The Duardin Unite: A Review

The Khazalite Holds Army Set has barely arrived, and Games Workshop is already sending the rest of the mountain after it.

We were expecting a little more breathing room between the launch box and the wider release (perhaps that Kill Team: Armageddon set). Apparently, the duardin have places to be, grudges to settle, and absolutely no interest in waiting for us to finish painting.

We are not going to complain.

The next preorder wave brings High Kyng Valankrom, additional infantry, new leaders, and individual releases for the Army Set models. The Fyreslayers are joining the march with new characters and boxed forces, while White Dwarf 530 and the next Scouring novel round out the lineup.

The King Brought His House

High Kyng Valankrom is not the sort of ruler who walks to an appointment.

His enormous War Throne arrives covered in carved stone, dragon-headed ornamentation, runic decoration, and attendants. It looks like someone removed the most important part of a hold and decided it would be more useful on the battlefield.

That is exactly why we like it.

Rather than putting another king on another oversized creature, the design turns the architecture of the faction into its centerpiece. The stonework provides broad surfaces for weathering and contrast, while the figures aboard it create smaller focal points throughout the model.

It is an ambitious painting project, but one that feels distinctly Khazalite.

The kit alternatively builds a Thrynn on War Throne. A separate foot Thrynn and a Runewright also join the release, providing more compact leadership options for anyone whose hobby shelf cannot currently accommodate a traveling government building.

A Proper Wall of Duardin

Valayan Guardians bring a more elaborate take on the faction’s armored infantry, with a choice of runic halberds or rune axes and shields.

The shield-equipped models are our first pick. Their broad shields, layered armor, and crested helmets create a wonderfully stubborn silhouette. They look like the sort of unit that considers moving out of somebody’s way a personal failing.

The Clangunners handle the ranged side, carrying either Thrundok rifles or Thrundrin shotcannons.

Both options have the substantial, carefully engineered appearance we would expect from this army. Nothing looks flimsy, and the shotcannons in particular suggest that accuracy can sometimes be negotiated through the generous application of ammunition.

Together, these units give Army Set owners something different to place beside their Clanshields. The shared armor shapes and runic details should also make it straightforward to carry an existing paint scheme across the wider collection.

No Second Army Set Required

Hjulda Drakkblud, Clanshields, the Oathkeeper Cannon, and Gholems of Gazul are all receiving individual releases.

That is useful for anyone who wants to expand selectively rather than buy another complete launch box. Sometimes you need more infantry. Sometimes you need another enormous stone ancestor with a hammer. These are equally reasonable hobby decisions.

The Clanshields offer interchangeable heads and shields, weapon choices, and command options, giving repeated units room for variation.

The larger kits also have alternative builds. The Oathkeeper Cannon can become a Stonebreaker Mortar, while the Gholems of Gazul can instead be assembled as Gholems of Valaya.

Those are different configurations of the same kits, not additional models included alongside the original builds.

Another set of Gholems would be particularly tempting. Having both interpretations of the Ancestor Gods standing beside the War Throne could make an impressive display, although “just one more unit” would be doing some heavy lifting at that point.

Please note: We still have some availability on the army release set. We suggest if you want these kits to grab these bundle boxes while they last and get the units you need for a better price point. You can pick it up here. 

Fyreslayers Bring Their Own Heat

Ormyr and Ashtongue introduce a new pairing to the fiery side of the faction.

The wandering Fyreslayer and his Kyndledroth companion make an entertaining contrast to the formal Khazalite leadership. Ashtongue’s armored back, broad stance, and open jaws give the creature plenty of personality. Ormyr looks entirely comfortable beside it, which probably says more about him than the creature.

They would make a good smaller project between infantry units, with a different mixture of textures and colors from the stone and metal dominating the rest of this wave.

For a larger collection, Spearhead: Magmic Fyrd contains an Auric Runefather on Magmadroth, an Auric Runesmiter, nine Vulkyn Flameseekers, and five Auric Hearthguard.

That gives the Fyreslayers a very different visual identity from Drakkblud’s Clanguard. The Magmadroth provides the centerpiece, with exposed skin, fiery colors, and ornate weapons across the accompanying warriors.

Fjori’s Vengeance offers a smaller contingent. This Regiment of Renown contains a Grimhold Exile, an Auric Flamekeeper, and five Hearthguard Berzerkers, giving Order armies a way to bring some Fyreslayer assistance.

“Assistance” presumably involves shouting, axes, and a fairly relaxed attitude toward workplace burns.

The Book and the Extras

Battletome: Khazalite Holds receives its standalone release alongside a smaller-format Gamer’s Edition containing the same book content and 53 reference cards.

Army Set owners are not being asked to replace their newly acquired battletome. This is the wider release of the faction’s book, with another format available for players who prefer a more compact reference.

The Gamer’s Edition is available while stocks last, as are the accompanying frosted-green dice with gold markings. 

The dice suit the faction nicely, but the smaller book and reference cards would be the more practical temptation for us.

Please note: The Gamer's Edition is available only directly, and will be available via our Special Order program while supplies last. Once again, if you are wanting to pick up models and rules, we suggest grabbing an Army Box while supplies last. 

White Dwarf Goes Behind the Holds

White Dwarf 530 includes interviews with the Khazalite miniature designers, the ’Eavy Metal team, and the artists behind the battletome’s illustrations.

That is particularly welcome alongside a range with such a strong visual identity. Understanding why certain shapes, colors, and details were chosen can provide useful inspiration before committing to an army-wide scheme.

It is also a chance to appreciate the work behind the miniatures before immediately deciding to paint all of them differently. A time-honored hobby tradition.

The issue also includes an Adeptus Custodes battle report against Genestealer Cults and a feature on starting a Necromunda gang.

The Khazalites are not keeping the entire magazine to themselves.

The Scouring Returns to Mars

John French’s Wrath of Terra brings the second book in The Scouring series to the release lineup.

The story turns toward the reconquest of Mars, where the Dark Mechanicum remains entrenched. Political struggles continue on Terra, while the Blood Angels face the aftermath of Sanguinius’ death.

That sounds like fertile ground for the series. Surviving the Siege does not mean the remaining Imperium suddenly agrees on what happens next, and reclaiming Mars is unlikely to be a polite discussion about returning borrowed machinery.

The novel arrives in a standard hardback, alongside a separately scheduled Premium Edition with a black leather-effect cover and silver-finish medallion.

Please Note: The Premium Edition is Games Workshop direct-only and will not be available through Wargame Portal.

Its preorder opens separately on Wednesday, November 11, at 3 p.m. UK time. The initial availability is while stocks last, although GW says the edition may return to print later.

That collector’s release should not be confused with the main weekend preorder wave. The direct-only restriction applies to the Premium Edition, not the standard hardback. This is a bit of a sleeper pre-order and we suspect this item will sell out rapidly!

Our Take

We genuinely did not expect the wider Khazalite range to arrive quite this quickly after the Army Set.

It is a pleasant surprise, though. Anyone who enjoyed the launch box can now expand in several directions without spending months waiting for the rest of the faction to catch up.

The Valayan Guardians would be our first addition. Their shield-and-axe builds capture exactly what we like about the range: substantial armor, clear silhouettes, and ornamentation that adds character without swallowing the miniature.

The individual Gholems and artillery releases make selective expansion easier, while the Fyreslayer boxes offer an entirely different painting project within the same broader faction.

Valankrom would be the longer-term commitment.

We might finish the Army Set before starting him.

We also might not.