As the Cities of Sigmar explore the Mortal Realms for the rare Emberstone, they must often fight for it - and this is the setting for the new Age of $igmar expansion, Spearhead: City of Ash. Packed with brand new minis, Spearhead: City of Ash pits the ​Freeguild Warriors of the Sentinels of Embergard against the Skaven assassins of Clans Eshin - a fan favourite and much-anticipated plastic release. The Sentinels of Embergard include their valiant leader Jorvan Kreel and his super-cool companion Thexa the Ash Panther, a Mallus Forgepriest, 5 x Freeguild Gallants Knights and a new Freeguild unit, 10 x Freeguild Grenadiers (each with a choice of helmeted or bare heads). These new Grenadiers can be armed with either a ranged weapon or a fearsome looking axe, which is sure to be a favourite. The poses and design of the Grenadiers is next level, really stepping up the Cities of Sigmar line infantry, who for the most part have a more ranked look to them. On the Skaven side we have Crixxit's Kill-Pack, led by Deathmaster Crixxit, a stand-by Deathmaster, 10 x Night Runners, 10 x Gutter Runners and 2 x Bomb Rats. Clans Eshin are death-that-creeps, the-living-shadows, blades-in-the-night - everything humans find so terrifying about Skaven - and to have new plastic minis is a fantastic update. Spearhead: City of Ash also comes with some really lovely plastic terrain, very thematic and of course the board and other play aids you'll need to fight this battle. Something to note is the amazing Cities of Sigmar Transfer Sheet which features markings for Hammerhal Aqsha, Hammerhal Ghyra, Tempest’s Eye, Vindicarum, The Living City, Misthåvn, Lethis, Excelsis, Hallowheart, Settler’s Gain, and Greywater Fastness. These would be amazing on Blackshields in The Horus Heresy!
Also on pre-order this week, and also from Age of $igmar is the new Battleforce: Ossiarch Bonereapers – Null Myriad Phalanx, which gives you Arkhan the Black, Mortarch of Sacrament/ Mannfred von Carstein, Mortarch of Night/ Neferata, Mortarch of Blood, a Mortisan Soulmason, 4 x Morghast Archai/ Morghast Harbingers and 20x Mortek Guard. That's a hefty box there and a great way to start with the Ossiarch Bonereapers.
It's also a delayed-release of White Dwarf 522 for Australia and New Zealand, but this issue has a lot about the Badab Wars and the righteous actions of the so-called Space Pirates!

Just a few weeks after the Liber Custodes and Legio Custodes Battlegroup were released, we now have the individual kits and more on pre-order this week! 
First up is the Shield Captain, who comes with only a head swap - so no alternative weapons which is a shame! The head swap does allow you to change the genders though.
We also have our troops - the Custodian Guard Sodality with their Sentinel Warblades, Misericordia, and Praesidium Shields and the Sentinel Guard Sodality with the quintessential Custodes weapon, the Guardian Spear. We also have new plastic Venatari Sodality with their jetpacks and lighter armour. Each member can be either armed with a Tarsus Buckler and Kinetic Destroyer or Verutum Lance. The troops get some heavy hitting support with the Custodian Dreadnought who can either have the Dreadspear (Achillus class) or the Galatus class with the Warblade and a Gravis Praesidium Shield.
In terms of vehicles we finally have some great plastic versions of all the Custodes vehicles; the Caladius Annihilator Grav-tank, equipped with a turret-mounted twin Arachnus Blaze Carronade and either a hull-mounted twin Lastrum Bolt Cannon or a twin Neutronium Cascade Projector, and the Caladius Grav-tank, armed with turret-mounted twin Iliastus Accelerator Cannon and choice of a twin Lastrum Bolt Cannon or twin Neutronium Cascade Projector mounted in the hull. This could have been one kit with alternative turrets, but alas no!
Finally we have the transport option, the Coronus Grav-carrier with a turret-mounted twin Arachnus Blaze Cannon and a choice of (this will sound familiar) twin Lastrum Bolt Cannon or twin Neutronium Cascade Projector mounted in the hull.
In books this week we have the Word Bearers-themed Zardu Layak: The Crimson Apostle in either Special Edition or Hardback.
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As we said last week, this Custodes release sees the ability to swap the genders via alternative heads. This is actually a really big deal, but instead of Games Workshop crowing about it - about inclusion and diversity - they have downplayed it and let the critics prevail. It's a shame culturally, and I'm sure they will try to rewrite this in the future, but here we are now with Games Workshop not standing proud over a decision to be inclusive, diverse and aspirational in their aims to bring more people into the hobby. Just be brave!

Stepping from the pages of the Horus Heresy, then the Eye of Terror, the Iron Warriors - Perturabo's sons - have returned to Warhammer 40K. With new miniatures, and a narrative campaign, the long-rumoured return of their Primarch is nigh! The story begins with Eye of Terror: Reign of Iron – War for the Cadian Gate, a three-book set guiding you through the narrative campaign. The in the set is Eye of Terror: Reign of Iron, 80 pages of lore and background on the Eye of Terror, the Iron Warriors, Adeptus Mechanicus and the new Adeptus Mechanicus hotness, Thulia Ghuld. The second volume is Eye of Terror: Reign of Iron – Apocalypse, a 72-page hardcover book which sees the return of Apocalypse battles, with new rules etc etc. The third volume is Eye of Terror: Reign of Iron – Detachments, a 16-page booklet including new detachments for a number of factions across Warhammer 40K. Eye of Terror: Reign of Iron – War for the Cadian Gate comes in two flavours; Puckered Eye of Terror Collector's Edition and Raining Iron, Torn Umbrella Standard Edition. In terms of miniatures we have a new character Kravek Morne, who has stepped right out of the Horus Heresy with his modified Cataphractii Terminator armour. He is flanked by the abominations of the Warp, the Chaos Mutilators - which despite getting a full glow-up absolutely don't hit for us. They seem to lack the horror aspect, despite the usual tick-box of bits one would add to a Warhammer 40K Chaos model. If troops are more your thing, then the new Combat Patrol: Chaos Space Marines – Iron Warriors is for you. Sporting the brand new Warpsmith, this also includes 5 x Havocs, 5 x Chaos Terminators, 10 x Legionaries and the new Iron Warriors Upgrade frame, which is going to be a hit! We'll see this scattered amongst Horus Heresy hobbyists and Warhammer 40K hobbyists alike. The biggest part of this release is the new Defiler kit - and it's a beauty for sure. With what Games Workshop call "poseable legs", multiple armour and chest options, interchangeable exhaust pipes, 2 x sets of shoulder pads, and 2 sets of torso trim. There are also 10 face plates (one for each for the Chaos Legions, and 4 for any Chaos Space Marines force). The Iron Warriors Upgrades Sprue is also available to pre-order this weekend (GW webstore only) and holds some great conversion options for all hobbyists. There's also a set of Iron Warriors Dice, which unfortunately aren't yellow as this would provide a brilliant contrast on the tabletop.
From Iron Men to the Machine Spirit, it's the Adeptus Mechanicus - this time led by Thulia Ghuld, one of the few female Mechanicus models we have, despite them being so present in the novels. This is an interesting model, combining may elements that have gone before to make a great looking mini. She brings with her the Hastarii, heavy infantry that can either be built as Hastarii Exterminators (armed with arc blasters and eradication casters) or Hastarii Fusiliers (with neutron fusils and phosphor blasters). Neither options you'd want to run into on the battlefield, but they do take a bit of a step away from the previous design aesthetic, having the loping element of some Heresy-era Mechanicum minis but the sleek look of the Skitarii in Warhammer 40K. There's also a Eye of Terror Battalion: Adeptus Mechanicus which includes an Onager Dunecrawler, Skorpius Disintegrator/ Skorpius Dunerider and an Ironstrider Ballistarius/ Sydonian Dragoon. This isn't the only Eye of Terror battalion box, with the ​Eye of Terror Battalion: Imperial Knights, sporting a Knight Valiant/ Knight Castellan, and 2 x Armiger Warglaives/ Armiger Helverins, and the Eye of Terror Battalion: Sons of Dorn featuring a Redemptor Dreadnought, Ballistus Dreadnought and 2 x Repulsor Executioners. 
There's a big release hidden amongst the Eye of Terror event, and that's the new Knight Destrier, bringing a brand new sleek look to what is a rapidly aging aesthetic of the current Knights range. The Knight Destrier includes what's being touted as "2 straightforward poses for the legs, and an advanced option for more experienced Warhammer hobbyists". How this works in reality could be interesting, but this will ideally fix what many see as the very mono-pose, static look to GW Knights. The Knight Destrier also includes an opening cockpit, detailed interior and pilot, along with the Knight's many weapon options. This is a big leap forward in their Knights range, more than likely influenced by a well-known Community member who entered their take on Knights in Golden Demon a year or so back. The Knight Destrier is very similar and shows how Games Workshop do see the Community as a pipeline for ideas - it is just a pity that the creator isn't going to be credited in any way by them. A Warhammer Community article wouldn't go astray!
Before we get to the delayed Australia and New Zealand releases, lets have a look at books, with two new omnibuses on pre-order this week. Paragon of Faith and Other Stories includes the novellas Paragon of Faith, and Saint's Judgement, plus short stories Infernal Motives, Our Lady of the Voyage, Joy of the Martyr, Redemption Through Blood, and The Fires of Our Faith. Carnage Unending includes the novella Blood Rite, and short stories Ork Hunter, Wulfen, The Glorious Tomb, Packin' Heat, Road Rage, Mad Dok, It Bleeds, The Price of Morkai, Consecrated Ground, Hell Fist, and Sarcophagus. We also have the hardback Aestred Thurga: Pyre of Faith.
It's also a White Dwarf week for the rest of the world with #523 on it's way!
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In delayed releases for Australia and New Zealand we have the must-delayed Warhammer: The Old World ​Chaos Marauder Horsemen and Chaos Marauders. Both sets come with weapon options - either a hand weapon and shield, a great weapon, or a flail, plus a choice of helmeted or bare head for each mini. These are absolutely brilliant minis and a huge improvement on the originals which lasted decades!!

