Maggotkin of Nurgle – Warhammer Age of Sigmar Guide

We are the Maggotkin of Nurgle, the loyal servants of the Plague God, Grandfather Nurgle. Is there any more pure expression in this world than through disease, rot and decay? Is that not how all should be born? Born from the festering embrace of Father Nurgle’s gifts, we relish life’s cycle of death and rebirth.

Our bodies may be putrid, but we are strong in our rot. We will spread Nurgle’s blessings through the realms, bringing joy through pestilence and despair. Each plague is a gift, every infection a celebration!

Join us in our joyous march, for in decay, there is life, and in rot, we find true vitality!

Who Are the Maggotkin of Nurgle?

The Maggotkin of Nurgle are a faction in the Age of Sigmar dedicated to Nurgle, the Chaos God of disease, decay, and rebirth. Where as some of the other Chaos gods show little love for their followers (Khorne, we’re looking at you!), Nurgle celebrates and blesses the rotting masses who creep forwards on his disease-spreading schemes.

This army looks amazing and plays very well, especially for beginners. They hit hard and can get hit hard. However, zipping round the battlefield at high speed you will not. However, the ability to build on mortal wounds is mighty useful.

So, join the quest of the rotten and start spreading disease in the name of that jolly father of contagion, Nurgle.

What Are the Maggotkin of Nurgle Army Strengths?

Honestly, the durability of this army is pretty great. Though many units are slow, so, so slow at times, the joy of seeing your putrid warriors slowly march across a battlefield and knowing the damage they can dish out as they arrive is very fun.

Some units, such as Plaguebearers and Great Unclean Ones, boast some decent healing abilities. This allows them to absorb significant damage into their rotten souls and maintain pressure on opponents as they move onwards.

Their battle traits are also very handy. Blessed by the Plaguefather allows you to spread disease amongst your enemy, for instance. And Wracked with Disease gives you the chance for diseased units to take Mortal Wounds at the end of a turn. So, you can see how you can start to build a blockbuster army.

BUT, slow, slow, slow. They are mostly slow, which does make them vulnerable to fast paced, mobile enemies..

Their heavy hitting also is mostly from close quarters combat, so enemies with ranged abilities may be able to inflict serious damage. Though Maggotkin of Nurgle units are durable so you should be able to ride this out.

Where Should Beginners Start?

This is honestly such a fun looking army, but in terms of where to begin… We’d suggest collecting the following miniatures to start:

Great Unclean One: A big brute on the battlefield, though not as heavy a hitter as some of the Greater Daemons in other armies (e.g. Bloodthirster from Blades of Khorne), Great Unclean One does pack a punch. Along with some good spells and the ability to bring in a half-strength daemon unit once per turn.

Plaguebearers: Super durable and good for holding objectives, whilst dishing out melee attacks. Cloud of Flies is a very welcome addition too.

Plague Drone: One of the faster units in this army and useful for objectives. It does come at the cost of less armor and generally easier to take down.

Nurglings: If an opponent has met these units before, you’ll see their face sink. Annoying to get rid of, fairly low cost, a nice 5+ ward save with specific abilities. They are resilient, can be buffed nicely, and are great at tying up enemy units whilst spreading disease and Mortal Wounds.

The Glottkin – Such an incredible unit. Genuinely they are so versatile and are great however you choose to play them. Magic, combat, an ability to get units to Counter-charge just makes them a must have.

How To Paint Maggotkin of Nurgle

A very fun army to paint, we have collected a few color schemes to start Maggotkin of Nurgle players off:

Color Scheme Ideas

Rotten Flesh: You can start with a base coat of a sickly green or pale yellow for the skin of your Plaguebearers and Great Unclean One. We’d then highlight it with a lighter shade of whatever color you’ve chosen to add a nice contrast. We’d also use washes of green or brown to create a bit of extra depth and bring out all that glorious decay. Then finish with earthy, rusty colours for things like armor or infected wounds – dark browns and reds probably will work best.

Festering Blooms: Get some dark purple or even a deep magenta for the base coat and skin. As we normally recommend, highlight with lighter shades of the same color. Get some greens and yellows for those disgusting pustules and boils and warts. This looks awesome! Then use washes to get some more shadow and texture. Job done – boily, rotten badass to take to the battlefield!

Nurgle’s Garden: This time, get an earthy brown for the skin and organic textures. You can highlight it with a lighter brown or even greens to mimic the look of rotting nature. Try and get a nice rusted effect for armor and weapons. You can paint them in muted metallic shades and then use washes to add to the effect. Do add some nice splashes of bright color for flowers or fungi, just to give it a different contrast and keep with the theme of life and decay.

