Grand Cathay crashes into Warhammer: The Old World with dragons, magic, jade warriors, and artillery; here’s what’s coming to the table now!
Updated on March 27th, 2025, by Rob Baer with new information and links to relevant content.
Grand Cathay just crashed into Warhammer: The Old World like a flaming cannonball, and it brought backup—dragons, artillery, elemental magic, and a wall of jade-armored warriors. This isn’t just a new army; it’s a statement.
With flying lanterns, towering sentinels, and spell-slinging dragonborn commanders, Cathay brings both style and serious battlefield punch. If you’re looking for an army that’s equal parts precision and power—with models that’ll steal the spotlight—this might be your next obsession. Let’s break down what makes Grand Cathay the new heavyweight in town.
Grand Cathay Marches into Warhammer: The Old World
So, Games Workshop finally did it — Grand Cathay has stormed into Warhammer: The Old World with a battalion box full of dragons, jade-armored badasses, and artillery that literally breathes fire. Yeah, it’s that kind of energy. Whether you’re looking to start a new army, or just like your fantasy armies with a side of harmony and flaming cannonballs, Cathay is bringing something fresh to the table — in plastic.
Let’s walk through what’s in the box, what makes Cathay tick, and why it might be the army that gets your hobby knife moving again.
A Brand New Faction Enters the Old World
Grand Cathay is the first all-new army built from the ground up for Warhammer: The Old World. This isn’t a resurrection of an old fan favorite — it’s a full-on introduction. We’re talking about immortal dragons, philosophical balance, and a war machine that looks like it came out of a mythical history book written by Sun Tzu after a few drinks.
The core box gives you 50 plastic miniatures that make up a fully playable, battle-ready force. Here’s what you’re working with:
- 30 Jade Warriors (the backbone, built tough and stylish)
- 10 Jade Lancers (heavily-armored cavalry with some real kick)
- 2 Artillery Pieces (your choice of the Cathayan Grand Cannon or Fire Rain Rocket Battery)
That’s not just a starter force — that’s a full-on punch to the face of Chaos. And it looks gorgeous on the table.
Jade Warriors: Not Just Another Core Unit
Most core troops are built to die well. Jade Warriors? They’re built to hold the line with style. Clad in ornate armor and wielding halberds or sword-and-shield combos, these troops don’t just survive — they dig in and refuse to move.
They’re named after jade, sacred to their Emperor, and it shows in their sculpt. These aren’t your generic grunts. They look and feel elite, and they’ll make your opponent think twice before charging your line.
Jade Lancers: Fast, Heavy, and Mean
Fast cavalry that hits like a truck? Yes please. Jade Lancers are recruited from among the Jade Warriors — meaning they’re already seasoned before they even get their mount. These aren’t delicate flanking units. They were trained for close quarters in Cathay’s narrow alleyways and bridges, so when they hit the open field, they go full tilt.
Line them up, give ‘em a target, and let those lances do the talking.
Big Guns: Cathayan Grand Cannon or Fire Rain Rocket Battery?
Now we’re into the fun stuff — artillery. The Grand Cannon is your precision hitter, styled to look like a dragon and designed to ruin someone’s day. Then there’s the Fire Rain Rocket Battery — less accurate, more “watch the sky explode.”
Pick your flavor: direct death or chaotic carnage.
Shugengan Lord on Great Spirit Longma
Cathay doesn’t just bring the muscle — it brings the magic. The Shugengan Lords are part-dragon commanders who wield martial arts and elemental sorcery in equal measure. Put one on the back of a Great Spirit Longma (think: flying beast with talons and antlers), and you’ve got a hero who can control the flow of battle and look majestic doing it.
This is the kind of model people will pause to stare at mid-game.
Gate Masters: The Brains Behind the Blades
The Gate Masters of the Celestial Cities are your tacticians, hardened vets who’ve earned command through a decade of defense. They see the battlefield like a chessboard — and they play to win. If you’re into precision positioning and battlefield control, these are your guys.
Sky Lanterns: Yes, They Fly. Yes, They Explode Things.
Sky Lanterns are floating command centers powered by Vermilion Warbirds (which is such a Warhammer name). They hover above the battlefield, relaying orders, sniping targets, and dropping bombs on anyone who gets too close.
Think of them as hot air balloons with sniper rifles and explosives. Fun.
Cathayan Sentinels: Wake the Statues, It’s Time to Fight
Nothing says “don’t mess with us” like a city guarded by giant statues that come to life when trouble shows up. Cathayan Sentinels are part statue, part magical WMD. They’re made from jade, terracotta, and even warpstone — each material giving them different abilities.
Once they wake up, they crush anything in their path. Big centerpiece models with big “don’t touch me” energy.
Miao Ying, the Storm Dragon – Leading the Charge
Here’s the big name: Miao Ying. She’s not just a general — she’s a dragon. Literally. The eldest daughter of the Dragon Emperor, Miao Ying is both a deadly mage and a brutal combatant. She’s got centuries of experience, and now she’s left Cathay to clean up the mess in the Old World.
Her model shifts between human and dragon form, and she leads with the calm rage of a storm about to break.
Want the Full Lore and Rules? Grab the Arcane Journal
If you like your tabletop with a side of lore, the Arcane Journal: Armies of Grand Cathay has you covered. It’s 48 pages of background, rules, magic items, and the twin Lores of Yin and Yang — which aren’t just flavor, they actually impact your spellcasting strategy.
This book isn’t optional if you want to run the army — it’s your tactical and thematic blueprint.
Why Start a Grand Cathay Army?
- Brand new plastic range with standout models
- Unique playstyle built on harmony, magic, and artillery
- Lore-rich faction that adds depth to any campaign
- Powerful centerpiece characters like Miao Ying
- Flexible unit options that work in both casual and tournament play
Grand Cathay is more than just the new kid in town. It’s a fully realized army that plays differently, looks different on the table, and brings some serious firepower — both magical and literal.
Final Thoughts on the New Cathay Models
Grand Cathay isn’t just a fresh face—it’s a full-force army packed with dragons, sky lanterns, artillery, and magic that hits hard and looks sharp. If you’re after an army with strong visuals, flexible tactics, and a unique playstyle, Cathay’s got your table covered.
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Are you excited to see Cathay make a grand entrance to Warhammer: The Old World?