Dark Elves are cool, right? They've always had cool armour and spikes and pointy eras - it's sort of a holy trinity of goodness. Unfortunately the Dark Elves as we knew them are now more, but part of them have become the Daughters of Khaine, and this week we can all revel in their new Battletome and some new minis, plus the return of an old favourite... in many forms.
So the Battletome: Daughters of Khaine comes in two versions, the SO Fabulous So Deadly Gamer's Edition and Slay Queen Standard Edition, both of which feature the new Blood Hags on the cover. The Blood Hags are a new kit, and draw inspiration from Blood Stalkers and the Witch Aelves, these new minis also bring in elements from the Black Guard and Executioners of old. We do wonder if the black bodysuit might be an indicator of darker things to come, either way it's nice to see that a little less flesh on the Daughters of Khaine adds to their pure viciousness on the battlefield. There's a new Spearhead: Daughters of Khaine - Khainite Shadow Coven too, which (despite the confusing contents description on the website) is basically the old Slaughter Queen/ Hag Queen on Cauldron of Blood/ Shrine of Dark Tribute kit, a Bloodwrack Medusa, the Khainite Shadowstalkers kit and 10 x Sisters of Slaughter/ Witch Aelves. Now if you like the look of the look of the centre piece of that kit then you can get it in the Shrine of Dark Tribute set, which is the alternative build to the Cauldron of Blood. Equally, the Melusai Ironscale from that kit is also available separately! The Sisters of Slaughter from the Kainite Shadow Coven are also available in the Regiment of Renown: The Crimson Lash, plus you also get the incredibly boring High Gladiatrix. There's also the Battleforce: Scáthborn Coven (not available in Australia and New Zealand this week) that features Morathi-Khaine, 5 x Khinerai Heartrenders/ Khinerai Lifetakers and 10 x Blood Sisters/ Blood Stalkers. Honestly this release gives you some of everything, so look carefully and you should be able to build a really nice force. Also this week we have the Warscroll Cards: Daughters of Khaine and subtly red Daughters of Khaine Dice.
Speaking of Elves, Wood Elves still exist, and despite their transformation into the Sylvaneth they still retain their woody nature! the new Order Battletome: Sylvaneth comes in two flavours, the Miyazaki's Rolling Green Fields Gamer's Edition and Thorny But Not So Nice Standard Edition. This Battletome also sees a new miniature with the band new Grove Guardian bringing a whole new level of weirdness to the Sylvaneth. A pretty big leap into the forest spirit energy here - we see a crown very similar to Alarielle the Everqueen, but on not as pretty a visage.  There's also small Gladewyrms and a very shiny lantern! The Branchwych has been around for a while now but returns for this Batteltome release, plus we have some pretty cool boxes, starting off with the Spearhead: Sylvaneth – Spitewing Flight giving you an Arch-Revenant, 6 x Revenant Seekers/ Spiterider Lancers and 5 x Gossamid Archers. These are some of the newest Sylvaneth kits and the flyers are particularly interesting! The Regiment of Renown: The Twisted Branch is the afore-mentioned Branchwych plus 8 x of the Twistweald Warband miniatures. The Battleforce: Sylvaneth – Strongroot Grove is a bit of an old one now (possibly a past Xmas Battleforce) and we've seen it before - 3 x Spirit of Durthu/ Treelord/ Treelord Ancient and 6 x Kurnoth Hunters. Very woody and could probably have done with something like the Gossamid Archers to give it some colour and interest. We of course also have the Warscroll Cards: Sylvaneth and Sylvaneth Dice! 
​In books this week we have the new Queen of the Rose Throne and Shade of Khaine  - both in paperback!

Think Horus Heresy is just trans-humans in armour or human fodder? Nooooo - it's also uber-trans-humans in golden armour, because today we can field the Emperor's finest in the new version of Horus Heresy. The new ​Liber Custodes: The Forces of the Emperor Army Book is 120 pages of lore and rules covering the Talons of the Emperor - the Legio Custodes, Anathema Psykana, and Divisio Assassinorum. Speaking of which, the brand new Legio Custodes Battle Group is finally here. The box comes with the new Shield Captain, a Contemptor-Achillus/ Contemptor-Galatus Dreadnought, a Caladius Annihilator Grav-tank (with optional twin lastrum bolt cannon or a twin neutronium cascade projector armament), 6 x Custodian Guard and 6 x Sentinel Guard miniatures. The Guards all come with alternative heads and other bits, and what's really curious about this release and Games Workshop's wording around it is that this is the first time we will have female Custodes, with optional heads presenting both male and female genders. Adam Troke made an aside saying "she" in the preview, but none of the written material has mentioned the option, and we wonder if that's to do with the toxic comments online about this option. It seems like a new approach was instituted by the studio, but Marketing are not coming along for the ride. 
In other Horus Heresy news we have the next in the Journal Tactica series of books, with Mailed Fist – Legiones Astartes Super-heavy Tanks, a 48-page softcover supplement covering the big Legiones Astartes tanks of the Horus Heresy, some rules and the Unit Profile for the Whirlwind Missile Tank, Legion Decurion upgrades for the Fellblade Super-heavy Battle Tank and the Falchion Super-heavy Tank Destroyer. To go with this book comes the very best of Legiones Astartes tanks, the Glaive Super-heavy Special Weapons Tank, for the very first time in plastic! Be aware this is a very expensive model, so it might be a bit rare on the tabletop, but every army needs one!! 
With the recent news that Citadel will no longer be a Games Workshop brand, we have the new Warhammer Colour Painting Handle, Warhammer Colour Tool Set and some new ​Warhammer Dice.
Those who missed out the other week also get White Dwarf 521 coming this Friday too!

