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The current Maggotkin of Nurgle Spearhead is the Bubonic Cell, released in January 2026 as part of Nurgle’s new wave of models. It’s led by a Rotbringer Sorcerer, with ten Rotmire Creed cultists, a Beast of Nurgle and two small swarms of Nurglings. Rather than winning by brute force, it slowly wears the enemy down with debuffs, ranged poison and units that are hard to remove. It suits patient players who enjoy controlling the board. If you’re new to the format, our Age of Sigmar Spearhead guide explains it.
What’s in the Box?
The box builds 18 plastic miniatures, which you use as five units in Spearhead games:
| Unit | Models | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Rotbringer Sorcerer (general) | 1 | Wizard who makes friendly units harder to wound |
| Rotmire Creed | 10 | Mortal cultists with poisoned blowpipes |
| Beast of Nurgle | 1 | Tough monster that deals mortal damage on the charge |
| Nurglings | 3 | Small swarm that heals itself every turn |
| Nurglings | 3 | A second swarm for blocking and objective holding |
The Rotbringer Sorcerer comes with a choice of a human head or a mutated fly head, according to retailers’ copies of the Games Workshop product description.
Previous box
The earlier Maggotkin Spearhead box, from the launch of Age of Sigmar’s fourth edition, is the Bleak Host: a Spoilpox Scrivener, two Pusgoyle Blightlords, five Putrid Blightkings and ten Plaguebearers (two units of five). It has the same contents as the older Vanguard box. Warhammer Community still lists its rules alongside the Bubonic Cell, so you can keep playing it. The Bubonic Cell is the newer box.
The Spearhead Rules
Here’s a plain-English summary. The full rules are a free download from Warhammer Community, so check there for the latest version.
Battle trait: Cycle of Corruption
Each battle round, one of four plague effects is active. You roll to pick the first one (rerolling a 5 or 6), and then they rotate in order:
- Numberless Pests: enemy attacks are -1 to hit against your units.
- Nauseous Revulsion: enemy charge rolls are -1.
- Plague of Misery: enemy units within 6″ of yours can’t heal or bring back slain models.
- Burgeoning Filth: enemy units in combat with yours have their control scores reduced by 3.
Because the cycle is predictable after the first roll, you can plan around it. For example, try to fight over objectives during the Burgeoning Filth round.
Regiment abilities (pick one)
- Corruption of the Land: once per turn, at the end of your turn, pick a terrain feature. Each enemy unit within 3″ of it can take some mortal damage.
- Putrefied Ground: once per battle, in the enemy hero phase, enemy units get -1 to their Move and run rolls for the turn.
Enhancements (pick one for the Sorcerer)
- Unnatural Vitality: your general has a 4+ ward.
- Gaseous Emanation: once per battle, an enemy unit fighting your general has Strike-last.
- Subcutaneous Suppuration: attacks against your general are -1 to wound.
- Overripe Death’s Heads: a small ranged attack that can deal mortal damage each shooting phase.
For a first game, Corruption of the Land is the more reliable regiment ability, because it works every turn. Unnatural Vitality keeps your only hero alive, which matters a lot in such a small army.
What Each Unit Does
Rotbringer Sorcerer
Your general and only wizard. Its spell, Fleshy Abundance, makes a nearby friendly unit -1 to wound until your next turn. Cast it on whatever is about to take the most hits, usually the Rotmire Creed or the Beast. The Sorcerer is slow, with a 4″ move, so plan its position early.
Rotmire Creed
Ten cultists on stilts. They’re the only shooting in the army, with 12″ blowpipes that auto-wound on critical hits. They can also retreat from combat without taking mortal damage, so they can shoot, get stuck in, step back and shoot again. They have Reinforcements, so a destroyed unit can return.
Beast of Nurgle
A tough monster with a 5+ ward. When it charges, Attention Seekers can deal up to three mortal damage to the enemy unit it hit. Use it to hold an objective in the middle or to tie up an enemy unit that’s threatening your Creed.
Nurglings
Two swarms of three bases each. They aren’t very dangerous, but they have a 5+ ward and heal at the end of every turn, so they’re very annoying to remove. Park them on objectives and in the path of enemy units.
