As the title says, I want to know: what is your favourite Death unit (any edition of Warhammer), and why? 
What is your favourite Death unit and why?
- Thread starter The Sun King
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Vampire Lord back in fantasy 8th Ed.
Kitted out with Red Fury and forgot the other one blood power. But you were mowing through units like butter.
it really had the fantasy of the ultra fast and powerfull vampire, felling down mortal like the Night God he was.
Kitted out with Red Fury and forgot the other one blood power. But you were mowing through units like butter.
it really had the fantasy of the ultra fast and powerfull vampire, felling down mortal like the Night God he was.
Hard to tell.
Probably Tomb Kings chariots.
They were the quintessential TK unit, skeleton crew upon ancient chariots emblazoned with egyptian glyphs, drawn by undead horses.
A very peculiar and unique unit with good movement, some shooting and able to hit hard on charge... and of course the fact that it could be fielded in ranks, replicating the fabled chariots' regiments.
Looking at VC, my favorite unit was probably the Terrogheist. There was something visually special in that dragonlike bat, not counting that its mere presence was able to induce fear in the opponent.
Probably Tomb Kings chariots.
They were the quintessential TK unit, skeleton crew upon ancient chariots emblazoned with egyptian glyphs, drawn by undead horses.
A very peculiar and unique unit with good movement, some shooting and able to hit hard on charge... and of course the fact that it could be fielded in ranks, replicating the fabled chariots' regiments.
Looking at VC, my favorite unit was probably the Terrogheist. There was something visually special in that dragonlike bat, not counting that its mere presence was able to induce fear in the opponent.
Kiba good pick! The power was called Quickblood and you would often give the Blender Lord the +2 strength sword combined with Talisman of Preservation - a truly horrifying killing machine.
Unas the slayer Yes! Those chariots were one of the most unique and iconic units in the game for sure.
I think my favourite unit can be summed up in the picture below, how cool was it that we could field wights as infantry?
Unas the slayer Yes! Those chariots were one of the most unique and iconic units in the game for sure.
I think my favourite unit can be summed up in the picture below, how cool was it that we could field wights as infantry?
I've always liked the Wight King death blow ability, and it's one of the reasons I was able to move over to OBR. Right now, Mir Kainan is my favorite, but I'm hoping they release a separate Aviarch Spymaster... Need to get out my Anvil and make one in the meantime.
Funny enough but both have been mentioned already. 
Terrorgheist - I loved the model when it came out and it still stands the test of time. Still feels imposing and fresh. I've used it in most of my games in 8th and had some crazy lucky rolls - both with the Scream and Regeneration, causing havoc in the backlines!
The Blender build Lord choice - I've either used a Strigoi Ghoul King or a Vampire Lord on Steed but my pick goes to the VL on Steed because I was always a sucker for knightly/blood knight/kastelai stuff.
Terrorgheist - I loved the model when it came out and it still stands the test of time. Still feels imposing and fresh. I've used it in most of my games in 8th and had some crazy lucky rolls - both with the Scream and Regeneration, causing havoc in the backlines!
The Blender build Lord choice - I've either used a Strigoi Ghoul King or a Vampire Lord on Steed but my pick goes to the VL on Steed because I was always a sucker for knightly/blood knight/kastelai stuff.
I have the Wight n. 8, and use it as Wight King. Being around since so long, the model certainly deserves such an honor.
Grave Tacticus Yeah that Mir Kainan sculpt is brutal - I love it, such an intimidating pose.
Raven Torrid I agree! The Strigoi was always the most unique of the old dynasties, and I love that they have expanded into their own faction, now we just have to wait for new models and rules.
Unas the slayer worthy indeed! I have stored all my oldhammer minis for when I hit my midlife crisis and decide to make a complete oldhammer Undead army with a display level paint job.
Raven Torrid I agree! The Strigoi was always the most unique of the old dynasties, and I love that they have expanded into their own faction, now we just have to wait for new models and rules.
Unas the slayer worthy indeed! I have stored all my oldhammer minis for when I hit my midlife crisis and decide to make a complete oldhammer Undead army with a display level paint job.
Oppenheimer
Varghulf
I love my ladies of death so my top 5 are:
- Isabella
- Neferata
- Coven Throne
- Olynder
- Old Lahmia on Horseback minature (pictured on bottom left Old Vampires )
Hell yes! If we talk named characters my top three would be as yours:
1. Isa
2. Neffy
3. Lady O
All have such cool stories and are iconic in their own way, and I am all about that girl power that these bad ass ladies bring to the game
.My current Soulblight Gravelords army is led by Isabella's twisted daughter Camille (my own fiction).
