Dawnbringers: book IV – The Mad King Rises is available to pre-order on Saturday alongside the big man himself – Ushoran. The Mortarch of Delusion has more appellations than most of us have had hot dinners, and like all of the lieutenants of Nagash, he is not above ranging out onto the field of battle to get the job done.
In The Mad King Rises, you’ll find rules for six Regiments of Renown, one for each Mortarch. Before we get a glimpse of how they play, here’s a video to get you up to speed on Ushoran.
The Mortarchs are creations of Nagash, the Supreme Lord of the Undead. They act as executors of his will – his lidless eyes and bony hands stretching out across the Mortal Realms. Though they may jostle amongst themselves for power and chafe at the actions of the others, they will cooperate if Nagash demands.
Like previous Regiments of Renown, each of these new units can be taken in any Death faction that isn’t the home faction for that Mortarch – Mannfred von Carstein, for instance, won’t turn up with his Sternieste Garrison in a Soulblight Gravelords army.
Ushoran, 10 Cryptguard, and three bounding Morbheg Knights make up the Summerking’s Entourage. This coterie of cannibals is at its peak when acting in concert, Maddening Radiance adding 1 to the Attacks characteristic of melee weapons to the Cryptguard and Morbheg Knights while they’re wholly within 12” of Ushoran.
From her throne in Nulahmia, Neferata weaves wicked schemes all across the Mortal Realms – one such pawn is even nestled within Ushoran’s royal court. In battle she commands Neferata’s Royal Echelon, a bodyguard of Black Knights and eminently disposable Deathrattle Skeletons, but her real power comes from the meticulous plans she executes, often countless years in the making.
The Blood Queen’s Will grants a once-per-battle ability in the battleshock phase to replace the Battle Tactic that has been picked and replace it with one that hasn’t been completed, even if it was one that failed earlier in the battle. It is a complex gambit, but it can wrongfoot even the most assiduous foe.
Lady Olynder’s Sorrowmourn Choir will send a shiver up the spine of the boldest warriors. The Mortarch of Grief and her Dreadscythe Harridans and Myrmourn Banshees are consummate Harvesters of Sorrow, terrifying foes within 3” so they cannot receive commands in the battleshock phase. They also become emboldened as they rush into combat to feed on despair, receiving the Strikes First effect if they score an unmodified 8+ on their charge roll.
All six Regiments of Renown bring something fresh to the table, and you’ll find them all in The Mad King Rises. If you’ve not yet had some obsequious and fragrant courtier whisper syrupy sweet tales of the magnificence of Ushoran into your ear, you can catch a glimpse of his glory by downloading his Warcroll for free by hitting the button below.
Pick yourself a Mortarch on the Warhammer webstore, and remember you can preorder Ushoran, the Fangs of the Bloodqueen, all the new Flesh-eater Courts, and Dawnbringers: Book IV – The Mad King Rises on Saturday – not a bad time for the living dead.