Warcry

Warcry — Fast-Paced Warband Skirmish in the Mortal Realms

Warcry is Games Workshop's dynamic skirmish game set in the Warhammer Age of Sigmar universe — a fast, brutal and deeply satisfying game of small warband combat in the wild and dangerous corners of the Mortal Realms. Released in 2019 and updated with a second edition in 2022, Warcry has earned a devoted following for its streamlined ruleset, spectacular terrain and the sheer variety of warbands available. If you want the visceral excitement of Age of Sigmar combat without the commitment of building a full army, Warcry is the ideal entry point.

At Colours of Warriors, we stock the full Warcry range — starter sets, warband boxes and terrain. Visit our store in Pilsen, Czech Republic, or order online with delivery across the EU.

What Is Warcry?

Warcry is a two-player skirmish game where each player controls a warband of 6–15 fighters — warriors drawn from the factions of the Mortal Realms who battle in ruins, forests and other treacherous environments for glory, loot and survival. Unlike the large formation battles of Age of Sigmar, Warcry focuses on individual fighters and their personal abilities, with alternating activations that keep both players engaged throughout the game.

The game features a card-driven mission system — deployment, terrain layout, twists and victory conditions are all determined by drawing cards before each game, ensuring that no two games play out identically. This built-in variety, combined with a fast ruleset and rich narrative campaign system, makes Warcry one of the most replayable games in the Games Workshop range.

Games typically take 45–90 minutes — fast enough for a full game in an evening, with time for a rematch.

The Setting — Heart of Ghur and the Gnarlwood

The current edition of Warcry is set in Ghur, the Realm of Beasts — specifically in the living forest known as the Gnarlwood, where a crashed Seraphon void-ship called Talaxis lies buried, its treasures drawing warbands from across the Mortal Realms. The forest itself is dangerous — meat trees, predatory roots and shifting terrain are as much a threat as the opposing warband.

This narrative setting provides a rich backdrop for campaign play, with the ruins and dangers of the Gnarlwood forming a living, hostile environment that changes with every game.

Warbands — Who Fights in the Gnarlwood

Warcry supports two types of warbands. Bespoke warbands have their own unique miniature kits designed specifically for Warcry, with dedicated rules and fighter cards. Standard warbands are assembled from existing Age of Sigmar models — meaning that virtually any AoS faction can be fielded in Warcry using the Warcry Compendium.

Our current range of bespoke warbands includes:

Rotmire Creed — twisted followers of Lord Leech, Nurgle-corrupted warriors who seek to transform the verdant Gnarlwood into a diseased swampland. Resilient and debilitating, the Rotmire Creed weaken and corrupt their enemies before moving in for the kill. Included in the Heart of Ghur starter box.

Horns of Hashut — forge-worshipping Chaos warriors who harness the power of fire and leave nothing but charred ruins in their wake. Included in the Heart of Ghur starter box.

Jade Obelisk — Tzeentchian cultists with an obsession for the ancient stones of Ghur, drawing power from the ever-changing magic of the Realm of Beasts.

Questor Soulsworn — Stormcast Eternal champions on a sacred quest through the Gnarlwood, each a warrior of extraordinary power on an individual mission for Sigmar.

Beyond these, the Warcry Compendium provides rules for hundreds of Age of Sigmar factions — meaning that most existing AoS collections can be immediately fielded as a Warcry warband without any additional purchases.

Campaign Play — Warcry's Greatest Strength

Like Necromunda, Warcry shines brightest as a campaign game. Between battles, warbands earn glory, acquire artefacts, recruit new fighters and upgrade their abilities. Fighters gain experience and develop skills. Injuries are real — a warrior who is taken out of action might miss future games or carry lasting consequences into battle.

The campaign system creates genuine investment in your warband over the course of a season — veterans become beloved characters, rookie fighters develop into reliable warriors, and every game adds to the shared narrative of your group. Warcry is designed for regular gaming groups of 2–6 players running their own warbands through a persistent campaign.

Warcry vs Kill Team — What's the Difference?

