Age of Sigmar features a vast roster of named characters spanning four Grand Alliances — Order, Chaos, Death, and Destruction. From the god-king Sigmar’s Stormcast champions to the nightmare lords of Nagash’s undead legions, the Mortal Realms are populated by heroes and villains of extraordinary power. This guide is a reference to the best-known named characters in Age of Sigmar.
Whether you are choosing a leader for your army, exploring the lore of the Mortal Realms, or want to know which characters belong to your Grand Alliance, start here. We have organised the characters by Grand Alliance and faction, with their title and a short description of their role in the setting. Rosters change with each battletome, so check the current Battle Profiles to see which characters are still playable in matched play.
Grand Alliance: Order
Stormcast Eternals
- Sigmar, the God-King — The supreme deity of Order and creator of the Stormcast Eternals. Sigmar does not fight on the tabletop, but his presence shapes every aspect of the Age of Sigmar setting.
- Yndrasta, the Celestial Spear — Sigmar’s greatest monster-hunter, Yndrasta is a winged Stormcast champion sent to slay the most powerful beasts threatening the Mortal Realms.
- Vandus Hammerhand, Lord-Celestant — A Lord-Celestant of the Hammers of Sigmar and the poster character of Age of Sigmar’s launch. Vandus led the first Stormcast strike of the Realmgate Wars in the Realm of Fire.
- Bastian Carthalos, Lord-Commander of the Hammers of Sigmar — The commander of Sigmar’s foremost Stormhost, Carthalos is a veteran war-leader who directs some of the Stormcasts’ largest campaigns.
- Ionus Cryptborn, Lord-Relictor — A Lord-Relictor of the Anvils of the Heldenhammer, a Stormhost marked by repeated reforging. Cryptborn hunts the agents of Death who seek to steal Stormcast souls.
- Gardus Steel Soul, Lord-Celestant — A Lord-Celestant of the Hallowed Knights known for his incorruptible spirit. In the Realmgate Wars he was trapped in the Garden of Nurgle and came back untainted.
- Aventis Firestrike, Magister of Hammerhal — A Lord-Arcanum mounted on a Tauralon, Firestrike is one of the Sacrosanct Chamber’s most powerful mage-warriors.
Cities of Sigmar
- Tahlia Vedra, Lioness of the Parch — A mortal general who has earned glory fighting alongside the Stormcast Eternals, Vedra leads the armies of the Cities of Sigmar with tactical brilliance and unyielding courage.
- Pontifex Zenestra, Matriarch of the Great Wheel — A senior priestess of the Sigmarite church, Zenestra wields faith as a weapon against the forces of darkness and bolsters the warriors around her.
Lumineth Realm-lords
- Teclis, Archmage of the Lumineth — One of the aelven gods and the greatest mage in the Mortal Realms. Teclis has shaped the destiny of the Lumineth and wields magic of staggering power from atop Celennar, Spirit of Hysh.
- The Light of Eltharion — Once the legendary hero Eltharion the Grim, his spirit was preserved by Teclis and now fights as a being of pure light contained within enchanted armour.
- Ellania and Ellathor, Eclipsian Warsages — Twin Lumineth mages who wield the opposing aspects of Hysh’s light and shadow, combining offensive and defensive magic.
- Lyrior Uthralle, Warden of Ymetrica — The commander of Ymetrica’s Vanari warriors, Uthralle is a stoic warrior-scholar who leads by example on the battlefield.
- Sevireth, Lord of the Seventh Wind — A spirit of the wind bound to serve the Lumineth, Sevireth strikes with speed and fury before vanishing like a gale.
Idoneth Deepkin
- Volturnos, High King of the Deep — The King of the Ionrach Enclave and greatest of all Akhelian Kings, Volturnos rides the deepmare Uasall and wields the Astra Solus, a weapon that burns with captured starlight.
- Lotann, Warden of the Soul Ledgers — The keeper of the Idoneth’s soul records, Lotann tracks every soul harvested and calculates the survival needs of his people with cold precision.
Sylvaneth
- Alarielle the Everqueen, Goddess of Life — The reborn goddess of life who rides the Wardroth Beetle into battle, Alarielle is one of the most powerful beings in the Mortal Realms and the mother of all Sylvaneth.
