There are loads of exciting new releases coming up in the world of WARMACHINE & HORDES! We just saw the release of the newest Legion of Everblight models, soon to be followed by new Trollblood models. In today’s article, we want to give you a rules sneak peek at what’s coming just after the children of Dhunia have their day!

DISCLAIMER: The rules previewed today are currently in playtest and are subject to change before release.

Between the Trollblood model block and the upcoming Retribution model block (in early 2021), there will be three new models released, two archons and a dragoon! If you caught the 2020 Privateer Press keynote, then you no doubt spotted a couple of these.

First up, let’s take a look at the Death Archon. This mysterious entity is the physical incarnation of carnage, death, and mortality itself. For reasons unknown to the citizens of the Iron Kingdoms, the Death Archon does not play well with the other divine archons. In fact, it seems to hate them!

The Death Archon wades into battle reaping the corpses of any mortals foolish enough to stand in its way. Thanks to the massive melee RNG on both of its Iron Reapers, as well as its Sidestep and Blood Reaper abilities, the Death Archon can mow down infantry by the score. As it accumulates corpses, the Death Archon can also provide some utility to your army by providing a 10˝ Mortal Fear aura. Perhaps most terrifying of all is the Death Archon’s Vendetta against all other types of Archons. It sure is mad about something!

Next is the Grymkin-specific Defiled Archon, a poor Menite Archon that has been captured and twisted by the wicked Grymkin into a barely recognizable mockery of its former self. The Defiled Archon is, unquestionably, the spell-slinging Archon. Thanks to the Gate Walker ability, the Defiled Archon has both a deceptive threat range and can use its spells while remaining relatively safe from the enemy should it wish to do so.

With always boosted magic attack and damage rolls and the Unleash the Arcane ability, the Defiled Archon is capable of dropping some serious damage with a pair of boosted Hellfires. Being a Grymkin model, the Defiled Archon also has some nasty tricks up its sleeve.

The second half of Torrent of Blasphemy causes an enemy hit by a Defiled Archon’s spells to suffer Arcane Attraction for one turn, which increases the RNG of all spells against that model by +3. This works on the Defiled Archon’s second spell! It also works on another Defiled Archon, if you’re running them in pairs. Every warlock in Grymkin can benefit from +3 RNG on their offensive spells, allowing you to pull off some offensive tricks (like a well-placed Gallows) that your opponent didn’t see coming.

Finally, the Defiled Archon and the Death Archon are the first two archons to not have the Soul Ward ability. Instead, they interact with souls in different ways.

The Death Archon can prevent enemies from gaining souls when it uses its Annihilator ability, while the Defiled Archon punishes those who gather souls by corrupting the spirit and setting the harvester on fire!

Look forward to both of these models coming early 2021!