So hard to narrow this down, & so many angles to come at it from! Favorite for the models, or for their effect in game? For which undead army? There's no way I can narrow everything down, so I'll have to break it down by category.
FAVORITE MODELS:
Soulblight Gravelords/Vampire Counts: Mounted Wight King
The Soulblight Gravelords release updated a ton of classic vampire counts kits, ramping up the detail while staying true to a classic gothic horror aesthetic that would have felt right at home in the crumbling moonlit castles of old Sylvania. While the whole release wave was fantastic, imo none of the new glow ups were quite as dramatic as that given to the humble mounted wight king. This new model is bursting with personality, joining the fine detail made possible by GW's modern production process with a deliberate reverence for the games legacy that shows through in several subtle nods to classic warhammer fantasy models and artwork. Just a really stellar model all round, and I'll be buying one the moment it's available outside of the start collecting box.
Ossiarch Bonereapers: Katakros, Mortarch of the Necropolis
While some don't enjoy the unique charms of the Ossiarch line overall, even the harshest detractors had to acknowledge the jawbone-dropping centerpiece diorama that is their faction leader. Katakros and his entourage perfectly embody the spirit of Age of Sigmar's most unique death faction - proud, imperious, intelligent, & organized. The Mortarch of the Necropolis surveys the battlefield with a keen eye, while his various attendants bring him reports on the battle's progress or relay his orders to the troops through banner signals and messenger birds. The overall effect is stunning - not just the best Ossiarch model, but one of the best models GW has ever released for any faction.
Nighthaunt: Bladegheist Revenants
This was a hard call for me. The Nighthaunt line in Age of Sigmar have a very strong aesthetic that leads to hit after hit in the model department. Reikenor, Awlrach, Crawlocke, the Briar Queen, Krulghast Cruciator, Scriptor Mortis, Knight of Shrouds on Ethereal Steed, Myrnmorne Banshees - any of these could have taken top spot, but seeing as I've already highlighted a lone hero and a larger centerpiece above, I feel like giving the nod here to a unit. In the broad strokes the bladegheists are a very typical example of the Nighthaunt formula - empty hooded shrouds trailing into whisps of smoke, gaunt arms grasping corroded weapons, chains and metal masks to show how they, like all Nighthaunts, are prisoners bound to the will of Nagash. What sets the Bladegheists above similar units like chainghasts or grimghasts is the dynamic flow of the models as they throw their entire ghostly forms into swinging their greatswords. There's an elegance to the sweeping lines of these models that stands out not just in the Nighthaunt line, but in the game overall.
Flesh Eater Courts: Abhorrent Ghoul King on Royal Terrorgheist
The pickings are admittedly slim with the Flesh Eaters, but even so I really do think the old Terrorgheist model holds up, with or without the ghoul king on top. It's a bit of a pain to assemble and paint, but the layered effect of the ragged skin over scraps of muscle over exposed bone over tattered organs is very effective, the massive wings are striking, and the downward crawling pose is menacing and dramatic. It's that pose that makes the difference for me over the zombie dragon's more static upright stance, though imo that build also holds up quite well. With an Abhorrent Ghoul King on top, the Terrorgheist makes for both an impressive centerpiece model and an imposing commander for any Flesh Eater Courts army.
Tomb Kings: Casket of Souls
The sadly defunct Tomb Kings line presents another hard choice for favorite model, between Setra, Khalida, the iconic chariots, the imposing ushabti, the screaming skull catapult, plus all of the stellar 8th edition plastics, particularly the tomb guard and sphinxes. But I've got to give the nod to the Casket of Souls. Part arc of the covenant, part sacrificial altar; set atop a mound of bones; crewed by skeletal guards and a mummified lich priest with a ritual dagger and wrappings trailing from his arms that billow in an unseen arcane wind like unfurling wings - the Casket of Souls was a centerpiece diorama unlike anything else in Warhammer, and its like wasn't really seen again until recent models like Katakros. When it was first announced I didn't really approve of the decision to split the tomb kings off from the rest of the Warhammer undead, but one look at this kit sold me on the idea of the Nehekhans as a distinct faction and culture of their own.
