Cities of Sigmar: Army Guide, overview, units and more

This article will detail the Cities of Sigmar army starting from its lore, describing the main units and their roles, how the army plays and finally our personal opinion of the army.

For a complete run-down of the different armies available in Age of Sigmar, consult our Age of Sigmar army overview article.

In this article we will refer often to Matched Play and other technical terms like allegiance abilities, command points, army roles in building a list, core battalions, Endless Spells/Invocations, etc. We assume the reader will be knowledgeable with those terms, otherwise please refer to the relevant guides for more details.

Age of Sigmar 4.0
This article has not been updated yet with the newest rules and discoveries from the fourth edition of Age of Sigmar. We will be reviewing all articles and updating them really soon.

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Overview of Cities of Sigmar Army

The Cities of Sigmar represent the common humans and mortal races that walk on the realms and build civilizations. Everything else should be seen with their eyes: those of tiny beings overwhelmed by all other dangerous and violent creations always ready to rip them apart, poison their minds and ravage their bodies and souls.

The Dawnbringer Crusades are those expeditions commanded by Sigmar to reclaim lost territory, and are mostly composed of humans, but it is not unusual to find Ogor allies or divisions of duardin or aelves.

The first battletome was born as a homage to these denizens of the Mortal Realms and regrouped all surviving miniatures from the Empire, High Elves, Dark Elves, Wood Elves and Dwarves armies from Warhammer Fantasy. The very first new miniatures for Age of Sigmar were the heroes of Cursed City boardgame and the ven Denst family of hunters from the Order of Azyr (2021).

While the first army had rules linked to the most important cities spread between the battletome and various other publications including White Dwarf magazines, now everything is consolidated in a single third edition battletome and, in line with the most recent books, cities are just sub-factions that provide an extra rule to further customise your army, rather than coming with a full set of battle traits, artefacts, etc.

At the end of 2023, the range was modernized with many new sculpts, all humans with the exception of a giant Ogor ridden by a human commander. As a consequence, many older sculpts, mainly from the Empire, High and Wood Elves range, were sunset forever. Here is the full list of warscrolls retired:

Freeguild general on foot
Freeguild Crossbowmen/Freeguild Handgunners
Freeguild Guard
Hellblaster Volley Gun/Helstorm Rocket Battery
Freeguild Pistoliers/Freeguild Outriders
Freeguild Greatswords
Demigryph Knights
Flamespyre Phoenix/Frostheart Phoenix (and their Anointed)
Phoenix Guard
Wildwood Rangers/Eternal Guard
Sisters of the Thorn/Wild Riders
Nomad Prince
Shadow Warriors/Sisters of the Watch

The army is now much lighter, but feels also much more divided with humans, aelves and duardin now being 3 sub-groups within the same faction that work completely distinct from each other. Not to say you can’t create small power pairs from each race to combine in your force, but there’s no synergy between them, so you would need to maximise their efficiency by using the appropriate leaders.

Lore of Cities of Sigmar Army

At the beginning of the Mortal Realms, civilization thrived under the leadership of Sigmar’s pantheon. All gods collaborated and taught the mortals many things ushering a golden age. But Chaos planted its poisoned seeds within mortal minds and eventually managed to take a grip on this new universe.

And so, the Age of Chaos dawned, with the mortals being chased to the brink of extinction from all realms except Azyr, Realm of Heavens, where Sigmar retreated bringing as many as he could before closing the gates and leaving everyone else to fence off for themselves.

Centuries later, Sigmar deployed the Stormcast Eternals, warriors forged from the best mortal souls who died fighting against Chaos, to retake that was lost. A new era started and where before there was only desolation and everything was under control of the Ruinous Powers, now there’s a spark of hope. Civilizations started reappearing in all realms and new metropolises grew from tiny outposts thanks to the blood and sacrifice of the many mortals that flocked under Sigmar’s banner.

It was this way that the first cities were born, crown jewel Hammerhal, a city built around a realmgate between Asquy, Realm of Fire and Ghyran, Realm of Life. The Twin Tailed City, so called from Sigmar’s recognisable symbol, sprawls across the two realms with each synergizing with the other. While Aqshy’s fire helps the industrial process and to keep at bay the overgrowing flora population in the Realm of Life, water, blessed and not, from Ghyran flows in the Realm of Fire to protect and feed its citizens.

While the first outposts were secured by the Stormcast Eternals, it is now time for the humans to expand their dominion and extend towards the wilderness, creating new fortified settlements across the ley lines on nexus of immense power. The Dawnbringer Crusades were established for this exact purpose. Re-organised so that Freeguild military divisions would form the military backbone of these expeditions, they are a tax requested to all cities, independently on how well established they are.

