Warhammer Age of Sigmar Armies Guide

SETTING THE STAGE

The Mortal Realms - eight different planes that make up the world of Warhammer Age of Sigmar, spiritual successor to Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy. The medieval-esque world has been left behind and replaced with The Mortal Realms, a new universe created after the forces of Chaos destroyed the prior. Each Plane is infused with one of eight Winds of Magic and is home to a variety of races.

The god Sigmar was first shown the Mortal Realms by Dracothion, also known as the Great Drake who took the remains of the shattered World-That-Was and forged them together to create this new world.

Each of the eight planes that make up the Mortal Realms has its own unique lore and characters;

• Azyr, the Heaven Realm; this is the realm of light belonging to the gods and where the mighty Stormcast Eternals emerge when they are felled in battle.
• Shyish, the Death Realm: This is a realm where the undead Nighthaunt and Ossiarch Bonereapers serve the God of Death, Nagash. It is made up of restless spirits, decrepit ruins and haunted swamps.
• Ghur, the Beast Realm: The Beasts of Chaos inhabit this place, covered with jungles, swamps and mountains. Ogor Mawtribes, a race of giant brute also can be found here
• Aqshy, the Fire Realm: Fire spewing volcanoes and unforgiving deserts cover this realm, home to the Seraphon, lizardmen who serve the Old Ones alongside the mortal race Slaves of Darkness who have committed themselves to the Chaos Gods. 
• Ulgu, the Shadow Realm: The twisted pleasure-seekers, The Hedonites of Slaanesh devote themselves to the Chaos God Slaanesh along with the mischievous goblins and grots that make up the Gloomspite Gitz.
  
• Ghyran, the Life Realm: Lush forests, clear blue water and beautiful mountains make up the realm of Ghyran. The rat-like clans of the Skaven and the tree spirit Sylvaneth reside here.
  
• Chamon, the Metal Realm: Kharadron Overlords, dwarves who live in airships and Fyreslayers, duardin who have an obsession with gold and fire call this realm home. It is a place of ragged and sharp mountains and molten metal
  
• Hysh, the Light Realm: It is the home of the Idoneth Deepkin, a race of aquatic elves, and the Lumineth Realm-lords, a race of high elves who are masters of magic and technology.

Game Mechanics

Warhammer Age of Sigmar is a tabletop wargame that pits two or more players against each other using armies of miniatures, various dice are used to determine the outcome of the players actions such as combat, spellcasting and movement. Each unit in Age of Sigmar has its own Warscroll, this is a key piece of kit for the game as it contains the units stats and abilities; movement range, attack and defense and other important information. The third main game mechanic used in Age of Sigmar is Command Points, they’re a resource that a player can use to activate certain special abilities such as increased movement range and re-rolling low scoring dice.

Playstyle

Warhammer Age of Sigmar has multiple playstyle available to the player depending on numerous factors: the players personal style whether it be rushing down units with melee weapons or attacking from range with bows and spells, some players even prefer to take a turtle-like defensive formation and make their opponent advance towards them.

Each of the factions in Warhammer Age of Sigmar has its own unique playstyle; the undead Nighthaunt are able to teleport across the battlefield and surprise attack whilst Sigmars mighty Stormcast eternals are adept at close quarters combat, so bare this in mind whilst choosing your battle strategy.

As mentioned above, there are multiple playstyles in Age of Sigmar, and below is a short list of them and a brief description of what they do:

• Aggro: The main focus is on charging into combat as quickly as possible and overwhelming your opponent with brute force using mostly melee units.
• Gunline: Your armies ranged units will pick off your opponent from a distance. These armies are mainly focused on units with ranged weapons such as archers or artillery.
• Horde: Similar to Aggro, this playstyle has you attack with sheer volume of numbers using cheap units such as Goblins or Skeletons
• Mobile: Speed is the name of the game, using units that have high movement speed such as fliers or mounted units to get the advantage and flank enemies.

Choosing a Playstyle

Choosing a playstyle is a personal choice, one that reflects personality and preferences, if you like to be aggressive try out the Stormcast Eternals or the Slaves to Darkness. More of a defensive player? Try the Maggotkin of Nurgle.

There is no right or wrong way to play, as long as you’re having fun.

GRAND ALLIANCES

The armies of the Warhammer Age of Sigmar universe each belong to one of four Grand Alliances, these are: Order, Chaos, Death and Destruction.

Order

The Grand Alliance of Order is a vast and varied coalition of forces dedicated to upholding good and justice in the Mortal Realms. It encompasses a diverse range of factions, from the Stormcast Eternals' celestial warriors to the Sylvaneth's verdant spirits.

Chaos

The Grand Alliance of Chaos; armies united by their worship of the Chaos Gods: Khorne, Tzeentch, Nurgle, and Slaanesh. Driven by greed, anger, despair, and pleasure, these forces seek to corrupt and destroy the Mortal Realms.

