This article has been somewhat delayed…however…I am pleased to bring you the next breakdown of our latest supply drop from Hachette Partworks. It’s issues 35 to 38 of Stormbringer, the Age of Sigmar magazine series!

This batch of issues should really be called the Sylvaneth special, as they feature heavily in this update. We’ve also been sent the 2nd bonus character pack featuring the Skaven Warlock Bombardier, which we’ll discuss later.

If you fancy catching up on the last batch of issues, make sure you check out this link right here. Want to be reminded of what you get throughout the magazine run? Then you’ll need Matt’s breakdown right here.

Stormbringer Price Increase

Before we begin, a point of note. These issues at the time of release were priced at £8.99, however the issues are going up to £9.99 per issue. For the value breakdown I’ll be using the current price, but will be using the increased price when it comes in to effect in future articles.

Our thanks again Hachette Partworks for sending these issues to us to cover.

Issue 35

Contents: Arch-Revenant (Sylvaneth Character)

Value: This model retails over on Warhammer.com for £25, giving you a saving of £16.01

Magazine Contents: It’ll come as no shock that this issue, being the first one to include a model from a new faction not yet covered in the series, opens with background on the Sylvaneth faction, from the Order Grand Alliance. The issue also gives more background on Azyr and concludes the Venom story from the last two issues.

If you haven’t checked out any of our previous Stormbringer articles then it is well worth me quickly covering the next section. With these magazines, as they are aimed at newcomers to the hobby, they tend to give you lots of background on whatever miniature is with the issue. This includes some nice narrative flavour, like setting achievements for your model(s) or rolling on a chart to find out their back story. You also get comprehensive assembly and painting guides (albeit painting guides using paints so far collected in the series). The issues also contain the full Age of Sigmar Warscroll for the included miniatures and a very in-depth look including well created graphics on how the key abilities on the warscrolls work.

The Arch-Revenant of course gets all the above treatment. When this model launched it nearly made me pick up some Sylvaneth models, and having the model here now…it’s giving me the same vibe. The included instructions are easy to follow and yes, we have the warscroll and break down on how the Revenant’s key abilities work.

To wrap up the issue you have another new battleplan called War in the Woods, and it pits your new model with some Stormcast fighting a narrative battle against the Gloomspite Gitz you’ve collected thus far.

Issue 36

Contents: Fungoid-Cave Shaman (Gloomspite Gitz Character)

Value: Another single sprue character, again retails at £25, so another saving of £16.01.

Magazine Contents: First of all, the cover of this issue features the awesome Verminlord Deciever from the Skaven, personally my favourite of the Verminlords…

As is the norm, the issue starts with some back story and the focus in this issue is Kragnos, the End of Empires. The grand-daddy of the Destruction faction. It also gives you some background on the Blight City, the capital city of the Skaven empire. It also explains a little about Gnawholes, and talks about the Great Horned Rat.

We have all the normal content covering how to paint the mini (so far), the rules for the shaman with and give him a narrative background too.

Also in this issue is a couple of pages dedicated to showing you a few hints and tips for two of the Destruction minis you’ve had so far in the series, the Killa-Boss and Swamp Shaman, to try and help you make the most out of them.

Finally Arcane Empowerment is the name of the battleplan, which has a rule benefitting your Wizards and has three objectives to battle over.

Issue 37

Contents: Ylthari’s Guardians and a STC Small Drybrush

Value: Currently not on sale on GW’s webstore, however Underworld’s warbands normally retail at £25. The brush retails at £4.55, so in total you are saving £20.56.

Magazine Contents: So with this issue you get the Warhammer Underworlds warband, Ylthari’s Guardians, a very nice dynamic Sylvaneth group of heroes. These are of course easy build and are the same sprues from the original Underworlds release.

The issue itself opens with Spearhead, the first part of a new story set in the realm of Ulgu. We of course then have some narrative mechanics for your warband which again, you can either pick from the lists or roll for. The assembly instructions are nice and easy to follow, as always, and we have a painting guide using the paints gained so far.

The magazine then moves on to Allegiance Abilities, which are key when playing full games of Sigmar. It describes how Allied Units work, as well as Battle Traits and Enhancements. It the breaks down the Universal Enhancements (Command Traits, Artefacts of Power, Spell Lore, Prayer Scripture and Triumphs).

Growing Darkness is the name of the issues battleplan, and pits your new unit, along with the Arch Revenant and some Stormcast, against a mix of Orruks and Gloomspite.

In addition, you get another handy pull out which talks about the general background of the Armies of Death.

Issue 38

Contents: 5 x Vindictors (Stormcast Eternals unit)

Value: £35 normally grabs you ten of these, so let’s call it £17.50 for the five. A saving of £8.51.

Magazine Contents: This next issue opens with an introduction on Endless Spells (and how to hunt them!), and describes a couple of them. There is also a short story called Blood in the Snow, which introduces the Iron Thanes as they trap some Beastclaw Raiders.

You’ve got the usual narrative bits and bobs for your included models, however their is also some narrative content to make some of your heroes Champions of Ulgu. Again, no gameplay mechanics here, but it does help you generate some nice back stories and goals!

The How to Paint guide shows you how to paint the Vindictors in the colours of the Hammers of Sigmar, as per the norm so far in the series, however, their is a second guide for a different scheme. The Iron Thanes are quite a striking warband, with red armour. It’s really nice to have a different scheme, although you’d be gutted if you preferred this scheme at this point, as you already have a number of Stormcast painted!

We’ve got some more tactics in this issue, this time for the Praetors of the Stormcast, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses, giving you tips on how to use them. Same goes for Xandire’s Truthseekers, who also get the tactic treatment.

Finally we have the Raging Blizzard battleplan, which has the Kruleboyz fighting the Stormcast.

I say finally, their is one more thing. You get a new battlemat with this issue which has imagery depicting the realm of Chamon. The reverse side matches the other two mats you have, so that when all three are put together you have a nice big full size AoS mat!

Bonus Issue: Skaven Warlock Bombardier

Value: The bonus issue required an additional £9.99 on top of the normal subscription costs. The Warlock costs £19 on Warhammer.com, so a nice tenner saved.

Magazine Contents: One of my favourite factions, the Skaven, get a special issue! You get a Warlock Bombardier, which in itself is a superb mini, and as you would expect the issue itself features comprehensive assembly instructions, a painting guide (including the base) and some narrative flavour. You also get plenty of background on the Skaven.

Also, which is super handy, is a guide on how to take photographs of your minis. The back page can be removed and used as a back drop. I’ll try this back drop out myself!

We’ll have another Stormbringer article very soon, as we expect the next lot of issues imminently!