This week’s Warhammer news covers rules changes, classic characters, undead cavalry, and some extremely angry duardin.
The Horus Heresy gets the biggest gameplay adjustment, especially for Vanguard units. Meanwhile, Blood Bowl and The Old World receive characterful miniature reveals. Age of Sigmar also shows how grudges will shape the Khazalite Holds on the tabletop.
Horus Heresy Rules Update Makes Vanguard More Reliable
The Horus Heresy update answers lingering questions while correcting several awkward rules interactions. Most importantly, Vanguard now remembers whether an enemy started the Player Turn near an objective.
Therefore, a Reposition reaction cannot deny bonus Victory Points by simply slipping away afterward. Vanguard also needs enemies within three inches, rather than actually controlling the objective. Consequently, Assault Marines, Veletaris, and many Legio Custodes units become more dependable scoring tools.
The FAQ also confirms that an Armour Penetration Test result of one automatically fails. Additionally, Games Workshop clarifies Line of Sight, Flurry of Blows restrictions, and multiple Reactions to the same trigger. Several errata repair unintended interactions too. Malefic Cybertheurgists now properly account for Difficulty Values when attempting their rites.
Likewise, Legiones Astartes Overseers can join Imperialis Militia units as well as Solar Auxilia. Vehicles also receive appropriate saving throws and damage mitigation at the intended points. Overall, this feels like careful maintenance rather than a sweeping balance reset.
Blood Bowl Stars and Tomb Kings Cavalry Return
Blood Bowl gets two wonderfully ridiculous returning Star Players, beginning with the suspiciously intelligent Ripper Bolgrot. Ripper remains a troll with brains and brawn after mysterious “sports therapy” taught him actual strategy.
His Thinking Man’s Troll ability provides one reroll per half across several dice situations. However, Armour, Injury, and Casualty rolls remain excluded.
Fungus the Loon brings the opposite approach. His Whirling Dervish ability grants one movement-direction reroll each activation, giving coaches limited control over his usual chaos.
Both plastic miniatures arrive alongside the Night Goblins team.
The Tomb Kings are also receiving a multipart plastic cavalry kit containing ten models. Players can build Skeleton Horsemen or Skeleton Horse Archers, creating either charging pressure or mobile shooting.
Horsemen may carry spears or swords with shields, while interchangeable heads add welcome variety. Better still, the box works as one unit of ten or two units of five. Each group can include a champion, musician, and banner bearer.
On the table, these riders give slow Khemrian armies useful flankers, war-machine hunters, and harassment units. Rules already appear in Ravening Hordes.
Khazalite Holds Turn Grudges Into Battlefield Power
The biggest Age of Sigmar Warhammer news centers on the Khazalite Holds and their wonderfully thematic grudge system. Units gain grudge marks when allies die, objectives are contested, or Grimmdron fail to finish enemies.
If the general dies, up to three friendly units can immediately gain marks. Meanwhile, Reclaim the Karaks awards another when enemies seize an objective inside Khazalite territory.
Retreating removes one, which perfectly reinforces the faction’s stubborn personality. Heroes can also use Let It Be Known! to temporarily place another grudge on a nearby unit. Those marks unlock different warscroll bonuses.
Thrynns gain extra melee attacks based on nearby marked units, potentially reaching three additional attacks.
Clangunners with shotcannons gain another ranged attack while carrying a grudge. Likewise, Oathkeeper Cannons and Stonebreaker Mortars gain Crit (2 Hits).
Valayan Guardians instead turn resentment into defence, granting nearby qualifying units a 5+ Ward while marked. Fyreslayers benefit too, with Auric Runesmiters improving chanting and accessing Ancestor God Recitations.
Grimnir’s Recitation, for example, punishes enemies with mortal damage whenever they use Core abilities. The Army Set goes on pre-order Saturday, while Ancestral Vows still awaits another preview.
Overall, this Warhammer news roundup offers more substance than a simple collection of miniature reveals. Heresy players get cleaner scoring, while Blood Bowl and Tomb Kings gain models with clear tabletop roles. Meanwhile, Khazalite grudges look thematic without becoming empty flavor text. Several corners of Warhammer are getting sharper while keeping their personalities intact.
