Credit: @badusernametag

I’ve been giving some thought to the gaming highlights of the year, what has thrilled, engaged and excited me and conversely, what things have left me slightly flat. Now there’s a mix of thoughts and feelings here. For example the intensely verbose and sometime bewildering new Horus Heresy third edition rules have given me some actual joy in their complexity. I have re-kindled my love of board and card games with my wonderful partner. I have also given time and thought into diving back into TTRPGs and the depth of storytelling that can be found there. But something that stands out this year, both for the simplicity and joy of gameplay and the hobby project offerings that it brings is AoS: Spearhead. I thought that given that I should have a dive into the the game as it evolved this year and the Spearheads that define it’s evolution.

Spearhead- Year in review

Spearhead offers a just the right amount of gaming interaction for me to have become my ‘go-to’ for pick up games and casual play. Offering what feels like a real game of Warhammer, but in a concise and portable format. With little time for gaming and constantly travelling for work, having a gaming experience that’s fits in a backpack (board, scenery and all) is a real blessing. I have never really got into Matched Play for AoS, and now you have to know the General’s Handbook to really play that format it has even less appeal for pick up games. Spearhead is bloody, dramatic and has a good amount of tactical play, cunning manoeuvring and crucial decision making. It hits the spot and I look forward to each Battletome release now, specifically as I anticipate what might be in the new Spearhead force that accompanies it.

These little armies are nice little hobby projects also, offering a taste of a faction, without too much commitment or work involved. As someone with my fluctuating creative ideas and little hobby time this is ideal. I’m much less likely to lose enthusiasm or run out of time, with only a small number of models to build and paint. It also makes it ripe for conversions and clever proxies, which is fun. In the new year I am deffo going to make a pirate crew of mixed races to represent the Grundstok Trailblazers, which will be a nice little project. I also have a nice idea of using some third party models I’ve been hoarding for the newly preview Maggotkin Spearhead, once that lands in the new year.

Worth noting that all the rules for all the Spearhead armies are free. This means you can play with just the models and the Core rules. So you don’t need to buy the Battletome to play, nor the big rulebook. This is a departure for GW in terms of rules content and I’m here for it. Is this the most accessible Warhammer ever? It is also true that if you have an army for AoS you may have the models already. I’ve found this offered a neat bridge for gaming between those of use that mainly play Path to Glory and those who play Matched Play. Allowing for casual gaming that crosses the narrative river. If you’ve not considered Spearhead before, but DO play AoS, maybe check it out and have a go. Only takes an hour and you have the models already…

Clearly Spearhead is a hit for me as a gaming format, and as a level for hobby projects. What really makes this format interesting is the different Spearhead armies that are being released with each Battletome. Whilst we did get one expansion to the game this year; Sand and Bone (see my review of the boxed set here) the main evolution of the format is the armies themselves. So what better way to reminisce over the year in Spearhead than to review the thirteen Spearheads that have been released and their impact on the game. What was a hit and which scraped the barrel of obscurity? Perhaps a little thought on what I’d like to see next as well as which are my favourites and my plans for Spearhead in 2026. I’m going to start with some Top Three choices and then proceed with the army by army, from the beginning of the year and a faction close to my green heart…

Spearhead board featuring Sons of Behemat against Kharadron Overlords. Credit: Roxin

Spearhead board featuring Sons of Behemat against Kharadron Overlords. Credit: Roxin

You, too, can enjoy games of Spearhead in the featureless void! Credit: Roxin

Here’s the big news, winners, losers and best buys straight up!

Best Overall

Fusil Platoon (Cities of Sigmar)
Deathrattle Tomb Host (Soulblight Gravelords)
Snarlpack Huntaz (Gloomspite Gitz)

Best for First Spearhead

Ironjawz Bigmob (Orruk Warclans)
Akhelian tide guard (Deepkin)
Deathrattle Tomb Host (Soulblight Gravelords)

Best for Models

Fusil Platoon (Cities of Sigmar)
Snarlpack Huntaz (Gloomspite Gitz)
Helforge Host (Helsmiths of Hashut)

Best for Gaming

Grundstok Trailblazers (Kharadron Overlords)
Fusil Platoon (Cities of Sigmar)
Mortisan Elite (Ossiarch Bonereapers)

