We’re all still getting used to writing “2023,” but the time has come to officially end the beta phase of the MKIV rules. With today’s update of the WARMACHINE app, the core game rules and model rules are locked for the upcoming year. We’ll always reserve the right to hot-fix something that we discover is broken, but barring such an unforeseen necessity, core rules and model rules will not change before the end of the year.

With the official launch of WARMACHINE MKIV, our goal is to sync our updates to the calendar year. What you can expect in the future is that any rebalancing, tweaking, or rules updating (or what has been referred to in the past as a “Dynamic Update”) will be presented in an update like this one, published within the first two weeks of January each year.

Our development team, of course, will remain ever-vigilant, keeping a constant eye on feedback from the community, which is our best source for evaluating the fidelity and performance of the rules. We built the feedback function into the WARMACHINE app for a reason, and that feedback is carefully reviewed as part of our effort to maintain the best possible gaming experience for WARMACHINE players. While we don’t make changes lightly, we also know that as new rules are introduced to an ever-growing play environment, sometimes unforeseen interactions can be discovered, so if and when such instances occur in the future, they will be addressed in our Annual Update at the beginning of each year.

In addition to any rules updates, we will also include any changes to Steamroller in our Annual Update going forward. And by publishing this update no later than the middle of January each year, we hope to provide ample time for event organizers to prepare while also instilling confidence in both players and EOs alike that they have a stable and unchanging play environment for the year to come.

With today’s WARMACHINE app update, we have released one of our most anticipated features just in time for the coming convention season: Force List Sharing. In its current form, List Sharing will be facilitated by opponents scanning QR codes from each other’s devices. We started with this mode to ensure lists could be shared even in areas or situations with zero or low internet connectivity. As well, there is a copy-to-text option for printing or emailing Force Lists if needed, similar to War Room 2. In the near future, additional options will be added that enable sharing Force Lists digitally when players have reliable access to wireless internet.

While the WARMACHINE app remains in its beta phase, we expect to release the full version of the app by the end of February. While most of the planned functionality is now available in the app, there are still many features we’re looking forward to introducing, including card printing, cloud storage, and desktop computer support. Even then, the WARMACHINE app will remain something of an ongoing work-in-progress as we roll out campaign content and Organized Play support. You can expect the WARMACHINE app to continually improve as well as provide new ways to upgrade your gaming experience for the foreseeable future.

Next week, we’re excited to release the first WARMACHINE MKIV fiction! The amazing Aeryn Rudel returns to the Iron Kingdoms with Dark Rising, a six-part epic war story detailing Khador’s first contact with the returned Orgoth invaders. We’ll be offering the first three chapters for free over the next three weeks as a sample of the fiction that you’ll be able to expect each month as part of the WARMACHINE app subscription that will be available in February. Future subscribers will also have access to increased cloud storage for Force Lists as well as the ability to access their account from any devices running the app. As well, weekly content releases of lore, scenarios, and an ongoing league-supported campaign will build out an ever-expanding library to make sure that there is always something new to enhance your WARMACHINE experience and inspire your battles on the tabletop.

Orgoth Sea Raiders and Cygnar Storm Legion Core Army Starters officially release in stores this Friday, January 13th. It’s been a long road getting them there, but we’ve learned a lot along the way and the subsequent releases of the Khador Winter Korps starter, Army Expansions, and more will quickly follow. Our goal is to catch up to our release schedule in March and maintain the projected release of the Dusk House Kallyss Core Army Starter in April, as originally planned.

On the Organized Play front, Journeyman slow-grow league kits will ship alongside the third wave of MKIV releases, including the Sea Raiders, Storm Legion, and Winter Korps warjack kits as well as their a la carte warcasters, all of which are expected by the end of February. The first season of the forthcoming narrative campaign, available through the WARMACHINE app starting in February, will segue into a second season with integrated league support starting in May. We’ll be brining you more details about this exciting first for WARMACHINE that includes progressive customization and introduces character warjack options.

Below is our updated roadmap for 2023, noting key dates for this year’s upcoming releases as well as our planned order for Legacy model updates. Release dates are, of course, subject to change, but we’ll be doing our best to maintain this course over the next twelve months. While specific Legacy model updates are only noted through March, we are on course to have all MKIV rules conversions for Legacy models completed before the end of 2023 and will update the roadmap as we determine the ongoing order of development.

