By now, we know quite a lot about the obstinate excavators in the Leagues of Votann – we recently met the five biggest Leagues, while some of our talented community painters have shown us how to paint them up.
But how do they play? Each of the five Leagues has a different style – and as you’d expect, unique rules to match. Read this article and find out which faction suits your tabletop tactics.
The largest of all the Leagues, the GTL are skilled warriors and unstoppable expansionists with a rational, mercenary bent. They undertake war with a Pragmatic Wisdom that makes for battle plans as efficient as they are effective.
Always running the numbers to ensure victory with the least expense, a WARLORD of the Greater Thurian League can roll a dice every time you spend a Command point on a Stratagem. On a 5+, those resources are refunded – all the better to toss out another Appraising Glare.
The GTL’s green-blue and cream livery is iconic among the Leagues of Votann, and you can easily achieve it by following these painting guides.
The Kronus Hegemony are the most warlike of the Leagues, full of belligerent and ill-tempered Kindreds who seek to use their Battle Prowess to claim victory – and the precious resources they need to protect their fledgling Votann.
Joining the Kronus Hegemony requires a Kindred, Clan, or Hold to pledge to provide martial excellence. Their League Custom encourages throwing your Kin into combat, giving each unit that charged – or was charged, or Heroically Intervened – an extra attack and bonus Strength when they fight. As though Cthonian Beserks needed any further incentive…
Unmistakable with their black and yellow outfits, check out this painting swatch and the video playlist.
Scattered far and wide across the galaxy, the Trans-Hyperian Alliance is set apart from the rest of the Leagues by their devoted cult of ancestral veneration. This wide-ranging search for knowledge and plunder is led by cunning Nomad Strategists.
Generals of the Trans-Hyperian Alliance often surprise their foes with quick-witted maneuvers,* and this Warlord Trait allows the THA to redeploy up to three units within their deployment zone – or into Strategic Reserves. It’s perfect for shoring up your defences, or repositioning into a crucial flank strike.
Outfitted in blazing orange armour, you can create your cadre of galactic explorers by following these video guides.
Despite their mantra of quality over quantity, the Ymyr Conglomerate has amassed more material wealth than any other League. They have used this great pile of stuff to fuel the workshops of their renowned Master Armourers, to outfit a host of elite Oathbands in fine wargear.
The Conglomerate’s League Custom allow them to field forgewrought masterpieces across their armies, increasing the range of all of their weapons by 4" – perfect for those Beam weapons. It also confers a 5+ invulnerable save to every unit, while those with especially heavy armour instead get an invulnerable save of 4+.
Their rich crimson and gold armour marks this League out as enjoyers of the finer things in life. You can add a touch of luxury to your forces with the paints in this swatch, or by following these videos.
In contrast to the largely pragmatic attitude of most of the Leagues, the Urani-Surtr Regulates are self-reliant and inflexible, digging in to fight foes on many fronts while frugally managing their resources – the lives of their Kin included.
The leaders of the URSR set an example to all who serve under them, and the Waste Not Your Last Breath Stratagem allows them to make a bold final statement, going out in a berserk blaze of glory.
Check out these guides to painting the resilient green armour of the Regulates right here.
The Leagues of Votann Army Set contains everything you need to kick off an Oathband from any of these five core Leagues – or establish a League of your own with established Customs chosen from a whole set included in Codex: Leagues of Votann. It’s currently sold out on the Games Workshop webstore, but it will be on sale at your local Warhammer store – and other games stores – from Saturday. The rest of the range will be arriving soon after.
* They do have such little legs, after all.