Games Workshop's Age of Sigmar fantasy battle game is a well-known entity, but its streamlined sibling, Spearhead, offers a more accessible and faster-paced combat experience. The new Spearhead: City of Ash starter set aims to provide nearly everything needed for a quick foray into this wargame.

Upon opening the box, players are greeted with sprues of grey plastic. However, assembly transforms these components into highly detailed and dynamically posed miniatures that bring fantasy battlefields to life. The City of Ash set introduces new sculpts for its two factions: the human Cities of Sigmar and the Skaven Clan Eshin assassins. The set also includes scenery pieces depicting ruined buildings. For those new to the Games Workshop hobby, assembly can present challenges, particularly with some of the more fragile and intricately posed Skaven models. Difficulties in understanding assembly steps and accessing gluing surfaces are noted.

The starter set includes two rulebooks, card decks, and a double-sided game board. The rulebooks are visually appealing with inspirational army photos, though the assembly guide is integrated within one of the books and does not lie flat easily. The game board, while visually striking, is unmounted and requires effort to lay flat. Notably, a full rulebook is not included in the box; additional details for more serious play must be downloaded.

Rules and Gameplay

Spearhead utilizes a familiar I-go, you-go turn structure found in other Games Workshop games, involving phases for movement, shooting, charging, and melee. Each model possesses distinct stats for movement, attacks, and target values for hitting, wounding, and armor saves. Combat is resolved by rolling dice, with successes determining hits, wounds, and armor saves. While the dice-heavy system can be satisfying and generate exciting moments, it can also be prone to randomness.

Spearhead differentiates itself by focusing on objective control rather than pure annihilation. The relatively small game board features objectives that players contest by having models occupy them. Controlling more objectives earns more points over the course of four rounds. This objective-based system encourages strategic planning, especially when combined with unique general abilities that allow for surprise unit movements. The game also incorporates a rock-paper-scissors element in unit matchups, making the calculus of which units to deploy for specific objectives crucial.

Further strategic depth is added through battlefield elements like relics, which can grant nearby units special abilities. Each turn also introduces a "twist" card that can alter gameplay, such as increasing objective values or granting special movement and charge bonuses under specific conditions. Card play is another key mechanic. Players begin with a hand of three cards, each offering a "tactics" option for scoring bonus points or a "command" text for a one-off special effect. Redealing cards each turn incentivizes players to engineer situations where these abilities can be best utilized.

This combination of dice rolls, card play, and tactical maneuvering, set against a four-turn limit, creates a highly engaging and often unpredictable combat experience. The game encourages adaptation and spotting opportunities for special abilities to shine, leading to memorable moments and emergent storytelling, enhanced by the detailed miniatures and terrain.

However, the complexity required to accommodate these varied mechanics means a significant learning curve. Mastering the rules for enemy units, relics, and cards is necessary for effective play. Spearhead is not a casual pick-up-and-play game; both miniature assembly and understanding the rules demand a dedicated time investment.

The Balance Issue

A significant drawback for both existing hobbyists and newcomers is the imbalance in the starter set's pre-selected armies. While Spearhead typically involves choosing from pre-set forces, the included Sentinels of Embergard are presented as a weaker option compared to the more potent Crixxit's Kill-Pack. Games Workshop may address this disparity through future updates, but the current iteration presents an uneven playing field from the outset.

The Spearhead: City of Ash starter set is slated for release on July 4th, 2026.