Bottom of the Barrel

Scrapglut (Ogor Mawtribes)
Fangs of the Blood god (Blades of Khorne)
Sunblooded Prowlers (Serapon)

Month by Month

Ironjawz Bigmob - January

IronJaws Megaboss. Credit: Josh @socaddict_nerf

Kicking off the year with a WAaaagh was the Orruk Warclans Battletome and with it the Ironjawz Bigmob Spearhead. This was a strong start, with a solid mass of tough infantry, sporting majority 3+ saves, -1 rend on all the unit’s combat attacks and a really mean general to boot. I think having a solid general that can be a lynchpin for the army really adds to the Spearhead experience and the Megaboss does not disappoint. This force isn’t Subtle, much like it’s parent army. Get stuck in, smash face. You’ve got multiple ways to buff your attacks output with Get stuck in ladz and Natural Disaster. This Spearhead even has the Mighty Destroyers rule and really feels like playing a mini version of the full IronJawz army. Whilst not subtle the Brutes ‘You Messin’?’ Ability will allow you to dominate the objectives if you get them in the right place, while being pretty hard to shift. The only real downside here is that it’s all very slow. So you do need to position your boyz well from the off to avoid being out manoeuvred.

The models are a nice mix of the best of the old stuff and some of the nice new ones. This is a good balance that stands well alone, would be a good addition to an existing army OR as the basis of a burgeoning AoS army. This is a great set.

This army has proven very popular, with great models, a tough and hard hitting force and an easy playstyle. You just can’t really beat mass 3+ saves in this format. Especially as lesser saves don’t have easy access to All out defence to buff them. All round this is a really good one and a strong contender from the get go!

Pros:

Mass 3+ saves
Hard hitting
strong abilities
Good ‘first army’
Good model selection

Cons:

Slow
Not very nuanced
No reinforcements

Model Count: 19

Gaming: 8/10

Models: 7/10

Overall: 8/10

Good for starting an army: Yes

IronJaws. Credit: Josh @socaddict_nerf

Snarlpack Huntaz- February

Gitmob Snarlpack Riders. Credit: Rich Nutter

Another Destruction Force in February and this is the polar opposite of its Orruk cousin from the beginning of the year! A real glass cannon on fast wheels and thundering paws. This Spearhead shows off some of the best of the new Frazzlegit Gitmob models, including chariots and wolf cavalry both, whilst including a recycled Warhammer Underpants Character as the general. Seems to be a coin toss as to whether GW put the new models in the Spearhead or through in the scrapings and its a blessing they chose the former here. This is a great box of new and exciting models as well of being the first of three Spearheads to reuse old Underpants warbands. These were always great models and it’s nice to see them getting an extended life as more balanced units.

The gobbos get movement 12” across the board and Fast as Frazzlegit allows you to both retreat and charge and retreat without damage. This coupled with the high number of units (6) means this Spearhead has a good chance of controlling the board. It’s not even as squishy as you’d expect, as some of the units have a 4+ save and da boss and his retinue get a 5+ Ward when they’re in combat range of each other. Less of a glass cannon, more a just a fastass cannon. It does lack rend though. So if you play against a well armoured Spearhead you might just bounce off. In those instances at least you can take the Kunnin’ as a Snarlfang enhancement to give you a boost of Rend for the turn.

Pros:

Fast
Really damn fast
Board/engagement control
High damage attacks
New and excited models

Cons:

Very little rend
Potential to get bogged down
No reinforcements

Model Count: 11

Gaming: 6/10

Models: 9/10

Overall: 8/10

Good for starting an army: Yes

Snarlpack Huntaz Credit: WarComm

Deathrattle Tomb Host - April

Deathrattle Spearhead on the march. Credit: @badusernametag

This army is stuffed full of new skelebob skullpts that show off the new Deathrattle range. I’ve played with this often since the Battletome release and have found it fun and nicely balanced. You’ve got a solid General with bodyguard, some hard hitting cavalry that are REALLY hard to shift and many cold bodies for board control.

You’ve really MUST keep your Wight King near his buddies for that sweeet 5+ Ward. With only 5 health they will cark it pretty fast if not. This army has a nice range of options for Enhancements and Regimental abilities and to by honest that is most what I am looking for in a Spearhead army. The extra speed/control from Deathmarch is clutch against some opponents, but when your outnumber an elite army Overwhelming Hordes really helps bring them down. The Enhancements give you a suite of Rend, re-roll charges, strike last or healing, which you can tailor to the opponent. This is a great army I will continue using in 2026.

