example of Skarbrand striking Khorne shows it is possible for a daemon to conceal its intent from its god. Shalaxi had just been released by Slaanesh from imprisonment/punishment for a past failure so Shalaxi would have every incentive not to appear a failure again so soon.

Iracundus wrote:
The motive to lie to the Eldar would be to conceal one’s defeat, salvage pride, and sow dissent (successfully) by portraying their victory as all part of the plan of toying with them. Neither Shalaxi nor Slaanesh would want all the Eldar factions continuing to work together.

The example of Skarbrand striking Khorne shows it is possible for a daemon to conceal its intent from its god. Shalaxi had just been released by Slaanesh from imprisonment/punishment for a past failure so Shalaxi would have every incentive not to appear a failure again so soon.

Makes sense to boast especially considering its the champion of the god of pride (and more)
It sounds like the author wanted him to appear more threatening and not just another greater daemon whos been killed by the heroes