As the Cults Unberogen say: the Great Wheel turns! Generation after generation, uncountable denizens of the cities of Sigmar are sent to the slaughter for the slim chance to secure a new important centre. Sons and daughters are lost forever to the grinding turn of the Wheel, but such is the life in the Mortal Realms if there will ever be hope to retake from the Chaos forces what once was a paradise.

Those enrolled are given the Coin Malleus, a symbol that characterises their “willingness” to leave everything behind the “safety” of Sigmar cities in exchange for a plot of land should the crusade be successful. While recruitment efforts can vary from city to city, from zealous citizens to criminals otherwise sentenced to death, the only constant is that most of these ventures will fail as many are the perils besieging them at every corner.

While the cities are protected by all its denizens, independently from race and creed, the crusades are mostly composed by humans. These are usually guided by experienced Marshals and know very well that the first line of defence is a shooting one. That’s why the Fusiliers and the cannons of the Ironweld Arsenal are so important components of a Castelite formation. And the most experienced of them can be found shooting from atop a hulking Ogor in an unlikely combination of firepower and brute strength.

The strong backbone of the Freeguild are the Steelhelms, while the Wildercorps Hunters are the scouts at the fore of the expedition and the cavalry forms the anvil. In such tight formation, the crusaders have some hope to reach destination and succeed in their mission. And where hope is not enough, humans can also employ all sort of magic experts from Battlemages to Alchemite Warforgers.

It is not unusual to see regiments of aelves join the crusades, but they are mostly common appearance in the cities of Sigmar where they have built secluded areas to perform their trade. Their mysterious, and in some ways shady, habits are tolerated by Sigmar’s forces because of the common enemy and their value in battle.

The Sorceress command their Darkling Covens with a mixture of magical prowess and political influence, formed mainly by Dreadspear phalanxes and Bleakswords infantry. The Black Guard are the most trained fighters, able to compete in the gladiatorial arenas against Morathi agents. Next to them we can find the secretive Executioners, armed with draich two-handed blades with their face hidden behind skull masks.

But the cities navy is formed mostly by the Scourge Privateers who sail the treacherous waters of all realms on top of the fast wolfships or the hulking shell of some tamed or mind-controlled monsters in giant floating fortresses known as Black Arks. These pirates can be seen taming all sorts of sea beasts, ready to be unleashed in battle against their numerous enemies.

The Order Serpentis is all is left of the ancient empire of Narkath, from which they learned to ride the dangerous saurians known as Drakespawn and the Black Dragons that are a rare sight, but can be controlled by the best Dreadlords, the military leaders of the order.

The Shadowblades are an independent group of assassins often employed as skirmishers or private killers.

Where the aelves bring magic expertise and humans the manpower, the duardin are better known as the craftsmen that build the cities and fortifications. Sturdy and stubborn, they are equally efficient with a hammer crafting some extremely resilient engine or smashing enemies’ skulls.

The Dispossessed are all is left of the Khazalid Empire that once occupied a vast network of mountains. Their leaders are elderly Warden Kings and Queens, as age is extremely revered in duardin culture. Their infantry is famous for their toughness, be it simple Longbeards or elite Hammerers.

If there’s a need for more action, the Ironbreakers, clad in enchanted gromril armour, are veritable walking tanks, while the Irondrakes wield mini-cannons able to fell even the toughest troggoth.

The Ironweld Arsenal provides the war machines that support duardin and Castelite formations alike, with Steam Tanks vaporising anything opposing them and Gyrobombers and Gyrocopters representing the flying scouts, able to identify enemy threats or bombard them from atop.

Army rules for the Cities of Sigmar

But how does a Cities of Sigmar army play on a tabletop? First let’s go through their main rules.

Cities of Sigmar have a whooping 11 sub-factions, combining those from the previous tome and other publications with some brand-new. Compared to previous iterations, now sub-factions provide only an extra bonus, but the list of enhancements is shared across the entire army.

Before going on specific sub-factions let’s analyse the main battle trait of this army: Orders. These are a new mechanic that enables your heroes to really pull their weight on the battlefield. Here are some characteristics:

Each hero can receive only 1 Order.
Orders are kept secret from your opponent.
The same order cannot be assigned more than 3 times in the same battle round.
A unit cannot receive the same order more than once in the same phase.
All unused orders are lost at the end of the battle round.
Orders are not commands and do not prevent issuing or receiving commands.