- Drycha Hamadreth — A bitter and wrathful spirit of Ghyran who despises all non-Sylvaneth creatures, Drycha commands spite-swarms and fights as much against perceived allies as actual enemies.
Daughters of Khaine
- Morathi-Khaine, the Shadow Queen — Once a mortal sorceress, Morathi ascended to godhood by secretly siphoning power from the imprisoned Slaanesh. She now rules the Daughters of Khaine in her dual aspect — the beautiful queen and the monstrous Shadow Queen.
- Melusai Ironscale — Not a unique character but a hero type: the serpentine leaders of the Melusai, who serve as some of Morathi’s elite commanders.
Fyreslayers
- Runefathers and Runesons — The Fyreslayers, now part of Battletome: Khazalite Holds (October 2026), have few headline named heroes; the new Ormyr and Ashtongue, a wandering beastmaster and his kyndledroth, are the main exception. Their lodges are led by Runefathers and their sons, who fight with the fury of Grimnir, the shattered god whose ur-gold fragments the Fyreslayers seek.
Kharadron Overlords
- Brokk Grungsson, Lord-Magnate of Barak-Nar — One of the most famous Kharadron leaders, Grungsson flies into battle in a custom endrinharness bristling with weapons and embodies the profit-driven culture of the sky-duardin.
Seraphon
- Lord Kroak, the first and mightiest of the Slann — An ancient Slann mage-priest of godlike power. In the old world he died defending the temple-city of Itza from a daemonic invasion, but his spirit lingers in his mummified body, making him a conduit of celestial magic powerful enough to reshape reality.
Grand Alliance: Chaos
Slaves to Darkness
- Archaon the Everchosen, Exalted Grand Marshal of the Apocalypse — The supreme champion of all four Chaos Gods and the greatest mortal warrior in existence, Archaon seeks nothing less than the destruction of all reality. He rides the three-headed daemon steed Dorghar.
- Be’lakor, the Dark Master — The first Daemon Prince, Be’lakor is an immortal schemer who manipulates gods and mortals alike. He appears in both 40k and AoS as a being of cosmic significance.
- Abraxia, Spear of the Everchosen — One of Archaon’s trusted lieutenants, Abraxia leads his forces in battle in the Everchosen’s name.
Blades of Khorne
- Skarbrand, the Exiled One — The mightiest Bloodthirster, exiled by Khorne himself. Skarbrand knows only rage and destruction, unable to feel anything else after his fall from favour.
- Valkia the Bloody, Gorequeen — Khorne’s consort and one of the greatest mortal champions of the Blood God, Valkia is a winged warrior-queen in the lore. Her old model is no longer part of the main range.
- Skulltaker, Herald of Khorne — Khorne’s greatest champion among the Bloodletters, Skulltaker hunts worthy foes and adds the skulls of his victims to his cloak.
Disciples of Tzeentch
- Kairos Fateweaver, Oracle of Tzeentch — The two-headed Lord of Change who knows all possible futures. In the old legend, Tzeentch hurled him into the Well of Eternity and he emerged with two heads, one seeing the past and one the future.
- The Changeling — A daemon of Tzeentch that can perfectly mimic any being, the Changeling infiltrates courts and armies to sow confusion and disorder.
Maggotkin of Nurgle
- Rotigus, the Rainfather — A Great Unclean One who brings plague through torrential rain, Rotigus delights in spreading Grandfather Nurgle’s gifts through seemingly natural weather.
- Horticulous Slimux, Grand Cultivator — Nurgle’s head gardener, who rides a giant daemonic snail and plants the seeds of Nurgle’s garden wherever he goes, corrupting the land with foul growth.
- Gutrot Spume — A Nurgle-blessed Rotbringer lord famed for leading plague fleets across the seas, spreading disease to coastal settlements.
Hedonites of Slaanesh
- Sigvald the Magnificent, the Geld-Prince — The vainest warrior in existence, Sigvald is a Slaaneshi champion from the World-That-Was who fights with a mirror-polished shield and cares only for his own beauty.
- Synessa, the Voice of Slaanesh — One of the twin demigods of Slaanesh, Synessa wields sorcery and whispers that can corrupt even the most stalwart soul.