My Personal Collection: Arkhan the Black, the Lich King
It's all well and good to say what I think are the best models GW makes, or made, but it doesn't matter how well a model is sculpted if it's still on its sprues collecting dust in your pile of shame. Out of the models I've actually brought to life on the tabletop through assembly and painting, my favorite is easily this conversion of Arkhan the Black riding his iconic flying chariot. While there were some setbacks in the process - particularly some frosted spray varnish that forced partial repainting at the end - I'm still very happy with the final result, which I think really captures the spirit and style of the old school lich king, but with the detail and dramatic posing of modern Warhammer releases.
FAVORITE MODELS:
Soulblight Gravelords/Vampire Counts: Mounted Wight King
The Soulblight Gravelords release updated a ton of classic vampire counts kits, ramping up the detail while staying true to a classic gothic horror aesthetic that would have felt right at home in the crumbling moonlit castles of old Sylvania. While the whole release wave was fantastic, imo none of the new glow ups were quite as dramatic as that given to the humble mounted wight king. This new model is bursting with personality, joining the fine detail made possible by GW's modern production process with a deliberate reverence for the games legacy that shows through in several subtle nods to classic warhammer fantasy models and artwork. Just a really stellar model all round, and I'll be buying one the moment it's available outside of the start collecting box.
Ossiarch Bonereapers: Katakros, Mortarch of the Necropolis
While some don't enjoy the unique charms of the Ossiarch line overall, even the harshest detractors had to acknowledge the jawbone-dropping centerpiece diorama that is their faction leader. Katakros and his entourage perfectly embody the spirit of Age of Sigmar's most unique death faction - proud, imperious, intelligent, & organized. The Mortarch of the Necropolis surveys the battlefield with a keen eye, while his various attendants bring him reports on the battle's progress or relay his orders to the troops through banner signals and messenger birds. The overall effect is stunning - not just the best Ossiarch model, but one of the best models GW has ever released for any faction.
Nighthaunt: Bladegheist Revenants
This was a hard call for me. The Nighthaunt line in Age of Sigmar have a very strong aesthetic that leads to hit after hit in the model department. Reikenor, Awlrach, Crawlocke, the Briar Queen, Krulghast Cruciator, Scriptor Mortis, Knight of Shrouds on Ethereal Steed, Myrnmorne Banshees - any of these could have taken top spot, but seeing as I've already highlighted a lone hero and a larger centerpiece above, I feel like giving the nod here to a unit. In the broad strokes the bladegheists are a very typical example of the Nighthaunt formula - empty hooded shrouds trailing into whisps of smoke, gaunt arms grasping corroded weapons, chains and metal masks to show how they, like all Nighthaunts, are prisoners bound to the will of Nagash. What sets the Bladegheists above similar units like chainghasts or grimghasts is the dynamic flow of the models as they throw their entire ghostly forms into swinging their greatswords. There's an elegance to the sweeping lines of these models that stands out not just in the Nighthaunt line, but in the game overall.
Flesh Eater Courts: Abhorrent Ghoul King on Royal Terrorgheist
The pickings are admittedly slim with the Flesh Eaters, but even so I really do think the old Terrorgheist model holds up, with or without the ghoul king on top. It's a bit of a pain to assemble and paint, but the layered effect of the ragged skin over scraps of muscle over exposed bone over tattered organs is very effective, the massive wings are striking, and the downward crawling pose is menacing and dramatic. It's that pose that makes the difference for me over the zombie dragon's more static upright stance, though imo that build also holds up quite well. With an Abhorrent Ghoul King on top, the Terrorgheist makes for both an impressive centerpiece model and an imposing commander for any Flesh Eater Courts army.
Tomb Kings: Casket of Souls
The sadly defunct Tomb Kings line presents another hard choice for favorite model, between Setra, Khalida, the iconic chariots, the imposing ushabti, the screaming skull catapult, plus all of the stellar 8th edition plastics, particularly the tomb guard and sphinxes. But I've got to give the nod to the Casket of Souls. Part arc of the covenant, part sacrificial altar; set atop a mound of bones; crewed by skeletal guards and a mummified lich priest with a ritual dagger and wrappings trailing from his arms that billow in an unseen arcane wind like unfurling wings - the Casket of Souls was a centerpiece diorama unlike anything else in Warhammer, and its like wasn't really seen again until recent models like Katakros. When it was first announced I didn't really approve of the decision to split the tomb kings off from the rest of the Warhammer undead, but one look at this kit sold me on the idea of the Nehekhans as a distinct faction and culture of their own.