Death

The Grand Alliance of Death is a group of armies bound by their thirst for life and their desire to spread the blight of undeath. It includes the ethereal Nighthaunt, the skeletal Bonereapers, and the ravenous Flesh-eater Courts.

Destruction

The Grand Alliance of Destruction is a loose confederation of armies united by their lust for plunder, violence, and carnage. Among their ranks are the mighty Orruks, the cunning Grots, and the ravenous Ogres.

Main races of Age of Sigmar

Here is an overview of the main races from Warhammer Age of Sigmar:

Order

• Stormcast Eternals:The Stormcast Eternals are the immortal champions of Sigmar, God-King of Order. Forged from the finest souls in the Mortal Realms, they are the most powerful warriors in the Grand Alliance of Order and are often used as the spearhead of Order's attacks.
• Sylvaneth:The Sylvaneth are the tree spirits of the Mortal Realms. A peaceful race, they will fiercely defend their forests and their allies. As masters of magic, the Sylvaneth can summon powerful spells to aid them in battle, their verdant forms and mystical powers make them a truly unique and formidable force.
• Fyreslayers:The Fyreslayers are a race of duardin (dwarves) obsessed with fire, they are skilled warriors and craftsmen, they forge the most powerful weapons in the Mortal Realms. The Fyreslayers are also masters of rune magic, using their runes to enhance their weapons and armor.
• Cities of Sigmar:The Cities of Sigmar are a collection of free cities that have banded together to defend themselves from the forces of Chaos, Death, and Destruction. Home to a diverse range of people, including humans, duardin, and even some monsters, the Cities of Sigmar are a symbol of hope and defiance in the Mortal Realms. Their armies are a motley crew of warriors, united by their common goal of defending their homes and way of life.

Chaos

• Blades of Khorne: The Blades of Khorne are the worshippers of Khorne, the Blood God. They are savage warriors who are driven by a thirst for blood and violence. The Blades are some of the most feared warriors in the Mortal Realms.
• Disciples of Tzeentch: The Disciples of Tzeentch are the worshippers of Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways. They are deceitful warriors who use magic to outwit and outmaneuver their enemies.
• Hedonites of Slaanesh: The Hedonites are worshippers of the Dark Prince Slaanesh who are driven by a desire for pleasure and excess.
• Maggotkin of Nurgle: The Maggotkin of Nurgle worship the Plague God Nurgle. They are diseased and rotting warriors who spread pestilence and despair. They are incredibly resilient warriors and are very difficult to kill.

Death

• Nighthaunt: The Nighthaunt are the ghosts and spirits of the dead. They are driven by a desire to avenge their deaths and to spread death and despair.
• Ossiarch Bonereapers: The Ossiarch Bonereapers are a race of skeletal warriors created by the necromancer Nagash. They are disciplined and well-organized warriors, and they use their powerful magic to overwhelm their enemies.
• Soulblight Gravelords: The Soulblight Gravelords are a race of vampires and other creatures of the night.They use their magic to drain the life force of their enemies.

BUILDING AN ARMY

Here are some tips for choosing the right army for you:

Consider your preferred battlefield tactics. Do you favor aggressive charges or defensive maneuvers? Do you prefer to wield arcane might or engage in close-quarters combat? Do you thrive with a multitude of strategic options or prefer to specialize in a few select units? Identifying your preferred playstyle will help you narrow down your army choices.

Delve into the diverse aesthetics of each army. Warhammer Age of Sigmar offers a vast array of visual styles, from the grim and gothic Nighthaunt to the vibrant and verdant Sylvaneth. Take some time to explore the various army models and identify one that resonates with your aesthetic preferences.

When crafting an army list, it's crucial to incorporate a variety of unit roles to ensure a balanced force capable of confronting diverse threats. Here are some tips for achieving a well-rounded army composition:

• Variety of Unit Roles: Avoid a mono-unit army. Mix the battleline units, leaders, behemoths, cavalry, and artillery to address various battlefield situations.
• Points Cost Considerations: Mind the points cost of each unit. Avoid overspending on a single unit, as it may limit your ability to field other essential units.
• Unit Synergies: Explore the synergies between different units. Some units complement each other effectively. For instance, buffing units can amplify the impact of units with high attack values.
• Seek Feedback from Experienced Players: Once your army list is complete, seek feedback from experienced players. Their insights can help identify potential weaknesses and suggest improvements.

Navigating the Warhammer Age of Sigmar Metagame

• The Warhammer Age of Sigmar metagame is dynamic and constantly evolving with new releases, rule changes, and tournament outcomes. Here are some tips for keeping up with the ever-changing AoS metagame:
• Follow Games Workshop on Social Media: Games Workshop actively announces new releases and rule changes.
• Warhammer Community: Warhammer Community serves as the official blog for Warhammer Age of Sigmar. It provides comprehensive articles about new releases, rule changes, and other game-related news.
• Subscribe to Warhammer Age of Sigmar Newsletters.