Warhammer Age of Sigmar: The Ultimate Guide to the Mortal Realms ⚔️

Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction to Warhammer Age of Sigmar
• 2. The Lore: From World-That-Was to Mortal Realms
• 3. Factions Deep Dive: Grand Alliances & Armies
• 4. Gameplay Mechanics: Rules & Core Systems
• 5. Advanced Strategies & Tournament Play
• 6. Miniature Painting & Modelling Masterclass
• 7. Community, Events & Digital Expansion
• 8. Interactive Features: Rate & Discuss

1. 🏰 Introduction to Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Welcome to the definitive guide to Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Games Workshop's flagship fantasy tabletop wargame that has revolutionised the miniature wargaming hobby since its inception in 2015. Born from the ashes of the Old World, Age of Sigmar (often abbreviated as AoS) transports players to the cosmic Mortal Realms – eight distinct dimensions of reality each embodying a primal magic: Aqshy (Fire), Ghur (Beasts), Chamon (Metal), Ghyran (Life), Shyish (Death), Ulgu (Shadow), Hysh (Light), and Azyr (Heavens).

The game's core premise revolves around the eternal struggle between four Grand Alliances: Order, Chaos, Death, and Destruction. Each alliance comprises numerous factions with distinct aesthetics, playstyles, and lore. The Stormcast Eternals, Sigmar's reforged warriors, stand as the poster faction for Order – humanity's last hope against the endless tides of Chaos, the relentless legions of Death, and the brute force of Destruction.

What truly sets Age of Sigmar apart is its accessibility-meets-depth design philosophy. The core rules famously fit on just four pages, making entry remarkably straightforward for newcomers. Yet beneath this simplicity lies a richly complex game with deep strategic layers, supported by constantly evolving battletomes (army books), seasonal rules updates, and a thriving global competitive scene.

The game's success is further amplified by its seamless integration into Games Workshop's broader multimedia empire. From the acclaimed Warhammer Books publishing line (featuring New York Times bestselling authors like Dan Abnett) to the visceral digital experiences of Warhammer: Darktide and the strategic depth of the Total War: Warhammer III video game series, the Age of Sigmar setting has become a cornerstone of modern fantasy entertainment.

For those seeking deeper lore context, our comprehensive Warhammer Wiki provides exhaustive entries on every character, realm, and faction within the Mortal Realms. Meanwhile, visual storytelling reaches new heights on Warhammer TV, where animated series like "Hammers of Sigmar" bring the tabletop battles to vivid life.

2. 📜 The Lore: From World-That-Was to Mortal Realms

The cataclysmic event known as the End Times saw the destruction of the Old World – the setting of Warhammer Fantasy Battles. As Chaos triumphed and reality unraveled, the god Sigmar clung to the core of the dying world, drifting through the cosmic void until discovering the Mortal Realms: eight pristine dimensions formed from the winds of magic that escaped the World-That-Was. This rebirth allowed for a narrative canvas of unprecedented scale, where stories could range from intimate personal dramas to reality-spanning conflicts between godlike beings.

The Age of Myth: Foundations of Reality

During the Age of Myth, Sigmar explored the Mortal Realms, befriending other deities including Alarielle (Goddess of Life), Grungni (God of Smiths), and Nagash (God of Death). Together they forged civilizations, with Sigmar establishing the Pantheon of Order. Mortal races flourished across the realms, building empires that dwarfed anything seen in the Old World. This golden age is extensively documented in the Warhammer Books series "Realmgate Wars," providing crucial background for current narrative events.

The Age of Chaos: The Long Defeat

Chaos, having consumed the Old World, eventually found its way to the Mortal Realms. The Chaos Gods – Khorne, Tzeentch, Nurgle, and Slaanesh – corrupted the realms from within and without. One by one, the realms fell until only Azyr, the Realm of Heavens where Sigmar had retreated, remained free. This period, known as the Age of Chaos, lasted for centuries and saw the near-total extinction of mortal civilizations. The brutality of this era is captured in visceral detail in games like Warhammer: Darktide, which explores the human experience under Chaos domination.

The Age of Sigmar: Reforging Hope

Sigmar's answer to Chaos was the Stormcast Eternals: the souls of fallen heroes, reforged through celestial magic into immortal warriors. With his new army, Sigmar launched the Realmgate Wars, striking back against Chaos and reclaiming footholds across the realms. This ongoing conflict defines the current "Age of Sigmar," marked by constant warfare, shifting alliances, and the emergence of new threats like the Ossiarch Bonereapers (Nagash's perfect legions) and the Kruleboyz (cunning orruks who have evolved beyond mere brutality).

The narrative continues to evolve through regular "season of war" updates, with the current edition focusing on the Dawnbringer Crusades – massive colonization efforts by Sigmar's forces to reclaim the realms. This living storyline ensures the game world feels dynamic and responsive to both global events and player engagement, a feature that has become a benchmark for the industry.

3. ⚖️ Factions Deep Dive: Grand Alliances & Armies

Age of Sigmar's faction system organizes armies into four Grand Alliances, each representing a fundamental philosophical and metaphysical alignment. Within these alliances exist numerous distinct factions, each with unique miniatures, rules, and lore. Let's examine the key players in the eternal struggle for the Mortal Realms.

Grand Alliance: Order ⚡

The forces of civilization, hope, and progress. Order isn't purely "good" – it encompasses tyrannical empires, zealous crusaders, and mercenary traders alongside noble defenders.

Stormcast Eternals: Sigmar's Chosen

The poster faction of Age of Sigmar, Stormcast Eternals are celestial warriors forged from the souls of fallen heroes. They strike from Azyr via lightning-powered Scions of the Storm, appearing exactly where they're needed most. Recent narrative developments have explored the psychological toll of the reforging process, with some Stormcast losing memories or emotional capacity with each rebirth.

Cities of Sigmar: Mortal Resilience

Human, aelf, and duardin defenders united in massive fortress-cities like Hammerhal (spanning Aqshy and Ghyran) and Tempest's Eye. The Dawnbringer Crusades expansion has revitalized this faction, introducing new units and narrative focus on reclaiming the realms through colonization and industry.

Grand Alliance: Chaos 🔥

The primordial forces of change, excess, decay, and bloodshed. Chaos represents entropy and the destruction of order, though each god has distinct motivations and methodologies.

For a deeper exploration of Chaos across the Warhammer universe, including its manifestations in video games like Total War: Warhammer, consult our dedicated resources. The visual identity of Chaos factions, including their iconic Warhammer logos, has become some of the most recognizable in fantasy gaming.

Collecting and painting these diverse armies is a major aspect of the hobby. Many enthusiasts spend as much time on the modelling aspect as on gameplay itself, with intricate Warhammer figurines becoming display pieces as much as game pieces. The visual spectacle of a fully painted army, particularly for centerpiece models like the God-King Sigmar himself, represents one of the hobby's most satisfying achievements.