A month ago the rest of the world could get their hands on the new Mechanicum forces for Horus Heresy, and this week Australia and New Zealand can pre-order them too. Heading up your heavy infantry are the new plastic Myrmidon Destructor Host, a very nice improvement on their original resin models, and the brand new Vultarax Stratos-Automata. For fans of Skitarii, we also have the Skitarii Battle-Pilgrym Marshal and Skitarii Battle-Pilgrym Corpus in their Horus Heresy guise. These are very different from the Skitarii we are used to in Warhammer 40K and don't seem to be very well received - looking more like a Tech-gang out of Necromunda. Poor model decision by Games Workshop and hardly represents the Mechanicum in any sort of glory.

Made to Order unites us with some lovely classic Orcs from Warhammer. We have the Classic Black Orc Bigboss in metal, the metal Classic Black Orc Command which comes with three paper banners and the Classic Black Orcs also in metal. 
Now for something really cool, here's the Orcs many of us grew up with, the metal Classic Orc Boyz Command (look at that rad drummer!!), metal Classic Orc Boyz (with plastic shields) and the plastic and metal Classic Goblin Rock Lobber. Look at those lovely classic paint schemes!!

Excitement reigns supreme as Black Library Celebration 2026 roars  to life. Banners fall from lamp posts, the streets are paved with gold and everywhere you look people are sitting quietly reading books centred in the universe we all know and love. It's a happy halcyon time... which does not exist! Why? Because Games Workshop don't build it up. They don't hype, they don't push, they don't tell us why it's important - which, one would surmise, tells you it's not important!
Lets start with miniatures then...
Blood Bowl, you sweet specialist game of yore, is back this week with a new team - the High Elf Blood Bowl Team: The Caledor Dragons, and a pretty team they are. Bringing together the High Elves, White Lions, Dragon Princes and Phoenix Warriors, the team covers the gamut of the High Elf range. Dynamically posed and with a rare showing over Elven knees, this team would look pretty great on the playing field. Pair them with the High Elf Team Reference Card Pack and High Elf Team Dice Set and you are good to go! But how do I find out more about these be-knee-ed Elves? Well you find out more in Blood Bowl Spike! Journal Issue 21, which gives you lore and background on High Elf teams, the High Elf teams roster, plus some rules for fielding the famous Caledor Dragons, a way to run an entire High Elf league plus more. As with most Blood Bowl releases we also get the High Elf Pitch: Double-sided Pitch and Dugouts so your team can have a home ground advantage... maybe that should be a rule! Also in Blood Bowl this we we have the new ​Ogre Team Booster, which includes 2 x Ogres and a Gnoblar Lineman. This is a resin set, and again seems to show how Games Workshop do a disservice to the beautiful big girls by making this set really quite ugly.
Now onto the main event for this week's pre-orders - Black Library Celebration 2026.
​Horus Rising is one of the most critically acclaimed and loved books in the entire Games Workshops pantheon - and rightly so - it's great. It's been republished a number of times in various forms, but this Black Library Celebration you can order Horus Rising in it's most prized form - the hallowed Premium Edition. To be fair it does look a bit different than the original, but if you want that bespoke aged look, then this is your chance. Horus Rising is also available in a new Hardback version as well. Speaking of Special Editions, we have Ghazghkull Thraka: Warlord of Warlords in Special Edition and Hardback this week as well. Empty your wallet and double your Special Edition goodness.
The prestigious Black Library Reader's Choice winner for 2025 have been chosen and this year it's Grudge Bearer for Warhammer: The Old World and Deathwatch for Warhammer 40K - both in paperback. Like your editions to be super-pretty and packed with goodness? Well lets have a look at the anthologies - first up there's The Infinite and the Divine – Illustrated and Annotated Edition in hardback. This series has had a variety of covers of it's life, and this is another nice one, but have we already read this one to death? Here's the big boys, the big anthologies peop0le wait for, and they're both pretty good! Let's lead with His Royal Highness, Grombrindal: The Legend of the White Dwarf which includes the novella The Best Laid Schemes and short stories White-Haired Daemon, Old White-Fur, This Rough Beast, The Hunt for Whitebeard, All That Could Be Done, Fire and Fungi, and An Oath of Redemption. If Orks are more your thing, then The Green Tide in paperback may suffice. It includes the novels Warboss, Catachan Devil, the novellas Iron Resolve, Prisoners of Waaagh!, and the short stories Where Dere's Da Warp Dere's a Way, Painboyz, Mad Dok, and The Enemy of My Enemy. Prefer your 40K with a feminine charm? Well the Sisters of Battle are here with Faith & Fire in it's 20th Anniversary Edition Hardback Edition. We also have the new novel Chem Dog in hardback. 
If you do order any of these books, then you will get the Black Library Celebration 2026 book for free.
And with that we bring Black Library Celebration 2026 to a close.

It’s a Warhammer 40K week with Combat Patrols and pirates from the last few weeks now available separately for the first time, plus a rare Tau Empire release.
Let’s start with the Tau and their new battlesuit-ed elites, The Twin Lance. Known as Shas'ri Locai and Shas'ri Lantar (or Exemplar Sunsear and Exemplar Scatterflare to us non-Tau), these new battlesuits have a much bulkier (some might say very un-Tau-like look to them, almost with a human bulkiness to them).
Speaking of rare-ish, the Tyranids have a weird release out of nowhere – the Tyranid Prime with Lash Whip. Harking back to the original Tyranid releases of old, this mini definitely has a retro look to it, probably something much-wanted for Tyranid fans who have seen quite a few changes in the last few years. 
The Leagues of Votann are a weird mob, not Xenos but also not entirely human in allegiance either. There’s something about that which brings a new ambivalence to them and their intentions. This week we have a new hero, Berehk Stornbröw, who seems to have beef with Orks – as all Votann do. Quite a nice-looking figure but it’s a shame to not have any real options for the posing.
Aeldari, in their original form are back! They’re space pirates and they don’t care what you think! Now we have some new, some reboxed and some… nope, that’s it! The Vyper/Starfang is the reimagined fast attack support pew-pew mobile, and being a fan of the older type, this one isn’t as exciting, but it’s a great looking vehicle and will be heavily fielded by any Aeldari players. Also in the new camp are the two characters, Kharseth and Prince Yriel (who comes with a choice of two heads). Kharseth is a definite winner here, sporting the helm first seen in Jes Goodwin art from the launch of Battlefleet Gothic. We also have new troops, with the Corsair Skyreavers box bringing you 5 x flying Aeldari armed with melee weapons, plus there are options for two of the Corsair Skyreavers to take either a shredder, blaster, fusion gun, or flamer. The Corsair Voidreavers (a kit first released in Kill Team) has been reboxed and wins the award for being a super-flexible kit out of the box with not only standard weapons but specialist ones too, plus you get 9 x helmeted heads, 4 x bare female heads, 5 x bare male heads and 9 x back vanes to make them look extra bad-arse! If you like the look of this, then the new Combat Patrol: Aeldari Corsairs (only available for a limited time) is for you, sporting a Kharseth, Wave Serpent/ Falcon, 5 x Corsair Skyreavers and 10 x Corsair Voidreavers/ Voidscarred. With this generous bounty there’s also the new Aeldari Corsairs Dice.
Speaking of pirates – IT’S THE RED CORSAIRS (different corsairs, not related!). These guys are renegade Space Marines, enemies of the Imperium cruising around blowing stuff up!  Leading your warband will be a Red Corsairs Reave-Captain – and what a great kit he is – with options for a power maul or a power sword in one hand, and a plasma pistol in the other, plus three head options, alternate bandoliers, and two different backpack trophies. Already have some Space Marines and want to convert them up to be Red Corsairs? Well the Red Corsairs Upgrades and Transfers kit is for you! Sporting 5 x bare heads, 10 x power armour shoulder pads, 5 x Terminator shoulder pads, 3 x bandoliers, 2 x chainswords and 2 x hanging trophies, this will likely be a big hit with Chaos Space Marine fans too. Personally we think it’s a bit light on heads and too heavy on shoulderpads (considering there's already transfers in the kit), but there you go! All in? Want to fire up? Then the new Combat Patrol: Red Corsairs is for you because it includes the Red Corsairs Reave-captain, 5 x Red Corsairs Raiders, 10 x Fellgor Ravagers (Beastmen rule!!) and a Chaos Rhino (a flyer might have been better, but okay!). There’s also some rather nice Red Corsairs Dice.
Speaking of Combat Patrols, the new Combat Patrol: Night Lords is here with a Chaos Lord with Jump Pack, 5 x Chosen, 10 x Legionaries and a Rhino. Sadly this only comes with a Chaos Space Marine Transfer Sheet not a dedicated Night Lords one. With all the recent Night Lords releases it really is time to step up and GW to give them their own!
Now this is a beauty – the Combat Patrol: Kroot! Bringing some of the best of the recent Kroot releases this includes a Kroot Lone-spear mounted on a Kalamandra, a Krootox Rider, 3 of the awesome Krootox Rampagers and 12 x Farstalker Kinband warriors. Super thematic, really nice, and also (if you read the lore) potentially space pirates!!
In books this week we have the new Carcharodons: Void Exile in paperback and for the rest of the world it’s a White Dwarf week… I’m not going to go on about it again!  

