The new edition of Warhammer Age of Sigmar brings big changes to every faction in the game. We’ve already taken a look at the Stormcast Eternals, Orruk Warclans, and the mortal followers of Chaos, among others. We’ve rounded up all the faction articles here if you’re after a specific one. Today, we take a closer look at the Ossiarch Bonereapers, an army hand-crafted by Nagash to carve out new territory across the Mortal Realms.
Who Are the Ossiarch Bonereapers?
The Ossiarch Bonereapers are Nagash’s elite army, created in secret and kept in hiding until just the right moment. They march with the lockstep precision of automatons, tirelessly advancing without any semblance of fear or doubt.
Their bodies are sculpted from the ensorceled bones of their enemies and animated by souls as artfully crafted as their physical forms. They are Death itself, given form and purpose.
On the tabletop, the Ossiarch Bonereapers are Nagash’s elite. With plenty of powerful Heroes, strong core units, and both Monsters and artillery to choose from, they can be tailored to a variety of play styles.
With access to a unique relentless discipline mechanic in place of command points, they have loads of points to spread around, representing the iron will of their necromantic leaders.
Just as with our previous faction-focused articles, we reached out to the playtester team for some expert advice on the Ossiarch Bonereapers. Steve Curtis was happy to answer the call, boasting more than 5,000 points that have seen their way around the tournament scene since they first arrived.
He loves the synergy between the various units that make them feel like a well-honed crusading force. Wielding them expertly to victory is a very rewarding experience. Take a look at what Steve had to say about how the Ossiarch Bonereapers play in the new edition of Warhammer Age of Sigmar.
Steve: An Ossiarch Bonereapers army is built up of a core of Mortek Guard, fast flanking cavalry units, hulking support Monsters, and one of the most powerful artillery units in the game – Mortek Crawlers. Relentless discipline points are the main way the faction operates on the table. Every unit can spend them to use unique commands as long as they have the Hekatos keyword or a Hekatos is nearby. A Liege-Kavalos – or Katakros himself – helps you generate even more relentless discipline points. Manage these well to secure victory.
On the surface, the army is slow and resilient. The Mystic Shield spell makes your Battleline Mortek Guard extremely survivable, and you can speed up units with relentless discipline points – perfect for intercepting enemy units and forcefully extracting the bone tithe. Powerful Heroes like Arkhan the Black, Nagash and Katakros, key support pieces, and a solid core make an Ossiarch Bonereapers army an elite fighting force.
Biggest Winners
The new edition of Warhammer Age of Sigmar has been kind to some units, as the updated core rules make certain units even stronger than they were before. Steve shared his top three pics.
Nagash, Supreme Lord of the Undead
Steve: The Great Necromancer is more terrifying than ever in the new edition. Being able to cast up to eight spells a turn – and being able to cast both Arcane Bolt and Mystic Shield as many times as he wants – means you can play very defensively or aggressively. Arcane Bolt’s versatility is key.
Once cast, you can keep it ready until the start of any phase, and unleash it to cause mortal wounds. Being able to cause up to 8D3 mortal wounds before combat starts is frankly incredible.
Kavalos Deathriders
Steve: With changes to unit sizes and reinforced units, Kavalos Deathriders are great for harassing and picking off the smaller units that will be prevalent on the battlefields of the new edition. Deathriders have the speed, punch, and resilience to push into enemy territory while your Mortek Guard defends your backline. Deathriders are the fastest unit in the Ossiarch Bonereapers lineup, and they’ll be essential in your matched play games.
Gothizzar Harvester
Steve: The Gothizzar Harvester gets a huge boost from the new Monster rules. It counts as more than one model for holding objectives, which is crucial in matched play, and has access to devastating monstrous rampages on top of its already formidable damage output. Whether you need to go toe-to-toe with another Monster or reduce a Sylvaneth Wyldwood to splinters, you’re covered!
Thanks for your advice, Steve. If the idea of an iron-willed army of disciplined undead soldiers sounds appealing to you, the Ossiarch Bonereapers are for you. Grab a copy of Battletome: Ossiarch Bonereapers and a box of Mortek Guard to get started before the new edition of Warhammer Age of Sigmar arrives.
Check back tomorrow for more information about the updated Path to Glory rules for narrative gaming goodness, and a look at how the Sylvaneth play in the new edition.