To close out our first WARMACHINE MKIV Annual Update, we’re including Developer Notes summarizing the final rules updates that have gone into effect today, along with some insight and explanation behind the final decisions on the changes made. We want to give a hearty thank you to everyone who has provided feedback on the rules, models, and app over the past three months. Your input has been instrumental in our process of refining and polishing the rules, as well as improving the WARMACHINE app. We are grateful for your participation, support, and patience, and we are excited to finally get to play the best-ever version of WARMACHINE with you—starting now.

January 2023 Model Update Change Log

The vast majority of the changes below were made as a result of community feedback and observation. Some models seemed slightly above the curve and others a little beneath it. In other cases, these changes address typos and mistakes in the databases. We have added notes below in places where we believed greater explanation was required.

Circle 

Kromac, Champion of the Wurm

Change the Bloodlust feat to read:

While in Kromac’s control range warbeasts in his battlegroup can charge and make slam power attacks without being forced. Additionally, when a model in Kromac’s battlegroup declares a charge or slam power attack while in his control range, that model gains +3 SPD that activation.

Bloodlust lasts for one turn.

Warpwolf Stalker

Point Cost 15

Brighid & Caul

Caul gains Rapid Healing.

Convergence

Archnumen Aurora

Change the Starstrike Calibration feat to read:

Aurora and friendly Faction models with Flight beginning their activations in her control range gain +2 SPD. Additionally, when a friendly Faction model with Flight makes an attack against an enemy model without Flight while the enemy model is in Aurora’s control range, the friendly model gains +2 to its attack and damage rolls resulting from that attack. Starstrike Calibration lasts for one turn.

NOTE: Aurora’s suite of capabilities was viewed as being somewhat more oppressive than we intended it to be, and so we decided to reel in the area she affects a little more.

Eminent Configurator Orion

Forced Induction should read:

Target enemy warjack gains 1 focus point. Then the warjack and enemy models within 1˝ for each focus point on it suffer an unboostable POW 10 electrical damage roll.

Conservator

Point Cost 10.

Optifex Directive

Point Cost 3.

Perforators

RAT 7.

Reciprocators

Point Cost 8.

Reductors

Add Dual Attack.

Transverse Enumerator

Cut Weapon Master from the Torch.

Asphyxious the Sanctified

Cut Vanish and Dark Shroud from Asphyxious.

Point Cost 12.

NOTE: This model was definitely above the curve, and these changes should bring it into better alignment with the rest of the Convergence offerings.

Attunement Servitors

RAT 6.

Destructotron 3000

Cut Cavalry, add Unstoppable.

Enigma Foundry

FA 4.

Frustrom Locus

Change the text of Void Generator to:

At any time during its activation, this model can spend a power token to give a friendly Faction model/unit within 5˝ of it Mage Static for one round. (Spells cast by enemy models within 10˝ of a model with Mage Static suffer +1 COST and –3 RNG.)

Crucible Guard

Crucible Guard Rocketmen

Point Cost 6.

Crucible Guard Assault Troopers

Thermal Hammer POW 15.

Dragon Breath Rocket

RAT 6.

Change the text of Withering Humor to:

On a direct hit, living and undead models hit by this attack suffer –2 ARM and lose Tough for one turn unless they can ignore gas effects.

Rocketman Gunner

Make this into a 3-model, Cost 5 Unit. FA 3.

NOTE: It was felt the role of these models would be better served as a small independent unit rather than as weapon attachments.

Cryx

Bane Witch Agathia

Gains Apparition.

Goreshade the Bastard

Soul Gate is Cost 2.

Lord Exhumator Scaverous

Replace Icy Grip spell with the Breath Taker special rule.

Bane Warriors

Gains Stealth.

Bane Lord Tartarus

Gains Curse [Bane].

Erebus

Death Claws POW 17.

Reaper

RAT 6.

Cygnar (Storm Legion)

Captain Athena di Baro

DEF 14.

Major Anson Wolfe

Remove RAT stat.

Tempest Thunderers

Gains Dual Attack.

