Navigating the Mortal Realms: A Deep Dive into Age of Sigmar Factions
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The world of Age of Sigmar (AoS) is vast and varied, populated by a diverse array of factions battling for dominance across the Mortal Realms. These factions are categorized under four major Grand Alliances: Order, Chaos, Death, and Destruction. Each alliance encompasses a unique collection of armies, each with its own playstyle, lore, and aesthetic. Understanding these factions is essential for any player looking to dive into the rich tapestry of AoS. So, let’s break down the answer to: What factions are there in Age of Sigmar?
Here’s a comprehensive list of the current factions within each Grand Alliance:
Order
- Stormcast Eternals: The quintessential heroes of AoS, clad in golden armor and wielding celestial power. They are renowned for their resilience and potent melee capabilities.
- Cities of Sigmar: An umbrella faction representing the diverse human, aelf, and duardin populations inhabiting Sigmar’s cities, offering a wide range of unit options and strategic flexibility.
- Lumineth Realm-Lords: Aelven masters of magic and martial prowess, known for their elegant aesthetic and intricate tactics centered around controlling the battlefield.
- Idoneth Deepkin: Aelves who dwell in the depths of the oceans, capable of swift and deadly raids, excelling in hit-and-run tactics and manipulating the ebb and flow of battle.
- Seraphon: The reptilian warriors from the stars, wielding powerful magic and formidable monsters. They are known for their diverse units and ability to summon reinforcements.
- Fyreslayers: Duardin mercenaries who are renowned for their berserker fury and their pursuit of ur-gold. They are a melee-focused army with strong offense and resilience.
- Kharadron Overlords: Duardin sky-pirates, technologically advanced and capable of deploying powerful ranged attacks from their sky-vessels.
- Sylvaneth: Guardians of the forests, comprised of tree spirits and dryads. They excel in controlling the battlefield and utilizing powerful magic.
Chaos
- Beasts of Chaos: A horde of savage mutants and beasts who revel in savagery and primal violence. They use ambushes and overwhelming numbers to take down their enemies.
- Blades of Khorne: Devotees of the Blood God, Khorne, they are obsessed with close combat and bloodshed. They use sheer aggression to smash enemy lines.
- Disciples of Tzeentch: Sorcerers and followers of Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways. They manipulate magic and use their trickery to outsmart their opponents.
- Hedonites of Slaanesh: Cultists of the God of Excess, Slaanesh, who are swift, elegant, and incredibly deadly. They favor fast attacks and debuffs to gain advantages.
- Maggotkin of Nurgle: The followers of Nurgle, the God of Plagues and Decay. They are surprisingly resilient and can weaken enemies through disease and attrition.
- Skaven: A horde of rat-men who swarm the battlefield in massive numbers. They excel in overwhelming enemies with their sheer numbers, as well as having potent weapons.
- Slaves to Darkness: Warriors from across the mortal realms who have pledged themselves to the dark gods of Chaos. They form a versatile army with multiple playstyles and units available.
Death
- Flesh-Eater Courts: Deluded ghouls who believe themselves to be noble knights, led by vampiric royalty. They can quickly gain numbers and have several strong support heroes.
- Nighthaunt: Undead spirits, specters, and phantoms. They excel in hit-and-run tactics and have the ability to disrupt the enemy’s advance.
- Ossiarch Bonereapers: A legion of animated skeletal warriors crafted from bone and commanded by powerful Mortek. They act as slow-moving but resilient combatants.
- Soulblight Gravelords: Vampires and their undead legions, capable of raising the fallen to fight once more. They have a number of playstyles depending on the heroes leading the army.
Destruction
- Gloomspite Gitz: Moon-worshipping goblins and cave squigs that overwhelm enemies with chaotic swarms. They are a horde army, using many models to their advantage.
- Ironjawz: Orruk warriors who favor brute force and sheer offensive power. They have powerful melee units and use hard-hitting attacks.
