Chaos Reigns: A Review

The Warriors of Chaos continue their march against Grand Cathay this week, joined by several new Blood Bowl releases, White Dwarf Issue 527, and a highly limited Black Library novel.

In a bit of a surprise, the recently released Warhammer: The Old World Core Set is already receiving many of its individual releases. Chaos Warriors, Chaos Knights, Champions of Chaos, and the newer Battle March forces are all arriving separately, giving players considerably more flexibility when expanding their armies.

The real centerpiece, however, is the impressive new Lord of Chaos riding a monstrous two-headed Chaos Dragon. It is easily the standout miniature of this release cycle and should be one of the more popular additions for established Warriors of Chaos players.

Everything listed below should be available through Wargame Portal unless otherwise noted. The Limited Edition release of Bjorn: The Fell-Handed is exclusive to Games Workshop and will not be available through third-party retailers.

Lord of Chaos on Chaos Dragon

The new Lord of Chaos on Chaos Dragon is the undisputed headliner of the week.

This enormous kit features a Chaos Lord riding a two-headed dragon and includes enough options to build either a Lord of Chaos or an infernal Chaos Sorcerer in the saddle. Whichever character you do not place on the dragon can instead be assembled as a separate hero on foot.

The dragon can also be built without a rider, opening the door for players who want to use it as a standalone monster or potentially represent the infamous Galrauch.

It is an impressive amount of flexibility for a centerpiece kit. Whether it proves practical on the battlefield will depend on its rules and points cost, but as a modeling project, it is exactly the sort of extravagant release a Warriors of Chaos army deserves.

Champions of Chaos

Not to be left out, the Champions of Chaos set provides two imposing character models.

One Champion is mounted on a daemonic steed while the other fights on foot. The set also includes an enormous banner that can be carried by either model when fielded as a Battle Standard Bearer.

These appear to be the same character models previously included in the Old World Core Set, now receiving their expected standalone release. That may not be particularly exciting for players who already purchased the larger box, but it is a welcome option for anyone building a Chaos army one unit at a time.

Chaos Warriors

The individual Chaos Warriors box contains 16 heavily armored infantry armed with hand weapons and shields.

The kit includes interchangeable heads, weapons, and shields, along with enough command components to create one or two command groups depending on how the unit is organized.

These are the dependable center of most Warriors of Chaos armies. They are not the flashiest release of the week, but they give existing players a straightforward way to expand their infantry blocks without purchasing another complete starter set.

Chaos Knights

Chaos Knights are also breaking free from the Core Set with a standalone box containing eight mounted warriors.

The kit includes interchangeable lances, heads, and shields, along with two sets of parts for Champions, musicians, and standard bearers. The models are also compatible with weapons from the Chaos Warriors kit, adding a little more variety for players building multiple units.

Chaos Knights remain one of the most recognizable parts of the faction, and this standalone release should make it much easier to build the large, heavily armored cavalry formations that Warriors of Chaos players tend to enjoy.

Battle March Armies

The smaller and faster Battle March format is receiving two boxed armies, one for the Warriors of Chaos and another for Grand Cathay.

The Warriors of Chaos Battle March Army contains:

• Eight Chaos Warriors

• Four Chaos Knights

• One Sorcerer of Chaos

• Five Chaos Marauder Horsemen

• 20 Chaos Marauders

The Grand Cathay Battle March Army contains:

• One Shugengan Lord on Great Spirit Longma

• 20 Jade Warriors

• Five Jade Lancers

• Six Iron Hail Gunners

• Four Crane Gunners

These boxes are positioned as compact entry points for Battle March games rather than full traditional armies. They may also appeal to existing players looking for a concentrated collection of useful reinforcements.

The exact value will ultimately depend on pricing, but the Grand Cathay force looks particularly appealing for anyone interested in sampling the faction without immediately committing to the full Core Set.

Arcane Journal: The March of Chaos

Arcane Journal: The March of Chaos expands the ongoing conflict between the Warriors of Chaos and the civilized nations standing in their path.

The 48-page book includes additional background material, expanded Winds of Magic mechanics, and new rules for creating personalized Chaos Champions.

This sounds like one of the more characterful Arcane Journal releases so far. The ability to create custom Chaos Champions feels particularly appropriate for a faction built around ambitious warriors seeking the favor of the Dark Gods.

Players who are primarily interested in matched play will want to see how substantial the new rules actually are, but narrative players and dedicated Chaos collectors should find plenty to enjoy.

Arcane Magic Ploys Card Pack

The Arcane Magic Ploys pack contains 56 cards representing strange magical effects that can empower, disrupt, or potentially destroy the wizards attempting to use them.

