GW’s latest Old World update has players talking over hints of legacy armies returning; here’s what the January balance patch might bring to the battlefield.
Warhammer The Old World players just got tossed a juicy breadcrumb from Games Workshop, and the community is already firing up the rumor engines.
A single line in a new article has everyone asking the same question: Are legacy armies coming back? And honestly, that could be wild.
The Line That Started the Legacy Hype
The spark came from GW confirming that two units from the new Arcane Journal, Razing of the Westerland, will be included in the upcoming FAQ and balance update landing at the end of January. That part is normal enough. The part that has everyone pacing the room is the phrasing: “balance updates for factions old and new.”
If you fire that sentence into the Old World community chat, you can practically hear the collective gasp. The obvious interpretation is “current armies plus Cathay.” The suspicious interpretation is “legacy armies might be getting updates.” The spicy interpretation is “Legacy armies get updates!”
Let a hobbyist dream.
Why This Matters for Warhammer Old World Players
The Old World hasn’t seen rapid balance cycles like Age of Sigmar or Warhammer 40k. Up to now, we’ve had one large summer update, a handful of FAQs, and the rest has been up to fans like Squarebased Comp or Renegades 2.0 to fill in the gaps. That’s fine for casual games, but tournament players and event organizers often end up building their own unofficial rule frameworks just to keep things stable.
This is why the January timeline is such a big deal. GW actually committing to a schedule gives organizers something they can plan around. No more guessing if a rules shakeup is going to torpedo an event the night before pairings.
Old World Legacy Army Hopium Levels Rising
Let’s keep expectations reasonable, but the wording has raised eyebrows. If GW is truly hinting at future updates for factions left behind in the transition to Warhammer The Old World, that would be massive for player morale. Lizardmen, Chaos Dwarfs, Skaven, Dark Elves, Vampire Counts, the list goes on.
If even one of those armies gets attention in 2026, the crowd will lose its mind in the best possible way.
What to Expect From the January 2026 Update?
From the Square-Based Show discussion, here’s the likely hit list:
- Adjustments to Cathay’s strongest builds, which have been steamrolling tables
- Fixes for units missed during the 1.5 update
- Possible tweaks to Marauders, Tomb Kings interactions, or Grand Army rules
- Actual points changes that aren’t just two lines buried in a PDF
GW also announced they plan to release FAQs and errata at “regular intervals.” If that cadence stays around six months, the Old World game state might finally start feeling supported instead of “set it and forget it.”
Final Thoughts on The Return of Legacy Armies to Warhammer The Old World
Whether GW truly meant “legacy armies” or just “all current armies,” the fact that anyone can even ask the question again is a good sign for Warhammer The Old World. New rules, clear timelines, and the possibility of long-forgotten factions walking onto the battlefield again all point toward a healthier future for the game.
See the Latest Old World New Release Roadmap
