Oldest is now Newest

Well, the (not very well kept) secret is out - Mantic is finally doing hard plastic Abyssal Dwarfs.

The new abyssal dwarf release will be in two waves - with Vanguard coming in February and Kings of War in March (though of course, all the Vanguard models can be used in Kings of War and vice-versa (generally).


Abyssal Dwarf Warband Set
MGVAK101 £29.99/€39.99/$44.99
Twisted, evil parodies of their mountain-dwelling brethren, they Abyssal Dwarfs make use of slaves to bolster their numbers and dark technologies to rain fire and destruction on their foes.

  • 10 Hard plastic blacsouls/decimators
  • resin Overmaster
  • resin Mobile Katsuchan
  • Vanguard cards




This is actually all brand new models - a sprue of the new plastics and two new resin models.  Though the overmaster still (to me) looks like a forge father.  I do wonder if the mobile Katsuchan will be available separately at any point.


Abyssal Dwarf Warband Booster
MGVAK102 £29.99/€39.99/$44.99
The true power of the Abyssal Dwarfs stems from the Iron-Casters. These cruel sorcerers are adept at using the fell powers of the Abyss to bend flash and metal to their will, creating powerful constructs to horrific mutants. These debased beings are forced into battle on their masters’ behalf.
  • resin Charnox
  • resin Hexcaster
  • resin Immortal Guardian
  • vanguard cards


Again, I wonder if the Charnox will be available separately.  The Immortal Guardian is a cool addition to immortal guard, and the hexcaster is a very 'interesting' model - but I already want at least 4 Charnox for my Kings of War armies (mine and my demo one), let alone Vanguard

Abyssal Dwarf Support Pack: Infernox
MGVAK401 £12.49/€14.99/$17.99
The origins of the beings known as Infernox are a dark mystery. Some claim that the abhorrent fusion of dwarf, golem, and technology is a punishment bestowed by the Iron-Caster upon those who earn their ire. More troubling rumors suggest that some Abyssal Dwarfs volunteer for the excruciating process, trading their mortality for strength and power. 

The new resin hero, (and vanguard card).

Ratkin Slaves Reinforcement
MGVAK301 £14.99/€17.99/$19.99
The Ratkin are a slave race created by the Abyssal Dwarfs. They were designed to be hard working, numerous and expendable. They were the perfect servants for their master until a significant number broke their bonds and escaped into the wider world. Not all Ratkin were so lucky, as thousands still serve and slaves or fodder at the behest of the Abyssal Dwarfs.



This pack is 4 metal ratkin models - the first ratkin Mantic has produced.  So hopefully this means they are planning on more!

In March, the Kings of War release follows these.

Abyssal Dwarf Army
MGKWK112 £59.99/€79.99/$89.99
Although they aren’t numerous, the legions of the Abyssal Dwarfs are as disciplined and effective as any other fighting force. With arms and armour comparable to their more noble kin, reinforced by the enchantments of the Iron-Casters, they are tough foes to face on the battlefield.

  • 30 (3 sprues) hard plastic blacksouls / decimators
  • 10 pvc Halfbreeds
  • 1 metal Overmaster

The starter army has 3 of the new sprues.  I find it a little disappointing that you get the old metal overmaster instead of the new resin one however.
Abyssal Dwarf Mega Army
MGKWK113 £99.99/€129.99/$149.99
When the hordes of Tragar march forth, the world trembles before them. The ground shudders under the march of thousands of slaves, mutants and soldiers, the air shivers with the sounds of arcane weaponry and dark sorcery, and the screams of their victims echo into the smoke-filled air as they are dragged away to servitude and torture.

40 (4 sprues) of hard plastic blacksouls / deccimators
3 pvc Lesser Obsidian Golems
1 metal Ironcaster
1 metal Slave Driver
3 Resin Grotesques
21 (7 sprues) hard plastic orcs

So two new units - the blacksouls/decimators and the grotesques.  Actually getting this and the smaller version is a very good start to an AD army.

Abyssal Dwarf Blacksouls Regiment
MGKWK301 £19.99/€24.99/$29.99
The line infantry of the temple-cities are the Blacksouls. They favour heavy axes and hammers, marching to war in tight regiments often bearing ensorcelled dark iron shields. Although the Abyssal Dwarfs are usually fractious, each warrior in the ranks works as part of the group, for these sadists understand that this is the most effective way to make the enemy suffer.

The regiment box contains 2 sprues (20) of the new plastics, that can make either blacksouls or decimators.  With this release I finally expect to see someone other than Nick Williams taking blacksouls.  I just have to decide what I'm going to do with all my older hybrid ones - mix them or completely replace with the new shiny toys.  I guess it just depends on how many I decide to buy.

Abyssal Dwarf Grotesques Regiment
MGKWK402 £29.99/€39.99/$44.99
Huge hybrid creatures, grotesques are disgusting to behold and terrifying to face. These multi-limbed mutants are excessively violent, often tearing their opponents to pieces, leaving little more than chunks of flesh and bone and pools of blood.

Waaay back when the playtest for 2nd edition came out, I remember asking about the grotesques and received a comment that they were to fill a big 'dragon-ogre' sized hole in the army list.  Now Mantic is finally releasing their versions, and going about as far away from that aesthetic as possible.  I really like that they are putting their own spin on units that may have once been based on Warhammer armies, making them much more unique.  I'll definitely be picking these up (probably two sets, so I can field a horde).




Abyssal Dwarf Grotesques Champion
MGKWK201 £12.49/€14.99/$17.99
Since they are making the unit, why not make a 4th model for the champion as well?

And of course, the 'elephant' in the room

Abyssal Dwarf Hellfane
MGKWK401 £49.99/€59.99/$59.99
The unholy icons known as Hellfanes channel the power flowing from the Abyss into nearby Abyssal Dwarfs, invigorating them with greater strength and speed. The effect only has a limited range, so great obsidian shrine bearer were constructed in the form of immense beats to carry each icon into battle.

This huge new resin model looks to be a major centerpiece of new Abyssal Dwarf armies.  A big rock rhinoceros with the huge shrine on it - and the option make it inspiring as well by adding a rider.  I just hope that the shrine is completely separate from the mount - because this looks like it could be a great base for an Ogre Mammoth if it is.

Well so much for having my Abyssal Dwarf army 'done'.  I may actually take advantage of wanting all the cool new models to redo my demo army, basing like all the others (when it currently is simply models from my main army I'm no longer using).  At this point I already want at least a horde of decimators, a horde of blacksouls, a hellfane, a horde of grotesques, 4 Charnox, 4 mobile Katsuchan and an Infernox.  And that is just my personal army :-)

Because it is all fun and games . . .

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