White Dwarf - Issue 516

It’s hard to believe that it has already been 10 years since Warhammer Age of Sigmar rose like a phoenix from the ashes of the World-that-Was, but White Dwarf has the receipts, and this month’s issue is an anniversary spectacular celebrating a full decade of magic and mayhem from the Mortal Realms.

This issue kicks off with a deep retrospective on the last decade, looking back at the early days of the Mortal Realms and the events that led to the current mess. Starting from the very beginning, when the Realms were simply clumps of magic coalescing in the void, you’ll go on a journey through the intervening wars until the Hour of Ruin explodes and everything gets a bit… ratty.

If any of the iconic locations mentioned in the retrospective sound like a place you’d like to have a throw-down, you’re in luck – a new cluster of rules brings three thematic theatres to life, bestowing extra spells on wizards and unique abilities based around Aqshy, Shyish, and Ghur. 

To celebrate such a momentous milestone, a bumper battle report throws a combined force of Hallowed Knights and Hammers of Sigmar into the mother of all ‘what if’ scenarios – a titanic battle against four of their deadliest foes from across the history of Warhammer Age of Sigmar.

The main villains from each of the game’s big launch boxes begin an assault against Sigmar’s domain – split across the twin Realms of Aqshy and Ghyran and joined in the middle by the city of Hammerhal. The Blades of Khorne and Skaven crash into the ranks of Vandus Hammerhand’s host, while Yndrasta’s elite spearhead tackle a combined horde of Kruleboyz and Nighthaunt in what is sure to be a game for the ages.

In addition to all of that, a new update for the Space Marine Operations game introduced in last month’s issue adds extra creatures to battle and a new table for randomly spawning groups of Tyranid adversaries. Not only will this issue’s missions pit you against Lictors, Raveners, and Zoanthropes, but you’ll also need to contend with a terrifying Hive Tyrant in a perilous two-stage encounter – because we all know proper boss fights don’t finish after the first round.