It’s a great week for the technologically superior, as a new army reinforcement set for Grand Cathay brings two kinds of advanced gunner (and also Astromancers, peasant levies, and some kind of crow-person familiar), while in the Age of Darkness, the Mechanicum gain Battle-Pilgryms and Myrmidon Destructors. Additionally, we’re not done with pirates yet, as the shootiest Kaptin of all arrives (and brings some crew).
Defenders of the Great Bastion Army Reinforcement Set
Having observed the situation from their Sky Lanterns, the generals of Grand Cathay have determined that it is time to deploy some reinforcements*. The core of this army is formed by 30 Peasant Levy soldiers. Armed with simple warbows and spears, they are nevertheless determined and well-organised, dedicated to the defence of their homeland. They are joined by 12 Iron Hail Gunners, whose blunderbusses can cut down swathes of nearby enemies in a storm of shot. Prefer not to let your foes get so close? There are also eight Crane Gun Teams, skilled at picking off enemies from a distance. They are all led by two Astromancers, one on foot and one on horseback, who’ve brought a Crowman familiar to help with their spellcasting.
Arcane Journal: The Breaching of the Great Bastion
The Breaching of the Great Bastion sounds like bad news for the citizens of Grand Cathay, but it’s good news for Warhammer: The Old World players. This book brings rules for Astromancers, Crane Gun Teams, Iron Hail Gunners, and Peasant Levy soldiers for the armies of Grand Cathay to Warhammer: The Old World. It also includes new lore on the Land of the Dragons and its magic, a new Army of Infamy, and a scenario for re-fighting the Battle of Nan-Li. So grab your dice and that Defenders of the Great Bastion Army Reinforcement Set, unless you want the forces of Chaos flowing unchecked into Grand Cathay.
Myrmidon Destructor Host
Smart people run away when they hear the words “Myrmidon Destructor Host”. Foolish ones stick around, and are briefly impressed by the sight of these walking weapons platforms before being annihilated by their darkfire cannons and irradiation engines.
This boxed set builds six Myrmidon Destructors, allowing you to field two units of three, or one larger unit. Each miniature can be built with either a darkfire cannon or irradiation engine, and they are also armed with shock chargers for close combat. Rules for using them in the Age of Darkness can be found in Journal Tactica: Skitarii – The Steel Hand of Mars.
Skitarii Battle-Pilgrym Marshal
Skitarii Battle-Pilgryms form the core of the Skitarii Conclaves, so it’s important to have someone to tell them what to do. Acting as field commander and representative of the Fabricator General, Battle-Pilgrym Marshals are given access to some of the strangest and finest of Mars’ weapons.
This miniature is highly customisable, with choices of three heads, two ranged weapons, and three melee weapons. It also comes with two servo-skulls, giving it that air of authority.
Skitarii Battle-Pilgrym Corpus
The Skitarii Battle-Pilgrym Marshal is impressive, but might get a little lonely without any friends. Fortunately, the Skitarii Battle-Pilgrym Corpus are also here, to accompany the Marshal to war. Focused on the will of the Omnissiah and with much of their bodies replaced with mechanical parts, Skitarii care little for the weaknesses and concerns of normal soldiers.
The Battle-Pilgryms are each armed with a voltlock arquebus, a type of refined volkite weapon. This kit contains 16 miniatures, and can be fielded as two squads, each consisting of seven Battle-Pilgryms led by an Ordinator, or as one larger unit.
Whether the will of the Omnissiah is better expressed by following the Emperor or Horus is for you to decide – they can have either Traitor or Loyalist allegiance.
Vultarax Stratos-Automata
The Battle-Pilgryms have concerningly long metal legs, but sometimes even they’re not tall enough to spot distant archeotech. That’s where the Vultarax Stratos-Automata comes in. Flying on gravitic impellers and jets, it ranges ahead of Mechanicum forces, scouting for relics – and enemies. Fast, and armed with an arc blaster and phosphex warheads, opposing forces will have just enough time to think “That’s an impressive machine” before it annihilates them.
This kit can be used to build a Vultarax Stratos-Automata, rules for which are in Liber Mechanicum. When the Tech-Priests are feeling generous, they also loan these out to the Skitarii – rules for the Skitarii Vultarax Stratos-Automata are in Journal Tactica: Skitarii – the Steel Hand of Mars.
Made to Order: Kaptin Badrukk
Huron Blackheart? Prince Yriel? Dey ain’t got nuffin’ on the REAL toughest pirate captain**. This classic Ork miniature returns to make sure that he doesn’t miss out on all the exciting Freebooter action in the Maelstrom. He has Legends rules, or you could use him as a particularly impressive Warboss using the rules in Codex: Orks. He also makes the perfect Warboss for the Freebooter Detachment in The Maelstrom: Lair of the Tyrant – show those Aeldari and Red Corsairs who’s boss!
Made to Order: Ammo Runts
A snazzy shoota like Da Rippa uses a lot of ammo, so a smart captain makes sure that there’s someone nearby carrying a few crates of extra rounds. These piratical grots can serve as Ammo Runts for a unit of Nobz or Flash Gitz, or to add some character to your Gretchin units.
Both Kaptin Badrukk and the Ammo Runts will be available on a made-to-order basis until 08:00am GMT on 9 March 2026.
* It’s called a Reinforcement Set, but it’s also a great way to start a new Grand Cathay army.
** Don’t tell Huron we said that.