- Dexcessa, the Talon of Slaanesh — Synessa’s twin, Dexcessa is a blur of combat speed and sensation, fighting with a frenzy that leaves nothing but ruin in its wake.
- The Masque of Slaanesh — Cursed by Slaanesh to dance for eternity, the Masque was once the Dark Prince’s favoured performer, and her dance enthrals all who see it.
- Glutos Orscollion, Lord of Gluttony — A mortal champion of Slaanesh consumed by excess in all forms, Glutos rides a palanquin carried by his entourage while sampling every sensation the Mortal Realms can offer.
Skaven
- Thanquol, Grey Seer Supreme — The most notorious and incompetent-yet-lucky Skaven sorcerer, Thanquol has survived countless schemes, explosions, and betrayals. He rides the giant Rat Ogor Boneripper (the latest of many with that name).
- Verminlord Deceiver — Not a unique character but one type of Verminlord: daemonic embodiments of the Great Horned Rat, the Deceivers strike from the shadows as assassins.
Note: Beasts of Chaos were retired as an army at the start of Age of Sigmar 4th Edition, so they no longer appear in this list.
Grand Alliance: Death
Ossiarch Bonereapers
- Nagash, Supreme Lord of the Undead — The god of death and most powerful necromancer in existence, Nagash seeks to claim every soul in the Mortal Realms and create a kingdom where death rules supreme. He leads all of the Death factions.
- Katakros, Mortarch of the Necropolis — The greatest military mind of the undead, Katakros was built by Nagash from the bones of history’s finest generals. He commands the Ossiarch Bonereapers with flawless strategic precision.
- Arkhan the Black, Mortarch of Sacrament — Nagash’s most loyal servant across millennia, Arkhan serves as the supreme lord’s chief lieutenant and most trusted sorcerer.
Soulblight Gravelords
- Neferata, Mortarch of Blood — Often described as the first vampire, Neferata rules from the shadows, manipulating events through her vast network of spies and courtly influence.
- Mannfred von Carstein, Mortarch of Night — The treacherous vampire lord whose betrayal helped end the World-That-Was. Mannfred serves Nagash but schemes constantly for his own power and eventual freedom.
- Prince Vhordrai — A mighty vampire lord of the Kastelai who rides a huge Zombie Dragon into battle as one of Nagash’s weapons of war.
- Radukar the Wolf — The vampire lord who ruled the cursed city of Ulfenkarn, Radukar later transformed into a bestial monstrosity of vampiric power.
- Lauka Vai, Mother of Nightmares — A vampire who has devolved into a massive winged creature, blurring the line between vampire and monster. She is a terrifying aerial predator.
- Belladamma Volga, First of the Vyrkos — The ancient mother of the Vyrkos bloodline, Belladamma commands wolves and embodies the bestial nature of her vampire lineage.
Nighthaunt
- Lady Olynder, Mortarch of Grief — The embodiment of misery itself, Lady Olynder was cursed by Nagash to embody endless sorrow. Her mere presence causes hearts to break and warriors to weep.
- Kurdoss Valentian, the Craven King — In life a usurper who seized a throne through treachery, Kurdoss was cursed by Nagash to crave a rule he can never truly hold. His bitterness makes him a dangerous combatant.
- Reikenor the Grimhailer — A spectral sorcerer on a ghostly steed, Reikenor wields baleful death magic and hunts down the souls Nagash has marked.
Flesh-eater Courts
- Ushoran, Mortarch of Delusion — The Carrion King and first of the Flesh-eaters, Ushoran’s madness spreads to all who join his courts, making them believe they are noble knights when they are in fact monstrous cannibals.
- Abhorrant Archregent — Not a unique character but a hero type: the deluded ghoul kings who lead individual courts and genuinely believe they rule civilised kingdoms where their subjects feast on fine food rather than corpses.
Grand Alliance: Destruction
Orruk Warclans
- Gordrakk, Fist of Gork — The mightiest Megaboss and self-proclaimed greatest orruk, Gordrakk rides the Maw-krusha Bigteef and leads the biggest Waaagh! the Mortal Realms have ever seen.
- Kragnos, the End of Empires — A monstrous god of destruction imprisoned for aeons, Kragnos was freed and now rampages across the Mortal Realms, smashing everything in his path. He serves as an icon for all Destruction forces.