Painting Techniques

Base Coating: Greens, browns, and yellows are a good shout here for the skin and armor.

Drybrushing: Use a lighter shade of your base color to drybrush over raised areas. This can be the edges of armor plates, pustules, or the contours of the skin.

Washes: Washes can significantly enhance shadows and bring your miniature to life a bit more. Nuln Oil is a classic or green/brown will work well for skin and armor.

Edge Highlighting: This is good for details on armor, weapons, and skin. Basically, just apply a lighter color along the edges to create sharp contrasts. Easy to do and helps create a more polished look to a model.

Maggotkin of Nurgle Lore and History

The Maggotkin of Nurgle serve the Plague God, the Lord of Decay — the most paradoxically jovial of the Chaos Gods. the Plague God spreads his gifts of disease and entropy across the Mortal Realms. Unlike the other Chaos Gods, Nurgle is strangely paternal, viewing his plagues and diseases as generous gifts bestowed upon a grateful universe.

The daemonic forces of Nurgle are as revolting as they are resilient. Great Unclean Ones — bloated, cheerful greater daemons — lead hosts of shambling Plaguebearers, buzzing Plague Drones, and capering Nurglings into battle. These daemons are incredibly difficult to destroy, their rotting flesh absorbing punishment that would fell any normal creature. The Garden of Nurgle, a foetid paradise in the Realm of Chaos, endlessly spawns new horrors to afflict the Mortal Realms.

The mortal followers of Nurgle, the Rotbringers, are equally formidable. Blightlords and Lords of Affliction lead warbands of Putrid Blightkings — once-noble warriors now swollen with Nurgle’s gifts into nearly unstoppable juggernauts of diseased flesh. The Rotbringers spread their patron’s plagues wherever they march, corrupting the land itself and turning verdant fields into foetid swamps.

Nurgle’s influence on the Mortal Realms narrative has been profound. The War of Life saw the Plague God’s forces invade Ghyran, the Realm of Life, in a direct assault on Alarielle the Everqueen’s domain. This conflict drove Alarielle to rebirth as a war goddess and remains one of the defining storylines of Age of Sigmar. The Maggotkin represent the eternal cycle of decay and rebirth — the comforting truth that everything must rot, and from that rot, new life emerges.

Maggotkin of Nurgle in the Current Meta

[VERIFY] The Maggotkin of Nurgle currently occupy an interesting position in the Age of Sigmar competitive scene. For the most up-to-date rankings and analysis, check our Age of Sigmar faction tier list, which we update regularly based on tournament results and community feedback.

The Maggotkin of Nurgle are the definitive anvil faction in Age of Sigmar — incredibly durable, with strong healing mechanics and board control through their unique disease abilities. The contagion point system spreads plague across the battlefield, weakening enemy units the longer they remain engaged with Nurgle’s forces. This makes the Maggotkin excellent at grinding out long games and controlling objectives.

In competitive play, Nurgle lists often centre around Putrid Blightkings — elite infantry with outstanding durability and respectable damage output. Great Unclean Ones provide both magical support and a nearly indestructible centrepiece model. The faction can struggle with mobility and alpha-strike armies, but skilled Nurgle players leverage their resilience and board control to outlast opponents in the late game.

Collecting Maggotkin of Nurgle

Starting a Maggotkin of Nurgle collection is an exciting journey, and the good news is that there are several accessible entry points. The Maggotkin of Nurgle Spearhead box (if available) provides an excellent starting point — check our Maggotkin of Nurgle Spearhead guide for a detailed breakdown of what you get and how to use it. The Spearhead format is also a great way to learn the faction’s mechanics before committing to a full 2,000-point army.

When expanding beyond your initial purchase, focus on the units that define the faction’s core playstyle. Putrid Blightkings are the backbone of most Nurgle lists — durable, hard-hitting, and beautifully disgusting models. A Great Unclean One provides a magnificent centrepiece, while Plaguebearers offer cost-effective battleline for objective holding.

Consider buying second-hand models or trading with other hobbyists to build your collection more affordably. Many local gaming stores also run loyalty programmes and starter deals that can save you money on your initial purchases. Check our Age of Sigmar faction tier list to understand which units are performing well competitively before investing in expensive kits.

Painting Maggotkin of Nurgle

Painting your Maggotkin of Nurgle army is one of the most rewarding aspects of the hobby. Nurgle models are a painter’s dream — the heavily textured, organic sculpts are perfect for washes, drybrushing, and experimental techniques. Start with sickly greens (Death Guard Green), pale flesh (Rakarth Flesh washed with Athonian Camoshade), and corroded metals (Typhus Corrosion over metallic base coats). Nurgle’s Rot technical paint adds a perfect finishing touch of oozing slime.