Cygnar (First Army)

Colonel Markus “Siege” Brisbane

Change the text of High Ground to:

Place a 3˝ template anywhere completely within the spellcaster’s control range. The template remains in play as long as its upkeep is paid. While completely within the template, models gain +2 DEF against ranged and arcane attacks and their ranged weapons gain Arcing Fire. (When attacking with a weapon with Arcing Fire, a model can ignore intervening models.)

Change the text of Hallowed Avenger to:

Target friendly Faction Cohort model gains Righteous Vengeance. (If one or more friendly Faction warrior models were destroyed or removed from play by enemy attacks while within 5˝ of a model with Righteous Vengeance during the last round, during your Maintenance Phase the model with Righteous Vengeance can advance up to 3˝ and make one basic attack.)

Minuteman

Point Cost 9.

Commander Anson Hitch

Add his ’Jack Marshal options to the app.

Tenacity lasts for one round.

Major Harrison Gibbs

Point Cost 2.

Squire

Point Cost 4.

Change the text of Reserve Accumulator to:

Once per turn during your Control Phase after replenishing focus, if this model is within 5˝ of its controlling Leader, the Leader can gain 1 focus point. If the Leader gains a focus point, roll a d6. On the roll of 1 or 2, this model loses the Reserve Accumulator special rule for the rest of the game.

NOTE: The app presently does not support options like accumulator circles. Additionally, limited resources like this feel opposed to the changes toward simplicity we have made in MK IV.

Dusk

Ghast

Add 40 mm base size.

Grymkin

Arcana card changes

Accursed

Add: If your Leader is the King of Nothing, friendly models also gain Blessed for 1 round.

Labyrinth

Add: If your Leader is the Wanderer, you can also immediately place one model in his battlegroup completely within 1˝ of its current location for each road marker in play.

Fortunes Path

Add: If your Leader is the Heretic, increase this bonus to +2.

Ruin

Add: If your Leader is the Child, increase the Child’s ARC stat by 1 for one round.

Ill Omens

Add: If your Leader is the Dreamer, models in her battlegroup also gain Dodge for 1 round. (A model with Dodge can advance up to 2˝ immediately after an enemy attack that missed it is resolved.)

NOTE: We felt that the lack of Trumps was negatively impacting the Grymkin warlocks and looked for a way to return aspects of this concept.

King of Nothing

Sands of Fate should not be an upkeep.

Neigh Slayers

Cut Unstoppable.

Point Cost 9.

NOTE: The Neigh Slayers have widely been considered too strong in MK IV and required some additional adjustment for the sake of balance.

Gremlin Swarm

Replace Sabotage with Serenity.

Isaiah, Dread Harvester

Add Veteran Leader [Dread Rots].

Infernals

Agathon, the Voice in the Darkness

Change Influence to Occultation.

NOTE: With this change we were looking to add a little more synergy with his army to Agathon.

Desolator

Change the text of Anathema to:

When this model is summoned, center a cloud effect template on it. A model without Resistance: Corrosion entering or ending its activation in the template suffers 1 point of corrosion damage. The template remains in play for one round.

Tormentor

Change Righteous Vengeance to Hyper Aggressive.

Khador (Winter Korps)

Kommander Valerii Savaryn

Rack 2.

Shock Trooper Gunners

Cut MAT.

Cut Chain Blade.

Gains Dual Shot.

Shock Trooper Pikeman

Replace Critical Knockdown with Critical Armor Piercing.

Winter Korps Infantry Korps

Rocket Launcher ROF should be 1.

Winter Korps Officer

Point Cost 3.

Replace Reveille with Stand Your Ground.

Khador (Armored Korps)

Grolar

Auto Cannon ROF d3 +1.

Spriggan

Gains Shield Guard and Sturdy.

Man-O-War Bombardier Officer

Add Attachment rule.

Man-O-War Shock Trooper Officer

Add Attachment rule.

Bulkhead

Sawed-off Shotcannon RNG SP 8.

Gains Mark Target.

Greylord Forge Seer

Replace Winter’s Wind with Sigil of Power.

NOTE: It was determined this model needed a method of adding magical weapons to the army, and Winter’s Wind was not a good fit for the model.

