Games Workshop’s Cities of Sigmar line for Warhammer Age of Sigmar may be their best to date.

Since the end of the Old World and the release of Age of Sigmar, Games Workshop’s fantasy wargame, the Cities of Sigmar have felt a little abandoned. At its core, Warhammer remains, but the backdrop quickly shifted, seemingly abandoning everyday men behind while the heavenly Stormcast Eternals—the game’s poster boys—ascended to the broken realms that all peoples now dwell.

From the smoldering remains of the Empire rose the Cities of Sigmar. Throughout Age of Sigmar, the inhabitants of the recently constructed Stormgates have battled with their sense of self, with the army serving as nothing more than a collection of homeless Old World peoples. Aelves were divided into Lumineth Realm-lords and Idoneth Deepkin, the Duardin had evolved into Fyreslayers and Kharadron Overlords, and humans, well, they just hung about with the misfits.

Compared to the old models, which were part of the Cities of Sigmar collection and felt a little obsolete, each of the new-look races had significantly more identity beyond the clichés. In Games Workshop’s fresh take on the fantasy genre, mankind appeared to have no place at all, a mere coalition of antiquated miniatures.


A knight appeared, clad in filthy, worn armor, appearing as an incorporeal Cities of Sigmar range refresh. What was once a ragtag militia that seemed disorganized and organized at the same time has evolved into a combat force made up of former misfits and old models from an ancient version of the game. Above all, it’s a unified force of all new human sculpts, and the kits are excellent.

Cities of Sigmar is just one of several progressing kits that Games Workshop has been developing for years. Though there are many different head options in the kits, including both male and female troops, my favorite parts are the body. Your regular soldiers range in build and stature from slender warriors to bulkier legionnaires. It gives the impression that your army is made up of actual individuals who have hurriedly gathered to defend their city. Each of your soldiers exudes personality, and switching heads and bodies is a simple method to ensure that each model is distinct.

“Whether it’s the portly blacksmith manning the Ironweld Great Cannon, or the Fusiliers breaching enemy lines with their rifles and greatshields, the models are packed with personality.”

There are currently several distinctive personalities in Cities of Sigmar. Carried on a dais by two robed minions, Pontifex Zenestra uses her movable seat to recount the architectural history of your city. Probably my favorite character in the range is the Freeguild Cavalier-Marsal, who reminds me of Paul Delaroche’s 19th century oil work Bonaparte Crossing the Alps. Who can forget the fact that there’s a gentleman sitting in a crow’s nest being transported by an ogor? The Command Corps offers other anonymous characters that quietly tell their own stories. Each character is distinct in terms of both design and gameplay. One thing about the new Cities of Sigmar line that should be mentioned is that it is everything but boring.

Tahlia Vedra, a formidable centerpiece perched atop a formidable manticore steed, commands all of these units. Although I’m not a great fan of Age of Sigmar monsters, it’s customary to have a large man in every army these days, and this one fits the bill nicely. Vedra’s manticore, Infernadine, replete with paralyzing scorpion tail, allows you to field your own beastie, if you were growing envious of everyone else’s Stardrakes and Gargants.

However, Cities of Sigmar’s regular troops are what really give the city its personality. The models are plenty of personality, whether it’s the burly blacksmith operating the Ironweld massive Cannon or the Fusiliers breaking through opposing defenses with their massive shields and rifles. It’s also a range that lends itself well to conversion; I intend to make a Knightly House (stay tuned for details), but they’d also be excellent as a medieval Guard force or a compelling Mordheim warband.

After so many years of neglect, Games Workshop has really gone all out for the new line of models, and creating the Cities of Sigmar has been one of my favorite Warhammer experiences in a long time. All of these models were going to be converted to 40k, but I may also need to come up with a color scheme for an Age of Sigmar force.