My Personal Collection: Arkhan the Black, the Lich King
It's all well and good to say what I think are the best models GW makes, or made, but it doesn't matter how well a model is sculpted if it's still on its sprues collecting dust in your pile of shame. Out of the models I've actually brought to life on the tabletop through assembly and painting, my favorite is easily this conversion of Arkhan the Black riding his iconic flying chariot. While there were some setbacks in the process - particularly some frosted spray varnish that forced partial repainting at the end - I'm still very happy with the final result, which I think really captures the spirit and style of the old school lich king, but with the detail and dramatic posing of modern Warhammer releases.
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But what about favorite undead units in the game? Warhammer models aren't just toys, they're also game pieces. It's that functionality on the tabletop that brings our models to life, invests them with narrative weight, and most importantly gives us an excuse to haul our collection in to the local store so that others can appreciate them. Of course, Warhammer isn't just one game, it's dozens of iterations of games spread out over the years, far too many for me to list all of my favorites, so I'll restrict my consideration to various seasons in Age of Sigmar. Starting with late 1st edition, since early 1st edition was hardly a game at all.
FAVORITE WARSCROLLS
Age of Sigmar - late 1st edition: Necropolis Knights
Though their model line had already been discontinued, the Tomb Kings were blessed with a particularly impressive final iteration of their rule set as a parting gift. Tons of buffs and synergies, incredible regenerative abilities, rather impressive damage output, and a huge amount of unit variety between melee and ranged infantry, fast chaffy cavalry, battleline chariots, strong & tough monstrous infantry, big monsters, characters with a variety of strong buffs, and a number of more esoteric utility units. Necropolis Knights combined the best of everything with the offense and durability of statue units, the buff stacking of skeletons, and the speed and 5-wounds-per-turn regeneration rate of chariots. They even had an impressive output of mortal wounds, ensuring nothing was safe from them. They started off at a frankly criminal 160 points for 3, but even after that price had ballooned up to a hefty 240 they were still one of the most feared units in the game, all the way up until the release of 2nd edition rendered the entire Tomb Kings ruleset somewhat obsolete. At the time I was so impressed with this unit that I was actively working to replace my black-knights-on-demigryphs counts-as conversion with more suitably imposing sphynx-crew-on-mini-sphynxs, and even though the snakes have long been removed from the game at times I'm still tempted to go back and complete those conversions, if only to honor the memory of what was for a brief moment quite possibly the single most powerful undead unit in Warhammer history.
Age of Sigmar - early 2nd edition: Nagash, Supreme Lord of the Undead
The latter days of Warhammer Fantasy saw the return of Nagash with one of the most spectacular re-imaginings of a classic model to date. Say what you will about some of the proportions, or the wobbly awkwardness of some of the ghostly tendrils of magic swirling around and supporting him, there's no denying just how imposing the modern Nagash model was and is in terms of sheer scale alone, positively towering over the battlefield. However, while his rule sets since then have been equally imposing in terms of raw power, the points cost players needed to commit to fielding him has been even more monstrous, making Nagash as often as not a pretty questionable choice in competitive play. However, early second edition was a huge exception. In the wake of his Realm-shattering Necroquake, Nagash saw his unparalleled arcane might increased to previously unthinkable heights thanks to the combination of the new Endless Spells and Realm Spells. The Great Necromancer became less a powerful monster and spellcaster and more an unstoppable force of nature, and thanks to the questionable decision to add Soul Wars units to the Legions of Nagash he was soon joined by the Grimghast Reapers, a summonable battleline unit with the perfect combination of speed, durability, offense, and points efficiency to fully compensate for Nagash's monstrous points cost. With this new retinue swirling about his heels Nagash was the scourge of early second edition tables. Was this good for game balance? No, absolutely not. But did it effectively bring the game's narrative to life, with all eight Mortal Realms cowering in fear under the looming shadow of the Undying King? Very much yes.
Age of Sigmar - late 2nd edition: Mortek Crawler
The Ossiarch Bonereapers were, for me, probably the most exciting release to date in Age of Sigmar. The represented so many things - the culmination of Nagash's plans in the narrative, the return of the Tomb Kings in spirit if not in name, a fully new undead faction for the Age of Sigmar - one that embraces all the wild possibilities of the setting's mythic fantasy scope, and we see all of that here in the Mortek Crawler, the spiritual successor to the Tomb Kings' Screaming Skull Catapult. Impressive, horrific, and, if you'll pardon the pun, humorous (I love the guy in the hamster wheel wynching the arm back) as the model is, in game the unit was downright oppressive, leveraging a truly colossal damage output to compensate for the otherwise ponderous pace of the Ossiarch Advance. Take two (or more!) of these beastly siege engines and the enemy would be forced to come to you and engage your implacable Mortek Guard or else risk annihilation from your fleet of engines all enhanced by the steely gaze of a nearby liege. Third edition, with its limitations on command abilities and wealth of bonuses to armor saves, has largely blunted the terror of the Mortek Crawler, just one of the many reasons the Bonereapers are currently languishing in obscurity, but in its prime this unit was as faction-defining as Katakros or the Mortek Guard, and one of the most impactful units in the Age of Sigmar competitive meta. Hopefully the eventual 3rd edition Ossiarch Battletome will restore it to its full glory.