I am totally in love with the new Deathrattle range still. I am sure some hardcore Wumpire fans will be disappointed with this as a SBGL release, but I think they nailed the shambling dead/ancient terror here and I’m here for it! If you count the re-tooled skeletons here it is in fact ALL new sculpts other than the Wight King, which is in itself a classic model. Buy these models. Prosper.

Pros:

Balanced tough army
Tough
Reinforcements
Board control

Cons:

Mostly slow
Lots to paint
No ranged attacks

Model Count: 36

Gaming: 7/10

Models: 9/10

Overall: 8/10

Good for starting an army: Yes!!!

Deathrattle Cavalry charge the Chaos line. Credit: @badusernametag

Sand and Bone Expansion - May

In May we got an update to the game and FOUR new Spearheads to try. Games Workshop were kind enough to give us a box for review and I covered these four new armies extensively here.

Most of my comments stand, but I’ve summarized my thoughts and the pros and cons for you here.

New maps in the Sand and Bone Expansion.

Sunblooded Prowlers

Combining both a Underworlds Warband AND Warcry goons this is a cool army. I think this could be a nice start to a Seraphon force, though in hindsight the WU and Warcry models might not always have rules, despite being great models. Good start as long as you’re happy with proxies/counts as going forwards.

Pros:

Nice range of unique models
Fast
Some range and combat units

Cons:

Reserves rules
Maybe a little weak

Model Count: 27

Gaming: 6/10

Models: 7/10

Overall: 7/10

Good for starting an army: Maybe

Sunblooded Prowlers Credit: WarComm

Scrapglutt

I might have been too harsh here. There are some interesting ideas, and maybe if you pump the general to 9 health and use the Gnoblars as a meat shield it might do some work. Ironguts DO hit harder than anything else in Spearhead…

Pros:

Range of units
Hard hitting
Good move
Unique abilities

Cons:

Just not good
Most units in reserve
Weird collection of old models

Model Count: 25

Gaming: 4/10

Models: 5/10

Overall: 5/10

Good for starting an army: No

Scrappglut. Credit: WarComm

Mortisan Elite

Sticking to my guns here. This is an awesome army. Just keep that general safe!!

Pros:

Elite Force
Hits hard
Tough
Cool models

Cons:

Squishy General
Low unit/control

Model Count: 9

Gaming: 8/10

Models: 7/10

Overall: 8/10

Good for starting an army: YES!

Mortisan Elite. Credit: Warcom

Fusil Platoon

Cities of Sigmar Fusil-Major on Ogor Warhulk. Credit: Michael O "Mugginns"

This is my favourite of the year! Don’t know why that Warforger is there still, lucky it's a damn fine model!?

Pros:

All new, amazing models
Mix of units
Strong shooting army
Tough
Many reinforcements!!

Cons:

Mainly slow
Potential for lack of board control
Weirdly out of place Wizzard??

Model Count: 23

Gaming: 8/10

Models: 10/10

Overall: 9/10

Good for starting an army: Yes

Cities of Sigmar Freeguild Fusiliers. Credit: SRM

Fangs of the Blood God - July

I covered this as part of our Battletome review here.

My comments stand. It really baffles me that the core battle trait mechanic here requires units to wipe out other units and stay alive, because that's pretty unlikely! I’ve got this army ready, so I’ll give it a go in the new year and report back!

Have rated the models low here not because I don’t like them, but because I don't think you’re getting much bang for your buck!

Pros:

Nice models
Fast-ish
Lots of attacks

Cons:

Squishy
Squishy general
Not that fast really
Mechanic that requires you staying alive!
not so many models for your money.

Model Count: 19

Gaming: 3/10

Models: 6/10

Overall: 4/10

Good for starting an army: No

Khorne Flesh Hounds. Credit: Rachel Crawford

Grundstok Trailblazers - July

This is good. Probably too good and from what I’ve been hearing about Kharadron Overlords in matched play that sounds about right. There aren’t many shooting Spearhead armies and this is a great one. Most of the units fly and have strong shooting with middle range. Everything has a 3+ save, other than the gunship, which is a 2+, and on TOP of that all attacks are -1 to hit your infantry within 6” of the gunboat. 2+ seems very strong in this format and whilst bunched up it seems impenetrable?! The Endrinriggers are also Reinforcements. Which is pretty boss, given their speed. The only way you might suffer here is with a small number of models and relatively low control score. This is a hard shooting army, no control in sight.

