Skaventide is about to flood events and markets for free, echoing Dominion’s struggles; here’s what it means for future releases and when to buy for less.
Skaventide—the box set that scurried onto the scene with all the chaos and frenzy you’d expect from the Great Horned Rat’s finest. But while the Skaven might be experts in breeding uncontrollably, it seems like Games Workshop took a page out of their playbook when it came to production. The result? An avalanche of boxes is now being shuffled off to tournament organizers and lurking in event swag bags, much like a sneaky pack of Clanrats hiding in the shadows. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the Warhammer community, you know this is starting to feel like Dominion all over again.
New Skaventide Box Glut: How Tournament Giveaways & Discounts Are Shaping Age of Sigmar Collecting
It seems like Games Workshop’s latest Skaventide box is getting whisked away faster than a Grey Seer fleeing from an angry Verminlord. But it’s not the bustling excitement of eager hobbyists doing the buying—it’s GW themselves shipping these boxes off to Tournament Organizers (TOs) like they’re packing up warpstone-infused rat snacks. If you’re getting flashbacks to the infamous Dominion release, you’re on the right track. Let’s unroll this tangled ball of fur and see what’s really going on.
The Curious Case of the Skaventide Box: Early Liquidation & the Shadow of Dominion
It’s a tale as old as… well, a few editions at least. Games Workshop has a new shiny box set that’s supposed to be the next big thing, and yet, before you know it, they’re handing it out like free cheese at a Skaven gathering. This time, it’s the Skaventide box that’s mysteriously finding its way into the hands of tournament organizers (TOs) across the world for free. What’s going on, and why does it all feel eerily familiar?
Games Workshop’s Strategy: Liquidating Skaventide Boxes Early and For Free
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Let’s start with the facts. GW seems to have funneled a hefty number of Skaventide boxes to the ITC, the group responsible for many competitive events. Word has it that these boxes are being offered to TOs—some of whom are also store owners—at no cost. It’s almost as if GW is playing the role of the Grey Seer, whispering, “Here, take these, get rid of them, and let’s pretend everything is fine.” But what would drive a company known for its tight control over product distribution to start giving away boxes only a month after launch?
There are a few likely reasons. The most glaring possibility is that the Skaventide box simply didn’t sell as well as anticipated. Whether it’s due to pricing, overproduction, or the community not being as ravenous for ratmen as expected, this early liquidation points to excess stock. Instead of sitting on unsold boxes like a hoarder with a mountain of plastic crack, GW is moving them through alternative channels, hoping to create demand through the back door—by making them appear as coveted “freebies” at events. But this strategy has a hint of desperation, like a Skaven warlord trying to salvage a failed scheme by selling it as part of a grander plan.
Comparison to Dominion Box (3rd Edition AoS Starter)
Pallets of Written Off Copies of Dominion Box Sets
For those experiencing déjà vu, there’s a good reason. This isn’t the first time GW has found itself in a pickle with a hyped-up box set. Remember Dominion? The 3rd Edition Age of Sigmar starter that launched with so much fanfare only to end up lingering like a half-eaten corpse on the battlefield? Dominion was everywhere: from local stores to online marketplaces to event swag bags. It was the “must-have” box that, it turned out, too many people had. GW overestimated demand, leading to surplus stock that had to be liquidated—often at deep discounts.
The parallels with Skaventide are uncanny. Both boxes were promoted heavily, both had strong initial interest, and both quickly found themselves in the bargain bin, metaphorically speaking. Dominion’s leftovers are still floating around on Amazon at discounted rates, proving that even the most ambitious of releases can end up being burdensome inventory.
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The Skaventide Shuffle: Breaking Prices & Shaking Up GW’s Release Strategy
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If you’ve been snooping around eBay or Amazon lately, you might’ve noticed something odd happening with Games Workshop’s Skaventide box. Normally, GW enforces its Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) policy with the iron will of a Space Marine Captain. But lately, sellers are undercutting that price left and right, scrambling to offload Skaventide boxes at bargain rates. Let’s take a closer look at what’s driving this and how it could affect the future of Warhammer releases.
Sellers Breaking GW’s Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) Policies
Games Workshop’s MAP policy is well-known among Warhammer retailers. It’s their way of keeping prices consistent and preventing a race to the bottom. But when demand is weak, and supply is high, that consistency starts to crack. We’re seeing exactly that with Skaventide, where sellers are cutting prices below GW’s official floor. Why? Because there are too many boxes and not enough customers interested apprently.
It’s simple economics. When sellers can’t move product at the set price, they start dropping it—sometimes stealthily and sometimes brazenly. On platforms like eBay and Amazon, where competition is fierce and customers are hunting for deals, breaking MAP becomes the easiest way to attract buyers. And while this might frustrate GW, who prefer to keep things tidy on the pricing front, it also tells us something important: Skaventide isn’t selling nearly as well as expected.
