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The current Kharadron Overlords Spearhead box is the Grundstok Trailblazers, released in 2025 alongside the Kharadron’s 4th edition battletome. It’s a small, shooty force of sky-faring duardin: an Endrinmaster in a flying Dirigible Suit, a gunship escort, a squad of Thunderers and three flying Endrinriggers. It suits players who enjoy shooting armies and steampunk machines more than charging into melee.
What’s in the Grundstok Trailblazers box?
| Unit | Models | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Endrinmaster with Dirigible Suit (General) | 1 | Flying hero with heavy guns who repairs your flyers |
| Grundstok Thunderers | 5 | Your main gunline |
| Grundstok Gunhauler | 1 | Small gunship that protects your infantry |
| Endrinriggers | 3 | Flying engineers who hop around the battlefield |
That’s 10 models. It’s a low model count, but each one does a lot. The Endrinrigger kit can also be built as Skywardens, but this Spearhead uses Endrinriggers.
Previous box: Skyhammer Task Force
The earlier Kharadron Spearhead box (originally sold as Vanguard) contained an Arkanaut Admiral, an Arkanaut Frigate, 10 Arkanaut Company and 3 Skywardens (buildable as Endrinriggers). In Spearhead it’s called the Skyhammer Task Force, and it still has its own rules. It plays as an airborne assault: the Frigate carries Arkanauts across the board, drops them onto objectives and pulls them out again.
The Spearhead rules
Every Spearhead army has a battle trait, a choice of two regiment abilities and four enhancements for its general.
Battle trait: Gunhauler Escort
While your Kharadron infantry are wholly within 6″ of the Gunhauler, enemy attacks against them get -1 to hit. That’s a big deal for the Thunderers, who are your main damage. Keep the Gunhauler near them and they become much harder to shift.
Regiment abilities (pick one)
- Rapid Relocation: once per battle, one of your flying units can be picked up and set down anywhere more than 6″ from the enemy, though it can’t charge that turn. It’s ideal for grabbing a far-away objective.
- Propeller Downdraught: enemy units within 9″ of the Gunhauler get -1 to their charge rolls. It’s excellent protection for a gunline.
Enhancements (pick one for the Endrinmaster)
- Emergency Fuel Injection Pods: once per battle, the Endrinmaster strikes first for a turn.
- Celestium-burst Bomblets: can stop an enemy unit in combat with him from using ward saves for the turn.
- Prospector and Pioneer: boosts his control score on objectives.
- Extraction Fail-safes: he takes less damage when he retreats.
What each unit does
Endrinmaster with Dirigible Suit
Your general flies and carries an aethercannon and a battery of smaller guns, so he’s a real damage dealer at range. In your hero phase he can patch up a nearby flying unit, which keeps the Gunhauler and Endrinriggers in the fight. He’s surprisingly solid in melee, too, with an upgraded saw.
Grundstok Thunderers
The Thunderers are your main gunline, with rifles plus heavier mortar or cannon options. Once per battle, after they’ve hit a unit, they can sharply reduce its control score for the turn, which is great for stealing an objective.
Grundstok Gunhauler
The Gunhauler shoots well and, if an enemy charges it, can hit back with mortal damage. Its real job, though, is escort: it shields nearby infantry from shooting and, with Propeller Downdraught, slows enemy charges.
Endrinriggers
Endrinriggers fly and can make a free normal move in the enemy’s movement phase on a 3+. That makes them great for jumping onto empty objectives or getting in the way of enemy units.
How to play the Grundstok Trailblazers
This is a shooting army with very few models. You win by staying at range, holding a couple of objectives with your tough-to-hit gunline and using your flyers to steal points elsewhere.
Deployment
Set up the Thunderers in cover near your home objective, with the Gunhauler next to them. Put the Endrinmaster where he can shoot the most likely threats. Keep the Endrinriggers back, ready to jump to wherever an objective is left open.
Turn by turn
- Round 1: Shoot at whatever is coming towards you. Your aim is to weaken enemy fast units before they arrive.
- Round 2: Keep shooting and take objectives with the Endrinriggers. If you picked Rapid Relocation, consider using it now on an undefended objective.
- Rounds 3 and 4: Protect your gunline. When enemies get close, focus all fire on the one unit that threatens the Thunderers.