Age of Sigmar - early 3rd edition: Blood Knights
Another spectacular glow-up from the Soulblight Gravelords release, the long awaited plastic blood knights look amazing. But as improved as the models may be, it's arguably their rules that have seen the bigger upgrade. Blood Knights have always been fast, tough, and hard hitting, but they generally didn't do much more than that, and suffered a very hefty points cost for the privilege. The new Blood Knights are just as deadly as they've always been, if not more so, but come in at a svelte 195 points while boasting a new signature ability, "the Riders of Ruin", which allows them to normal move right out of combat, even trampling over enemy models in the way, and still charge in the same turn. Are the enemy's juicy targets hiding behind a front line of chaff? No problem, just charge the screen and in the next turn trample right over them to charge the unit behind. Is the enemy too tough to break down with a single charge? Just pull back and charge again, over and over if necessary. The versatility is really endless. Not even Skarbrand, Krondspire, Grieving Legion, & other 'may not withdraw from combat' effects can't stop the Riders of Ruin, since it counts as a 'normal move' and not a withdrawal. There's a reason the Blood Knights were the stand out stars of the new Soulblight Gravelords battletome, with more than a few players choosing the Kastelai Dynasty to make them battleline, allowing for compact elite armies built around multiple units of the deadliest undead cavalry around. To this day they remain one of the strongest units in the Soulblight Gravelords faction and a significant presence in the competitive meta. Galation Veterans across the face of Ghur tremble with fear when they hear the thunderous approach of bounty-hunting Blood Knights.
Age of Sigmar - right now: Krulghast Cruciator
Rules-wise the Nighthaunts had a shaky initial outing in Age of Sigmar 2nd edition, but all that changed with the recent release of the 3rd edition Nighthaunt Battletome. All the compelling cinematic game play of the original Nighthaunt battletome, but now actually a powerful threat on the table. lighting fast ethereal melee units crashing on the enemy in successive waves of terror supported by a dizzying variety of effective buff heroes who are in turn finally made durable enough to field thanks to spirit hosts being re-imagined as expendable sacrificial shields. But in the new Matched Play season set in Galatia there's one ghostly horror that stands head and shoulders above the rest. The Krulghast Cruciator is not just faction defining, but downright meta dominating, thanks to its damage-reducing debuff aura. This gives Nighthaunts the unique ability to counteract the damage bonus of the Bounty Hunters battalion, letting them enjoy all the benefits of the Galatian Veterans rules without having to worry about the otherwise extremely harsh penalty. You're likely to see two or even three Cruciators at a time in competitive Nighthaunt armies in the coming months, and with good reason, as these spectral terrors teach our living foes the true meaning of suffering.
My Personal Collection: Vampire Lord on Zombie Dragon
Once again, it's all well and good to point out the best undead units in the game, but that's all empty theory crafting if it isn't coupled with lived experience against real opponents on the actual tabletop. Throughout Age of Sigmar, the biggest star in my personal armies has been my Vampire Lord on Zombie Dragon. A powerful offensive platform for command traits and artefacts, durable enough to serve as my general without being easily removed by enemy ranged attacks, sufficient flying speed to be where I need when I need him, a big base to spread his auras and buff ranges around, even a bit of healing and spellcasting utility, with the keywords to take advantage of Hero, Monster, and Wizard rules throughout the editions, this unit really has it all. Other units may have peaked higher here or there, but whether it was slaughtering entire units with Red Fury in 1st edition's Grand Alliance: Death, shrugging off cannonballs with the Ethereal Amulet in 2nd edition's Legions of Nagash, or swiping objectives out from under the enemy's nose with Hunter's Snare in 3rd edition's Soulblight Gravelords, no other unit in my collection has been as consistent and reliable as my Vampire Lord on Zombie Dragon.
