Age of Sigmar: How to Play Beasts of Chaos
Today we look at how to play Beasts of Chaos in Age of Sigmar. Trample your enemies under your cloven hooves!
It’s hard not to love an army that often seems to be ignored, but avid Beasts of Chaos players do so nonetheless. As a fan of the Beastmen, I can respect that. That said, here are a few tips and tricks to get the most out of your goatmen/bullmen/OHMYGODDRAGONCENTAURS and which units you should prioritize.
Who are Beasts of Chaos?
The Beasts of Chaos are unique amongst the followers of the Dark Gods for they are not enslaved to their will, nor is their strength gifted to them by those gods. Instead, the Beasts of Chaos are nothing less than the physical manifestation of Chaos. Fighting against them is fighting against anarchy and ferocity, it is attempting to stop the coming of a primal epoch in which every concepts upon which civilizations are built are mere legends in some forgotten tomes. Indeed the Beasts of Chaos ultimately seek to merge the Mortal Realms and the Realm of Chaos, thus creating an existence of primal wilderness where gods, worlds and beasts are all part of a single anarchic whole in which order is null.
Why Play Beasts of Chaos?
The Beasts of Chaos are actually a collection of several different groups: the Brayherds, the Warherds, the Thunderscorn who charge forward under baleful storms, absorbing the energy of lightning strikes to empower themselves and their weapons, and the many monsters pledged to Chaos across the Realms. The Beastherd Ambush Battletrait lets them play unlike any other army.
Strengths
- A variety of playstyles means this army can mold itself to almost any general
- Ambush is a powerful mechanic (and shooting from off board is hilarious)
- Surprisingly powerful combat and magic heroes
- The Herdstone
- Endless Spells are finally worth taking!
Weaknesses
- Not tough, without a huge wound pool, or reliable recursion mechanics means they are very fragile.
Signature Beasts of Chaos Rules
- Beastherd Ambush – You can set up any number of units in Reserve and they come in from a board edge turn 2 or 3.
- Masters of the Wilderness – Your general produces command points while in Reserve.
- Rituals of Ruin – Some cool, unique Heroic Actions.
Terrain
The Beasts of Chaos have access to the Herdstone, a baneful idol in the shape of a horned beast, which is a pretty cool piece that deteriorates the armor of all enemies across the battlefield.
Subfactions
The Subfactions for the Beasts of Chaos are called Greatfrays, and each is built for a different style of play. Whether you prefer the hyper-aggressive Allherd, the twisted Gavespawn, the monstrous Quakefray, or the stealthy Dark Walkers, you’ll find something that fits your playstyle.
Five Key Beasts of Chaos Units
You might not see all these units in the same army, but these are units that can’t be overlooked.
1. Dragon Ogre Shaggoth
An incredibly powerful hybrid caster hero that can lay down a withering hail of damage. He’s a little low on wounds, but his healing abilities easily offset that. He also has a helpful 4+ spell ignore.
2. Bestigors
Battleline if you have a Beastlord or Bray-Shaman general, and well worth taking in a single reinforced unit. Their Despoilers ability has real utility, as does their 5+ Rally Standard.
3. Great Bray-Shaman
Your primary spellcaster. He has an awesome range of spells and a signature that lets him pull a unit closer to combat.
4. Bullgors
Battleline under a Doombull general and some of the most devastating line infantry in the book. Can choose between axe and shield, dual axes, or great weapons, and on a 6 to wound their attacks deal an additional mortal wound. They can ambush, and I assure you that will shatter almost anything you point it at.
5. Ghorgon
The true murder cow (looking at you, Lumineth) this thing is an incredible force of destruction. It shares the Bullgor’s mortal wound ability but deals d3 instead of just 1 and can swallow a model of your choice if it can roll above their Wounds characteristic on a d6. Watch him ingest an enemy unit champ or minor hero and laugh in monster.
Sample Army (1000 pts)
Allegiance: Beasts of Chaos
Leaders
Great Bray-Shaman
– General
– Command Trait: Bestial Cunning
– Artefact: Amulet of Destiny (Universal Artefact)
– Lore of the Twisted Wilds: Titanic Fury
Battleline
10 x Ungor Raiders
10 x Ungors
– Mauls & Half-Shields
10 x Ungors
– Mauls & Half-Shields
10 x Ungors
– Mauls & Half-Shields
10 x Ungor Raiders
10 x Ungor Raiders
Units
10 x Ungor Raiders
10 x Ungor Raiders
3 x Beasts of Chaos Tzaangor Enlightened
Total: 1000 / 1000
Wounds: 94
How to Play Beasts of Chaos
Ambush with your hardest hitters but keep a few scary gents in play just in case. Try to find the balance between the three keywords, and take out shooters first. When all else fails, stay off the board as long as possible.
~Tear down their walls and standards!