Man-O-War Drakhun Kovnik

Point Cost 7.

Man-O-War Kovnik

Gains Repairable.

Man-O-War Strike Tanker

Gains Steady and Sturdy.

Man-O-War Suppression Tanker

Gains Steady and Sturdy.

Legion

Kallus, Devastation of Everblight

Change the Dragon’s Breath feat to:

While in Kallus’ control range, enemy models lose Resistance: Fire and cannot gain it. Additionally, enemy models currently in Kallus’ control range immediately suffer the fire continuous effect. Dragon’s Breath lasts for one round.

Raek

Add Pathfinder.

Scythean

Add a RNG 1, POW 15 melee Bite attack.

Stinger

Add Mark Target.

Teraph

Replace Counterblast with Recoil.

Point Cost 9.

Ravagore

Replace Recoil with Counterblast. Counterblast should reference placed.

Change the text of Counterblast to:

When an enemy model advances and ends its movement or is placed within 5˝ of the spellcaster, the spellcaster can make one basic melee or ranged attack targeting that model, then Counterblast expires. Counterblast lasts for one round.

Change AOE to 2.

NOTE: We received a lot of feedback informing us that the Ravagore overshadowed the Teraph and so we sought to balance a role for each in the game.

Typhon

Point Cost 17.

Blighted Rotwings

Gains Sitting Vulture.

Grotesque Banshees

RAT 6.

Hellmouth

Add Inscrutable to the tentacles.

Blighted Nyss Shepherd

Condition RNG 6.

NOTE: We were looking to add a little more parity between warjack and warbeast support.

Mercenaries

Dr. Arkadius

Change the text of the Monster Mayhem feat to:

Warbeasts in Arkadius’ battlegroup currently in his control range can each advance up to 3˝ and make one basic melee or ranged attack. Attack and damage rolls resulting from these attacks are boosted.

Midas

AAT 7.

Gun Boar

Open Fists x2.

Point Cost 8.

Blindwalker

Remove RAT.

Ironback Spitter

Change the text of Counterblast to:

When an enemy model advances and ends its movement or is placed within 5˝ of the spellcaster, the spellcaster can make one basic melee or ranged attack targeting that model, then Counterblast expires. Counterblast lasts for one round.

Razor Boar

Change Ornery to Elusive.

Swabber

Harpoon POW 14.

Vanguard

Point Cost 9.

Farrow Bone Grinders

Gain Magic Ability and Sigil of Power (★Action).

Farrow Valkyries

Buckler Cannons gains Pistol.

Point Cost 6.

Flugwug the Filcher

RAT 6.

Ghordson Driller

Point Cost 10.

Harlowe Holdemhigh

ROF 1.

Lynus Wesselbaum & Edrea Lloryrr

Point Cost 4.

Lynus SPD 6,DEF 14, ARM 12.

Edrea SPD 6, MAT 6, RAT 6, DEF 14, ARM 12.

Gatorman Bokor & Bog Trog Swamp Shamblers

Change the text of Death Magic to:

During its activation, this model can remove friendly Grunt models in its unit from play to make additional melee attacks or to boost attack or damage rolls. It can make one additional melee attack or boost one roll for each model removed. When this model would suffer damage, you can choose one or more models in its unit to suffer any number of those damage points instead, divided as you choose. If you do, this model does not suffer that damage. A model cannot suffer more damage as a result of Death Magic than it has unmarked damage boxes.

Steelhead Halberdiers

Point Cost 5.

Steelhead Riflemen

Point Cost 5.

Alten Ashley

Bucking Jenny gains Grievous Wounds.

Gain a RNG 1, POW 9 Sword melee attack with Grievous Wounds.

Gatorman Husk

Change the text of Carnivorous Swarm to:

When this model is disabled, center a cloud effect template on it, then remove this model from play. The template remains in play for one round. Enemy models without Resistance: Corrosion entering or ending their activation in the template suffer 1 point of corrosion damage.

Stannis Brocker

Point Cost 6.

Thrullg

Tentacles gain Chain Weapon.

Orgoth

Horruskh, The Thousand Wraths

Gains the Abattoir spell.

Orgoth Rack

Cut Abattoir, add Phantom Hunter.

