Can You Mix Armies in Warhammer? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, you can mix armies in Warhammer, but the specifics depend heavily on which Warhammer game system you’re playing and the rules governing allied forces within that system. It’s a nuanced topic with different answers for Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer Age of Sigmar, and even older editions. The key is understanding the detachment system, keywords, and faction allegiance that define army construction.
Mixing Armies: The Core Concepts
The idea behind mixing armies is often driven by a desire to either fill gaps in your primary army, leverage a specific unit from another faction, or simply create a more diverse and interesting force. However, mixing armies usually comes with certain strategic costs and limitations, designed to prevent players from creating overly powerful or unbalanced combinations.
Detachments and Command Benefits
The modern method for including multiple factions in Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar relies on detachments. A detachment is a pre-defined organizational structure (e.g., a Battalion, Outrider, or Supreme Command detachment in 40k) that must contain specific types of units and adhere to certain rules. Using detachments allows you to include multiple factions in your army, but often at the cost of losing certain faction-specific benefits or incurring command point penalties.
Keywords and Allegiance
Another important concept is keywords. Units in Warhammer have keywords that denote their faction (e.g., “Adeptus Astartes,” “Chaos Daemons”), battlefield role (e.g., “Infantry,” “Vehicle”), and other characteristics. When constructing your army, you’ll need to pay attention to these keywords, as they often determine which units can be included in the same detachment or benefit from certain abilities. The overarching faction allegiance, such as “Imperium” or “Chaos,” further governs which factions can be allied together.
Warhammer 40,000: Allies in the Grim Darkness
In Warhammer 40,000, the rules for mixing armies have evolved over editions. Currently, the system revolves around Detachments and Allegiance.
Imperium, Chaos, Aeldari, and Ynnari
The key is aligning factions within larger Allegiance categories. For example, you can include multiple Imperium factions (e.g., Space Marines, Astra Militarum, Adepta Sororitas) in the same army. Similarly, you can field a mixed Chaos army featuring Chaos Space Marines, Daemons, and even some Renegade Knights. The Aeldari are unique, as Craftworlds, Harlequins, and Ynnari can be included in the same army. Ynnari can also include units from regular Aeldari factions.
Restrictions and Penalties
However, there are restrictions. Soup armies featuring several different Imperial factions may struggle to maintain faction-specific bonuses like Combat Doctrines (Space Marines) or Regimental Doctrines (Astra Militarum). Including different factions often requires spending more Command Points on extra detachments.
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Grand Alliances
Warhammer Age of Sigmar takes a slightly different approach. Armies are primarily organized around four Grand Alliances: Order, Chaos, Death, and Destruction.
Grand Alliance Allegiance
Within each Grand Alliance, factions can generally be mixed relatively freely, as long as they share the same overarching Grand Alliance allegiance. For example, you can field an Order army consisting of Stormcast Eternals, Lumineth Realm-lords, and Sylvaneth.
Allegiance Abilities
However, similar to 40k, sticking to a single faction within a Grand Alliance often unlocks powerful allegiance abilities or battle traits. Mixing factions can dilute these bonuses, forcing you to make strategic choices about the trade-offs between diversity and focused power.
Allies and Coalition Units
Age of Sigmar also has a mechanic called Allies. You can include a limited number of units from a different Grand Alliance, designated as Allies. These units don’t benefit from your main army’s allegiance abilities and are typically subject to further restrictions. The exact number of Allied units you can include depends on the size of your army. Additionally, some factions have access to Coalition Units, these are usually units from a different Grand Alliance that have closer ties to your main army.
Older Editions and Custom Games
In older editions of both Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar (formerly Warhammer Fantasy Battles), the rules for mixing armies were often more permissive, sometimes allowing players to create truly bizarre and unconventional alliances. However, these older rules are generally not compatible with the current editions of the games.
When playing casual or narrative games, you and your opponent might agree to house rules that allow for more flexible army compositions. This can be a fun way to experiment with different combinations and create unique scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions related to mixing armies in Warhammer:
- Can I mix Space Marines from different Chapters in Warhammer 40,000? Yes, you can, but you will most likely lose your Chapter Tactics bonuses. Detachments must be Chapter-specific to gain those benefits.
- Can I include both Chaos Space Marines and Chaos Daemons in the same Warhammer 40,000 army? Yes, both can be included in the same Chaos army, but must be in separate detachments to maintain certain faction bonuses.
- What happens if I mix armies and lose my army’s special rules? You lose access to the special rules tied to a specific faction. Evaluate whether the trade-off is worth it.
- In Age of Sigmar, can I include a unit from the Grand Alliance of Destruction in my Order army? Yes, but only as an Ally, and with restrictions on the number of Ally units based on army size.
- Are there any Warhammer factions that cannot be allied with anyone else? Some factions have severe restrictions. For example, World Eaters can only be allied with other Khorne aligned factions.
- How do Command Points (CP) affect mixing armies in Warhammer 40,000? Each detachment you include requires CP. Building soup armies can quickly deplete your CP reserves, hindering strategic options.
- What is the difference between an “Agent of the Imperium” and including an entire Imperial Guard detachment in a Space Marine army? Agents of the Imperium units take up a slot in a detachment, but do not affect the army’s primary faction bonuses. Including a full detachment of Imperial Guard provides more bodies, but dilutes Space Marine faction rules.
- Can I use Forgeworld units when mixing armies? Generally, yes, as long as the Forgeworld unit shares the appropriate keywords and faction allegiances. Be aware of restrictions in matched play.
- Are there any detachments specifically designed for mixed armies? Not specifically, but some detachments are more flexible than others. For example, the Super-Heavy Auxiliary Detachment can include a single Lord of War unit (like a Knight) without needing to fulfill other detachment requirements.
- How do I choose which units to mix when building an army? Identify weaknesses in your primary army, and look for units from other factions that can fill those gaps effectively.
- Can I include a unit of Necrons in my T’au Empire army in Warhammer 40,000? No. These factions have no shared allegiance and cannot be included in the same army under standard rules.
- What are the benefits of playing a single-faction army instead of mixing armies? Single-faction armies typically benefit from stronger faction-specific rules, Stratagems, and synergy, leading to a more focused and reliable strategy.
- Do Command abilities only affect units of that faction? Command abilities typically affect units with a shared keyword or within a certain range of a specific character. The wording of the ability determines its target.
- Where can I find the definitive rules for mixing armies in my chosen Warhammer game? Consult the core rulebook and any relevant codices or supplements for your chosen game system. The Warhammer Community website also publishes FAQs and errata that clarify rules ambiguities.
- Is it ‘better’ to mix armies or play a single faction? There’s no universally “better” approach. It depends on your play style, the specific factions involved, and the current meta. Some players prefer the focused power of a single-faction army, while others enjoy the tactical flexibility of a mixed force.
Ultimately, mixing armies in Warhammer is a complex but rewarding aspect of the hobby. By understanding the core concepts of detachments, keywords, and allegiances, you can create unique and powerful armies that reflect your personal strategic vision. Always check the most up-to-date rules for your chosen game system and edition before building your army, and remember to have fun experimenting with different combinations.