Browse every Combat Patrol & Spearhead guide.
Spearhead is the small, fast way to play Warhammer Age of Sigmar. Each player brings one fixed Spearhead force, usually exactly what’s in one Spearhead box, with no points or list-building, and plays a four-round game on a small board. It’s ideal if you’re new, short on time, or want a second army without committing to a full 2,000-point collection. Below we explain how it works and list every faction’s current Spearhead forces.
What Is Spearhead?
Spearhead launched with Age of Sigmar’s fourth edition in 2024. It uses the same core rules as the full game: the same phases, dice rolls and warscroll stats. But it strips out the advanced options and gives each force its own small set of special rules. Because every force is fixed, there’s nothing to calculate before a game. You open the box, build the models and play.
The key differences from a full game:
- Board: roughly 30″ by 22″, about a quarter of a standard Age of Sigmar battlefield.
- Length: four battle rounds, so most games are short.
- Cards: each round a twist card changes the battlefield conditions, and you hold a hand of battle tactic cards that score extra victory points.
- Army choices: after seeing your opponent’s faction, you pick one of two regiment abilities and one of four enhancements for your general. That’s the only customisation.
For a side-by-side comparison with Warhammer 40,000’s small format, see our Spearhead vs Combat Patrol guide.
What You Need to Play
- One Spearhead force per player. In most cases that’s exactly one Spearhead box.
- The rules for your force. Games Workshop publishes each Spearhead’s rules (battle traits, regiment abilities, enhancements and warscrolls) as free downloads on Warhammer Community, and they also appear in battletomes and the Warhammer Age of Sigmar app.
- A battlepack. Spearhead battlepacks come in gaming packs such as Fire and Jade (2024), Sand and Bone (2025) and City of Ash (2026). Each contains a double-sided board, battleplans and a card deck. The core rules are free.
- Dice, a tape measure and some terrain.
How a Spearhead Army’s Rules Work
Every Spearhead force has the same building blocks:
- Battle traits: rules that always apply, such as a unit that starts in reserve and ambushes later.
- Regiment abilities: pick one of two before the game.
- Enhancements: pick one of four for your general.
- Spearhead warscrolls: simplified versions of each unit’s rules, written for that force.
Games Workshop updates Spearhead rules regularly. Its October 2026 update, for example, added “once per turn” limits to a handful of abilities. So download the latest version of your force’s rules before an event. Our Age of Sigmar rules explained guide covers the core rules every Spearhead uses.
Every Spearhead, Faction by Faction
Many factions now have two or more Spearhead forces. Usually there’s an original box from 2024 plus newer releases. The lists below show the units in each Spearhead force. Click through to our faction guides for box contents, rules and tactics.
Order
| Faction | Spearhead force: units |
