Skaventide: What’s in the box?

A note on building

All the models in this box are designed to be push fit. Given this fact I decided I would abstain from my usual glue everything approach and try them out. Now, at the time of writing I’ve only assembled my first model, the Lord-Vigilant on Gryph-stalker, but so far I’ve had a good experience. Most of the push fit pegs work well and the pieces aren’t going to be coming apart again, I only found 1 which was a bit loose. The only other time I needed glue was when I accidentally cut a peg off on my first snip of the sprue. Doh! So that’s definitely on me.

So in conclusion, give push fit a go, but have some glue on hand as a backup. Oh and having a sturdy poking device around is also useful, sometimes you are trying to line up multiple pegs at once and one isn’t quite there and needs a nudge, but you can’t reach it with your fingers.

Anyway, let's break down what all the different units are in the box and why they are awesome.

Stormcast

Lord-Vigilant on Gryph-stalker

Leading the charge into the new edition for the Stormcast, and especially those who have emerged from the Ruination Chambers, is the Lord-Vigilant, and does he ever cast an imposing figure. Mounted atop a Gryph-stalker that is somehow both beautiful and menacing, this model will certainly make an impression on the tabletop.

Lord-Terminos and Memorian squire

This Stormcast is certainly an imposing figure, staring down all those that dare stand against Sigmar. While they execute foes left right and centre, they also have a much

more sombre duty. When some Stormcast can go on no longer and become soul-stricken, it is the duty of the Lord-Terminos to enact the rites of the Last Threshold and let them enter oblivion. Their Memorian squire who accompanies them keeps them tethered to the present and recounts their battle honours.

Lord Veritant and Gryph Crow

Chaos stands no chance in the face of the Lord Veritant. A warrior chosen because their hatred of Chaos knows no bounds. They wield a flame-wreathed judgement blade, a curse-breaking staff of abjuration, and have a loyal Gryph-crow companion by their side. All these Gryph companions are a really cool thing to see out on the battlefield.

Knight-Questor

Not all Stormcast fight with their comrades, some become like roving knights of old, crusading across the Mortal Realms as a one knight army. They are often given dangerous missions and call upon the aid of the Stormcast of the Ruination Chambers to achieve their goal.

3 Reclusians with 2 Memorians

Sigmar lied…while the gifts of the Stormcast are many, there is a price. With every noble death they lose a bit more of themselves, unless there's so little left they are taken into the Ruination Chamber, on the verge of losing their humanity entirely. In times of great crisis though, they are called upon, and with the advent of the Vermindoom that time is now. They march forth onto the battlefield, their lightning-scoured souls shrugging off the tainted Chaos energies that sail them, while their memorians that accompany them keep them slipping away.

10 Liberators

These brave Stormcast form the core of any Stormcast army, and are now armoured in brand new thunderstrike armour and carrying mighty warhammers, ready to purge the realms of the God-King’s foes.

3 Prosecutors

Flying in on truly glorious wings, the Prosecutors have spent too long amongst the Cursed Skies in the Mortal Realms and now also join the ranks of the Ruination Chamber. That doesn’t mean they are out of the fight however, far from it. They swoop forth and cast javelins of crackling lighting at Sigmar’s foes without mercy.

Skaven

Clawlord riding a Gnaw-beast

Some basic tenants of the Skaven are violence, scheming and paranoia. The Clawlord is a Skaven who has achieved their peak in all of these things. They ride upon a Gnaw-beast which is both amazing and terrifying, and not something you’d want to run into on a dark night…or in the middle of the day to be honest. The Clawlord is far more skilled than your average Skaven and he’ll give even the Stormcast a run for their money.

Grey Seer

I know there are like multiple Grey Seer’s, but to me this will always be THE Grey Seer that has followed Gotrek from the World-that-was. My Gotrek model got twitching just seeing the sprues for this guy.

Grey Seers are prophets, spreading the Great Horned Rats' will throughout the Mortal Realms (side note, the Great Horned Rat is an official Chaos god now, good for him). While some Skaven can wield magic by doing some frankly quite dodgy things with warpstone, the Grey Seers can naturally wield it, summoning warp lightning at will. Despite their power however, they are some of the most paranoid Skaven and are always coming up with new plans or considering who they need to backstab.

Warlock Engineer

While the Grey Seers might be prophets and magical conduits, the Skaven hordes wouldn’t be nearly as well equipped without the Warlock Engineers. They manage the huge arsenals of weird and wonderful weaponry the Skaven use, such as Warplock

Jezzails and Ratling Warpblasters (more on them below). They are also quite the marksman themselves, happy to sit behind the lines and take pot shots at the enemy from a safe distance.

40 Clanrats

When we talk about the Skaven hordes, these are the bread and butter of it. Clanrats are the lowest rank of Skaven society and generally just charge towards the enemy in mobs hoping for the best. They are not expected to live long and it acts as a crucible as only the sneakiest and most cunning will survive. That isn’t to say they are useless however. Their swarms seem unending and can bring down much mightier foes through sheer weight of numbers.

3 Rat Ogors

Clan Moulder have been experimenting again and have really broken the mould with these Ogors…and I mean physically I think they broke to mould, they guys are huge. Whether it be through arcane cryptosorcery or just jamming warpstone into things, they have created monsters that are always hungry and very angry. They are often seen ripping enemies limb from limb and torching whole regiments with searing emerald blasts from their warpfire guns.

3 Warplock Jezzails

If I had to pick my favourite models in the Skaven lineup, these would be it. I love the idea that these Skaven worked out that the easiest way to both stay safe and kill their enemies is to just shoot them from really far away. While perhaps not as fancy as some of the Cities of Sigmar gun teams, they are still cool in a ramshackle kind of way. They don’t even fire bullets, they fire crystalised warpstone shards which honestly sound very painful.

Ratling Warpblaster

Clan Skryre always brings the best toys. This one is a gatling gun…on wheels…likely help together by very little. We’ve seen how effective this thing can be in the cinematic trailer for the new edition and I can’t wait to see how it holds up on the tabletop.