Destruction
Grand Alliance: Destruction is the primal force of Age of Sigmar: a loose coalition of orruks, grots, ogors and gargants united not by diplomacy or shared ideals, but by an endless appetite for fighting, smashing and eating. This page explains what Destruction is, compares its armies and suggests where new players should start. Everything here reflects Age of Sigmar 4th Edition.
What Is Grand Alliance: Destruction?
Grand Alliance: Destruction is one of the four Grand Alliances in Warhammer Age of Sigmar. Where Order builds civilisations, Death serves Nagash and Chaos worships the Dark Gods, Destruction simply surges forward. Its races fight not out of any grand plan, but because fighting is what they were made for.
At its heart is Gorkamorka, the twin-natured god of the greenskins, whose two halves embody cunning brutality and brutal cunning. His influence runs through every Destruction faction, whether they revere him directly or just follow the urge to smash, loot and move on to the next fight. Destruction armies don’t conquer territory to hold it. They rampage through it, take anything useful or fun, and charge off looking for the next scrap.
Each faction has its own culture: orruk warclans stampede across the Mortal Realms seeking the biggest fights, Ogor Mawtribes devour everything in their path, Gloomspite Gitz swarm out of fungus-choked caverns whenever the Bad Moon rises, and the gargants of the Sons of Behemat stomp across the realms for the sheer joy of it. They all share one truth: might makes right.
All Destruction Factions Compared
Destruction is made up of several distinct armies, each with its own playstyle, look and level of hobby commitment.
Ironjawz: The heavy hitters of Destruction, and one of two orruk armies in the Orruk Warclans battletome. Ironjawz are big, heavily armoured orruks with almost no shooting: armoured infantry, pig-riding Gore-gruntas and a Megaboss on a Maw-krusha, all of whom want to be in combat as soon as possible. Low model count and a simple plan. Difficulty: beginner-friendly. Playstyle: aggressive melee.
Kruleboyz: The other half of the Orruk Warclans battletome, and the orruks who fight dirty. Kruleboyz use crossbows, poisons, traps and dirty tricks to weaken enemies before committing to a brawl. Higher model count than Ironjawz. Difficulty: moderate. Playstyle: a mix of shooting, debuffs and melee.
Gloomspite Gitz: Grots who worship the Bad Moon, alongside squigs, troggoths, spiders and wolf-riding Gitmob cavalry. Extremely characterful, with a wide toybox and some unpredictable mechanics. High model count for grot-heavy builds, lower for troggoth or cavalry builds. Difficulty: moderate. Playstyle: fast, tricky and varied.
Ogor Mawtribes: Massive, hungry ogors who eat everything in their path. Low model count, with every model a big, multi-wound brute. The range was heavily reworked in 2026 with a new battletome and new kits, and some older units are marked to move to Warhammer Legends, so check before you buy. Difficulty: beginner-friendly. Playstyle: durable melee that hits hard.
Sons of Behemat: An army of gargants. It used to be built almost entirely from towering Mega-Gargants, but the 2026 battletome added smaller gargant warriors and new characters, so the faction now has more options while keeping one of the lowest model counts in the game. Difficulty: simple rules but tactically nuanced. Cost: high per model, but few models needed. Playstyle: every model is a centrepiece. See our Sons of Behemat battletome guide for what changed.
Destruction Playstyle
On the tabletop, Destruction armies are defined by aggression. Most of them want to close the distance quickly and win the game in the combat phase. If you enjoy decisive charges, rolling lots of dice and overwhelming your opponent with raw damage, Destruction is the Grand Alliance for you. Defensive, castle-up playstyles are generally not what Destruction does well; the Kruleboyz are the main exception if you want some shooting.
Destruction game plans tend to be straightforward, which makes them good for players who prefer decisive action to intricate combos. Mastering them still takes skill:
- Target priority: knowing which enemy units to hit first with your charges.
- Threat projection: your opponent has to respect your charge ranges and position around them.
- Trading efficiently: many Destruction units are expensive or lose momentum once stuck in a long fight, so every loss matters.
- Playing the mission: in 4th Edition most games are won by controlling objectives and scoring battle tactics, not by wiping out the enemy. Aggression only wins if it takes and holds ground.
For how turns, command points and combat work in the current edition, see Age of Sigmar rules explained.
Best Destruction Army for Beginners
For players new to Age of Sigmar, Ironjawz are the standout choice within Destruction. They have a low model count, so there are fewer miniatures to build and paint before you have a complete army. Their plan is intuitive (move forward, charge, hit things), and their tough armour forgives mistakes while you learn. Painting them is forgiving too: their chunky armour plates take drybrushing and washes well.
The Ironjawz Spearhead box, the Ironjawz Bigmob, is a solid starting point. See our Ironjawz Spearhead guide for what’s in it and how to grow it into a full army.
Ogor Mawtribes are another good beginner choice: the big models are satisfying to paint, the plan is simple, and a full army needs relatively few boxes. If you prefer a horde, Gloomspite Gitz are a fun alternative, though be prepared to paint a lot of grots.