FAVORITE WARSCROLLS
Age of Sigmar - late 1st edition: Necropolis Knights
Though their model line had already been discontinued, the Tomb Kings were blessed with a particularly impressive final iteration of their rule set as a parting gift. Tons of buffs and synergies, incredible regenerative abilities, rather impressive damage output, and a huge amount of unit variety between melee and ranged infantry, fast chaffy cavalry, battleline chariots, strong & tough monstrous infantry, big monsters, characters with a variety of strong buffs, and a number of more esoteric utility units. Necropolis Knights combined the best of everything with the offense and durability of statue units, the buff stacking of skeletons, and the speed and 5-wounds-per-turn regeneration rate of chariots. They even had an impressive output of mortal wounds, ensuring nothing was safe from them. They started off at a frankly criminal 160 points for 3, but even after that price had ballooned up to a hefty 240 they were still one of the most feared units in the game, all the way up until the release of 2nd edition rendered the entire Tomb Kings ruleset somewhat obsolete. At the time I was so impressed with this unit that I was actively working to replace my black-knights-on-demigryphs counts-as conversion with more suitably imposing sphynx-crew-on-mini-sphynxs, and even though the snakes have long been removed from the game at times I'm still tempted to go back and complete those conversions, if only to honor the memory of what was for a brief moment quite possibly the single most powerful undead unit in Warhammer history.
Age of Sigmar - early 2nd edition: Nagash, Supreme Lord of the Undead
The latter days of Warhammer Fantasy saw the return of Nagash with one of the most spectacular re-imaginings of a classic model to date. Say what you will about some of the proportions, or the wobbly awkwardness of some of the ghostly tendrils of magic swirling around and supporting him, there's no denying just how imposing the modern Nagash model was and is in terms of sheer scale alone, positively towering over the battlefield. However, while his rule sets since then have been equally imposing in terms of raw power, the points cost players needed to commit to fielding him has been even more monstrous, making Nagash as often as not a pretty questionable choice in competitive play. However, early second edition was a huge exception. In the wake of his Realm-shattering Necroquake, Nagash saw his unparalleled arcane might increased to previously unthinkable heights thanks to the combination of the new Endless Spells and Realm Spells. The Great Necromancer became less a powerful monster and spellcaster and more an unstoppable force of nature, and thanks to the questionable decision to add Soul Wars units to the Legions of Nagash he was soon joined by the Grimghast Reapers, a summonable battleline unit with the perfect combination of speed, durability, offense, and points efficiency to fully compensate for Nagash's monstrous points cost. With this new retinue swirling about his heels Nagash was the scourge of early second edition tables. Was this good for game balance? No, absolutely not. But did it effectively bring the game's narrative to life, with all eight Mortal Realms cowering in fear under the looming shadow of the Undying King? Very much yes.
Age of Sigmar - late 2nd edition: Mortek Crawler
The Ossiarch Bonereapers were, for me, probably the most exciting release to date in Age of Sigmar. The represented so many things - the culmination of Nagash's plans in the narrative, the return of the Tomb Kings in spirit if not in name, a fully new undead faction for the Age of Sigmar - one that embraces all the wild possibilities of the setting's mythic fantasy scope, and we see all of that here in the Mortek Crawler, the spiritual successor to the Tomb Kings' Screaming Skull Catapult. Impressive, horrific, and, if you'll pardon the pun, humorous (I love the guy in the hamster wheel wynching the arm back) as the model is, in game the unit was downright oppressive, leveraging a truly colossal damage output to compensate for the otherwise ponderous pace of the Ossiarch Advance. Take two (or more!) of these beastly siege engines and the enemy would be forced to come to you and engage your implacable Mortek Guard or else risk annihilation from your fleet of engines all enhanced by the steely gaze of a nearby liege. Third edition, with its limitations on command abilities and wealth of bonuses to armor saves, has largely blunted the terror of the Mortek Crawler, just one of the many reasons the Bonereapers are currently languishing in obscurity, but in its prime this unit was as faction-defining as Katakros or the Mortek Guard, and one of the most impactful units in the Age of Sigmar competitive meta. Hopefully the eventual 3rd edition Ossiarch Battletome will restore it to its full glory.