There's also supposed to be a Middle-earth Made To Order this week but it doesn't seem to be offered in Australia or New Zealand this week. 

Well it’s yet another adventure in the world of Games Workshop with the pre-orders apparently not being region-blocked despite the fact we told they were this week. Surprise!! Yet more geographically staggered releases
So, what is happening this week for everyone – it’s Grand Cathy in Warhammer – The Old World. That’s right, that excellent looking army everyone loves the look of but no one seems to paint, has some excellent reinforcements that bring us up to date with the more recent Warhammer Previews we have seen online – and all in one box. Grand Cathay are an elite force so the brand new Defenders of the Great Bastion Army Reinforcement Set gives you some cheap infantry plus some ranged power! First up with have the Astromancer on foot and the Astromancer mounted on Cathayan Warhorse with their requisite Familiar pet (which tells you how long ago this was in development). The ranged power includes 8 x Crane Gun Teams, 12 x Iron Hail Gunners and 30 x Peasant Soldiers, who can either have warbows or long spears. The Peasant Soldier kit also has two heads per soldier, giving you lots of personalisation options (or build them with two heads – you do you!). Grand Cathay is also the theme for the new Arcane Journal: The Breaching of the Great Bastion, giving you new lore, rules for  these new minis, an updated army list and of course the ongoing narrative of Warhammer – The Old World.
Now, new Horus Heresy releases this week look like they’re not coming to Australia and New Zealand on pre-order yet, so for the rest of you rejoice in your Mechanicum goodness. In plastic for the very first time we have the Myrmidon Destructor Host, chunky constructs with big guns to either obliterate your infantry or melt holes in your tanks and armour. These are a nice update to the old resin versions from Forge World and this time have optional heads, so you can be all mysterious and cowled or go for that techno-horror look with old mecha-baldy heads. The Skitarii need a leader, and today we see the Skitarii Battle-Pilgrym Marshal, who follows the same rag-tag design of his minions that has resonated so poorly across the Horus Heresy Community – do they even test these in some sort of focus group? This guy comes with multiple weapon and head options to provide a bevy of leaders across your force. Speaking of Skitarii you can now get the Skitarii Battle-Pilgrym Corpus outside their big box, which may or may not be of interest to people because these just don’t seem to be resonating. It’s probably the bad colour scheme, because surely they can look better! Also outside the big box for the first time is the Vultarax Stratos-Automata, a great weapons platform that is just asking for some interesting colour schemes to jazz it up.
We had a whole lot of pirates the other week, and at that time we mentioned that Freebooterz were missing – well here’s one for you, Kaptin Badrukk, who with his Ammo Runts give you a really nice start to an Ork pirate force. Space Orks go right back to the very start of Warhammer 40K, so if you like the idea of some old school Orksies, then jump on this duo now!
No books this week, so enjoy the quiet!!

In the world of Warhammer not all Undead are created equally. Sure you have the standard undead, vampires, ghouls and the like, but there's a special magical kind of undead that haven't received a lot of love since their release  
​in 2019, in fact this week sees the first serious range update in over 5 years! That's right, it's the Ossiarch Bonereapers - constructs of reconstituted bone that serve the whims of the magically enhanced who can bring them forth. On pre-order this week we have the new ​Death Battletome: Ossiarch Bonereapers, which comes in Shake, Rattle and Roll Gamer's Edition and Sparkly Bony Melange Standard Edition! Happily we also have a whole lot of new miniatures with this release including the Liege-Kavalos on War Chariot/ Kavalos War Chariot, bringing one of the favourite forms of fast attack to the Ossiarch Bonereapers. The fact this is a dual-kit gives it an even great place in the hearts of fans of the Undead. Continuing the tradition of multi-option champions comes the Liege-Mortek with multiple head and weapon options, and a powerful mage, with the Mortisan Soulreaper. In terms of infantry we have a large box of 20 x Mortek Triaxes, adding ranged power to the formerly hand-to-hand forces of the Ossiarch Bonereapers. Not a lot of options in this kit, with only enough heads for each mini included. Probably the coolest addition to the Ossiarch Bonereapers are the Mortis Reapers - assassins who you'd have to wonder might have some Dark Elves in their DNA. They're brilliant and deserve all the love they can get - one of the best small kits in a while. It's not just Age of $igmar that's bringing us new skellies, it's also Warhammer Underworlds, with a brand new warband - Thanatek's Tithe - a big twist on what we've had so far and a great looking unit. This unit also shows us the first look at the really cool Mornial Caste, collectors of the most pure bones for reanimation! The whole unit actually has a really interesting backstory and adds character we're not that familiar with in many Undead armies. There is of course, a new Spearhead with the Kavalos Vanguard bringing you a mounted Liege-Kavalos/ Hero Arch-Kavalos Zandtos, 8 x Teratic Cohort miniatures, and 10 x Kavalos Deathriders. Not only that, but a Regiment of Renown, the Heralds of the Bone-tithe, with Vokmortian, Master of the Bone-tithe, 3 x Immortis Guard/ Necropolis Stalkers, and 10 x Mortek Guard. This unit is especially designed for use with Flesh-eater Courts, Nighthaunt, and Soulblight Gravelords armies, but the individual units can be used in any Ossiarch Bonereapers force. Added extras for those so disposed with Ossiarch Bonereapers Dice and the Warscroll Cards: Ossiarch Bonereapers also on pre-order this weekend.
​Thanatek's Tithe aren't the only Warhammer Underworlds release this week with the Nexus of Power Rivals Deck which is a complete and ready-to-play Take and Hold Rivals deck, usable by any warband in games of Warhammer Underworlds.
​We've also got some great Age of $igmar terrain this week with the Cleansing Aqualith, Nexus Syphon, Domicile Shell, Domicile Shell with Winch, Guardian Idol and the Megadroth Remains.