|---|---|
| Stormcast Eternals | Vigilant Brotherhood: Lord-Vigilant on Gryph-stalker, Lord-Veritant, 3 Prosecutors, 5 Liberators. Yndrasta’s Spearhead: Yndrasta, Knight-Vexillor, 3 Annihilators, 10 Vanquishers, Stormstrike Chariot. |
| Cities of Sigmar | Castelite Company: Cavalier-Marshal, 10 Steelhelms, 5 Cavaliers, Great Cannon. Fusil-Platoon: Fusil-Major on Ogor Warhulk, Alchemite Warforger, 10 Fusiliers, 11 Wildercorps Hunters. Sentinels of Embergard (from the City of Ash box): Jorvan Kreel, Mallus Forgepriest, 5 Gallants, 10 Grenadiers. Zenestra’s Zealots: Pontifex Zenestra, Freeguild Marshal, Command Corps, 10 Steelhelms. |
| Daughters of Khaine | Heartflayer Troupe: Melusai Ironscale, 10 Witch Aelves, 5 Doomfire Warlocks, 5 Blood Stalkers. Khainite Shadow Coven: Slaughter Queen on Cauldron of Blood, Hag Queen, Bloodwrack Medusa, 9 Khainite Shadowstalkers, 10 Sisters of Slaughter. |
| Fyreslayers | Saga Axeband: Battlesmith, 5 Hearthguard Berzerkers, 20 Vulkite Berzerkers. Magmic Fyrd (Khazalite Holds book): Auric Runefather on Magmadroth, Auric Runesmiter, 9 Vulkyn Flameseekers, 5 Auric Hearthguard. |
| Khazalite Holds | Drakkblud’s Clanguard, built from the Khazalite Holds Army Set (see our battletome guide for contents). |
| Idoneth Deepkin | Soulraid Hunt: Isharann Soulscryer, 3 Morrsarr Guard, Allopex, 10 Namarti Thralls. Akhelian Tide Guard: Akhelian King, 3 Morrsarr Guard, 3 Ishlaen Guard, 10 Namarti Reavers. |
| Kharadron Overlords | Grundstok Trailblazers: Endrinmaster with Dirigible Suit, 5 Grundstok Thunderers, Grundstok Gunhauler, 3 Endrinriggers. Skyhammer Task Force: Arkanaut Admiral, 10 Arkanaut Company, 3 Skywardens, Arkanaut Frigate. |
| Lumineth Realm-lords | Glittering Phalanx: Scinari Cathallar, 10 Auralan Sentinels, 10 Auralan Wardens, 5 Vanari Bladelords. Hurakan Vanguard: Hurakan Windmage, 5 Windchargers, 10 Auralan Wardens, Spirit of the Wind. |
| Seraphon | Starscale Warhost: Oldblood on Carnosaur, 10 Saurus Warriors, 3 Kroxigor. Sunblooded Prowlers: Sunblood Pack, 10 Saurus Warriors, 10 Hunters of Huanchi, 3 Terrawings, Spawn of Chotec. A third, Claws of Tepok, has been announced. |
| Sylvaneth | Bitterbark Copse: Branchwych, Treelord, 3 Kurnoth Hunters, 5 Tree-Revenants. Spitewing Flight: Arch-Revenant, 5 Gossamid Archers, 3 Spiterider Lancers, 3 Revenant Seekers. |
Chaos
| Faction | Spearhead force: units |
|---|---|
| Blades of Khorne | Gore Pilgrims: Slaughterpriest, 10 Blood Warriors, 10 Bloodreavers, 3 Mighty Skullcrushers. Fangs of the Blood God: Karanak, 10 Flesh Hounds, 8 Claws of Karanak. |
| Disciples of Tzeentch | Fluxblade Coven: Magister on Disc, 3 Flamers, 3 Screamers, 10 Tzaangors, 10 Kairic Acolytes. Tzaangor Warflock: Tzaangor Shaman, 10 Tzaangors, 3 Enlightened, 3 Skyfires. |
| Hedonites of Slaanesh | Blades of the Lurid Dream: Shardspeaker, 10 Blissbarb Archers, 5 Slickblade Seekers, 3 Slaangor Fiendbloods. Epicurean Revellers: Thricefold Discord, 3 Fiends, 20 Daemonettes, 5 Seekers. |
| Maggotkin of Nurgle | Bleak Host: Spoilpox Scrivener, 2 Pusgoyle Blightlords, 5 Putrid Blightkings, 10 Plaguebearers. Bubonic Cell: Rotbringer Sorcerer, 6 Nurglings, Beast of Nurgle, 10 Rotmire Creed. |
