We’ve seen the new battle traits for the Daughters of Khaine, and how they gain the blessings of the Murder God with blood rituals. Now, we’re taking a look at their two new themed Armies of Renown.
We all know that Morathi is the reincarnation of Khaine, right? Or at least she claims to be. And if you’re a real believer, you’re going to love the new Zainthar Kai Army of Renown. This force of Scáthborn, empowered by droplets of Khaine’s divine ichor, is feared by even fellow Khainites due to their reputation for annihilating anyone who has truly angered Morathi-Khaine.
The army can include Melusai Ironscales, Blood Sisters, Blood Stalkers, Khinerai Heartrenders, Khinerai Lifetakers, Bloodwrack Medusae, and Bloodwrack Shrines, but MUST be led by Morathi-Khaine and the Shadow Queen. While in command, Morathi can use her Dark Majesty to ensure that lesser creatures find themselves flailing ineffectually in her presence.
Passive
DARK MAJESTY
Morathi-Khaine’s charm, allure and sheer authority is near impossible to resist; to so much as raise a blade against such an exalted creature requires an effort of willpower beyond most mortals.
Effect: If the unmodified hit roll for an attack made by a non‑Hero unit that targets the friendly Morathi‑Khaine is 1-4, the attack fails and the attack sequence ends.
Morathi-Khaine is known to be generous to those who show her utter loyalty. The beings that are soul-crafted to be her perfect bodyguard are all blessed (or cursed, depending on your point of view) with Khaine’s very ichor in their veins.
Once Per Turn (Army), End of Your Turn
CURSED HERITAGE
Each Zainthar Kai warrior carries at least three drops of Khaine’s potent ichor in their veins, and they can call upon its simmering power to send boiling blood erupting from their foes’ eyes in an agonising torrent.
Declare: Pick each enemy unit in combat with any non-UNIQUE ZAINTHAR KAI units to be the targets.
Effect: Inflict D3 mortal damage on each target.
This is an ideal way for your melee units to put out even more damage. Morathi-Khaine can also give trinkets to her favoured Heroes, such as the Amulet of the Bladed Queen, which protects them from the worst the enemy can throw their way.
Passive
AMULET OF THE BLADED QUEEN
This prodigy has earned the blessing of Morathi-Khaine: a magnificent serpentine amulet through the goddess can both protect and keep a watchful eye on her subordinate.
Effect: This unit has Ward (5+). Add 1 to save rolls for this unit.
If you’d rather not follow Morathi, and prefer to just show off your skills for slaughter, the Champions of the Arena Army of Renown is for you.
As the name hints at, you can select from the gladiatorial units in the battletome – High Gladiatrixes, Hag Queens, Slaughter Queens, Blood Hags, Sisters of Slaughter, and Witch Aelves – to create a touring troupe of murder. Then, the entire battlefield becomes your Arena of Slaughter.
Passive
ARENA OF SLAUGHTER
This battlefield is dedicated to the havoc and murder beloved of Khaine, and his acolytes seek to drench it in arterial sprays of the most elaborate kind.
Effect: If the number of units (friendly or enemy) that have been destroyed this battle equals or exceeds any of the numbers below, the corresponding effect applies to friendly CHAMPIONS OF THE ARENA units for the rest of the battle. More than 1 effect can apply to a unit at the same time.
1 | Add 1 to run rolls for those units. |
2 | Add 1 to charge rolls for those units. |
3 | Add 1 to hit rolls for those units’ combat attacks. |
4 | Add 1 to wound rolls for those units’ combat attacks. |
5 | Add 1 to the Attacks characteristic of those units’ melee weapons. |
Khaine cares not from where the blood flows!* If your army is successful in the arena, you’ll be super empowered to hunt down the last dregs of your enemy, while if your foe has gotten the better of you, your survivors will be ready for a glorious last stand. Should one of your Heroes find themselves bested in the arena, they can even be reborn in blood with a Frenzied Restoration.
End of Any Turn
FRENZIED RESTORATION – 1
The powerful magics that emanate from a Shrine of Dark Tribute cause even gravely wounded aelves to stagger to their feet, gore pouring from open wounds and dripping from features made feral with frenzy.
Declare: Pick a friendly CHAMPIONS OF THE ARENA HERO that has been destroyed to be the target.
Effect: Set up a replacement unit identical to the target wholly within 12" of a friendly SHRINE OF DARK TRIBUTE and more than 9" from all enemy units.
If you have a fighter celebrated across the Mortal Realms for their skills, the heroic trait Hero of the Killing Games would be ideal.
Any Combat Phase
HERO OF THE KILLING GAMES
This hero has an infamous winning streak in the Khainite arenas and delights in eviscerating worthy foes.
Effect: For the rest of the turn, while this unit is in combat with any enemy HEROES:
Add 1 to the Attacks, Rend and Damage characteristics of this unit’s melee weapons.
All of its combat attacks must target the same enemy HERO.
You’ll be able to anoint one of your gladiators as a Hero of the Killing Games with the new Daughters of Khaine battletome, which is available for pre-order on Saturday, along with the Scáthborn Coven battleforce – the ideal start for the Zainthar Kai Army of Renown. In the meantime, catch up with how Morathi-Khaine deals with those who aren’t quite as loyal as she demands in our free Warhammer Age of Sigmar fiction.
* Actually, that might be the other one.