Last year we were discussing that if Huron Blackheart comes back, would we get a release of pirates... and well here we are. It's just the tip of the iceberg, and would have been great to see Freebooters right at the start, but pirates we have, for "it is, it is a glorious thing to be a pirate king"!
Huron Blackheart, the hero of the Badab Wars (as we see it) has since gone on to rule the galaxy with an iron (and spiky) fist, and this week sees him re-entering the Warhammer 40K universe with new miniatures and a brand new narrative event called The Maelstrom, including a boxed set of books that "explore the Maelstrom and the ruthless warlords who call it home". ​The Maelstrom: Lair of the Tyrant – Into the Nightmare Realm includes an 80-page hardback book with lore and background on the Maelstrom, and the factions fighting each other for control (fingers crossed we will see Renegade Space Marines appear at some point). The second book in the set is the 64-page hardback book Crucible Champions with rules for creating your very own Champion for each 40K faction. Raid and Ruin is 48 pages going over the narrative campaign plus 12 Incursion missions, ten Raid and Ruin missions, and two Mayhem missions. Finally, the last is Detachments, a 16-page softcover booklet including two new detachments for Chaos Space Marines, Aeldari, one for the Ork Freebooters and another a Votann Mercenary Oathband. This collection of books comes in a slipcase and is available in Swashbuckling Fury Collector's Edition (with handsome soft-touch slipcase and covers to the books, red gilt page edges, red ribbon bookmarks and red foil-blocked details) and of course the Plankwalkers Standard Edition. With all this glory you can imagine that we'd be seeing some miniatures, and yes, it be true! Look avast, land-lubber for Huron Blackheart and the Masters of the Maelstrom be on the approach. This set includes all new plastic miniatures of Huron Blackheart, Garreon the Corpsemaster, Katar Garrix, Garlon Souleater, Captain Sargotta, the dog-soldier Enforcer and her pet Plunder. About 50% of this is a great looking set, the rest are pretty ordinary or just a bit weird. Fantastic concept and one we've seen before with Captain Titus and The Wardens of Ultramar. Every warlord needs troops and here we have the start to them - the Red Corsairs Battleforce: Lords of the Maelstrom. This includes the new awesome Red Corsairs Reave-Captain, 10 x new Red Corsairs Raiders (in MKVII armour - no Primaris here), 5 x Red Corsairs Chaos Terminators, 10 x Red Corsairs Legionaries, 10 x Traitor Guardsmen and only 1 x Red Corsairs Upgrade Frame which seems a bit of a shame for so many guys. Now when it comes to pirates we can't forget some of the original Rogue Trader pirates, and that's the Aeldari! We've seen Aeldari Corsairs more recently in Kill Team, and now we have even more with the Aeldari Corsairs Battleforce: Eldritch Raiders making their way into 40K. Headed by the brand new Prince Yriel and a beautiful Kharseth (based on the Jes Goodwin drawing for Battlefleet Gothic), this set also includes the new Starfang/ Vyper and 10 x new Corsair Skyreavers. The set also includes 10 x the previously released Corsair Voidreavers/ Voidscarred who are absolutely brilliant! This is a great set and for the Aeldari-curious it's incredibly tempting!! Nothing says "bad guy" like the Drukhari - who apart from their fashion sense really don't have many redeeming features. Well not wanting to be left out, these raiders have a new set and it's the The www.warhammer.com/en-AU/shop/maelstrom-battalion-drukhari-2026?queryID=eb8f02d432cede8bb49489f3087e636eMaelstrom Battalion: Drukhari. This blood-drenched fast attack set gives you a Succubus, 2 x Venoms, 3 x Reavers (brilliant models to paint - they really need more love), 5 x Hellions and 10 x Wyches. In close combat, this force will eviscerate so many foes! The final Maelstrom Battalion is one for the Leagues of Votann, which features a Memnyr Strategist, 3 x Hernkyn Pioneers and 6 x Ironkin Steeljacks. Bit of a shame this one - it really lacks the character of the other sets!
In books this week we have the Huron Blackheart: Master of the Maelstrom in paperback, the new Alpha Legion book Ghost Legion in both Special Edition and hardback, and Death Rider in hardback.
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++ In Australia and New Zealand this week we also have the past few weeks pre-orders we didn't get, so if you're interested, please read below for those ++

In 2016 Tzeentch was the first Chaos faction to receive a really big wave of releases, and it was a fantastic release. This week those turquoise wonders return with their 2026 update in Age of $igmar. Spearheaded by the new rules, Battletome: Disciples of Tzeentch comes in two flavours; Magic & Mystery Is Part Of Our History Gamers Edition and Mirror Mirror on the Wall Standard Edition. There's also new miniatures in this release - the Fatemaster (described by Cult(ure) of Paint as the best miniature from the last Warhammer Preview Reveal) and Old Chicken Legs, the Magister on Disc of Tzeentch. There's also a great Endless Spells set, the Argent Shards, which honestly have to be a must-get for Tzeentch fans who play Age of $igmar, Warhammer - The Old World, 40K or Horus Heresy. They're just awesome! There's also a new epic Battleforce: Warpflame Cavalcade which includes the Kairos Fateweaver/ Lords of Change, 3 x Screamers of Tzeentch, 3 x Flamers of Tzeentch, 2 x Exalted Flamer of Tzeentch/ Burning Chariot/ Herald of Tzeentch on Burning Chariot/ Changecaster, 10 x Brimstone Horrors, 10 x Blue Horrors and 10 x Pink Horrors. This would be an AMAZING starter set for Tzeentch!! Meanwhile if you prefer more frontline troops, there's the Spearhead: Tzaangor Warflock which includes a Tzaangor Shaman mounted on a Disc of Tzeentch, 3 x Tzaangor Skyfires, 3 x Tzaangor Enlightened, and 10 x Tzaangors - an excellent way to get Tzaangors, the prettiest of Beastmen! If you prefer just some purely powerful magicians, then the Regiments of Renown: Seekers of Silver may be more your cup of tea, with the Gaunt Summoner (on disc), the new Magister on Disc of Tzeentch, and 3 x Screamers of Tzeentch. and of course we have the new Disciples of Tzeentch Warscroll Cards and some of the nicest dice we've seen in a while with the Disciples of Tzeentch Dice.
Tzeentch aren't the only magical kids on the block today, with the Lumineth Realm-lords getting their own 
Battletome which comes in Big Hats & Flowy Robes Gamers Edition and Elves of Power Standard Edition (the only thing available to pre-order Down Under this weekend). Like many new releases, the Lumineth Realm-lords get a new Vanari Lord Regent, who has alternative build options to make your own custom character. There's a two new boxes too, with the Spearhead: Hurakan Vanguard featuring Hurakan Spirit of the Wind/ Sevireth, Lord of the Seventh Wind, a Hurakan Windmage, 5 x Hurakan Windchargers, and 10 x Vanari Wardens. We also have the Battleforce: Iliathan Warhost with Ellania and Ellathor, Eclipsian Warsages, 5 x Vanari Bladelords, 5 x Ydrilan Riverblades (which really don't look like they fit in with the other Lumineth), 10 x Vanari Auralan Sentinels, 10 x Vanari Auralan Wardens and a Vanari Starshard Ballista. More magic than troops? Then the Regiments of Renown: Sigil Convocation is for you, featuring a Scinari Calligrave and the Endless Spells, Sanctum of Amyntok, Hyshian Twinstones, and Rune of Petrification. The requisite Lumineth Realm-lords Warscroll Cards and Dice also make an appearance!
We have some Space Marine Made To Order this weekend, with some metal Space Marine Captains from the Ultramarines, Space Wolves, Dark Angels, and Blood Angels Chapters, plus there's also a mixed set of resin and metal Terminator armour dudes – a Captain, Librarian, and Chaplain. Can there be a Space Marine release without Ultramarines? No - so we have the more classic metal and plastic set which includes older versions of Marneus Calgar, Chaplain Cassius, Sergeant Telion, Chief Librarian Tigurius, and Cato Sicarius. A set that was getting big money on eBay has just gone into Made To Order, and that's the Armour Through the Ages set. which includes the mostly original MkI, MkII, MkIII, MkIV, and MkV patterns of power armour in resin and plastic miniatures. There was a MKVI in this set but it's disappeared into the Void!
In books this week we have the Limited Edition of Aestred Thurga: Pyre of Faith, First Marshal and 
The Witch Hunter’s Handbook which is like a field manual of sorts which states the rules governing Sigmar's Witch Hunters in the Old World. The book is 96-pages and a reprint with a new cover.
It's also a White Dwarf week with Issue 521 arriving to line your bird cage with!