This appears to be another optional gameplay accessory rather than an essential purchase. Players who regularly use the new magical systems may appreciate having physical cards available at the table, while others will probably be perfectly comfortable referencing the relevant rules from their books. Please note: These will not be available at third party retailers and can only be purchased directly from Games Workshop's webstore. 

Morg ‘n’ Thorg

Blood Bowl receives a heavyweight reinforcement with Morg ‘n’ Thorg, now available as a plastic miniature for the first time.

Morg can play for nearly every team in the game outside of Undead rosters, and the model includes options for Imperial, Badlands, or Chaos-themed uniforms.

That broad team compatibility makes him one of the more practical Star Player purchases available. The multiple uniform options are also a smart addition, allowing coaches to make the model feel more connected to whichever team has temporarily hired him.

Blood Bowl Minotaur

Chaos Chosen, Chaos Dwarf, and Chaos Renegade teams can add some serious hitting power with the new plastic Minotaur.

The classic Blood Bowl big guy has received an updated miniature designed to smash through defensive lines and create openings for the rest of the team.

Big guys are often unpredictable, but that unpredictability is also part of their appeal. The Minotaur looks like a strong visual upgrade for Chaos-themed teams and should be considerably easier to work with than older resin versions.

Blood Bowl Rat Ogre

Skaven teams are also receiving a new plastic big guy with the updated Rat Ogre.

Rat Ogres combine impressive strength with the speed expected from a Skaven roster. Their prehensile tails also give them additional utility when disrupting opposing players in the middle of the pitch.

Like the Minotaur, this is not necessarily a model every coach will rush to purchase, but it is a welcome update for players who have been waiting for a modern plastic version of a familiar unit.

Spike! Journal Issue 22

Spike! Journal Issue 22 focuses on Blood Bowl Sevens, the smaller and faster version of the game.

The magazine includes the rules required to build teams and play Sevens, along with the usual mix of background material, commentary, and recurring features.

Blood Bowl Sevens is a great format for quicker games, smaller collections, and casual events. This issue should be useful for stores, gaming groups, and coaches who want a lower-investment way to introduce new players to Blood Bowl.

Blood Bowl Sevens Pitch and Dugouts

The new Blood Bowl Sevens pitch includes a double-sided folding board and two matching double-sided dugouts.

The smaller pitch is designed specifically for the faster Sevens format and provides a convenient alternative to adapting a standard Blood Bowl board.

This is primarily a convenience purchase, but it is also one of the easiest ways to make Sevens feel like a complete format rather than a scaled-down version of the main game.

White Dwarf Issue 527

White Dwarf Issue 527 celebrates the new edition of Warhammer 40,000 with features covering its miniatures and rules.

The issue also includes a classic Blood Angels versus Goff Orks battle report, new solo rules for Warhammer Quest: Darkwater, the final installment of the latest Tale of Four Warlords challenge, and the beginning of a five-part story following Skaven champions at sea.

It sounds like a fairly packed issue, particularly for players following the new edition of Warhammer 40,000 or the ongoing Darkwater content.

Bjorn: The Fell-Handed Limited Edition

The Limited Edition of Bjorn: The Fell-Handed will be available exclusively through Games Workshop and will not be offered through Wargame Portal or other third-party retailers.

Written by Justin D Hill, the novel follows Bjorn as a ghost ship emerges from the Warp and brings the forces of the Death Guard toward Fenris.

The Limited Edition is signed by the author and features a design inspired by Bjorn’s ancient sarcophagus, including embossed details, blue-silver foil, printed page edges, and a black ribbon marker.

As with most limited Black Library releases, demand will likely be extremely high and available quantities may disappear quickly. Please note: These will not be available at third party retailers and can only be purchased directly from Games Workshop's webstore. 

Final Thoughts

The Old World portion of this release is larger than expected, especially considering how recently the new Core Set arrived.

Seeing its Warriors of Chaos contents receive standalone releases this quickly is slightly surprising, but it is ultimately good news for players who did not want to purchase the full box or who simply need additional units for an existing army.

The Lord of Chaos on Chaos Dragon is clearly the release to watch. It is large, flexible, appropriately excessive, and exactly the kind of centerpiece model that can define an entire army.

The Blood Bowl releases are more specialized, but new plastic versions of Morg ‘n’ Thorg, the Minotaur, and the Rat Ogre should be warmly received by coaches still relying on older models. The renewed focus on Blood Bowl Sevens is also welcome, especially for players who prefer shorter games or smaller teams.

Overall, this is a strong release cycle for Old World and Blood Bowl players, even if much of the Chaos range consists of individual releases pulled from a very recent starter set.