Alright, Blood Bowl fans, brace yourselves because Chaos Dwarfs are making a fiery comeback, and it’s looking intense! The Zharr-Naggrund Ziggurats are trundling onto the pitch with a new batch of models, Star Players, and some classic Blood Bowl chaos. We got the inside scoop from games designer Danny on how these pint-sized, short-tempered bruisers are evolving for the game.
The Chaos Dwarfs Playstyle
The Chaos Dwarfs are largely sticking to what veteran coaches know and love – hard-hitting, hard-to-remove, and they’ve got that classic angry dwarf attitude, minus the agility finesse. Danny mentions they tweaked the team’s playstyle slightly to make them more engaging to play against, and less of a frustration-fest for opponents. The focus? They’re still super durable and great at knocking out opposition players, but with some key updates to their skills.
For instance, Chaos Dwarf Blockers are still rocking the Block skill, but they’ve lost Tackle, making them less of a nightmare for agile teams. This is a cool change since it sets them apart from other Dwarfs and forces coaches to rethink how they approach the pitch when facing nimble opponents.
Oh, and the new Iron-hard Skin skill? Absolute gold. It ignores armor modifiers like Mighty Blow, Dirty Player, and even Chainsaws! In lore, the Chaos Dwarfs’ magic slowly turns them to stone, and now in-game, your Blockers are going to be tough to budge.
New Positionals and Familiar Faces
While the Hobgoblin Linemen, Bull Centaur Blitzers, and Minotaurs are basically unchanged (why mess with perfection, right?), we’re getting two brand-new positionals that bring fresh tactics to the table:
- Sneaky Stabber: This Hobgoblin is the Blood Bowl version of an assassin. With Shadowing and Stab, he’s perfect for hunting down lightly armored players like Catchers or Throwers, slipping in some sneaky knife work.
- Chaos Dwarf Flamesmith: A more offensive option, the Flamesmith is quicker than the standard Blocker and can wreck your opponent’s plans with the Breathe Fire trait. This move can knock players prone or take them down without rolling block dice – a brilliant way to deal with those annoying Blodge (Block+Dodge) players.
These additions are going to give coaches new ways to control the board and advance the ball behind a wall of AV 10+ players. If you’re looking to grind your way to victory while staying nearly indestructible, this team is going to feel right at home.
Star Players Return
Now, let’s talk Star Players! Three iconic characters are hitting the field:
- H’Thark the Unstoppable: This Bull Centaur is as massive as they come. With Strength 6, Block, Break Tackle, Juggernaut, and the ability to reroll block dice, he’s an absolute unit. They’ve designed him to live up to his name, and he’ll be a game-changer on the pitch.
- Zzharg Madeye: After three decades, this cantankerous inventor finally gets a model! With his trusty blunderbuss, solid stats, and the Hail Mary Pass ability, Zzharg can launch the ball anywhere on the pitch, making him a serious threat in both offense and defense. Plus, his special rule lets him turn his gun on opponents – talk about deadly!
- Rashnak Backstabber: The most infamous of the Sneaky Stabbers, Rashnak uses a cocktail of poisons to eliminate opponents. He’s as sneaky as they come, and will be a nightmare for opponents to deal with.
Darklands Derby – A Thematic League
In classic Chaos Dwarf fashion, the Darklands Derby brings a whole new flavor to Blood Bowl leagues with lenient referees, tons of dirty play, and crazy inducements. The Chaos Dwarf Sorcerer can mess with the game by turning boots to stone or throwing brimstone on the pitch. The weather table adds volcanic eruptions and tectonic shifts, and even the kick-off can lead to extra Hobgoblin players rushing in for some chaos.
Bottom line? If you love playing tough-as-nails teams with a bit of magic-fueled brutality, Chaos Dwarfs are about to bring some major heat to Blood Bowl. With new models, enhanced skills, and exciting Star Players, there’s never been a better time to pledge yourself to Hashut. Pre-orders are up this weekend – don’t miss out!
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