The beauty of painting Nurgle is that messy, imperfect results actually enhance the aesthetic. Stippling, sponge weathering, and heavy washes all contribute to the diseased look. Blood for the Blood God adds gruesome wound effects, while Nihilakh Oxide creates verdigris on corroded armour. Check our guide on painting Maggotkin of Nurgle for detailed tutorials on achieving that perfect state of decay.

Related Armies

If you enjoy Maggotkin of Nurgle, you might also like these armies:

Slaves to Darkness — Slaves to Darkness can pledge to Nurgle, adding resilient mortal warriors to your pestilent forces.
Blades of Khorne — Fellow Chaos god faction with a contrasting playstyle — furious aggression versus grinding resilience.
Death Guard — The Death Guard are the Warhammer 40k equivalent, bringing Nurgle’s plagues to the 41st millennium.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the Maggotkin of Nurgle?

The Maggotkin of Nurgle are the followers of the Chaos God of plague, decay, and resilience in Age of Sigmar. They are disgustingly tough warriors and daemons who spread Nurgle’s gifts of disease and entropy across the Mortal Realms.

Are Maggotkin of Nurgle good for beginners?

Maggotkin of Nurgle are excellent for beginners due to their extreme durability. Your models stay on the table longer, giving you more time to learn the game. Their slow, grinding playstyle is easy to understand and execute.

What are the strengths of Maggotkin of Nurgle?

Maggotkin of Nurgle are incredibly tough with high wounds, damage reduction, and healing abilities. Their Disease Points mechanic spreads debuffs to nearby enemies, and Great Unclean Ones are some of the hardiest monsters in the game.

What are the weaknesses of Maggotkin of Nurgle?

Maggotkin of Nurgle are very slow with limited mobility. They can be outmanoeuvred by faster armies who avoid their disease auras. Their damage output is also relatively low, relying on attrition rather than burst damage.

What are Disease Points?

Disease Points are a unique Maggotkin mechanic where enemy units near your army accumulate diseases over time. As Disease Points build up, affected units suffer mortal wounds and stat penalties, representing the spreading plague of Nurgle’s blessings.

Community Advice

Drawing from the collective wisdom of experienced players who have spent years mastering Maggotkin of Nurgle – Warhammer Age of Sigmar Guide, here are some practical tips that will help you get the most from your army on the tabletop.

Start with a core: Veteran players consistently advise building your army around a reliable core of units that perform well in most situations before adding specialist choices. This gives you a stable foundation that can handle a variety of opponents, and you can then tailor your remaining points to address specific weaknesses or lean into particular strengths depending on the meta you expect to face.

Play games early and often: Theory-crafting army lists is enjoyable, but nothing replaces actual table time. Many units that look mediocre on paper perform excellently in practice, and vice versa. Start playing games with whatever models you have painted, even if your list is not optimised. The experience you gain from understanding movement, positioning, and timing is far more valuable than having a perfect list that you do not know how to pilot effectively.

Learn your matchups: Understanding how your army interacts with different opponents is crucial for competitive success. Keep notes after each game about what worked, what did not, and what you would change. Over time, you will develop an intuitive understanding of your army’s strengths and weaknesses against various factions, which will inform both your list building and your in-game decisions.

Magnetise key models: Many experienced hobbyists recommend magnetising weapon options on larger models and vehicles. This small investment of time allows you to swap loadouts between games, giving you flexibility to adapt to different opponents and meta shifts without purchasing and painting duplicate models.

Resources and Links

Staying connected with the community is essential for keeping up with the latest developments, finding opponents, and improving your play. Here are the best resources available for players interested in Maggotkin of Nurgle – Warhammer Age of Sigmar Guide.

Faction-specific subreddits on Reddit are treasure troves of information, featuring army list discussions, painting guides, conversion inspiration, and tactical advice from players at every skill level. The community is generally welcoming and happy to help newcomers find their footing with the faction.

On Discord, dedicated faction servers provide real-time discussion, list reviews, and the opportunity to arrange games through Tabletop Simulator or other online platforms. These servers often have channels dedicated to competitive play, casual gaming, hobby progress, and lore discussion, making them a one-stop resource for all aspects of the hobby.

Content creators on YouTube and Twitch regularly produce faction-focused content including unit reviews, battle reports, painting tutorials, and tier list discussions. Following creators who specialise in your chosen faction gives you access to expert analysis of new rules, points changes, and emerging strategies as soon as they develop. Podcasts dedicated to specific factions or broader competitive play are also excellent resources for keeping your finger on the pulse of the community.