he Hour of Ruin brings a seismic shift to Warhammer Underworlds with a fresh new setting and revamped rules. The new edition moves the battle to the Skaven-infested ruins of Embergard, a city destroyed during the Vermindoom, where warbands now venture into emberstone-filled mines, with the backdrop of intense deck-building and tactical skirmishes.
The Core Game marks a major evolution for Warhammer Underworlds. Unlike past seasons, there won’t be a new starter set every six months. The new edition will launch with two warbands:
- The Emberwatch: Led by Stormcast Eternal Ardorn Flamerunner, this warband strikes swiftly and efficiently. Flamerunner is joined by assassin Farasa Twice-Risen and marksman Yurik Velzaine, who seek to protect Embergard from plunderers.
- Zikkit’s Tunnelpack: This warband features the deranged Warlock Engineer Zikkit Rockgnaw, who burrows through the battlefield with his warp-drill, aided by a chaotic crew of Skaven. His warband includes apprentices like Rittak Verm, who pilots a deadly Kill-wheel, and bomb-wielding Tik Tik.
Key Changes to the Game:
- Warband Warscrolls: Warband-specific decks are no longer part of the game. Instead, every warband now has a Warscroll that outlines their unique abilities, ensuring the warband retains its distinct playstyle no matter which Rivals Deck you use.
- Rivals Decks: The core box comes with four universal Rivals decks—Blazing Assault, Emberstone Sentinels, Countdown to Cataclysm, and Pillage & Plunder—giving players a variety of playstyles to experiment with.
- Streamlined Rules: The new rulebook is significantly condensed, with only 16 pages of total rules and core gameplay fitting into just 7 pages. These simplified mechanics keep the game fast-paced and easy to learn while retaining depth.
- Updated Components: The box includes a double-sided game board, eight custom dice, 76 tokens, and everything needed to start playing right away, including a quick start sheet for assembling your miniatures.
- Legacy Support: While old cards and boards won’t be compatible with the new edition, all previously released miniatures will be. Rules for all 58 existing warbands will be available, either digitally or physically, so players can jump right back into the action.
The new edition ensures games are intense and close-fought, with underdog mechanics allowing for dramatic comebacks, and the overall changes making the game more accessible to new players without losing its tactical richness.
The new rules will make their competitive debut at the World Championships of Warhammer, with live coverage available on Warhammer Community.
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