Games Workshop has made several announcements during this year's Warhammer Preview Online. But rather than focus on recent additions to their grimdark sci-fi world of Warhammer 40k or continuing support for their Age of Sigmar spin-off Warcry, the studio has announced brand new named units and boxed sets for their tabletop miniatures game based on the works of JRR Tolkien, the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game. Here is a list of everything that was announced.
Warhammer Preview Online - Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game: The Battle of Osgiliath
The first big announcement from Warhammer Preview Online is a new boxed game for the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game. As the name suggests, The Battle of Osgiliath allows players to recreate the invasion of the capital of Gondor by Gothmog and his orc army. This is similar to other boxed sets which recreate iconic battles from The Lord of the Rings such as Battle in Balin's Tomb. The box will contain 27 Good aligned forces: 12 Warriors of Minas Tirith, 12 Rangers of Gondor, as well as three named units Faramir (brother of Boromir), Madril, and Damrod. All of these units will be featured in new plastic material. As for the forces of Mordor, they will include Gothmog, both by himself as well as him riding a ferocious warg mount, 24 Morannon Orcs, and a Mordor Troll. Finally, The Battle of Osgiliath will include new pieces of terrain, an updated 224-page rules manual as well as a scenario book for you to recreate different parts of the battle. There is currently no release date or price set.
Warhammer Preview Online - Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game Battlehost Boxes
Following the new boxed set, Games Workshop also announced new battlehost boxes for the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game. These are boxes players can pick up to either expand their existing armies or start their own. Each of the new battlehost boxes features four key armies from The Lord of the Rings and will contain at least one named unit. Those battlehost boxes are as follows:
- The Mordor Battlehost Box: This contains 32 miniatures, including Orcs, Warg Riders, and The Witch-king of Angmar.
- The Isengard Battlehost Box: This contains 48 miniatures, including Uruk-hai Warriors, Uruk-hai Scouts, as well as the named units Grima Wormtongue and Saruman
- The Minas Tirith Battlehost Box: This contains 33 miniatures, including Warriors of Minas Tirith, Knights of Minas Tirith, and Gandalf The White
- The Rohan Battlehost Box: This contains 32 miniatures, including Riders of Rohan, Warriors of Rohan, and Eomer, Marshal of the Riddermark
No release dates or prices for these sets have been announced at the time of writing.
Warhammer Preview Online - Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game New Named Units
Finally, Games Workshop has announced mighty elven heroes will be returning to the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game. First is Glorfindel, Lord of the West, arguably the greatest elf warrior of Rivendell. The miniature will be returning in a new resin kit through Forge World and will contain two versions. The first will be Glorfindel by himself; the second will be him mounted on his trusty steed Asfaloth. Alongside Glorfindel will be two more elven heroes, Rumil and Orophin, as well as the Guards of the Galadhrim Court. All of their models will be resin courtesy of Forge World.
But the last elven hero they announced is one many know: Elrond Master of Rivendell. This is the great hero who fought against the Dark Lord Sauron during the War of the Last Alliance as well as a witness to the Fellowship of the Ring. Much like Glorfindel, Elrond will have two different miniatures; one on foot and one on horseback. No release dates or prices for these sets have been announced.