Common mistakes
- Moving the Gunhauler away from the infantry. The -1 to hit only works within 6″.
- Getting into melee. Only the Endrinmaster can hold his own in a fight.
- Splitting your fire. With ten models you need to finish units, not wound several.
- Forgetting the Endrinriggers’ free move. On a 3+ they can move in your opponent’s turn too, so use it to block charge lanes or slip onto an objective.
What to watch out for
Fast armies that reach your lines on turn one or two are the biggest danger, because the Thunderers are poor fighters. Use Propeller Downdraught and screen with the Endrinriggers to buy time. Armies with lots of cheap models can also swamp objectives, so use the Thunderers’ control-score trick to steal them back at the key moment.
Playing the Skyhammer Task Force instead
If you own the older box, the Skyhammer Task Force is built around the Arkanaut Frigate. Its battle trait lets the Frigate pick up an infantry unit next to it, fly across the board and set the unit down again when it lands. One regiment ability lets a transported unit still charge that turn. The other lets the Frigate pull out of combat once per battle without taking damage and still shoot. The plan is a classic air assault: fly the Arkanauts onto an objective, then use the Frigate to move them on to the next one.
Building and painting notes
Kharadron are a joy to paint if you like metal and machinery. Pick your sky-port colours (each one has its own scheme), paint large panels with a base coat and wash, and pick out brass and copper details. The Gunhauler and Dirigible Suit are the most involved kits, so build and paint them in sub-assemblies. Leave the Gunhauler’s hull off its flying stand until it’s painted, and do the same with the Endrinriggers’ backpacks. Weathering powders or a sponge chipping effect on the metal panels makes them look like well-used airships. Our Kharadron Overlords painting guide has step-by-step schemes.
Expanding beyond Spearhead
All the models in this box are normal Kharadron Overlords units, so they move straight into full games using the battletome. Combining this box with the older Skyhammer Task Force gives you an Arkanaut Frigate and a big unit of Arkanauts, which is a strong base for a bigger army. From there, consider a larger ship such as an Arkanaut Ironclad, more Thunderers or extra flying units. Kharadron can also join the new duardin alliance armies in the Khazalite Holds battletome. Our Kharadron Overlords army hub collects all our Kharadron guides.
Where to Buy the Box
If you want the Grundstok Trailblazers box covered in this guide, it is listed on Amazon US through third-party sellers. Check that the listing still shows the same box before you buy, since stock and sellers change.
Price details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.As an Amazon Associate, Warhammer Guild earns from qualifying purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kharadron Overlords Spearhead good for beginners?
It’s a good choice if you prefer shooting to melee. With only 10 models it’s quick to build and paint, but every unit matters, so you’ll need to think about positioning.
What’s the difference between the Grundstok Trailblazers and the Skyhammer Task Force?
The Grundstok Trailblazers are a compact gunline with an Endrinmaster, Thunderers, a Gunhauler and Endrinriggers. The Skyhammer Task Force is the older box, with an Admiral, an Arkanaut Frigate, Arkanauts and Skywardens. Both are official Spearhead forces.
Can I build the Endrinriggers as Skywardens?
The kit allows it, but the Grundstok Trailblazers Spearhead uses Endrinriggers. Build Endrinriggers if you want to play this Spearhead as written.
Which regiment ability should I pick?
Propeller Downdraught is the safer choice for beginners, because it protects your gunline every turn. Rapid Relocation is better once you’re comfortable with the army and want to steal a key objective late in the game.
Where do I find the Spearhead rules?
They’re in the Warhammer Age of Sigmar app and Games Workshop’s Spearhead publications. Check the app for the latest version, as Games Workshop updates them now and then.
Do Kharadron Overlords Spearhead armies use points?
No. Spearhead forces are fixed lists based on a single box, so there are no points or list-building choices beyond picking a regiment ability and an enhancement. The Grundstok Trailblazers and the Skyhammer Task Force each have their own rules, which keeps games quick and balanced without needing to work out an army list.
Can I combine the Grundstok Trailblazers and Skyhammer Task Force into one Spearhead?
No. Each Spearhead is played as its own fixed force with its own battle trait, regiment abilities and enhancements, so you choose one box for a game. Owning both is still worthwhile: you can swap between the two Spearheads, and together they make a strong start for a full Kharadron Overlords army in regular games.
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