GW will release new 4th Edition AoS Spearhead faction rules for the corresponding boxes, just like they did for the Warhammer 40k Combat Patrols for starter games.
Basically, the new rules will let you play games after buying a single Spearhead box (the newly rebranded Vanguard boxes). They will come with different rules, warscrolls, and objectives. This is an interesting way to build up your forces and still get some games in before you have a full army.
4th Edition Spearhead Rules
Here is the latest on the new 4th Edition Aos Spearhead rules from Warhammer Community.
- The new rules will let you play games after buying a single Spearhead box.
- The Spearhead boxes will come with different rules, warscrolls, and objectives.
- Spearhead is a stand-alone game that can serve as a great primer for AoS’s full-scale battles.
- The smaller size of the game makes it ideal for a kitchen or coffee table.
- The Spearhead force of each faction is made from a single box, and all the Vanguard boxes available in the market will be rebranded as Spearhead boxes.
- Spearhead forces possess units with the REINFORCEMENTS keyword, which enables them to be resurrected on the battlefield even after they have been destroyed.
- The units in Spearhead generally have the same attributes and weapon profiles as their Age of Sigmar equivalents.
- In Spearhead, the Bolt of Tzeentch spell has been simplified into a simple ability.
GW said the new Spearhead game uses self-contained boxes of miniatures (from the same-named boxes from GW) and has streamlined rules to allow for fast-paced games with nail-biting finishes. It has been designed to retain tactical depth while being accessible to new players. Spearhead is a decent stand-alone game that can serve as a great primer for AoS’s full-scale battles.
Spearhead has a much smaller footprint than a full game, as it is played on a 30″ x 22.4″ board. The launch box provides all the necessary items to play the game with a friend, including two complete Spearhead forces, terrain, a double-sided board with printed objectives, and packs of cards that are essential to the game mechanics. The smaller size of the game makes it ideal for a kitchen or coffee table.
What Will Happen With Existing Vanguard Boxes
This is one of the most play-tested games we’ve ever produced, by virtue of how quick it is to play and how much fun we were all having with it.
The Spearhead force of each faction is made from a single box, and all the Vanguard boxes available in the market will be rebranded as Spearhead boxes. Since these sets contain different quantities of models, Spearhead has its own distinct rules and faction rules that introduce new mechanics to ensure balance among the forces.
New Spearhead AoS Rules
Spearhead forces possess units that have the REINFORCEMENTS keyword which enables them to be resurrected on the battlefield even after they have been destroyed. The Call For Reinforcements ability can be utilized to deploy a new unit in friendly territory, offering a chance to reposition and regain power in upcoming turns.
Powerful units such as Yndrasta can be kept in reserve. The Spearhead group includes the God-king Sigmar’s Prime Hunter and a team of hefty Annihilators, but they cannot appear on the battlefield until the penultimate round due to the Lighting-Strike Arrival ability.
This means that other units, such as Vanquishers, Knight-Vexillor, and Stormstrike Chariot, must hold ground and keep the enemy at bay until the powerful units arrive to turn the battle in their favor.
Spearhead Warscrolls
The warriors in Spearhead generally have the same attributes and weapon profiles as their Age of Sigmar equivalents, but their warscrolls have been adjusted for the Spearhead scale. The Clanrats are an example of how they have been adapted since they are a horde of vermin that will take over the Spearhead board.
In full Warhammer Age of Sigmar games, they lose the Reinforcements keyword but gain command group benefits and the Crit (Auto-wound) ability, which makes them more ferocious.
In Spearhead, the Bolt of Tzeentch spell has been simplified into a simple ability. The Disc-riding Magister demonstrates how this works, as in the full AoS games, the spell is part of a Spell Lore that can be chosen for your army. However, there is no need for power levels or casting values in Spearhead, as there is no magic module perce.
This means that everything can be condensed into a neat ability that emulates all the foundational rules for casting a spell. All you need to do is roll 2D6 and successfully blast your foes.
Be sure to download the pretty sweet sheet of rules references for Spearhead games from Games Workshop, at the link below.
Overall, the release of the Spearhead rules for Age of Sigmar gives players a new and exciting way to play the game, especially for those who are just starting. The streamlined rules, smaller game sizes, and self-contained boxes make it an accessible and convenient option for players who want to get some gaming in without committing to a full army.
GW Confirms New AoS Edition, Free Rules & Release Date
What do you think about the Spearhead rules for 4th Edition AoS?
About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
