Little can survive at the edge of the galactic core, where stellar tides and warp vortexes tear apart all but the hardiest of life forms. Yet the danger that keeps civilisation at bay provides a safe haven for roving pirates and ne’er-do-wells, and in the heart of the Maelstrom – a cavernous spacial rend that yawns across entire sectors – the greatest of all corsair lords plots his next raid into the Imperium.
The Maelstrom: Lair of the Tyrant, is the next narrative supplement coming to Warhammer 40,000. It begins at the centre of the galaxy as vulnerable worlds are pillaged by traitors and xenos, and great heroes must brave this nightmare realm of the Maelstrom.
The Maelstrom: Lair of the Tyrant
Like 500 Worlds: Titus, this expansion consists of four books stored inside a decorative slipcase, full of rules and lore detailing an entirely new war zone in the heart of the Imperium where Huron Blackheart and his Red Corsairs have launched a vicious raid into Humanity’s underbelly.
The extensive background lore book covers many of the region’s most notorious figures, from Huron himself and Prince Yriel of the Aeldari to scattered tribes of Ork Freebootas and Chaos warbands hidden within the Maelstrom. Alongside it, the Raid and Ruin book details rules for new campaigns that have players competing for Notoriety Points and earning titles to prove themselves the greatest captain of all – gathering valuable booty across 12 new missions with options for three- and four-player engagements.
Only the most courageous and capable of champions can survive the brutality of this Warp storm, so you’ll need to create one of your own to lead you to victory in the Crucible of Champions book, also included in the slipcase. This is one of the most exciting additions to Warhammer 40,000 in ages, giving you a flexible set of rules for creating your own character units and leading your army with a hero of your own making.
Trust us, you can make some amazing characters, including but not limited to:
A Ravenwing Librarian on a bike
A Rogue Trader with two inferno pistols
A Krootox Rider with a rail rifle
An Astra Militarum officer in a Sentinel
A psychic Tyranid artillery-beast
A Grot with big ideas
… And the list goes on. There’s tons to do in this book, and the characters you create are great fits for the mayhem of a Raid and Ruin campaign. Better still, dedicated corsairs will have some especially shiny plunder to acquire, as a beautiful Collector’s Edition copy of the whole Lair of the Tyrant set will be available alongside the regular version.
And it’s not just the Red Corsairs and Eldritch Raiders getting all the reinforcements. Two factions will also be getting special Maelstrom-themed battalion boxes to further their avaricious ambitions, with the villainous Drukhari getting up to their old realspace raiding ways, while the Leagues of Votann display just how pragmatic they can be when their need for resources outweighs that of the current owners.
The Maelstrom Battalions: Drukhari and Leagues of Votann
The bladed ships of Commorragh descend with ferocious speed and deploy a fast-moving force of deadly infantry and grav vehicles. A Succubus leads her entourage of 10 Wyches into close combat, supported by five Hellions and three Reaver jetbikes, while two Venoms dart around the battlefield carrying heavier weapons to support their allies.
The Leagues of Votann lean heavily on their Ironkin with two units of three Steeljacks that can each be assembled with heavy volkanite disintegrators or a choice of close combat weapons, overseen by a Memnyr Strategist. Finally, three Hernkyn Pioneers scout ahead for viable acquisitions, ensuring their leader can choose exactly which materials are worth confronting a dangerous foe.
You can see all of the new Red Corsairs and Aeldari miniatures revealed today by heading back to the Preview Hub, along with loads more from across the worlds of Warhammer.
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