From shadowy springs in Ulgu’s umbral valleys to scorching summers atop the gleaming peaks of Chamon, the seasons of the Mortal Realms are ever-shifting. Whether it waxes or wanes, the power of nature suffuses the realms – the Everqueen’s deepwood hosts are on the march, and Battletome: Sylvaneth is getting riper by the day.
Before we pluck that bountiful fruit, let’s have a taster of the juicy rules within. Though winter in Ashqy is vastly different to the same season in Shyish, the realms all move through four broadly similar phases – and the Sylvaneth are symbiotically linked to these Seasons of War.
After you’ve picked your Sylvaneth army, you must also choose one of four seasons. Each season grants different properties to your Awakened Wyldwoods and overgrown terrain – which already offer an abundance of abilities with which to heal your treefolk and outmanoeuvre your enemies.
The Burgeoning is a time of regrowth and renewal, vivifying the Sylvaneth with a flood of life energy. Taking damage? That’s so last season – hardened bark and flexible sapwood are the spring style, granting your forest fighters a ward of 6+ while they’re hanging around a suitably leafy hideaway. And you thought Treelords were tough already…
Summer and autumn are no slouches, either. The Reaping finds the Sylvaneth at the height of their powers, expanding the range of your arboreal abilities. When the summery influence of the Lady of Vines just isn’t enough, you can beat the heat beneath an emerald canopy of free healing and teleports.
The Dwindling sees the Sylvaneth stockpile arcane power in preparation for the harsh winter ahead. Tapping into this life magic offers buffs to SYLVANETH WIZARDS within range of overgrown terrain or Awakened Wyldwoods – perfect for ensuring your Warsong Revenant maintains spellcasting supremacy.
Even the final part of the seasonal cycle does nothing to rob the Sylvaneth of their might. Although The Everdusk does shrink the range of your friendly foliage, it also imbues nearby warriors with a chilling fury. Even murderous forest folk can get the winter munchies…
While your units are within 6" of a wintry terrain feature, each unmodified roll of a 6 to hit in melee scores you two furious blows instead of one, representing the cold embers of their rage. Just imagine how many hits a squadron of just three Spiterider Lancers can put out – nasty stuff!
The four Seasons of War give a cunning Sylvaneth player plenty of options to construct armies that work in harmony with nature – and suit their key abilities.
Want to field a force of lumbering Kurnoth Hunters? Make them even tougher with The Burgeoning, or have them range far and wide during The Reaping. Prefer to cultivate hordes of Dryads? Reinforce them with Endless Spells under The Dwindling, or overwhelm foes with countless attacks thanks to The Everdusk.
Battletome: Sylvaneth is fat on the vine and almost ready for harvest, so keep your eyes on Warhammer Community to catch more rules previews and that all-important pre-order announcement.
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