| Skaven | Warpspark Clawpack: Grey Seer, 3 Stormfiends, Warp Lightning Cannon, 20 Clanrats. Gnawfeast Clawpack: Clawlord on Gnaw-beast, Grey Seer, Warlock Engineer, 20 Clanrats, 3 Rat Ogors. Crixxit’s Kill-Pack (from the City of Ash box): Deathmaster Crixxit, Deathmaster, 10 Gutter Runners, 10 Night Runners. |
| Slaves to Darkness | Bloodwind Legion: Chaos Lord, Chaos Chariot, 10 Chaos Warriors, 5 Chaos Knights. Darkoath Raiders: Darkoath Warqueen, 10 Savagers, 5 Fellriders, 10 Marauders. |
| Helsmiths of Hashut | Helforge Host: War Despot, Dominator Engine, Tormentor Bombard, 10 Infernal Cohort. |
Death
| Faction | Spearhead force: units |
|---|---|
| Flesh-eater Courts | Carrion Retainers: Abhorrant Archregent, Varghulf Courtier, 3 Morbheg Knights, 10 Cryptguard. Charnel Watch: Abhorrant Gorewarden, 10 Royal Beastflayers, 3 Crypt Horrors, 3 Crypt Flayers. |
| Nighthaunt | Slasher Host: Knight of Shrouds, 3 Spirit Hosts, 10 Grimghast Reapers, 20 Chainrasps. Cursed Shacklehorde: Spirit Torment, 2 Chainghasts, 10 Bladegheist Revenants, 10 Dreadscythe Harridans, 2 Dreadblade Harrows. |
| Ossiarch Bonereapers | Tithe-Reaper Echelon: Mortisan Soulreaper, 20 Mortek Guard, 5 Kavalos Deathriders, Gothizzar Harvester. Mortisan Elite: Mortisan Ossifector, 3 Immortis Guard, 3 Necropolis Stalkers, 2 Morghast Archai. Kavalos Vanguard: Liege-Kavalos, 10 Kavalos Deathriders, 8 Teratic Cohort. |
| Soulblight Gravelords | Bloodcrave Hunt: Vampire Lord, 20 Deathrattle Skeletons, 5 Blood Knights, 3 Vargheists. Deathrattle Tomb Host: Wight King, 10 Barrow Guard, 5 Barrow Knights, 20 Deathrattle Skeletons. |
Destruction
| Faction | Spearhead force: units |
|---|---|
| Gloomspite Gitz | Bad Moon Madmob: Loonboss, 20 Moonclan Stabbas, 10 Squig Hoppers, 3 Rockgut Troggoths. Snarlpack Huntaz: Snarlboss, 2 Wolfgit Retinue, 6 Snarlpack Cavalry, 2 Sunsteala Wheelas. |
| Ogor Mawtribes | Tyrant’s Bellow: Tyrant, 2 Mournfang Pack, 6 Ogor Gluttons, 4 Leadbelchers, Ironblaster. Scrapglutt: Mantrappers, 8 Ironguts, 12 Gnoblars, Gnoblar Scraplauncher. Warglutt Marauders: Tyrant, 5 Gluttons, 3 Ironguts, 2 Maulbeast Cavalry. Mawseeker Mob: Butcher, 3 Cleavers, 3 Gutseers, 5 Gorger Mawpack. |
| Kruleboyz | Swampskulka Gang: Killaboss on Great Gnashtoof, Murknob with Belcha-banna, 3 Man-skewer Boltboyz, 10 Gutrippaz, Beast-skewer Killbow. |
| Ironjawz | Ironjawz Bigmob: Megaboss, 3 Brute Ragerz, 10 Ardboyz, 5 Brutes. |
| Sons of Behemat | Wallsmasher Stomp: 3 Mancrusher Gargants. Stone Lobbas: 3 Rock-hurlers. |
Kruleboyz and Ironjawz used to be sold together as Orruk Warclans. Our Orruk Spearheads explainer compares the two. The Khazalite Holds duardin faction revealed in autumn 2026 had no confirmed Spearhead when we last checked.
Not every Spearhead force is sold as its own box. For example, Sentinels of Embergard and Crixxit’s Kill-Pack come in the two-player Spearhead: City of Ash set, and some forces have only been published as rules. Always check the product description before you buy.
