AoS: Ghyran Greats – Skaven & FEC Rule Scourge of Ghyran Week 1
War is coming to Ghyran, and the armies of the Realms are gearing up for a big fight. A few of them are just doing it a little better. Skaven and Flesh-eater Courts are looking good!
Welcome in, Generals of the Realms! The new General’s Handbook is almost upon us, along with the Scourge of Ghyran Battlepacks. Every army is bringing out their best warriors to lay siege to the Realm of Life, and they’re altering their tactics just a little. Games Workshop has given us a little peek into what’s coming for a few of our favorite factions, and I like what we’ve seen so far. There are new unit cards, enhancements, and formations for Skaven, Stormcast Eternals, Cities of Sigmar, Kruleboyz, Nighthaunt, and Flesh-eater Courts. Though they’re all phenomenal, a few stand just a hair above the rest.
Skaven
Maybe I’m a little biased because I love the Skaven, but I think their Ghyran upgrades are perfect. The Skaven have gotten much wiser about their attacks since the rise of the Horned Rat, and that’s evident in their rules. There are two new Formations, one focused on Skaven Daemons (which is just the Verminlord) and the other on the teeming masses of the Skaven horde. For my money, I like the latter a lot better. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the Verminlord, and the ability to sacrifice minions to keep the deadly creature alive is very Skaven. However, the ability to quickly Redeploy multiple units for a single command point is tremendous. The Skaven are not known for their bravery, so allowing multiple units to flee from battle is about as Skaven as it gets.
The Verminous value doesn’t stop there! Your Skaven Heroes can also select from a trio of brand-new Heroic Traits. The first exemplifies the distrustful nature of Skaven and allows your chosen hero to grow stronger when their hated rival is killed. Skaven are not the most resilient warriors, so it shouldn’t be hard to ensure that happens! The other two focus on Skryre and Moulder, the two clans that have risen to prominence in the recent edition. Both traits affect one of the clan’s gorgeous creations (war machines for Skyrye, monsters for Moulder) and make them a bit stronger.
To round out the drop, the Skaven also have updated warscrolls for the Screaming Bell and Brood Terror. The Bell trades a damaging toll for a heal, channeling the healing energies of Ghyran through dark sorcery. The Terror, meanwhile, gives nearby units a hand (literally), allowing it to sacrifice its attacks to provide buffs to nearby Moulder creations. It may not be the Year of the Rat, but it might be the Season.
Flesh-eater Courts
After a mildly disappointing nerf in 4th edition, the gruesome gourmands return with a VENGEANCE in the Realm of Life. It makes sense that an army focused on consuming its enemies would be much stronger in a realm where things grow faster. Like the Skaven, the Courts start the bidding with a pair of lethal new battle formations. The first focuses on the multitudes of Serf Ghouls that comprise the bulk of the FEC army. The formation allows them to spend a command point on a unit in combat, preventing their opponent from piling in and neutering their combat potential. The second is designed for the noble heroes of the Knightly Orders, increasing their ward save so long as they’ve destroyed a unit. Since heroes are the backbone of your army, that can be a game-changer.
Instead of Heroic Traits, the noble Courts have brought augmentations for their noble warbeasts to the field of battle in the form of three Monster Traits. The first buffs the Monster’s attack rolls while non-Unique Monsters are wholly within 12″, evoking the feeling of old school Gristlegore. Another give the Monster an extra attack, while the last one gives passive healing at the end of each turn. The age of the Zombie Dragon and Terrorgheist is back, and with a gorgeous new Zombie Dragon kit, it’s the perfect time.
Rounding things out is a pair of new warscrolls for the Ghoul King and Gorewarden, two mainstay heroes. The King buffs nearby infantry heroes, receiving buffs in return for each hero close to him. Better yet, if he falls, he fills his subjects with fanatical rage to take down those who would dare strike their King. The Gorewarden, my personal favorite of the FEC heroes, becomes a combat monster on the charge, so long as he’s near a unit of Knights. He can also quickly take to the skies at the end of the enemy’s turn to reappear exactly where your opponent doesn’t want him. While he isn’t as focused on teamwork, he’s still a worthwhile consideration for your army.
Which preview was your favorite?