Age of Sigmar - early 3rd edition: Blood Knights
Another spectacular glow-up from the Soulblight Gravelords release, the long awaited plastic blood knights look amazing. But as improved as the models may be, it's arguably their rules that have seen the bigger upgrade. Blood Knights have always been fast, tough, and hard hitting, but they generally didn't do much more than that, and suffered a very hefty points cost for the privilege. The new Blood Knights are just as deadly as they've always been, if not more so, but come in at a svelte 195 points while boasting a new signature ability, "the Riders of Ruin", which allows them to normal move right out of combat, even trampling over enemy models in the way, and still charge in the same turn. Are the enemy's juicy targets hiding behind a front line of chaff? No problem, just charge the screen and in the next turn trample right over them to charge the unit behind. Is the enemy too tough to break down with a single charge? Just pull back and charge again, over and over if necessary. The versatility is really endless. Not even Skarbrand, Krondspire, Grieving Legion, & other 'may not withdraw from combat' effects can't stop the Riders of Ruin, since it counts as a 'normal move' and not a withdrawal. There's a reason the Blood Knights were the stand out stars of the new Soulblight Gravelords battletome, with more than a few players choosing the Kastelai Dynasty to make them battleline, allowing for compact elite armies built around multiple units of the deadliest undead cavalry around. To this day they remain one of the strongest units in the Soulblight Gravelords faction and a significant presence in the competitive meta. Galation Veterans across the face of Ghur tremble with fear when they hear the thunderous approach of bounty-hunting Blood Knights.
Age of Sigmar - right now: Krulghast Cruciator
Rules-wise the Nighthaunts had a shaky initial outing in Age of Sigmar 2nd edition, but all that changed with the recent release of the 3rd edition Nighthaunt Battletome. All the compelling cinematic game play of the original Nighthaunt battletome, but now actually a powerful threat on the table. lighting fast ethereal melee units crashing on the enemy in successive waves of terror supported by a dizzying variety of effective buff heroes who are in turn finally made durable enough to field thanks to spirit hosts being re-imagined as expendable sacrificial shields. But in the new Matched Play season set in Galatia there's one ghostly horror that stands head and shoulders above the rest. The Krulghast Cruciator is not just faction defining, but downright meta dominating, thanks to its damage-reducing debuff aura. This gives Nighthaunts the unique ability to counteract the damage bonus of the Bounty Hunters battalion, letting them enjoy all the benefits of the Galatian Veterans rules without having to worry about the otherwise extremely harsh penalty. You're likely to see two or even three Cruciators at a time in competitive Nighthaunt armies in the coming months, and with good reason, as these spectral terrors teach our living foes the true meaning of suffering.
My Personal Collection: Vampire Lord on Zombie Dragon
Once again, it's all well and good to point out the best undead units in the game, but that's all empty theory crafting if it isn't coupled with lived experience against real opponents on the actual tabletop. Throughout Age of Sigmar, the biggest star in my personal armies has been my Vampire Lord on Zombie Dragon. A powerful offensive platform for command traits and artefacts, durable enough to serve as my general without being easily removed by enemy ranged attacks, sufficient flying speed to be where I need when I need him, a big base to spread his auras and buff ranges around, even a bit of healing and spellcasting utility, with the keywords to take advantage of Hero, Monster, and Wizard rules throughout the editions, this unit really has it all. Other units may have peaked higher here or there, but whether it was slaughtering entire units with Red Fury in 1st edition's Grand Alliance: Death, shrugging off cannonballs with the Ethereal Amulet in 2nd edition's Legions of Nagash, or swiping objectives out from under the enemy's nose with Hunter's Snare in 3rd edition's Soulblight Gravelords, no other unit in my collection has been as consistent and reliable as my Vampire Lord on Zombie Dragon.
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My current Soulblight Gravelords army is led by Isabella's twisted daughter Camille (my own fiction).
eheheh... when i play Vyrkos with Belladamma, she's never the general. The general is always a VL, which is her current lover.
the VL's only hope to stay in power is to satisfy Belladamma, otherwise he will lose her special favor... and not only that.
Great choices and comments!
Oppenheimer
Varghulf
Sception Yes I agree that the new Wight king is pretty good. I still don't think he's sold separately though so I don't have him.
Terrorgheist was an early favourite of mine, I got into the hobby right around when it came out.
I can't say I like the style of the Bonereapers very much and I prefer the banshee related models such as the Deadscythes in Nighthaunt. But, I'm totally with you on Casket of Souls. I have the old box in a picture frame in my basement.
Terrorgheist was an early favourite of mine, I got into the hobby right around when it came out.
I can't say I like the style of the Bonereapers very much and I prefer the banshee related models such as the Deadscythes in Nighthaunt. But, I'm totally with you on Casket of Souls. I have the old box in a picture frame in my basement.
El Syf
Vargheist
As others have said, 8th ed Blender Lords were insane.
