The next Warhammer Age of Sigmar battlebox is nearly upon us. Arena of Shades pits the eternally cursed Nighthaunt against the ruthless Daughters of Khaine in a dust-up that asks the age-old question – can a bunch of dagger-wielding aelves slice up a bunch of ethereal warriors?
Today we’re introducing you to a brand new variety of Nighthaunt, the Craventhone Guard. These spooky bodyguards are the personal chaperones of Kurdoss Valentian, the Craven King, but they’re just more salt in the wound for this cursed soul.In life, this ruthless ruler did anything he could to cling to power. In death, he is monarch in name only, fated to further the schemes of his own masters, Lady Olynder and Nagash himself.
The Craventhrone Guard makes his miserable existence even worse. In life, they were his strongmen, dragged into the unceasing nightmare of unlife and cursed to obey Valentian in all but one respect – their bolts will always land the killing blow before their master does.
Cruelly, it matters not where these enemies hide. In a castle, in a thicket, behind their bodyguards, cowering in a well, or even obscured behind the bulky stone throne of Valentian himself as he attempts to kill someone for himself just once – the spectral bolts of the Craventhrone Guard always hit their mark.
A ranged unit is a rarity for a Death army* – they traditionally prefer to shamble, rattle, and apparate their way into their opponents' faces rather than attack from a distance – and it opens up many options. Spells are no longer your only way of taking out hard-to-reach Heroes and critical units, while a shooting phase opens up plenty of new options to score Battle Tactics and deny your opponent the aura abilities that make their army tick.
There will be plenty more tricks hidden up their spectral sleeves when the Nighthaunt battletome arrives, so grab a copy of Arena of Shades and add these spooky sharpshooters to your collection.
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* A handful of units like Chainghasts and Mortek Crawlers buck the trend.