Both are skirmish games with small groups of fighters, but they feel very different. Kill Team is set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe with a focus on competitive tactical play — specialist operatives, tight mission structures and a strong competitive scene. Warcry is set in the Age of Sigmar universe with a more narrative and campaign-oriented feel — dynamic card-driven missions, larger warbands and a richer progression system.

Warcry also has a significant advantage for existing Age of Sigmar players: your existing AoS miniatures can almost certainly be used as a Warcry warband immediately, making the entry cost minimal if you already collect AoS.

How to Start Playing Warcry

The best entry point is the Heart of Ghur starter box — it contains two complete bespoke warbands (Rotmire Creed and Horns of Hashut), the full Core Book, a double-sided game board, modular terrain, dice, tokens and all cards needed to play. Everything two players need in one box.

Players who want a specific warband can purchase individual warband boxes — each contains the miniatures and fighter cards needed to field that warband. If you already collect Age of Sigmar, check the Warcry Compendium for your faction's rules — your existing models may already be ready to play.

The Hobby Side — Painting Warcry Warbands

Warcry offers one of the best painting experiences in the hobby. Warbands are small enough — typically 10–15 models — that completing an entire warband is an achievable project, but large enough to present interesting variety across the group. Bespoke Warcry warbands are some of the most characterful and creative sculpts in the Games Workshop range.

The Gnarlwood setting rewards earthy, naturalistic basing — texturovy pastes, tufts and mossy effects all work beautifully on Warcry miniatures. Citadel Contrast and Army Painter Speedpaint are particularly effective for quick warband painting, allowing you to have a complete warband ready to play in a weekend.

We stock a full range of paints, brushes and modelling tools suited to Warcry painting projects, including basing materials from our Base and Diorama range.

Warcry at Colours of Warriors

We're a specialist hobby shop based in Pilsen, Czech Republic, stocking the full Warcry range — Heart of Ghur starter box, individual warband boxes, terrain and accessories. Our store at Zbrojnická 116/2 is open Monday to Friday 13:00–18:00 and features a dedicated gaming area and Paint Zone where you can try painting before you buy. We ship across the Czech Republic and the EU.

Questions? Contact us at obchod@coloursofwarriors.com or +420 737 281 727.

Frequently Asked Questions — Warcry

What is Warcry and how is it different from Age of Sigmar?
Warcry is a fast-paced skirmish game set in the Age of Sigmar universe, but focused on small warbands of 6–15 fighters rather than full armies. Where Age of Sigmar represents large formation battles, Warcry is intimate — individual fighters, alternating activations and card-driven mission variety. Most AoS miniatures are compatible with Warcry through the Compendium, so existing collections can often be used immediately.

Can I use my Age of Sigmar miniatures in Warcry?
Yes — the Warcry Compendium provides rules for hundreds of Age of Sigmar factions, meaning most existing AoS collections can be used as a Warcry warband without any additional purchases. A warband list must be under 1,000 points. This makes Warcry one of the best companion games for Age of Sigmar collectors.

How many miniatures do I need to play Warcry?
A standard warband has approximately 6–15 fighters, depending on the faction and points values. Bespoke warband boxes contain exactly the miniatures needed for a complete warband. For standard warbands using existing AoS models, one or two unit boxes typically provide enough models to build a legal warband.

How long does a game of Warcry take?
A standard game takes 45–90 minutes — fast enough for a full game in an evening. The card-driven mission system means setup is quick and varied, and experienced players can complete games in under an hour.

Is Warcry suitable for beginners?
Yes — Warcry is one of the most accessible Warhammer games. The rules are streamlined compared to full Age of Sigmar, the model count is low and the Heart of Ghur starter box provides everything needed to start playing immediately. It is an excellent entry point into the Age of Sigmar hobby for players who aren't ready to commit to a full army.

What is the best starter set for Warcry?
The Heart of Ghur box is the complete entry point to the current edition — it contains two full bespoke warbands, the Core Book, game board, modular terrain and all accessories. Everything two players need in a single box. Individual warband boxes are available for players who want a specific faction.