- Kruleboyz: Orruks that use dirty tricks and cunning to win battles, relying on ambushes and poisonous weapons. They use these tactics to pick apart their foes.
- Ogor Mawtribes: Giants who are constantly hungry and on the hunt for new sources of meat. They are an elite army with fewer models but powerful melee attacks.
- Sons of Behemat: A group of giant gargants, which can be played as a stand-alone army or alongside other destruction armies. They focus on powerful and heavy attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Age of Sigmar Factions
To further enrich your understanding of the diverse factions in Age of Sigmar, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions.
1. What are the Grand Alliances in Age of Sigmar?
The four Grand Alliances in Age of Sigmar are: Order, representing civilization and structure; Chaos, representing corruption and destruction; Death, representing undeath and oblivion; and Destruction, representing savagery and primal chaos.
2. Which Age of Sigmar faction is best for beginners?
Many players find Stormcast Eternals to be the best for beginners, due to their all-around units and straightforward gameplay. Cities of Sigmar are also commonly cited as good for beginners due to their versatility.
3. Which faction is the most popular in Age of Sigmar?
Stormcast Eternals are consistently the most popular faction in Age of Sigmar, followed by Sylvaneth.
4. Is it possible to mix factions within an alliance?
While you cannot mix factions from different Grand Alliances, some factions allow for allied units from other factions within their own Grand Alliance.
5. What faction is known for its magic?
Lumineth Realm-Lords, Disciples of Tzeentch, and Seraphon are widely regarded as the factions with the strongest focus on magic in Age of Sigmar.
6. Which is the most horde-based faction in Age of Sigmar?
Skaven, Gloomspite Gitz, and to a lesser extent Beasts of Chaos are the most horde-based factions, relying on large numbers of units.
7. Which faction is considered the most mobile?
Idoneth Deepkin are known for their exceptional mobility, using their speed and hit-and-run tactics to their advantage.
8. What faction is considered the most elite in Age of Sigmar?
Ossiarch Bonereapers, Sons of Behemat, and to a lesser extent Stormcast Eternals have a reputation as more elite, as their armies have fewer models but each model is powerful.
9. Which faction has the most powerful melee units?
Blades of Khorne, Ironjawz, and Fyreslayers boast some of the most powerful melee units in Age of Sigmar, known for their sheer combat power.
10. Are there any factions focused on ranged combat?
Kharadron Overlords are primarily focused on ranged combat, utilizing their sky-vessels and advanced weaponry to target their foes.
11. Which faction utilizes a ‘hit and run’ tactic?
Nighthaunt and Idoneth Deepkin are known for using “hit and run” tactics, engaging in quick attacks before retreating from the enemy.
12. Which faction best plays as a ‘Castle’?
Lumineth Realm-Lords and Stormcast Eternals are considered the best at creating “castles,” using their units to hold a central point and control the battle.
13. Which faction best fits the idea of “speed and brawl”?
Beasts of Chaos are among the best at using “speed and brawl” strategies, along with Ironjawz and Idoneth Deepkin.
14. Are there any factions that are constantly updated or changed?
Yes, Games Workshop routinely releases new models and rules changes, meaning the power levels and capabilities of factions are always fluctuating.
15. Can Age of Sigmar models be used in Warhammer 40K?
Age of Sigmar models can be used in Warhammer 40K if they belong to the Chaos factions, since both games share the same Chaos deities.
Conclusion
The diversity of factions in Age of Sigmar offers a rich and engaging experience for all players. Whether you prefer hordes of savage beasts, disciplined ranks of celestial warriors, or ethereal phantoms of the undead, there is a faction to suit every playstyle and taste. By understanding the core strengths and weaknesses of each faction, you can make informed decisions about which army to command in the Mortal Realms. Exploring these factions is a crucial part of immersing yourself in the dynamic and captivating world of Age of Sigmar, so jump in and find the faction that speaks to you!