What’s New at The Lair: Warhammer Releases for October 17–18, 2025

If your dice missed some table time last week, you’re in luck—Games Workshop is dropping a dense wave of goodies across Warhammer Underworlds, The Old World, Legions Imperialis, and White Dwarf. Below, we break down what each release is, who it’s for, and why you might want it on your shelf (or in your list) this weekend

Saturday, October 18 — Warhammer Underworlds: Spitewood Season & Warbands

The new Warhammer Underworlds: Spitewood season begins with a fresh Core Game  and four warband boxes launching alongside it.

Spitewood (Core Game, ENG/FRE)

A complete entry point: boards, tokens, dice, rulebook, and two starter warbands with season-ready decks. Ideal if you’re new or you’re returning after a few seasons and want to reset with the latest rules cadence.

Who it’s for

• New players who want everything in one box.

• Returning players who want updated boards, tokens, and the new season rules.

• Clubs/teachers assembling a learn-to-play set for demos.

Day-One Warbands

• Seekers in Shadow (Plastic Box)
  Stealth, scouting, and objective play leanings. Expect tricks around positioning and information control—great if you like forcing awkward choices for your opponent.

• Reavers of Ruin (Plastic Box)
  Aggro fans, this is your jam: high-tempo charge actions, accuracy spikes, and glory through combat.

• Morbid Minions (Plastic Box)
  Swarm vibes and recursion. Excel at board presence, attrition, and forcing your opponent to waste actions clearing chaff.

• Gitz and Goliaths (Plastic Box)
  Swingy, characterful play with explosive turns. Risk/reward enthusiasts will feel right at home.

Why these matter

• Deckbuilding depth from day one: Four distinct playstyles mean the meta starts broad.

• Great painting variety: From sneaky cloaks to hulking brutes and shambling hordes—perfect for trying new recipes.

The Old World: Tomb Kings of Khemri

The sands are shifting again in Warhammer: The Old World with two character kits and a new Arcane Journal.

Arcane Journal: The War of Settra’s Fury

Arcane Journals typically bring focused narrative, historical scenarios, and army lists/sub-lists that add flavorful twists to list building.

Why it’s cool

• Narrative nights: Run linked games with thematic battleplans.

• List spice: Fine-tune your Tomb Kings with era-appropriate options and character upgrades.

Royal Heralds (Plastic Box)

Standard-bearers and courtly retinues that amplify your general’s presence. A toolbox for buffs and aura play—great for players who like tight formation tactics.

Liche Priests (Plastic Box)

Your magical backbone. Expect indispensable support for healing, curse-work, and battlefield control.

Hobby Note: Bone tones sing with quick contrast techniques—try a warm bone over a wraithbone or ivory prime, then pick out golds and lapis blues for that classic Nehekharan pop.

Legions Imperialis: Battle-Ready Combat Forces

Big theatre, small scale—Legions Imperialis delivers massed sci-fi warfare in epic scale. These Combat Forces are curated bundles that accelerate you from “assembling” to “playing” with cohesive cores.

• Legiones Astartes Combat Force (Plastic Box)
  Rapid, elite strike elements—perfect for players who want durable spearheads with surgical punch.

• Mechanicum Combat Force (Plastic Box)
  Arcane engines and battlefield oddities—expect strange silhouettes and a different tempo of play.

• Solar Auxilia Combat Force (Plastic Box)
  Disciplined ranks and combined arms—infantry blocks supported by armor and artillery.

Why start here

• Cohesion: Units chosen to work together out of the gate.

• Value: Better bundle economics than piecemeal buying.

• Paint speed: Epic scale rewards efficient schemes (spray, wash, drybrush, pick highlights).

Paint Hack: Zenithal prime → single mid-tone wash → edge highlight. At this scale, contrast reads brilliantly on the table with minimal steps.

How to Choose (Fast)

• Brand new to Underworlds? Grab Spitewood Core, then add the warband whose vibe you like.

• Returning Underworlds player? Start with your favorite warband box and pick up the Core for boards/tokens/rules.

• Old World general? Liche Priests if you need magical backbone; Royal Heralds if your command bubbles feel thin.

• Epic-scale curious? Any Combat Force is a smart first purchase—pick the faction aesthetic that grabs you.

• Painters looking for a weekend project? A single Underworlds warband or Tomb Kings character box is perfect.

Visit The Hidden Lair

Swing by The Hidden Lair (Mt. Zion, IL) to check stock, flip through White Dwarf, and see paint recipes in person.

Happy gaming, and see you at the tables! 🎲