Horus Heresy - you beautiful beast! Constantly giving of yourself, constantly bringing love to our hearts. Okay, so potentially over the top, but Heresy is kicking goals these days. The era of Warhammer 40K being the premiere property is over (though 2026 does look promising) and the Age of Darkness reigns supreme. This week we have three big releases that are both hotly anticipated and also quite controversial.  
The much-beloved Cataphractii Terminators, mostly unchanged since their first Forge World incarnation and into their plastic incarnation, have now changed to be upscaled with the rest of their brethren. The size change was highly anticipated, but the sleeker proportions of the new Cataphractii Terminators has left many disappointed - especially with the elongated torso. The new Cataphractii Terminators are available in two sets - the power mauls and volkite chargers and the combi-bolter and mighty power fist. It's an interesting move to not have just one box with both options, and maybe that's due to parts count who knows! The other set this week is the Breacher Squad, something people have been after in plastic since the very first sniff of Horus Heresy V2 over 10 years ago. The Breacher Squad set has the newer (and inferior) MkIII Space Marines plus the new Breacher Squad Upgrade Set, giving you drum mag bolters in plastic for the first time in Horus Heresy.  Thankfully the Breacher Squad Upgrade Set is also available separately and is fully compatible with the "MkII and MkVI" (as listed on the website) but doesn't list the MKIII which they are pictured with. Weird! Either way, it's a great day for Heresy to have these kits finally on their way (location dependent). 
We also have some brand new Warhammer: The Old World minis this week (the more the merrier) with the new Chaos Marauder Horsemen and Chaos Marauders. Marauders are brilliant and hugely needed an update, so this is very welcome. They look brilliant too, with dynamic poses on minis that can still be ranked. This is a must-have!   
Warhammer 40K get some new Battleforces this week, boosting your forces for the upcoming 500 Worlds narrative campaign. First off we have the Battleforce: Lords of Excess, which not only comes with the awesome Daemon Prince model, but also 20 x Infractors/ Tormentors and 12 x Noise Marines. A set like this with such new minis in it is a great opportunity to boost, or align with, the Emperor's Children and The Dark Prince, She Who Thirsts. Dipping into a slightly older miniature library is the Battleforce: Khorne Daemonkin, which includes a Lord on Juggernaut/ Lord Invocatus, the Master of Executions, 6 x mounted Bloodcrushers, 10 x Khorne Berzerkers, and 20 x Bloodletters. Tzeentch gets some love too with the Battleforce: Sekhmet Coven, bringing you 1 x Infernal Master, 3 x Exalted Sorcerers, the old school Mutalith Vortex Beast and 10 x Scarab Occult Terminators. Meanwhile, if disease is more your thing, then Battleforce: Vile Vectorium is for you. Featuring Lord Felthius and his Tainted Cohort of 3 x Blightlord Terminators, 3 x Deathshroud Terminators, 3 x Foetid Bloat-drones and 20 x Poxwalkers, you have all you need to make your tabletop opponent nauseous!
In books this week we have the new Apostle novel by David Annandale in Hardback and the classic Death of Integrity novel from the Space Marine Battles series by Guy Haley in audiobook.

These mini Kill Team sets, now that they come without terrain, are popping up all over the place, and the latest expansion, Kill Team: Shadowhunt brings together two opposing sides of the coin - the "light" of the Imperial Truth and the darkness of the Night Lords. To be fair it seems like a pretty sizeable mismatch, Sisters of Battle vs Space Marines, but maybe in Kill Team it's a more even match. Kill Team: Shadowhunt includes 6 x Night Lord Murderwing operatives, 10 x Celestian Insidiants operatives, the Shadowhunt Dossier, the usual double-sided tokens, 2 x cardboard double-sided game boards, the datacards, for each kill team and transfers for both sides. Sadly the Night Lords one is only the Chaos Space Marines Transfer Sheet and not one of their own. In terms of the miniatures, the Night Lords look a bit (as my nephew would say) "janky" while the Insidiants look really solid - a really nice addition to any 40K Adeptus Sororitas force.
With this set on pre-order this weekend we also have the last few Kill Teams now available separately too, with the excellent update of the Tau Stealthsuits in Kill Team: XV26 Stealth Battlesuits, and the new Kill Team: Wolf Scouts also on pre-order. The Space Wolves are sure to be very popular. Of course there's also the XV26 Stealth Battlesuits – Datacards and Wolf Scouts – Datacards to grab too. 
Meanwhile, the Kill Team: Sanctifiers are back in stock in Australia and New Zealand after an extended period, so they will go nicely with your Celestian Insidiants.

​The Horus Heresy isn’t just Hypermen vs Hypermen, it’s also Arcane Robotmen vs Arcane Robotmen, and with the pre-order for the new Journal Tactica: Skitarii – The Steel Hand of Mars up this weekend, we get even further into the depths of the Mechanicum. This supplement (sadly only 48 pages) gives us the background to the new Skitarii Battle-Pilgryms miniatures, plus new missions and rules for various Skitarii Battle-Pilgrym commanders and formations, the Bonepicker hosts, and vehicles like the Skitarii Triaros Armoured Conveyor, Skitarii Karacnos Assault Tank, Skitarii Krios Battle Tank, and Skitarii Krios Venator Tank Destroyer. This new information goes very handily with the all-new Mechanicum Skitarii Battle Group which includes the Skitarii Battle-Pilgrym Marshal, 16 x Skitarii Battle-Pilgrym Corpus miniatures (with multiple head options) and the Vultarax Stratos-Automata (which may look familiar to Nurgle fans and enemies alike). Overall the new Skitarii Battle-Pilgrym seem very disappointing, with their kangaroo-like legs (seen on some other 40K Mechanicus minis) and their ragged attire. Maybe it goes with the fluff, but it’s a huge move away from the  Skitarii we see in 40K and the Skitarii we have seen in resin for Horus Heresy from Forgeworld before.
Speaking of Horus Heresy, and Forgeworld come to think of it, we have two new resin models – the mighty Angron Transfigured, and Lotara Sarrin – Mistress of the Conqueror. The Angron has all the hallmarks of a Forgeworld kit, with sharp lines and very static pose – unfortunately the real thing that detracts from this model is its obviously incorrect scale. Have a look at the size of the heads and skulls around his neck… is this Angron’s little brother? Considering the hulking versions we have had before, this is a truly disappointing model, especially as this is him in his Transfigured state! Lotara Sarrin is a different matter – a really nice little model, with with her multiple World Eaters icons she could be nobody else in this universe! Pity she’s resin though.
It’s been a while since we’ve had some Lord of the Ring/ The Hobbit action, and but with the new Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game Journal: The Treachery of Gollum we have a few things for fans of this system. The expansion contains nine new “Narrative Scenarios” with a “Linked Campaign System” which is meant to connect each of the Narrative Scenarios so that the result of one battle will have an impact on the next. Rad idea! There’s also Painting Guides, Hobby Tutorials for the webbed tunnels of Shelob’s lair, the sewers of Osgiliath, and the Dead Marshes. In terms of miniatures there is the new The Path of Cirith Ungol: Shelob & Gollum, a really nice diorama of sorts showing the characters in situ. The other set is the new and very cool Foot Knights of Dol Amroth. Both kits are plastic, so give you the option for easy conversion. There’s also the new Cirith Ungol Dice Set if that is your want and desire!
We also have Made to Order this week with some very old (classic) Chaos miniatures from many many moons ago! We have the Classic Chaos Warhounds, Classic Chaos Chariot (a cool kit), the Chaos Sorcerer with Lore Familiar, Classic Chaos Sorcerers, and Classic Chaos Lord on Chaos Steed. These will be available to order until Monday 26th January. The other Made to Order this week are The Steel Rook and the Kroot The Hunter Strikes. Both of these minis (apart from being a yawn) are exclusives to events, but now available until Monday 26th January. Keep in mind that with these all being Made to Order, will be shipped within 180 days of ordering.
It’s also a delayed White Dwarf week for those in the southern hemisphere, with Issue 520 on pre-order this week.

