The wait is almost over: there has been extensive rule coverage, 24 faction focus articles previewing how your favourite armies play, and loads of amazing miniatures. The Skaven have enacted their realm-shattering plan and are swarming across the Mortal Realms, and only the Stormcast Eternals stand between them and victory for the Great Horned Rat.
Warhammer Age of Sigmar – Skaventide
Skaventide is the behemoth debut for the new edition of Warhammer Age of Sigmar, and it’s the greatest launch box ever. The pre-order window will be open for two weeks as usual, and although we’ve made loads, the set is strictly available while stocks last.
We expect the pre-order period to be quite busy, so we’re activating a queuing system and putting a limit on the number of copies of Skaventide each customer can order. You’ll be able to pre-order at the following times in your area.
This massive launch box is packed to the brim with 74 jaw-dropping new miniatures divided between two factions.
The Stormcast Eternals comprise 24 miniatures, with a command staff made up of an imperious Lord-Vigilant on Gryph-Staker, a solemn Lord-Terminos with attendant Memorian, a Lord-Veritant with Gryph-crow, and a Knight-Questor. The rank and file are made up of 10 indomitable Liberators , alongside three battle-hardened Reclusians with their Memorians and three soaring Prosecutors.
Pitted against them are the perfidious Skaven. They are led by a scheming Claw-lord on Gnaw-Beast and a Grey Seer from the Masterclan, while a Warlock Engineer watches over the complement of Skryre weapons. The crowning jewel of this collection of chaotic contraptions is the Ratling Warpblaster, which is supported by three Warplock Jezzails. A truly prodigious collection of 40 Clanrats make up the bulk of this vile horde, and three hulking Rat Ogres provide the muscle.
That’s not everything either, as Skaventide also comes with everything you need to play the new Spearhead game mode. Within the Stormcast Eternals and Skaven forces there are enough miniatures to construct their Spearhead forces, and rules for all of the currently available Spearhead boxes are contained within the 144-page Spearhead: Fire and Jade book.
On top of that, you’ll get a double-sided game board with printed objectives, the four pieces of terrain you need, 3” and 6” range rulers which clip together, and all the cards you need – two Twist Decks and two Battle Tactic Decks. Throw in some dice and you can be playing Spearhead on your dining room table on launch day.
That’s still not everything, as this mountain of stuff is capped off with a 272-page hardback Warhammer Age of Sigmar Core Book, which is a treasure trove of gorgeous art, in-depth background information – including a fold-out cosmology of the Mortal Realms – and an exploration of each of the eight realms told from the perspective of their inhabitants.
This book also contains all the Core and Advanced rules you need to play, the First Blood battlepack, and the Path to Glory battlepack. Rounding things out is a deck of 17 cards which contain the season rules and battle plans for the 2024-25 Matched Play Season General’s Handbook, so you can start honing your tactical nous from the word go.
There are also pre-order bonuses to be scored while stocks last. Pre-order from the Warhammer webstore (or the in-store terminal of your local Warhammer store) and you’ll get a set of six metal objective tokens.
If you wait until the release date of July 13th and buy your box at your local Warhammer store, you’ll receive a set of command point tokens – just ask one of our friendly store staff for more details. Again, while stocks last.
Finally, if you pre-order from participating independent stockists you can get a hardback notebook themed after Skaventide. Simply ask your local stores for more details.
Skaventide
To tie in with the release of the new edition of Warhammer Age of Sigmar there is a gripping new novel from Gary Kloster, Skaventide. Deep in the heart of the Skaven apocalypse, the Stormcast Eternals of the Ruination Chamber fight for their survival, but within this blighted wasteland lies a prize – a lost Stormcast Eternal who carries within him ancient and forbidden knowledge.
Should the Skaven claim him, it will surely spell doom for Aqshy, and the race is on as the Hour of Ruin begins. You’ll be able to pre-order it in hardback, eBook, and audiobook formats.
Skaventide is also available in a beautiful royal blue Special Edition in the colours of the Hallowed Knights, with screen printed artwork complemented by silver foil on the front and spine, alongside blue page edges and a blue ribbon bookmark. It also features the regular full-colour art inside, and is signed by the author. As a Special Edition, orders are limited to one copy per order.
The Warhammer Age of Sigmar train keeps on rolling next week with the very first Spearhead episode of Battle Report.
Presenter Nick is taking command of the spectral Nighthaunt and duking it out with an extremely formidable opponent: Sam from the Warhammer Studio, one of the minds behind the brilliant Spearhead game mode. He’s brought with him a horde of grots and squigs united under the lunar banner of the Gloomspite Gitz.
Citadel Colour Masterclass has also been buckling under a tide of rats, and as a result this week Ed has focused on how to paint desaturated skin tones and clumps of fur, and then blend them together for a natural look. On top of that, he’s also teaching you how to paint those fleshy, whip-like tails. It’s the perfect video to watch in preparation for painting your own Skaven.
You can also whet your appetite for the grubby underside of the Mortal Realms by watching a free episode of Hammer and Bolter on Warhammer TV. Undercity finds Witch Hunter Hanniver Toll and his long-suffering associate Armand Callis investigating the mysterious disappearance of a person of importance in Hammerhal Aqsha. Callis and Toll are among the many characters that provide a ground-level view of the Mortal Realms, and this episode is a great exploration of the darker, grittier side of Warhammer Age of Sigmar as the Hour of Ruin approaches.
On Warhammer Community next week there will be more Warhammer Age of Sigmar coverage while we wait patiently for that all-important Skaventide pre-order date.