If you run casters in your Age of Sigmar army, you definitely don’t want to overlook the new Balewind Vortex warscroll in your games now!
The new Balewind Vortex is a very potent Arcane Fulcrum from the world that once was. In Age of Sigmar this piece of scenery has the potential to let your “vulnerable” casters play a more pivotal role in games now.
Why it’s good:
- Casters can not be charged while on the Vortex.
- Their magic ranges are doubled when atop the Vortex, allowing them great tactical flexibility with dropping in summoned units (remember to pay your reinforcement points) past the 3″ movement gap of enemy models, or long bomb mortal wound shots to pick off powerful characters!
- Summoning the Vortex does not count towards wizard’s casting restrictions for the turn.
- Every Wizard knows the summon Vortex Spell, and can dismiss it for free as well. I don’t think there is a way for a model to get on top of the vortex that is not the casting wizard RAW.
- It’s only 100 points. Now I realize that’s maybe not what folks wanted to see, but the fact that GW gave it a modest cost may mean that they are trying to balance the game from jump street.
Now that being said, you can still target casters on top of the vortex with shooting, so they are not beyond reproach. Just remember to pack some shooting into your armies now!
The Warscroll:
The points are also available if you have the Generals Handbook download in the Age of Sigmar App (iPhone) pictured.
To see the full unboxing and rules review, and find out how to get your very own set scroll below:
Balewind Vortex: $15
A swirling, violently swaying vortex of fell energies that can be summoned by the most powerful wizards in the mortal realms and used as a platform from which to cast their spells, a Balewind Vortex is a terrifying sight to behold on the battlefield. When summoned, its howling gusts push any aggressors away from the wizard who called upon it, leaving him unmolested to blast away with the amplified magical abilities he gleans from the Vortex.
This multi-part plastic kit contains the components necessary to assemble a Balewind Vortex, a scenery piece for your games of Warhammer Age of Sigmar. Rules can be found in the tab on the right.
Head over to Games Workshop to get your hands on this must have piece of terrain for nearly any Age of Sigmar army!
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at the Las Vegas Open, each of which attracts thousands of players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the 2011 Adepticon 40k Team Tournament. He was even featured for his painting in issue #304 of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf Magazine.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