- Gobsprakk, the Mouth of Mork — A Kruleboyz shaman who claims to speak with the voice of the god Mork, Gobsprakk rides a huge vulture-like beast and manipulates orruk warbands with his prophetic pronouncements.
Gloomspite Gitz
- Skragrott, the Loonking — The self-proclaimed king of all grots, Skragrott is a cunning schemer whose prophecies of the Bad Moon guide the Gloomspite hordes.
Ogor Mawtribes
- Tyrants and Frostlords — The Ogor Mawtribes have no headline named hero. Their tribes are led by gluttonous Tyrants, and their Beastclaw Raiders by Frostlords riding Stonehorns or Thundertusks.
Sons of Behemat
- King Brodd, King of all Gargants — The self-proclaimed king of the Mega-Gargants, King Brodd claims descent from Behemat himself and seeks revenge against Sigmar for killing his god-ancestor.
How Characters Work in Age of Sigmar
Named characters in Age of Sigmar are hero units with the Unique keyword and fixed warscrolls that can’t be customised. Under the current 4th Edition rules you can include each Unique unit only once in your army, Unique heroes can’t take enhancements, and they can’t be reinforced. Like any hero, a named character can lead a regiment of up to three non-Hero units.
Some named characters, particularly gods like Nagash, Teclis and Alarielle, are expensive centrepiece models that define your army’s strategy. Others are more affordable support heroes with abilities that buff nearby units. Check your battletome and the current Battle Profiles for each character’s rules and points.
Narrative play especially rewards using named characters, as many campaign supplements include specific rules, quests, and storylines tied to these iconic figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most powerful Age of Sigmar character?
Nagash is widely considered the most powerful named character in Age of Sigmar, both in the lore (as the god of death) and on the tabletop (as an extremely expensive centrepiece model with devastating magic). Teclis, Alarielle, and Archaon are close contenders, each capable of warping the game around their presence.
How many named characters are in Age of Sigmar?
There are dozens of named characters with current warscrolls across all four Grand Alliances, and the number changes as new battletomes add characters and older models move to Legends. Grand Alliance Order has the most, while some armies, such as the Fyreslayers and Ogor Mawtribes, have few or none.
Can I use AoS characters in narrative play only?
Named characters are legal in all game modes — open, narrative, and matched play — as long as they have a current warscroll and Battle Profile. In matched play you can only take each Unique character once. Some players prefer to use them only in narrative games where their stories can be properly told.
Are any characters shared between Grand Alliances?
A few characters, such as Be’lakor, have appeared in more than one army’s rules over the years, and Regiments of Renown let some units join other armies. Always check the latest General’s Handbook and Battle Profiles for what each army can currently include.
What happens to AoS characters between editions?
Characters receive updated warscrolls with each new edition of Age of Sigmar. Some characters have been retired when their models were discontinued, while others have received dramatic narrative developments — Morathi’s ascension to godhood being the most dramatic example. Games Workshop generally preserves popular characters across editions.
Which Age of Sigmar characters are gods?
Several are gods in their own right: Sigmar, Nagash, Alarielle, Teclis, Morathi-Khaine and Kragnos all appear on this list. Other gods such as Tyrion, Malerion and Gorkamorka are also part of the setting, and the four Chaos Gods and the Great Horned Rat sit behind the Chaos factions. Only some of these gods have models you can field on the tabletop.
Which Age of Sigmar characters came from Warhammer Fantasy?
Many survived the end of the World-That-Was. Nagash, Arkhan the Black, Neferata, Mannfred von Carstein, Archaon, Teclis, Morathi, Thanquol, Sigvald, Lord Kroak, Skarbrand, Kairos Fateweaver and Be’lakor all appeared in Warhammer Fantasy Battle. Sigmar himself was the founder of the Empire in the old setting before becoming the God-King of the Mortal Realms.
Who is the main villain of Age of Sigmar?
Archaon the Everchosen is the closest thing to a main villain. He leads the mortal armies of Chaos from the Eightpoints and wants to destroy the Mortal Realms. Nagash is the other great threat: he’s not a Chaos servant, but his plans to claim every soul put him at odds with Sigmar and nearly everyone else.