GW reveals more new Warhammer: The Old World Grand Cathay releases from the Defenders of the Great Bastion Army Reinforcement Set, to new units to defend the Great Bastion against Chaos.
Grand Cathay’s walls are trembling, the Great Bastion is under attack, and the peasants have picked up pitchforks. Games Workshop just dropped a wave of Old World updates that drag Grand Cathay’s story straight into the thick of battle, packed with new models, guns, and enough magic to make Tzeentch blush.
Here’s a rundown of the latest new release previews for Warhammer: The Old World now.
The Great Bastion Stands (Barely)
The Celestial Dragon Emperor’s northern stronghold is facing a full-on Chaos invasion, and the situation is dicey. The Cathayans have let a vanguard of the enemy through a breach in the wall, not out of desperation, but strategy. The plan is to funnel the Chaos horde into an ambush made of sheer manpower, booming cannons, and a few wizards who literally read the stars for a living.
The stage is set for The Breaching of the Great Bastion, a massive new Old World event that puts Grand Cathay’s might, magic, and manpower front and center.
Meet the Astromancers of the Celestial Court
These new Grand Cathay Astromancers are scholars of the Celestial Court, where they study ancient dragon-written tomes and bend the Winds of Magic to their will. They can fight on foot or astride elegant warhorses, robes flowing, medallions gleaming, and familiars fluttering at their side.
Speaking of familiars, meet the Crowman, a mysterious little companion whose origins are anyone’s guess. Whether he’s a good luck charm or an arcane power battery, he’s probably the weirdest spell familiar this side of the Great Maw.
Crane Gun Teams Bring the Boom
If you like your fantasy with a bit of gunpowder and grit, the Crane Gun Teams are your new best friends. These long-barreled rifles are precision weapons fixed behind tower shields, carried by pairs of soldiers who turn battlefield marksmanship into an art form.
They’re perfect for picking off enemy heroes or monsters, and the models themselves are packed with detail.
Iron Hail Gunners Bring the Pain Up Close
Where the Crane Gunners handle sniping duties, the Iron Hail Gunners are your up-close crowd control squad. Their blunderbusses hit like a Cathayan fireworks factory going off at arm’s length. They’re short-ranged, but when cavalry comes knocking, these troops turn the charge into a smoking pile of regret.
They fight in disciplined ranks, dropping to one knee so the rear line can fire over them, creating a thunderous rolling volley that clears streets and ramparts alike.
On the tabletop, that’s exactly the kind of coordinated firepower that makes Grand Cathay armies so satisfying to play.
Peasant Levies: Strength in Numbers
Every great empire runs on the backs of its common people, and Grand Cathay is no exception. The Peasant Levy is the mass of humanity that fills the gaps in the line, swinging spears and loosing arrows for the glory of the Celestial Dragon.
What they lack in armor and training, they make up for with pure determination. Their models are full of character, with flowing banners and ragged uniforms that look fantastic in large units.
If you’ve been itching to paint a wall of spears and cloth banners, this is your chance to make a truly cinematic army core.
The Defenders of the Great Bastion Box
If you’re already all-in on Grand Cathay, the new Defenders of the Great Bastion Army Reinforcement Set is a must-grab. It’s the first place you can get all these new models, and it’s a monster of a set:
- 53 total miniatures
- 2 heroes (including an Astromancer and Crowman)
- 8 Crane Gun Teams
- 12 Iron Hail Gunners
- 30 Peasant Levy
That’s an entire fortified army ready to paint, play, and show off. So, whether you’re expanding your existing Cathay collection or starting a new one, this box gives you a balanced mix of ranged firepower, infantry bulk, and magical flair.
Arcane Journal: The Breaching of the Great Bastion
For lore junkies and rules hunters alike, the upcoming Arcane Journal: The Breaching of the Great Bastion is where all the action happens. This 48-page supplement covers the fall and defense of Cathay’s northern provinces.
It includes background on the Celestial Dragon Emperor’s domains, a timeline of the Age of Dragons, and all the profiles for the new Cathayan units.
Final Thoughts On: Defenders of the Great Bastion Army Reinforcement Set
With this release, Grand Cathay fully steps out of Total War fame and fully onto the tabletop, guns blazing and banners flying. The mix of ornate magic, disciplined firepower, and peasant bravery captures everything that makes Warhammer: The Old World shine.
The Great Bastion might be cracking, but the Dragon’s will is far from broken.
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