As we move towards the next narrative for Warhammer 40K we're slowly getting a better idea what that storyline might entail - and surprise surprise - it's about Ultramarines. If we're to believe that Primarchs are returning (likely Perturabo with his Iron Warriors or even Russ) then Guilliman will certainly take centre stage.
The new expansion/ narrative event for 40K is 500 Worlds and comes with multiple small books and in two formats! 500 Worlds: Titus – The Battle for Unity Begins includes an 80-page softcover book featuring lore and background including the opposing forces of the Ultramarines and the Necrons. The second book, Dread Incursions, is also an 80-page softcover book which includes rules for boarding actions, two Boarding Actions Detachments, plus 12 new missions and linked campaigns. The third book is War on the Vespator Front, a 56-page narrative campaign softcover book and includes six new missions. The fourth book is Detachments, 16-pages with three new detachments for the Space Marines (Orbital Assault Force, Bastion Task Force, and Reclamation Force) and new Necrons detachments (Pantheon of Woe, Cursed Legion, and Cryptek Conclave). This set also includes a fold-out map of the Vespator Front and a 252-item sticker sheet to plot your victories. If you think that sounds good, there's also the 500 Worlds: Titus – The Battle for Unity Begins (Collector's Edition), which includes all of the above but this time it's in a slipcase with gold foil detailing, the three primary books are in hardback and include gold foil detailing, page edges, and gold ribbon bookmarks.
There's minis to go with this release, of course, with Captain Titus and The Wardens of Ultramar (sounds like a cheesy 80s superhero team) heading the releases. The set includes Captain Titus, Plenipotentiary Lucia Vestha, Astropath Dainal Kornelius, Legatus Aemelia Minervas, Commodore Gaius Silva, Veteran Sergeant Metaurus and Ancient Gadriel. It's the very first time we've had some of these roles in miniature before, and for sure we will be getting Ultramar Auxiliaries, surely! It's cool to see his inner circle and would be great to see more like this for Primarchs and other field commanders. Also in this release is an amazing set of Space Marine Heads (including what seems to be some female ones too), giving added kitbashing options for any Space Marine hobbyist! Want some heavy hitters, well we have them with the new Ancient in Terminator Armour and the new Terminator Assault Squad, which looks just amazing! So tempted by those Terminators!
For the Necrons, and let's be honest they like to so hard, they brought a God along. Yes that's right, they brought along the new C'tan Shard of the Nightbringer, which is a really nice update to the old model, without moving too far away from the original - but please check the price if you want a little giggle. They're backed up by Nekrosor Ammentar and the previously-leaked 500 Worlds Battalion: Necrons set that includes a Hexmark Destroyer, 2 x Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (great model), 3 x Skorpekh Destroyers, 3 x Ophydian Destroyers and 2 x Plasmacyte. The Necrons also provide the battlefield for this first clash, with the brilliant Boarding Actions Terrain Set: Tomb World back for a limited time.
In books this week we have the paperback of Fulgrim – The Perfect Son, Farsight: Blade of Truth in long-awaited paperback, the Vaults of Terra: The Omnibus, which includes novels The Carrion Throne, The Hollow Mountain, The Dark City, and short stories Argent, Sanguine, and Okira. There's also the Siege of Terra: The Shattered and the Soulless in paperback which includes the previously released Sons of the Selenar and Fury of Magnus novels.

Something has to be said for a year that starts off with pestilence - it's like 2020 all over again, this time without the masks and Ubereats! Yes Nurgle is back (yet again) and this time with a major range refresh for Warhammer: Age of $igmar, adding new troops, cultists and more. Interestingly enough, not being fans of Nurgle, this range refresh did actually peak some interest purely through the amazing sculpts and paint jobs, plus new versions of Oldhammer Beastmen.
Alrighty, well we start off with the Chaos Battletome: Maggotkin of Nurgle, which comes in Pop-A-Zit Gamer's Edition and Putrid Carcass Standard Edition. 
The new Nurgle forces have some absolutely spectacular models, none more so than the big-boi, Festus the Leechlord, beautifully vile in his magnificence! There's a tonne of detail on this model, a real dream to spend many many hours on. There's another command set too, with The Court of Gelgus Pust, which of course includes Old Pinhead himself Gelgus Pust, the amazing Belga the Cystwitch (sure to be a favourite at any painting competitions in 2026), and a Pestigor Shaman Foulhoof. That's right, a Pestigor, which goes all the way back to the early days of Warhammer when the Beastmen would align strongly with one Chaos God or another. We've seen Tzaangors for Tzeentch, and some Beastmen in the Slaanesh range, so here's hoping we get the Khorne ones too! Nurgle believes in elites too and here they are, the Putrid Blightkings, big bruisers to really ruin your day. Lacking some of the dynamism of the rest of the range, these are still pretty cool. Speaking of the good stuff, lets bring on the awesome Sloven Knights, who just have to be the epitome of Nurgle. Imagine seeing these guys silhouetted on the outskirts of your town, and you just know that it's going to be a very bad day! Speaking of which, the Rotswords are absolutely awesome. Very very tempted by these in an alternative black Nurgle scheme I had seen online. As much as those are cool, these have to take the cake - the Pestigors - have a look at those faces, at the paint scheme, honestly these are perfection!! Games Workshop have really knocked these out of the park. If you like your Nurgle all monstrous, then the Cankerborn are probably more your cup of tea - total beasts! Now if you were going to be a Chaos Cultist who would you pick? Slaanesh seems like fun, Khorne seems dangerous and a lot of work, and Tzeentch a bit too birdy! So which fool chose to be a a Nurgle Cultist and become a Pox-Wretch? Not a great job, but some cool minis to be the fodder for your next invasion. That's it for the new Nurgle stuff, but if you want some blasts from the more-recent-past then the Spoilpox Scrivener is back, plus there's the new Regiment of Renown: The Pustules, (including old Spoilpox Scrivener, Herald of Nurgle, a Feculent Gnarlmaw and 10 x Plaguebearers) and Spearhead: Maggotkin of Nurgle – Bubonic Cell, (which includes a Rotbringer Sorcerer, a Beast of Nurgle, 6 x Nurglings and 10 x Rotmire Creed miniatures). Certainly very different, and maybe something Nurgle players would get into. The Nurgle range refresh comes with the new Warscroll Cards: Maggotkin of Nurgle and ​Maggotkin of Nurgle Dice.
Also in Age of $igmar this week (though I thought they were initially for Warhammer: The Old World), the 
Spearhead: Helsmiths of Hashut – Helforge Host is out. It includes a War Despot, Dominator Engine, Tormentor Bombard/ Deathshrieker Rocket Battery and 11 x Infernal Cohort miniatures - not a bad start!!
In Warhammer 40K-land the Sisters of Battle Army Set which launched them back into the battlefield just a few short years ago is back on Made to Order. It includes a Canoness, a Penitent Engine, 4 x Sisters Repentia and 1 x Repentia Superior, 3 x Arco-flagellants, 5 x Seraphim and 10 x Battle Sisters. This is your chance to get the first iteration of these minis before they went into the multi-pose form we have now.
In books this week we have a new Grombrindal book with Grombrindal: Ancestor's Burden in paperback, and a the latest Gotrek Gurnisson novel Verminslayer now in paperback too. It's also a White Dwarf week for the rest of the world, except Oceania... 
For Oceania we also have the delayed release of the Legiones Astartes: Siege Assault Battle Group which includes a Leviathan Siege Dreadnought, 10 x MKIII Breacher Squad miniatures (that is the newer inferior MKIIIs with the new very needed Breacher upgrade sprue), 6 x Cataphractii Terminators with volkite chargers and power mauls and 6x Cataphractii Terminators with combi-bolters and power fists. These Cataphractii are the new slimmer, slightly stretched versions which have been derided online but every YouTuber paid to paint them amazingly loves them. These could have been better, and it's a real shame more care wasn't taken to make them a fantastic update to the older ones. 