Destruction in Competitive Play
Destruction armies regularly appear at events, and every faction has had good results in the hands of skilled players. How each one performs shifts with every battletome, Battlescroll and points update, so we don’t rank them here. Check our Age of Sigmar factions ranked page for the current picture, and the official Battle Profiles for current points.
Getting Started with Destruction: A Practical Roadmap
If you’ve decided Destruction is the Grand Alliance for you, here’s how to get your first army on the table. Choose your faction from the comparison above. Think about the models as well as the rules: you’ll spend many hours building and painting them, so pick the sculpts that excite you most.
The easiest first purchase for most Destruction armies is their Spearhead box. Spearhead is Age of Sigmar’s small-format game, and each box is a ready-made force with its own rules, so you can start playing straight away. See our Age of Sigmar Spearhead guide. Gloomspite Gitz players should decide early whether they want grots, squigs, troggoths or wolf riders, as each needs different kits.
Once you have your first models built and primed, don’t feel you have to paint the whole army before playing. Small Spearhead games with partly painted models are the best way to learn the rules and find out whether the faction suits you. When you’re ready to grow, our Age of Sigmar army lists hub has 1,000 and 2,000-point lists for every Destruction faction.
Online communities for your faction, such as Discord servers and forums, are also great for list advice, painting tutorials and tactics.
Destruction Painting Tips
Destruction models are among the most painter-friendly in Age of Sigmar. The rough, organic textures of orruk armour, ogor flesh and grot gear forgive imprecise brushwork, and washes and drybrushing, two of the simplest techniques, give great results.
For greenskin skin, start with a mid-green base coat, apply a generous dark green or brown wash, then drybrush a lighter green. This three-step process takes minutes per model and gives convincing, battle-worn skin. For ogor and gargant flesh, swap in warm skin tones and a flesh wash for a similarly quick result.
Destruction armour and weapons look best weathered and battered. After a metallic base coat and a wash, add chips and scratches with a sponge dabbed in silver paint, and stipple on brown and orange for rust. Unlike the clean, polished look that suits armies like Stormcast Eternals or Lumineth, Destruction models look better with imperfections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Destruction different from the other Grand Alliances?
Destruction is defined by aggressive, mostly melee-focused armies with straightforward plans. Order armies tend to be versatile, Death armies grind the enemy down with attrition and Chaos armies lean on daemons, sorcery and the favour of their gods, while Destruction armies hit hard, hit fast and overwhelm the enemy through sheer violence. The lore and the rules both reinforce this identity.
Are Destruction armies expensive to collect?
This varies a lot by faction. Sons of Behemat need only a handful of models, but each kit is expensive. Ironjawz and Ogor Mawtribes need a moderate number of models. Grot-heavy Gloomspite Gitz builds need many models, but individual kits are affordable. On average, Destruction armies sit in the middle of the cost range, and a Spearhead box is the cheapest way into any of them.
Can I mix Destruction factions in one army?
In matched play you normally build an army from a single faction’s battletome, such as Ironjawz or Kruleboyz, and the old 3rd Edition Grand Alliance armies and allegiance abilities no longer apply. Check the current General’s Handbook and your battletome for any exceptions, such as Regiments of Renown, before planning a mixed force.
Which Destruction faction has the best models?
This is subjective, but Ironjawz and Sons of Behemat are consistently praised for their sculpts and painting potential, and the gargant kits make impressive centrepieces. Gloomspite Gitz are loved for their characterful, humorous designs. Ogor Mawtribes offer large, detailed models that are satisfying to paint.
Are Destruction armies competitive?
Yes, though performance varies by faction and changes with each balance update. Destruction armies regularly appear at major tournaments and have taken top placings. The key is understanding your faction’s strengths and building lists that maximise them. Check our regularly updated rankings for current standings.
Which Destruction army is best at shooting?
Kruleboyz are the strongest shooting army in Destruction. Their Man-skewer Boltboyz and Beast-skewer Killbow pick off heroes and monsters from range, and the faction mixes shooting with dirty tricks before closing in. Most other Destruction armies are melee-first, so pick Kruleboyz if you want a ranged game while staying in the Grand Alliance.
What happened to the Bonesplitterz?
The Bonesplitterz were moved to Warhammer Legends when Age of Sigmar 4th Edition launched in 2024, so they no longer have matched play rules. The Orruk Warclans battletome now covers just the Ironjawz and Kruleboyz. You can still use Bonesplitterz models in casual games with their Legends rules, or convert them into other orruk units.
Who leads the forces of Destruction in the lore?
Gorkamorka, the twin-headed god of the greenskins, is the divine heart of Destruction, and his greatest mortal champion is Gordrakk, the Fist of Gork, a Megaboss of the Ironjawz. Kragnos, the End of Empires, a god of earthquakes, has also joined the Destruction cause, rampaging across the realms at the head of the greenskin hordes.