This Battlescroll update seems like an exciting shake-up for Age of Sigmar, and it’s cool to see how Games Workshop is refining the game with both competitive and casual play in mind. Here’s a quick recap of the key changes and what they mean for the Mortal Realms:
Spearhead Balance Updates
- Reinforcement Tweaks: Struggling factions gain more reinforcements, while overperforming ones face delayed arrivals for some units. This should help even out early-game imbalances.
- Ability Timing Changes: Likely clarifies or rebalances when certain abilities can be triggered, adding consistency to the format.
Updated Season Rules
- Priority Roll Adjustments:
- A new mechanic ties the ‘double turn’ into the underdog bonus, so players who leverage an early double turn no longer get to snowball easily.
- This should encourage strategic use of the double turn rather than an all-in early-game push.
- Double Turn Comeback:
- If you’re losing by 6+ victory points, you can take a double turn without penalty. This gives losing players a fighting chance to turn the game around and keeps matches more engaging.
- Expanded Honour Guard System:
- Field Sergeant: Boosts slow infantry units, making factions like Fyreslayers or Ironjawz more mobile.
- Prized Beast: Monsters ignore battle-damaged penalties and gain +1 to hit, making them deadlier late game. Mega-Gargants and hero-monsters like Bloodthirsters are sure to love this.
- Regimented Forces: Having more regiments than your opponent lets you take a second honour guard ability, adding more depth and choices in army building.
Faction Adjustments
Key changes include:
- Hero Buffs: Lesser-used heroes like Tahlia Vedra, Lord Kroak, and others get some love to boost their viability.
- Battle Trait Tweaks: Underperforming factions like Kharadron Overlords, Flesh-eater Courts, Blades of Khorne, and Hedonites of Slaanesh are getting updates to help them compete.
- New Regiment Options: Non-Wizard/non-Priest infantry heroes and even some monsters (like Bloodthirsters, Runeson on Magmadroth, and Tuskboss on Maw-grunta) can now join other heroes’ regiments, giving armies greater flexibility and synergy.
Takeaways
This update feels like a solid effort to bring more variety and balance to Age of Sigmar:
- Spearhead players benefit from adjustments that make the mode fairer and more dynamic.
- Season rules make comebacks and strategic army building more rewarding.
- Factions that have lagged behind get tailored improvements, while stronger factions face subtle nerfs through ability timing and unit arrival changes.
It’ll be fascinating to see how these changes affect the meta in the coming months, especially with increased options for honour guard abilities and the focus on reinforcements.
Are there any specific factions or mechanics you’re particularly excited (or worried) about in this update?
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