The Endrinmaster with Dirigible Suit might be the best general in the game. They’ve got 12” move, 8 health, a 3+ save, good shooting AND combat and they fly!? Not sure what else you want from a hero!? Whilst you don’t have much other strong combat to back them up, I think combined with the Endrinriggers there is more than enough here to shift an enemy off an objective at the right moment. For this reason I like their Celestium Burst-Bomblets Enhancement, which turns off enemy wards in combat on a 3+. Using your speed and manoeuvrability your general could probably assassinate most other heroes in Spearhead!!

Whilst the crunch here crunches hard these aren’t my fave models. The KO range can be decisive, and these are the middle of the pack to me. I guess not a bad start to an army. I’m not blown away and they’re not new or exciting sculpts to speak of.

Pros:

Fast and manoeuvrable
Really tough
Hard hitting shooting army
The BEST general

Cons:

One slow unit
Limited control

Model Count: 10

Gaming: 9/10

Models: 5/10

Overall: 7/10

Good for starting an army: Maybe

Grundstok Trailblazers. Credit: WarComm

Akhelian Tide Guard - July

This is definitely one of my picks for the year’s best starter armies for Spearhead. It’s a fast, tough general, 6 eel cavalry and a some squishy droogs with bows. The Akhelian King is a strong general with 7 health, 3+ save, good attacks and buffs the saves of they’re slightly fragile army nearby with Raiders Resolve. Give them the Shimmering Amulet (5+ ward) or Soul Stealer (heal if in combat EoT) and they will stick around!! The Reavers have a short ranged bow that packs a punch and with run+shoot they will get the shots off. Sadly they will then be close and die! Broadly this feels like the fast-glass cannon to the Ironjaws slow heavy infantry. Both are pretty simple to play and hit hard. Go nuts.

The models here are great and the desirable end of the Deepkin range. The eels have always been a mainstay of the AoS army, so this is a good start or addition to a force.

Pros:

Fast
Hits hard
Easy to play
Great General
Nice models

Cons:

Slightly squishy
Low control
Not nuanced

Model Count: 17

Gaming: 7/10

Models: 7/10

Overall: 7/10

Good for starting an army: Yes

Akhelian King - Credit: Chimp

Charnel Watch - August

Big fan of Flesh Eater Courts over here and the new range is so lovely. Sadly this force whilst balanced and fun to play does not really show off the best of the new range. With the original rulebook Spearhead having more of the new models. Whilst you get the Abhorrant Gorewarden (flying hero), which is a lovely model and the Royal Beastflayers (recent Warcry droogs) the bulk of what you’re getting here is the now Classic Crypt Horrors (six total; three horrors, three flayers). Now I have a deep fondness for this kit, having used it and parts from it for YEARS in various projects. It’s the OG Blanchitsu go to and has done strong work over the years. However at this stage it doesn’t stand up to the rest of the refreshed range and I'm a little sad they’re leaning on the kit this hard for sets like this.

The army is a pretty classic FeC glass cannon. The Delusion mechanics here are neat and reflect the main army well. It is Very amusing that it is random which delusion you get after round 1, but if you hate this you can mitigate it somewhat by taking Almost Lucid for your general (once per game re-roll). The Crypt flayers deserve a special mention as their shooting attack is pretty damn good now and could do a Sickening amount of damage once per game if your general is a Choirmaster. This is not for beginners, but solid, fun and will get play.

Pros:

Hits hard
Fast
Range of combat and shooting
Get models back
Random Madness!

Cons:

So very squishy
Mainly dated models
Probs hard to play
Random Madness?!?

