Chaos magic in Age of Sigmar hits different, and this preview proves it.
The arcane tide runs from the Realms of Chaos straight into the Eightpoints. Moreover, in Champions of Chaos you channel that current as a willing conduit of the Dark Gods. However, this is not polite collegiate wizardry from Azyr. Instead, it is raw will carved into reality, paid for in whispers and wounds.
Chaos Magic 101: From the Eightpoints to your character sheet
All sorcery ultimately pours through the Cosmos Arcane, with the Eightpoints as the beating heart. Additionally, Chaos magic is change made manifest, which perfectly fits the promises of the Ruinous Powers. Unlike Order casters, realm affinities barely shape your spell effects. Instead, your patron and the mutating nature of Chaos stamp every incantation.
The Lores by Patron: Fate, Malignance, Extravagance, Ruin, and the Damned
The Lore of Fate channels Tzeentch, mixing scheming insight, arcane supremacy, and hungry wyrdflame. Furthermore, the Lore of Malignance leeches life like a cheerful plague, then props up allies with rancid vigor. The Lore of Extravagance weaponizes sensation, granting exquisite boons while overloading enemies with painful rapture. Meanwhile, the Great Horned Rat brings the Lore of Ruin, where Grey Seers vomit coruscating devastation. Even Chaos Undivided gets in on it with the Lore of the Damned, arming battle mages that stride with war hosts.
Chaos power is not only spellcraft, since blasphemous prayers hit just as hard. Notably, Skaven cultists from the Church of Contagion bellow rites that rot and unmake. However, Khorne despises wizards and calls them cowards for dodging honest murder. Consequently, his blessings are accessed through prayers, but only after acts of immediate and brutal violence. Therefore, blood is both key and currency when you ask the Lord of Skulls for favors.
Warpvolt Galvanism and Warpstone Engineering: Skryre’s open season
Champions of Chaos also cracks open the labs of Clans Skryre for would-be warlocks. Additionally, the book treats signature devices as open domain schematics for ambitious Engineers. The infamous Doomrocket joins the Warplock Jezzail, along with other cheerful hazards that spark, belch, and explode. Consequently, you can cook rivals and enemies alike with crackling warp-lightning or gouts of screaming green fire.
Why this sings at the table
Mechanically and narratively, every choice screams patron flavor first, realm tone second. Moreover, that split lets your sorcerer feel distinct even when crossing realms. Similarly, non-casters still swim in Chaos with violent prayers and Skryre hardware. Finally, your party can splice magic, prayer, and mad science into one very cursed toolkit.
Summary
Chaos magic flows from the Realms of Chaos into the Eightpoints, then through you. However, your patron shapes the outcome more than any realm does. The lores line up by god, covering Fate, Malignance, Extravagance, Ruin, and the Damned. Additionally, prayers add a second lane, with Khorne demanding violence before he listens. Meanwhile, Skryre gadgets like the Doomrocket and Warplock Jezzail round out the arsenal.
Champions of Chaos from Cubicle 7 is deliciously dangerous. Therefore, sharpen your invocations, practice your heretical litanies, and charge those warp-batteries. Moreover, when the book lands, you will wield twisted magic the Dark Gods actually notice. Until then, dream big, bargain hard, and remember that the bill always comes due.
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
This article does a very poor job in communicating just what this product or service even is. All the way till the last paragraph in the summary do you say this is a book but what is this book for? An RPG? An Artbook? An AOS supplement for narrative games? Smacks of copy paste of a press packet.