How to Choose a Spearhead
- Pick the models you love. You’ll spend hours painting them, so that matters more than anything else.
- Durable forces are more forgiving. Armies with tough infantry, such as Stormcast Eternals, Ossiarch Bonereapers’ Tithe-Reaper Echelon or Soulblight’s Deathrattle Tomb Host, punish beginner mistakes less.
- Small elite forces are quick to paint but unforgiving. Sons of Behemat or Mortisan Elite have only a handful of models, so every loss hurts.
- Want a two-player start? A gaming pack with two forces in it, such as City of Ash, gives you both armies and the board in one box. See our best Age of Sigmar starter sets for more options.
Where to Buy Popular Spearhead Boxes
These are the boxes mentioned above that are currently listed on Amazon US through third-party sellers. For every other faction, see the faction guides linked in the tables.
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.
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.
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.
Playing Your First Game
- Lay out the board and terrain from your battlepack, then pick a battleplan.
- Reveal factions, then each choose a regiment ability and an enhancement.
- Deploy, remembering any units your rules say start in reserve.
- Each round, draw a twist card, top up your battle tactic hand, and play through the turns.
- Score objectives and battle tactics. After four rounds, the player with the most victory points wins.
Our how to play Age of Sigmar guide walks through the turn sequence in more detail.
Expanding Beyond Spearhead
Every model in a Spearhead box has a full Age of Sigmar warscroll, so nothing goes to waste when you move up to bigger games. A second box of the same faction, especially a different Spearhead force, is often the easiest next step. When you’re ready to build a points-based army, read our points explained guide and try one of the army builder tools. Stormcast players can follow our Stormcast Eternals 1000-point list.
FAQ
Can I use Spearhead models in regular Age of Sigmar?
Yes. Every unit has a full warscroll for the standard game. Spearhead warscrolls are simplified versions that you only use in Spearhead games.
Are the Spearhead rules free?
The core rules and each force’s Spearhead rules are published free by Games Workshop on Warhammer Community. The battlepacks with boards, cards and battleplans come in the gaming packs.
Can my faction’s old Spearhead still be used?
Generally yes. When a faction gets a new Spearhead, Games Workshop has kept publishing the rules for the older one, often with updates. Check the latest download for your force.
How long does a Spearhead game take?
It’s much quicker than a full game, because it lasts only four rounds with small armies on a small board. Once you know the rules, a game fits comfortably into an evening.
What’s the best Spearhead for beginners?
The one whose models you’re most excited about. If you want a forgiving first army, tough forces such as the Stormcast Eternals, Tithe-Reaper Echelon or Deathrattle Tomb Host are good choices.
How many models are in a Spearhead army?
It varies a lot by force, from just three models up to around 40. Sons of Behemat’s Wallsmasher Stomp is three Mancrusher Gargants, while hordes like the Deathrattle Tomb Host or Slasher Host field dozens of infantry. Most Spearheads sit in between, with a hero or two, a couple of core infantry units and a monster, cavalry or war machine.
What is the Warhammer 40k equivalent of Spearhead?
Combat Patrol is the Warhammer 40,000 equivalent. Like Spearhead, it uses small fixed forces, usually the contents of one box, played on a smaller board with no list building. The two formats differ in their missions and cards, and models from one game cannot be used in the other.
Can I add extra units to my Spearhead force?
No. A standard Spearhead force is fixed, and the only choices you make are your regiment ability and your general’s enhancement. To use more models, either buy a second Spearhead box for another fixed force, or move up to points-based Age of Sigmar, where every Spearhead model has a full warscroll.
Do I need a battletome to play Spearhead?
No. Each force’s Spearhead rules are published free on Warhammer Community and also appear in the Warhammer Age of Sigmar app, and the core rules are free too. You only need a battlepack from a gaming pack such as Fire and Jade, Sand and Bone or City of Ash for the board, battleplans and cards. A battletome becomes useful when you move up to full games.