NOTE: We have determined that the Orgoth need a more reliable means of seeing through Stealth. Additionally, Abattoir felt like a better spell for Horruskh than the rest of the Orgoth warcasters. So, we added it to his spell list.

Rhok Harriers

Gains Reposition [3˝].

Strike Reavers

Point Cost 7.

Protectorate

Grand Scrutator Severius

Replace the text of the Divine Might feat with:

While in Severius’ control range, enemy models cannot cast spells or be used to channel spells and enemy Leaders suffer –2 ARC. Divine Might lasts for one round.

Blessing of Vengeance

Point Cost 12.

Exemplar Bastion Seneschal

Add ’Jack Marshal options to the app.

Exemplar Bastions

Damage boxes 8 each.

Exemplar Cinerators

Damage boxes 8 each.

Visgoth Juviah Rhoven & Honor Guard

Point Cost 8.

High Exemplar Gravus

Desperate Pace becomes a Battle Plan.

Hand of Silence

Flamethrower gains Pistol.

Retribution

Issyria, Sibyl of Dawn

Control Range 16.

NOTE: Issyria was considered to be an oppressive warcaster to play against, and we reduced her control range slightly to force her a little closer to the action.

Magister Helynna

Change the text of her Arcantrik Aptitude to:

Remove all damage from extra-large and smaller based models in Helynna’s battlegroup currently in her control range. Additionally, while in Helynna’s control range, models in her battlegroup gain +3 ARM and do not suffer the effects of crippled systems. Arcantrik Aptitude lasts for one round.

Change Deceleration to Deflection.

Gorgon

Gains Pistol.

Hemera

Point Cost 12.

Imperatus

Gains Pistol.

Phoenix

Gains Pistol.

Ryssovass Defenders

+SPD 6.

Gains Pathfinder.

NOTE: We sought to give the Ryssovass Defenders a more defined place in the Legions of Dawn army and set them further apart from the Dawnguard Sentinels.

Dawnguard Sentinel Scyir

Cut Desperate Pace.

Fane Knight Skyreth Issyen

Cost 6.

Skorne

Lord Tyrant Zaadesh

Replace the text of Burning Ash with the following:

Place a cloud effect template anywhere completely within the spellcaster’s control range. While in the template, living enemy models without Immunity: Fire suffer –2 to attack rolls. The template remains in play for one round.

Primus Jalaam

Gains Pistol.

Archidon

Cut Trample Power Attack.

Bronzeback Titan

Point Cost 16.

Cyclops Savage 

MAT 7.

Titan Cannoneer

Point Cost 15.

Cataphract Cetrati

Add 40 mm base size.

Paingiver Beast Handlers

Condition RNG 6.

Medicate RNG 1.

Praetorian Ferox

Point Cost 10.

Praetorian Swordsmen 

Cost 6.

Mortitheurge Willbreaker

Cost 2.

Tyrant Zaadesh

Add warbeasts that can be in this model’s battlegroup.

Venator Dakar

Make Combat Coordination and Desperate Pace into Battle Plans.

Reiver POW 10.

Trollbloods

Borka, Vengeance of the Rimeshaws

No longer a Scout warlock.

Change the text of the Ice Storm feat to the following:

While in Borka’s control range, models gain Stealth. When an enemy model without Resistance: Cold hits one or more friendly models in Borka’s control range with Resistance: Cold with a melee attack during its Combat Action, the enemy model becomes stationary for one round at the end of its activation. Ice Storm lasts for one round.

Change Warpath to Boundless Charge.

NOTE: Borka was proving too strong in MK IV, so we changed the timing of his feat to add a little more counter play.

Hoarluk Doomshaper, Rage of Dhunia

Now a Scout warlock.

Change Agitation to Guardian Beast/Watcher.

Dire Troll Brawler

Add Beatback.

Earthborn Dire Troll

Point Cost 12.

Troll Basher

Point Cost 7.

Troll Bouncer

Point Cost 8.

Kriel Warrior Standard & Piper

Point Cost 2.

Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes

Point Cost 5.

Northkin Bear Handler & Battle Bears

Cut Prowl.

Northkin Fire Eaters

Gains Pathfinder.

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