How to Play the Bubonic Cell
Don’t try to win a straight fight. Hold objectives with units that are hard to shift, chip away with the Creed and let the Cycle of Corruption and your regiment ability do the rest.
Deployment
Put a Nurglings unit near each objective you want to hold. Deploy the Rotmire Creed centrally with the Sorcerer just behind, and keep the Beast where it can charge anything that comes for them. Before the game, check which Cycle ability is first so you know whether round one favours defending or attacking.
Turn 1
Take objectives with the Nurglings and the Beast. Move the Creed into range and shoot the most fragile target in reach. If you took Corruption of the Land, pick terrain that enemy units are hiding behind or standing on.
Turns 2 and 3
Let the enemy come to you. When they reach your lines, the Beast counter-charges, the Nurglings soak up attacks and keep healing, and the Creed retreat and keep shooting. Cast Fleshy Abundance every turn on whatever is under the most pressure.
Turns 4 and 5
By now the enemy should be worn down. Push forward to contest their objectives, especially during the Burgeoning Filth round, when enemy units fighting yours lose a lot of control.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting which Cycle ability is active. Keep a dice or token on the table to track it.
- Leaving the Creed stuck in combat. Retreat them so they can keep shooting.
- Pushing the Sorcerer forward. It’s slow and it’s your only hero.
- Forgetting that the Nurglings heal at the end of every turn, not only yours.
Building and Painting Notes
The Rotmire Creed are new sculpts with lots of character, including stilts, blowpipes and swampy clothing, so treat them as your main painting project. Nurglings and the Beast paint quickly with a green or pale flesh basecoat and plenty of washes, and a few gloss varnish touches make them look suitably slimy. Our Maggotkin of Nurgle painting guide covers a full scheme, and our general painting guides cover the basics.
Expanding Beyond Spearhead
Everything in the box works in a full Maggotkin of Nurgle army. If you like the mortal cultists, more Rotmire Creed and Rotbringer heroes are the natural route. If you prefer daemons, add Plaguebearers and more Beasts. Owners of the older Bleak Host box already have Blightkings, Blightlords and Plaguebearers, which combine well with the Bubonic Cell to make a starting points army. Our Maggotkin of Nurgle army guide covers the faction, and our points guide explains how full armies are built. For the lore, see our Nurgle lore guide.
Where to Buy the Box
If you want the Bubonic Cell 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 Bubonic Cell good for beginners?
Yes, if you don’t mind a slower, more tactical game. The units are simple, and the main thing to remember is which Cycle ability is active each round.
Can I still use the Bleak Host?
Yes. Its rules are still listed by Warhammer Community, so if you own the older box you can keep playing it as a Spearhead.
How many Nurglings are in the box?
Six Nurgling bases, which you use as two units of three in the Spearhead.
Do I need the battletome?
No. The Spearhead rules are free from Warhammer Community. You’ll only need the battletome for full-size games.
How does Spearhead compare with Combat Patrol?
Both formats give you a small, ready-made army in one box. Our Spearhead vs Combat Patrol guide explains the differences.
Can the Rotbringer Sorcerer lead the Beast of Nurgle in a full army?
No. In full points games, Rotbringer heroes can only take Rotbringers units in their regiment, and the Beast of Nurgle and Nurglings are daemons. You’ll need a daemon hero such as a Poxbringer, or a big hero like the Great Unclean One, to lead them. Our Maggotkin army list guide covers this in detail.
Is the Bubonic Cell enough to start a full Maggotkin army?
It’s a strong start. The box covers about half of a 1,000-point army in our Maggotkin army list: adding a Poxbringer, two units of Putrid Blightkings and a unit of Pox-Wretches gets you to a legal list. If you own the older Bleak Host box too, you’re already close.
How long does a Spearhead game take?
Usually about an hour, once both players know the rules. Spearhead uses small forces, a smaller board and fixed rules, so it’s much quicker than a 1,000 or 2,000-point game. The Cycle of Corruption adds one thing to track each round, but it doesn’t slow the game down much.
Related Content
- Maggotkin of Nurgle – Warhammer Age of Sigmar Guide — apply this guide to a specific army
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- Ossiarch Bonereapers Spearhead — Box Review & Guide — explore another helpful guide
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