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Warhammer

Building Your Army: A Guide to Age of Sigmar Factions

July 12, 2025


Introduction

Games Workshop’s Age of Sigmar (AoS) is a high-fantasy tabletop wargame that thrusts players into a vibrant world filled with diverse factions, heroes, and epic battles. Your choice of faction not only influences your gameplay style but also reflects your aesthetic preferences and strategic approach. This guide will explore the various factions in Age of Sigmar, delving into their lore, gameplay mechanics, and how to build your army.

Understanding the Factions

Age of Sigmar is divided into four main Grand Alliances, each containing multiple factions. The Grand Alliances are:

  1. Order

  2. Chaos

  3. Death

  4. Destruction

Each faction embodies distinct themes, aesthetics, and narratives.

Grand Alliances Overview

1. Order

The Order alliance comprises noble forces that seek to establish stability and peace in the realms. Notable factions include:

  • Stormcast Eternals: Celestial warriors imbued with Sigmar’s light. They boast strong armor and powerful weaponry, ideal for those who enjoy aggressive gameplay.

  • Seraphon: Lizard-like creatures that manipulate magic and the stars. They are versatile and can adapt to various playstyles, from fast-moving skirmishers to resilient frontline fighters.

  • Idoneth Deepkin: Elusive sea-dwellers utilizing cunning tactics and powerful magic. They excel in ambushes and mobility.

Building Your Order Army: Focus on a balance of frontline units and support heroes. Stormcast Eternals can benefit from a variety of units, while Seraphon can bring magic and ranged options.

2. Chaos

The forces of Chaos embody destruction and corruption, driven by dark gods. Notable factions include:

  • Blades of Khorne: Brutal melee warriors thriving in close combat. They excel at flooding the battlefield with aggressive units for overwhelming foes.

  • Disciples of Tzeentch: Masters of magic and deception. They can manipulate the battlefield with spells and trickery, making them unpredictable opponents.

  • Slaves to Darkness: Versatile Chaos warriors that blend solid combat prowess with diverse options across the faction.

Building Your Chaos Army: Focus on synergies between units; for example, Khorne thrives on bloodshed, while Tzeentch builds a strategy around spells and magic dominance.

3. Death

The Death alliance represents the forces of decay and the undead. Key factions include:

  • BoneReapers: Stoic and disciplined warriors that prioritize strategy and formation. They can withstand damage while dishing out punishment.

  • Nighthaunt: Spectral entities that strike fear into their enemies. They specialize in mobility and defensive capabilities, ideal for ambush tactics.

Building Your Death Army: Ensure a mix of durable units and fast-moving contingents to control the battlefield. BoneReapers may need a solid frontline, while Nighthaunt excels in flanking.

4. Destruction

Destruction is marked by brute strength and uncontrolled fervor. Notable factions include:

  • Orruks (Orcs): The quintessential brute warrior, Orruks thrive in melee combat with a focus on sheer power.

  • Gloomspite Gitz: Goblins and their monstrous allies that rely on gimmicks and tricks to outwit foes.

Building Your Destruction Army: Prioritize aggressive, hard-hitting units and ambush strategies. Field a diverse range of unit types to surprise opponents and seize objectives.

Choosing Your Faction

When choosing a faction, consider the following aspects:

  1. Lore and Theme: Which faction’s background resonates with you? The connection to the lore can enhance your enjoyment.

  2. Aesthetics: The visual appeal of models can significantly impact your decision. Choose a faction that you’d enjoy painting and displaying.

  3. Gameplay Style: Consider whether you prefer aggressive melee combat, magic-based strategies, or a defensive playstyle.

  4. Community Support: Factions that have strong community backing may offer more resources, tournaments, and opportunities to connect.

Building Your Army List

After selecting a faction, it’s time to construct your army list. Follow these steps:

  1. Determine Points: AoS uses a points system to balance matches. Familiarize yourself with your faction’s units and their point values.

  2. Unit Selection: Build a balanced list that includes a mix of frontline units, support heroes, and ranged attackers. Experiment with different combinations to find a strategy that works well.

  3. Strategic Synergy: Look for unit synergies; many units perform better alongside specific heroes or other units.

  4. Playtesting: Before committing to a full army, try smaller skirmishes or proxy units to gauge their effectiveness and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Conclusion

Building your army in Age of Sigmar is an exciting journey filled with creativity and strategic depth. By understanding the diverse factions, their strengths, and how they fit into your playstyle, you can assemble a formidable and enjoyable force. Whether you’re drawn to the noble warriors of Order or the chaotic entities of Destruction, your adventure in the Mortal Realms awaits. Happy gaming!