There are four types of Orders, the receiving unit has to be within 3″ of the issuing hero:

Cities of Sigmar Orders can be assigned to any hero:
- Advance in Formation: start of your movement phase. Friendly Cities units add 3″ to their move. Castelite units with the Fortified position ability that end the move within 3″ of the hero still benefit from their fortified ability even if they moved.
- Counter-charge: end of enemy charge phase. A unit outside 3″ from all enemies can attempt a charge and if successful adds +1 to the rend.
Human Orders can be assigned only to human heroes and affect only human units:
- Return Fire: when a unit is targeted by enemy shooting within 3″ of the hero. One unit can immediately shoot.
- Suppressing Fire: start of your shooting phase. A unit that uses all its missile attacks against the same target can then roll 2D6 and add the number of slain models. If the result surpasses the Bravery of the target unit, the strike-last effect is applied until the end of the turn.
- Engage the Foe: start of your charge phase. A unit outside 3″ of all enemy units that has not yet fought can add +1 to the attacks in the next combat phase.
Duardin Orders can be assigned only to duardin heroes and affect only duardin units:
- Form Shieldwall: start of enemy combat phase. A unit with more than 5 models obtains strike-last effect but also a 5+ ward.
- Grim Last Stand: start of your combat phase. Each time a model from that unit is slain, on a 5+ allocates 1 mortal wound to an enemy unit within 3″ of the model.
Aelf Orders can be assigned only to aelf heroes and affect only aelf units:
- Strike Them Down: start of the charge phase. If this unit charges, it obtains strike-first effect.
- Swift Disengage: end of combat phase. A unit within 3″ of enemy units can immediately retreat.

This is the core of the army. Before going into the enhancements here is the list of subfactions available:

Hammerhal Asqua, the side on Aqshy, realm of Fire, of the Twin Tailed City. A single hero can receive 2 different orders instead of 1. If Aventis Firestrike is part of the army and alive, you get 1 additional command point.
Tempest’s Eye, nested on top of the Titanspear Mountain in Aqshy. Friendly units (including Kharadron Overlords allies) can retreat and still shoot.
Hallowheart, a mining city full of magic built within the Shimmering Abyss in Aqshy. Wizards can roll 3D6 to cast a spell, but, if the unmodified result is 10+, they receive D3 damage.
Hammerhal Ghyra, the side on Ghyran, realm of Life, of the Twin Tailed City. You can reinforce an extra unit and Human units with 10 or more models have Bravery 10.
The Living City, deep within Ghyran, Sylvaneth and locals fight side by side. You can set a unit in reserve for each already deployed (including allied Sylvaneth units). Those can be deployed at the end of your movement phase within 6″ from an edge and 9″ away from enemy units.
Greywater Fastness, an industrial centre famous for its gun foundries within Ghyran. You can use 3 times the All-out Attack in your shooting phase and the first 2 times a command point is not spent.
Lethis, grim worshippers of forgotten gods hailing from Shysh, realm of Death. Human heroes that are not wizards become Priests. Human and allied Stormcast Eternal priests know a prayer that removes the Ward save from a target unit.
Vindicarum, extremely zealous city located in Chamon, realm of Metal. Units can receive the Rally command when within 3″ of enemy units and if Flagellant units receive it, they return slain models on a 5+ instead of a 6.
Excelsis, at the centre of many disasters occurring in Ghur, realm of Beasts, more recently barely escaped an attack from Kragnos himself. Friendly monsters get 1 more wound, while Cavaliers immediately after fighting roll a dice for each model and for each 4+ they do an extra mortal wound.
Settler’s Gain, a city in Hysh, realm of Light, where the locals are trained by the Lumineth. Wizards obtain +1 to cast and if the general is within 3″ of an allied Lumineth Realm-lords hero, they get an additional command point at the start of each hero phase.
Misthåvn, a city made of ships lashed to one another and den of pirates in Ulgu, realm of Shadows. Up to 3 different units more than 12″ from all enemy units can make a D6″ move (roll separately) at the end of your hero phase. If mounted, they can move 2D6″. This movement can end within 3″ of an enemy unit.

We start the list of enhancements with the command traits, split between Humans, like Master of Ballistics that provides an extra +1 to wound when the general issue the All-out Attack command to a Castelite unit in the shooting phase, Duardin, like Insurmountable Resilience which heals back wounds to the general at the end of the combat phase for each 3+, and Aelves like Unparalleled Duellist that allocates 1 mortal wound for each hit from the enemy unit melee attacks that misses.

The artefacts of power are equally split with Human heroes having options like Mastro Vivetti’s Magnificent Macroscope that gives +3″ range to missile attacks of friendly units within 12″, Duardin heroes being able to choose the Book of Grudges that gives all Duardin a +1 to hit against a target enemy unit, and Aelf wizard heroes being able to pick the Anklet of Epiphany, which gives +6″ range to spells cast while on a terrain feature or contesting an objective.

There’s two spell lore, one for humans (Lore of the Collegiate Arcane) and one for Aelves (Lore of Dark Sorcery) plus the Rune lore for Duardin priests, all explained in the wizards and priests section.