The fact that sellers are cutting prices so soon after release suggests that the initial hype for Skaventide fizzled out quickly. It’s a bit like the Skaven themselves—big plans, lots of noise, but often ending in disarray. When retailers start tripping over each other to offload stock, it’s a strong sign that GW’s gamble on this box didn’t pay off. Whether it’s because of market saturation, the specific contents, or simply misjudging the audience, this kind of price-cutting is a red flag for any release.
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Potential Consequences for GW’s Release Strategy
This situation raises bigger questions about how Games Workshop might approach future releases. When a high-profile box like Skaventide ends up being liquidated and undercut so quickly, it can damage customer trust. If buyers start feeling like every big box will be discounted within a month, why rush to buy it at launch? That’s the last thing GW wants—a fanbase that waits for the inevitable price drop instead of jumping in on day one.
We’ve seen this pattern before with Dominion, and now it’s happening again. If GW continues overproducing or misjudging demand for these large sets, they could find themselves in a cycle of diminished hype and faster liquidations. This isn’t just bad for GW’s bottom line; it also risks turning big releases into afterthoughts. People might start thinking, “Why pay full price when I can just wait and pick it up cheap in a few weeks?” Or, the inverse happens, and they sell out in two seconds… This leaves hobbyists paying higher prices in the secondary market and waiting months for restocks. We want to get something in the middle.
Free Skaventide Shuffle: How Tournament Organizers and Collectors Are Reacting to the Swag Overflow
It’s the season of Skaventide, but not in the way Games Workshop probably intended. While hordes of sneaky ratmen might be plotting in the Mortal Realms, in the real world, they’re piling up in store backrooms and tournament organizer (TO) warehouses. The overproduction of this box set, now finding its way into the hands of TOs, could shape the future of events and collectors’ buying strategies.
The Role of Tournament Organizers and Event Giveaways
The message concludes, “Please feel free to also let us know about what Age of Sigmar activities you have going on in your area, whether you are planning to try a hand at running an Age of Sigmar or Spearhead event sometime soon, and how Warhammer, in general, is going for your scene.
Thank you for all you do for the Warhammer community! This box is intended as a small bit of recognition for the hard work each of you do!”
Tournament organizers have found themselves in an interesting position thanks to GW’s approach to liquidating Skaventide boxes. When your local TO is suddenly handed a “free” Skaventide kit to distribute as they see fit, it’s a bit like giving a Warlord the keys to a warpstone vault. Sure, there’s power in those boxes, but what’s a Warhammer 40k TO to do with them?
Based on this, it is safe to say we can expect to see these boxes making surprise appearances as event swag at major conventions in 2025. Remember the pallets of Dominion boxes that became the not-so-secret sauce in VIP swag bags at LVO and Adepticon back in 2022? Skaventide could be the next edition of that trend.
For TOs, this influx of giveaway material offers a unique challenge. Sure, it’s great to have something flashy to entice players to sign up for events, but if everyone already has two Skaventide boxes gathering dust, is it really the hook it once was? TOs might get creative with how they distribute these boxes, from raffles to “please take one.” But the bottom line is clear: there’s only so much Skaventide excitement to go around, and spreading it too thin could lead to diminishing returns.
What Does Free Skaventide Mean for AoS and GW Collectors?
For Age of Sigmar (AoS) fans and collectors, this is where things get interesting. The pattern we’re seeing with Skaventide echoes past releases—Dominion being the most infamous example—where overproduction leads to quick discounts and eventual clearance sales. So, what does this mean for those on the hunt for the best deals?
First off, patience is your friend. If you’re eyeing a Skaventide box but haven’t taken the plunge yet, waiting could pay off. The early signs point to inevitable price drops as retailers look to clear out excess stock. Whether it’s through third-party sellers cutting below GW’s official price or boxes turning up as discounted bundles at local stores, there’s a good chance the price will only go down from here. If you’re in no rush, biding your time could net you a bargain.
On the flip side, if you’re a collector who loves the exclusivity of these big box releases, these liquidation trends might take some of the shine off. When everyone’s got the same “limited edition” kit, the sense of rarity diminishes.
Final Thoughts on the “Free” Skaventide Boxes
As Skaventide boxes pile up faster than Clanrats in a collapsing tunnel, we’re left watching the same old drama play out—overhyped launches, swift discounts, and giveaway bonanzas that make everyone wonder if they should’ve just waited for the bargain bin. Whether you’re a collector hoping to score a deal or a TO trying to figure out what to do with a mountain of unclaimed boxes, the lesson is clear: not every “limited edition” is as rare as a warpstone nugget.
All the Latest Warhammer Rules & Model Rumors
What are your thoughts on these Skaventide boxes potentially getting liquidated the same way as Dominion- even for free to some?
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!
