Khazalite Holds! Dwarfs Return Proper To Warhammer Age Of Sigmar

Games Workshop held the big Autumn Preview last week and one of the biggest reveals was the Khazalite Holds, a new faction for you to include in your games of Warhammer Age of Sigmar. As something of a Dwarf/Duardin connoisseur, I was immediately made very, very poor.

Hjuda Drakkblud // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

The Khazalites consider themselves the most respectable of all Duardin and, like their Dwarfen forefathers, revere the different ancestor gods. With the fall of the Fyreslayer Holds and the destruction of the Kharadron Overlord skyports, the Khazalite Holds have now strapped on their armour to take on the Skaven threat and force back the darkness that threatens The Mortal Realms.

The first way into collecting the Khazalite Holds from Games Workshop is through their Army Set, which is led by the mighty Hjulda Drakkblud. She and her Clanguard were some of the first to march to the surface and begin their search for the lost karaks. She is a fearsome warrior and will no doubt use that axe to split a fair few of her enemies in two!

She is backed up by the backbone of the Khazalite Holds, the Clanshields.

Clanshields // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Clanshields make use of traditional Duardin weaponry like the axe and the hammer. They are very good at holding their own on the battlefield and acting as the anvil for your army thanks to their armour and broad shields. They are also good at chopping their way through infantry, especially the massed ranks of the Skaven.

I think these look great. They have that classical Dwarfen look from days of yore but with enough to set them apart from their Old World brethren. They also look like they are going to be really easy to paint since they don't have the faff that so many other Games Workshop miniatures have!

If the Clanshields act as an anvil, the Gholems of the Khazalite Holds act as a hammer.

Gholems of Gazul // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Gholems of Valaya // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

There are two variants for you to choose from when building your Khazalite Holds army. The Gholems of Gazul are crafted in the likeness of the Ancestor God of the underworld. They will, as you might have guessed, be fairly hard to shift and can send enemies flying thanks to those massive stone hammers.

You also have the Gholems of Valaya, who can deal out more attacks than the slow and deliberate Gholems of Gazul. Such is the reverence with which the Khazalites hold their ancestors that if these end up being destroyed on the battlefield, they will spark a fearsome need for revenge amongst the Duardin.

Golems/Gholems have been something that has been whispered amongst Warhammer Dwarf armies for years. They were definitely used back during the War of Vengeance/War of the Beard and then seemed to fade away into obscurity until now!

No self-respecting Duardin army would be seen dead without some artillery and, once again, you get two options to play with.

Oathkeeper Cannon // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Stonebreaker Mortar // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

The Oathkeeper Cannon can blow a hole right through a Mega-Gargant and then keep on going into the ones behind it! If you'd prefer to send enemy infantry scattering to the four winds, then you can make use of the Stonebreaker Mortar. Both of these kits come with their rune-crafters of the Khazalite Holds hammering the appropriate runes into your shot so that it can cause extra damage and other effects when it lands/hits.

The initial wave of Khazalite Holds will come as part of the Army Set.

Khazalite Holds Army Set // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

This will come with the miniatures you've seen above and also act as a Spearhead using the configuration and build options you see in the image above. It will also feature the new Battletome, which comes with all of the new lore and rules for the Khazalite Holds in Warhammer Age of Sigmar.

Khazalite Holds // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

You can also get the set of fifty-three Warscroll Cards in the set so you can start planning out your army. That is by no means all of the news that came out for Warhammer Age of Sigmar and the Khazalite Holds as they also showed what else is coming for the army!

Even More Khazalite Holds Miniatures!

Even more characters are coming to lead your armies on the tabletop. Your martial might comes in the form of the Thrynn.

Thrynn // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Thrynn are the lords of the various Karaks of the Khazalite Holds. They are a good way for you to theme your army and come up with your own characters who are leading the Duardin into battle. They look suitably Dwarfy with all sorts of runes on their arms and armour alongside enough weapons to fell a dragon.

The more spiritual side of the Khazalite Holds is marshalled by the Runewrights.

Runewright // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

In the same way as Runesmiths and Runelords of old, the Runewrights can wrestle arcane power into runes and use them to enhance your fighters on the battlefield or crush your foes. I like that the Runewright is in the more aggressive pose, as if he is in the middle of making sure that the power of the runes sends the enemy scattering before him.

If you were wondering where the ranged option comes in for the Khazalite Holds, here they are. See what you make of the Clangunners.

Clangunners - Thrundrin Shotcannons // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Clangunners - Thrundok Rifles // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Clangunners can be armed with either the Thrundok Rifles, which are handy at long range, or the Thrundrin Shotcannons, which are better when up close and personal. I think the Shotcannons look great but I think the Rifles seem a little bit too "modern". It might also be that Games Workshop paints all of their studio miniatures like action figures and they're almost too clean. They might look different with a darker scheme and the hands of a pleb at the brush.

There are also some elite infantry options for the Khazalite Holds. The Valayan Guardians are on the way to make sure you feel the wrath of a woman scorned.

Valayan Guardians with Runic Halberds // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Valayan Guardians with Axes and Shields // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

These ladies can be armed with either runic halberds or runic axes and shields. I think I prefer the look of the Valayan Guardians with the axes and shields but again, I think a lot of that might be due to the painting of the halberd-armed guardians. Either way, I imagine I'm going to end up picking up some of these to cause some mischief on the battlefield in the name of Valaya.

Every Warhammer Age of Sigmar army needs a centrepiece and we now have ours. This is High Kyng Valankrom on his War Throne.

High Kyng Valankrom // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Thrynn on War Throne // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Yep, this War Throne powers its way through rock and stone thanks to runic magic. Wild. High Kyng Valankrom was crowned by Grungni himself but if you'd prefer to craft your own legend on the tabletop, you can also change it to make a Thrynn on War Throne. I'm still not sure what I make of this yet but I love that Games Workshop has done something a bit weird and wonderful. It'll be one of the last things I buy but it's a cool thing to aim for as part of the collection.

...What About Fyreslayers?

If, like me, you're a collector of Fyreslayers, then you might be wondering what's happening to the faction. Well, with the destruction of their holds, they are now folded into the Khazalite Holds when it comes to rules. You'll find ways to use your existing collection either alongside the Duardin you see above or in focused Fyreslayer armies if you prefer.

Ormyr and Ashtongue // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Ormyr and Ashtongue are new characters for your Fyreslayer armies. Ormyr wrangles youthful Magmadroths, in this case, Ashtongue, and roams the realms looking to aid fellow Duardin in their time of need. A small addition to the Fyreslayer armies but one that could be fun to see used, especially if the rules work nicely with his kin.

Talking of the destruction of the holds, this is where the new Order Regiment of Renown comes in, Fjori's Vengeance.

Fjori's Vengeance // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Any other Order force can call on the Grimhold Exile Fjori, his Auric Flamekeeper and a band of Hearthguard Berserkers to aid them on the battlefield. Make sure you have your urgold on hand to pay them once their business is concluded.

There is also another Spearhead for the Duardin coming in the form of the Magmic Fyrd.

Magmic Fyrd // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

This is led by a fearsome Runefather on the back of his Magmadroth alongside a Runesmiter, nine Vulkyn Flameseekers and five Auric Hearthguard. So, the Fyerslayers aren't going anywhere just yet. We still need to get a look inside the Battletome to see exactly what has made the leap as the lore moves forward but the core of any good Fyreslayer army will still be usable on the tabletop.

That is a LOT of new Duardin miniatures. I'm going to be very poor. What do you make of the collection and will you be diving into the Khazalite Holds?

Drop your thoughts below...