Model Count: 17

Gaming: 7/10

Models: 5/10

Overall: 6/10

Good for starting an army: Maybe

Gorewarden - By Mildnorman

Cursed Shacklehorde - August

A swarm of cackling ghosties for you here. Near the very top of model count in Spearhead, this is definitely what constitutes a horde army here. This just edged out of my Best First Starter Army list, as I think it is a little fragile for beginners. But Nighthaunt models are great for easy assembly, quick paint jobs and getting to the table, and with a full 7 units here you have more units than any other spearhead. So in some ways this is a good intro army still, I just think with the defensive stats brought in line with the Battletome (saves down to 6+, 5+ best) and no supporting mechanics this feels very fragile. Perhaps I am wrong, as you have more wounds on everything (minimum health 2), but it seems fragile compared to other fast armies. You can pick Discorporate as a battle trait, allowing one unit per turn to gain +1 save (on a 6+). But that isn’t Blowing my mind in terms of advanced survivability, certainly not on units of 5 models. The Spirit Torment also makes for an awkward general. It’s only got 5 health and a 5+ save, distinctly average attacks and a buff that affects to-wound rolls. It is not inspiring out of the box! It does get some interesting Enhancements however, placing it safely in the ‘support hero’ box. My fave is Unholy Visage, which forces an enemy to Retreat from combat or suffer 2d3 mortals! Spectral Howl could also get play, reducing a targets charge dice by one for the turn.

Overall what you have here is a fast, flying army, with excellent movement and control, that could suffer against a determined, well armour foe. With the wrong objectives in front of you this could be a slog to use. I also wish they’d picked one of the more modern, interesting heroes to lead this, that would’ve sold it more.

Pros:

Fast
Everything has FLY
Units deploy and reposition well
5+ Ward across army
Interesting upgrades
Easy to build and paint models

Cons:

Maybe squishy?
Could get bogged down
Weird without Battletome support
Uninspired general

Model Count: 25

Gaming: 6/10

Models: 6/10

Overall: 6/10

Good for starting an army: Maybe

Dreadblade Harrows on the charge. Credit: Josh @socaddict_nerf

Helforge Host - September

I love Chaos Dwarves (now Helsmiths), I really do, and had anticipated this year’s release eagerly for some time. I was a little reluctant to accept the new design aesthetic however and have taken a minute to accept the change. The infantry and Bull Centaurs are great, but I felt that the mechanical constructs were a little cartoonish and ‘warmahordes’ for my taste. I’ve realised that they’re absolutely AoS though and that I need to sit on my issues. Therefore this set represents some great new models and a solid start to a Helsmith’s of Hashut army. But how will it play?

You’ve got a reduced version of the Daemonic Power mechanic here, as you generate points equal to the battle round number each turn. These have roughly the same effect on units as they do in the Battletome. This is all well and good, you can make you infantry tougher, you cannon do splash damage and you big mechanical bull fight harder. The later is pretty great in this format, with 10 health and a 2+ save it’s going to wreck face even before you buff it with Daemonic Power. The army is generally very tough, with at least 2+ saves, and the infantry come back as reinforcements. I’m just a little worried it is painfully slow, as slow as the IronJaws, but without their movement buffs to close the gap or the numbers to make the difference. 10 1 health infantry are not going to win all your games, even if they do come back and it seems like all the eggs are in the cow’s basket a little here.

Having said that, you’ve got a balance here of shooting AND combat and a right tough little army. You lack control and speed, but make up for it in punch and decent shooting, as well as having a suite of brand new models. Definitely worth picking up if you can find it. Sadly this box was ‘whilst stock lasts’ and now is missing. Hopefully back soon…

Pros:

Balance of shooting and combat
Tough- good saves
Big smashy monster
Great, ALL new models

Cons:

Really slow
Not much control
Can’t currently buy the box!

Model Count: 14

Gaming: 6/10

Models: 8/10

Overall: 7/10

Good for starting an army: Yes, but its not available!?

Helsmiths of Hashut Tormentor Bombard. Credit: Rich Nutter

Helsmiths of Hashut Dominator Engine. Credit: Rich Nutter

Final Thoughts

So there you have it folks! It’s been a busy year for AoS Spearhead, with 13 new armies and an expansion coming out to advance the format. There’s some swing in the quality of models AND their rules, but isn’t that what you’d expect from Warhammer?

I hope this article helps you consider which Spearhead YOU will try in the new year. Personally I’m going to see if I can’t crack my Bottom of the Barrel list and really try to make them work!? Also looking forward to some painting projects and getting as many Chaos armies as possible done, so maybe I can run an event with a Chaotic theme…

Wishing you all a happy new year of gaming and if you haven’t tried it, check out Spearhead in the new year; it really is very good fun!

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Tags: age of Sigmar | competitive play | spearhead