Especially in end times were 50% of the army could be Lords and heroes points wise (we all know this was to accommodate Nagash being over 1k but still), so you could have two of them plus a hero or two in a 2.5k game. I miss a vampire lord being a big deal to field on the table. Blood knights also had great models back in the day and the plastic update I'm also a fan of. Blood Knights also were so good on the charge too and worth the extortionate points cost. Was living my best Blood Dragon life back in 8th lol.
Especially in end times were 50% of the army could be Lords and heroes points wise (we all know this was to accommodate Nagash being over 1k but still), so you could have two of them plus a hero or two in a 2.5k game. I miss a vampire lord being a big deal to field on the table. Blood knights also had great models back in the day and the plastic update I'm also a fan of. Blood Knights also were so good on the charge too and worth the extortionate points cost. Was living my best Blood Dragon life back in 8th lol.
Uh favourite warscrolls you say? Let me see...
Soulblight Gravelords: Deadwalker Zombies! When I first got the battletome and evaluated the warscrolls it was immediately apparent to me that this unit was good. Really good. But the amazing thing about them is that it is a unit that keeps getting better the more you play with them. Such an elegant warscroll.
Nighthaunt: Spirit Torment. I am generally a positional/conservative player that focus a lot on risk management and gaining the advantage through prolonged games and the Spirit Torment helps me do just that. I have never been a fan of d3 and d6 rolls for determining damage and heal so the fact that the Torment brings back 3 flat is right up my alley. A close second would be the Myrmourn Banshees because I am quite proud of the fact that me and Unas the slayer caught on to them quite quickly. However, I believe that the tournament scene still has some catching on to do before they realize just HOW powerful these ladies are.
Soulblight Gravelords: Deadwalker Zombies! When I first got the battletome and evaluated the warscrolls it was immediately apparent to me that this unit was good. Really good. But the amazing thing about them is that it is a unit that keeps getting better the more you play with them. Such an elegant warscroll.
Nighthaunt: Spirit Torment. I am generally a positional/conservative player that focus a lot on risk management and gaining the advantage through prolonged games and the Spirit Torment helps me do just that. I have never been a fan of d3 and d6 rolls for determining damage and heal so the fact that the Torment brings back 3 flat is right up my alley. A close second would be the Myrmourn Banshees because I am quite proud of the fact that me and Unas the slayer caught on to them quite quickly. However, I believe that the tournament scene still has some catching on to do before they realize just HOW powerful these ladies are.
Oppenheimer
Varghulf
The Sun King I also love the Spirit Torment's consistent raise ability. Do you run two of them or just one? I only have one assembled and painted but a ton of them unassembled since the box comes with them and the Chainghasts.
Oppenheimer yeah at the moment the list I'm running only has one but I'm flirting with the idea of bringing two. The issue is, what to cut, because the list is quite lean aldready. Only real option is to switch my unit of Spirit Hosts with the second Torment, but in that case my Reikenor, Torments, Dreadblade Harrow and Knight of Shrouds all lose survivability... it is a tough choice.
El Syf yeah I agree - that is something I feel is lacking in the new Battletome... Even the Vampire Lord on Zombie Dragon is not an ultimate killing machine as it should be.
El Syf yeah I agree - that is something I feel is lacking in the new Battletome... Even the Vampire Lord on Zombie Dragon is not an ultimate killing machine as it should be.
I'm in the same boat as The Sun King .
As much as the spirit torment is amazing, atm i play with only one. We have so many solid heroes...
As much as the spirit torment is amazing, atm i play with only one. We have so many solid heroes...
I didn't play undead until 8th edition, but had a mate who did, and I would say that one of my favourite boasts in the latter stages of WHFB was that I had fought in the days when Nagash stalked the tabletop. Good times!
As a troop type to include in an army myself though, its between Graveguard and Mounted Wights.
As a troop type to include in an army myself though, its between Graveguard and Mounted Wights.
El Syf
Vargheist
That's a worthwhile point, in AoS i nearly always filed Prince Vhordrai. Back in WFB it seemed absolute overkill to stick a Vampire Lord on a zombie Dragon!
The Sun King - In addition to units of Wights, we also used to be able to field units of Wraiths during that same period and they were even more nasty.
I think that my top three would also be Isabella, Neferata, and The Coven Throne.
I think that my top three would also be Isabella, Neferata, and The Coven Throne.
Redking29
Zombie
My favorite has always been the lowly Vampire Lord. They are versatile and strongAs the title says, I want to know: what is your favourite Death unit (any edition of Warhammer), and why?
Yeah I love Vampire Lords as well! A shame that they are not the powerhouse that they used to be in older editions. Still, they have some of the coolest models on the market.