It's the end of the year, so it's pretty quiet in pre-order land. Really interesting to see the new Huron Blackheart mini previewed, and makes us wonder if we will see a Badab Wars campaign in the style of Horus Heresy any time soon.
But onto this week, with White Dwarf 519 having a street date of January 9th 2026, but up on the pre-orders page today.
The other orderable material is the Made to Order terrain with the ​Battlezone: Mechanicus – Tectonic Fragdrill always a popular item when it's around. A personal favourite are the Macroplasma Batteries which just seem like such versatile little terrain pieces. We've also got the lump that is the Generatorum Hub, the Mechasite Minoris, two fan favourites the Battlezone: Mechanicus – Galvanic Servohaulers and Battlezone: Mechanicus – Haemotrope Reactors, and then we go old school (in terms of modern terrain) and get the Battlezone: Mechanicus – Transterranic Gantries and Battlezone: Mechanicus – Galvanic Magnavent. They're a bit dated now, not totally compatible with the Kill Team terrain, but still versatile.
​On New Years Day, there's also the Sisters of Battle Made To Order too.

Well it's that time of year, the time when pre-orders dry up and we have to buy gifts for "other people" - URGH!!
Anyway, in store today is the Squig Slipper Socks and Squig Mega Hoodie, probably great for the northern hemisphere, but not so much the southern. It's obviously too hard for Games Workshop to print a t-shirt for the rest of us... Will they be in your store today? Who knows! Go look and see if Da Red Gobbo has been nice to you.
Meanwhile, the Siege of Terra: Era of Ruin (Special Edition) is now Print on Demand, so the chances of getting your hands on it within the next 6 months (yes that's the timeframe) are much better. The book includes the short stories Angels of Another Age by John French, Fulgurite by Nick Kyme, Fragments (All We Have Left) by Dan Abnett, Ex Libris by John French, System Purge by Gav Thorpe, After the Dawn, the Darkness by Guy Haley, Homebound by Chris Wraight and The Carrion Lord of the Imperium by Aaron Dembski-Bowden.

The recent Necromunda campaign comes to a conclusion with the final expansion in the series - Necromunda: The Aranthian Succession – Spire of Primus - with Lady Haera and the forces of Helmawr up against the usurper, Ozostium Aranthus. The new book adds new forces and lore to the ever-expanding Necromunda lore, and with these new rules comes new plastic minis, including Ozostium Aranthus, the Divine Prince. This striking new plastic miniature comes in striking bespoke armour and alternate heads. Another new miniature set from the expansion are the Palanite Justicars, enforcers of the law sent directly from the ruling class. This design goes back to some of the concepts done by John Blanche for the original version of Necromunda, Confrontation, which had an incredibly rich lore and highly detailed social structure. The Justicars have multiple weapon options and certainly have a different look to the Enforcers we are used to - not sure they vibe with us. Far from the top-tier of society are the new Underhive Hangers-on, a set we'd usually see in resin, but now in plastic. The set includes an Ammo-jack, Slopper, Hive Watcher, Dome, Runner, and Rogue Doc with Medi skull, a nice mix of minis for mercenaries in a few games systems. Fans of Squats rejoice as the new Ironhead Squat Charter Masters and Drill Masters get their release, so encased in armour you'd wonder how they would move! The last Necromunda release on pre-order this week is the new Palanite Enforcer Weapons & Upgrades, adding new weapons and heads to the Enforcer range. Be aware though that this set is only compatible with the Palanite Enforcer Patrol and Palanite Enforcers Captains & Sergeants kits.
Away from the main range, there's tiny armies afield with the new Journal Strategia – The Ruin of the Salamanders expansion on pre-order this week, bringing new rules for super-heavies and telling the story of the slaughter of the Salamanders at Istvaan V. In terms of miniatures there's the new Legions Imperialis: Falchion / Ascalon Super-heavy Tanks and Legions Imperialis: Fellblade / Glaive Super-heavy Tanks kits. Speaking of Salamanders, the new Legions Imperialis: Saturnine Heavy Assault Cadre which includes 6 x Saturnine Terminator Squads, 4 x Saturnine Dreadnoughts, 2 x Saturnine Command Squads. If you'd prefer a larger force with the new Saturnine Terminators, then the Legions Imperialis: Legiones Astartes – Saturnine Battle Group is for you. Meanwhile you can expand your forces with the Legions Imperialis: Legiones Astartes – Combined Arms Battle Group, the Legions Imperialis: Araknae Weapons Platform Batteries or the Legions Imperialis: Solar Auxilia – Combined Arms Battle Group.
In books we have the very cool Trollslayer (Already Sold Out Mega Massive Awesome Limited Edition). I mean it's cool, but where would we put it??

The lure of the boxed game is back, and this time with the latest incarnation of Warhammer Quest, Darkwater. This box sees our heroes delving into the wastes corrupted by Nurgle, and this box seems to be full of surprises - especially for the new additions to the already sizeable range of Nurgle miniatures! Warhammer Quest: Darkwater comes with 49 x push-fit plastic (yuck, but okay) miniatures, which include your heroes: Edmark Valoran, Bren Tylis, Inara Sion, Drolf Ironhead, Kelthannor, Drasher Vorn, and Jacobus Vyne with Wisper the all-too-common pet. The bad guys also have heroes, but just less shiny, with Gelgus Pust, the incredible Belga the Cystwitch, Mulgoth the Cleaver, and Shaman Foulhoof. These are supported by 2 x Cankerborn, 3 x very cool Blight Templars, 6 x Mire Kelpies, 8 x Pestigors (by the Gods, new Beastmen. AWESOME!), and 14 x Pox-Wretches (which really do look like digital kitbashes of the Pox-Walkers). There's also the 36-page softback rulebook and a new format hardback map book which includes foldout maps to play your games on. Another great box, surely to be picked up by Nurgle fans for the new troops, even if the heroes do seem to lack a little bit of flair! We should expect there will be multi-part/multi-pose versions of these kits one would think, but who knows when - certainly the previews we have seen show an amazing looking range!
Possibly as a precursor to these new minis, we have the new Age of $igmar expansion, Path to Glory: Blighted Wilds, which sees Nurgle invade the Mortal Realms yet again, giving you the opportunity to build and the level up your troops and champions. They say "a special roster makes it easy to record the progress of your warriors, along with their paths, enhancements, and lore(s)", so that sounds interesting! Certainly very thematic!
In books this week we have the new Demolisher in Hardback and Special Edition (have to admit these new Imperial Guard Special Edition covers don't work for us - bit too minimalist), plus The Rise of Nagash omnibus in Paperback which includes the novels Nagash the Sorcerer, Nagash the Unbroken, and Nagash Immortal, plus the short story Picking the Bones.
This week also sees the pre-orders for the very special White Dwarf 518 which marks the 50th anniversary of Games Workshop. Being that it's such a landmark it would be nice to hear from the old guard like Jervis Johnson, Andy Chambers, the Perry Twins, Jes Goodwin etc, but the contents look a little less nostalgic and a little more navel-gazing.  
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The countries that missed out on the Hobgrot Vandalz and Infernal Cohort also have these added to their re-orders this week. Both of these kits look brilliant and are very tempting to add to the Christmas list, despite the price!