For simplicity, we kept the usual distinction based on the battlefield role, but we subdivided in humans, duardin and aelves each section. There is also a summary list in the Tactics section.

Units and their roles in the Cities of Sigmar Army

Heroes in Cities of Sigmar

Heroes can perform Heroic Actions, in addition to the other abilities they can perform. You do it in the hero phase and you can only do one heroic action. Here is the list:

Heroic Leadership: on a 4+ (or 2+ if your general has been slain) get a command point only that hero can use.
Heroic Willpower: one non-Wizard hero can attempt to dispel or unbind a spell for that phase like he was a wizard.
Their Finest Hour: can be used only once by each hero to improve save and wound rolls by 1 for that turn.
Heroic Recovery: a disengaged hero can heal D3 wounds if he rolls less or equal to his bravery with 2D6.

Humans

Tahlia Vedra, Lioness of the Parch is the newest centrepiece of the army and a majestic one at it. She has a decent melee profile and counts as a general for a Hammerhal Aqsha army (she is locked in this sub-faction). However the buffs she provides are not restricted: when within 3″ of an enemy, she can issue the command Rally to Human units within 3″ of enemy units returning models on a 4+ instead of a 6 and can be given 2 orders instead of 1.

If you are counting, Hammerhal Aqsha subfaction already provides this buff, so with Tahlia you would have 2 extra orders to give each turn. The downside of this unit is a monstrous rampage that requires an enemy charging monster ending within 3″ of this model and the 4+ save/6+ ward that is not bad but not the best.

The Freeguild Marshal on Griffon is the old Karl Franz model from Warhammer Fantasy. With 14″ flying movement is a mobile hammer, pity for his 4+ save and no innate ward. Once per battle can be given 2 orders and if you choose Counter-charge and the lance as a weapon loadout, he will now charge in the enemy phase and if successful the lance will bring him to rend -3 and 3 damage each hit. When he roars, he can pick two units instead of 1.

The Freeguild Marshal and Relic Envoy is a support piece whose main ability is either to perform an extra heroic action, or to allow a single unit to not spend a command point when they receive a command. In addition, his own heroic action allows up to 3 friendly Human units to count double when contesting an objective if he can score equal or less than their Bravery score with 2D6.

Normally is pretty hard and you would go for the free command (average Human Bravery is 5 plus 1 for the standard bearer) but in Hammerhal Ghyra humans have Bravery 10 as long as they have more than 10 models in the unit.

The Freeguild Cavalier-Marshal is the leader of your Cavalry. If you interested in that aspect of the army, there’s no one better than him as he can provide nearby Cavaliers a +3 charge the turn he activates Their Finest Hour heroic action. Combined with the fact that when he charges he has the strike-first effect and that a unit of Cavaliers can attack right after him, that’s quite a starting punch in the combat phase.

In Excelsis the Cavaliers also do mortal wounds after fighting (on a 4+) so if you are interested in a cavalry-based army that could be a great option for a devastating charge, even better if using the order Counter-charge in the enemy charge phase joining a unit of Cavaliers already engaged.

The Fusil-Major on Ogor Warhulk represents the only new miniature with a non-human model. In game is a sharpshooter that can swing in melee with a good 3+ save and when fortified (can’t move in the same phase) ignores also rend from shooting attacks received.

His main support ability increases the shooting range of a Castelite unit by D6″ for that shooting phase.

The Steam Tank Commander is the hero version of the Steam Tank, an iconic old Empire piece. It has a wide range of shooting attacks and even the possibility of increasing them by adding More Pressure! at the risk of some mortal wounds.

The commander provides more attacks, but also unlocks normal Steam Tanks as battleline and is able to issue twice the same command to Steam Tanks (e.g. All-out Attack for himself and a Steam Tank) at the cost of a single command point. He is a fun piece, with a 2+ save but no warscroll protection from mortal wounds. At the right cost point can figure in many lists.

Galen Ven Denst and Doralia Ven Denst are two agents of Azyr protagonists of their own Black Library series of novels. You need to take them both although they are separate units, making them less interesting as a duo than taken individually for their double damage on wizards and daemons and ability to dispel endless spells by attacking them.

Haskel Hexbane is the leader of the Hexbane’s Hunters, a Warhammer Underworld warband specialised in hunting hero wizards and doing mortal wounds to Death, Demon or Wizards at the end of the combat.

Duardin

The Warden King is the leader of the Dispossessed, also an iconic character from Warhammer Fantasy. If he is chosen as a general, he will issue a grudge against a single enemy unit so that all unmodified hit rolls of 6 from melee attacks of friendly Duardin automatically wound.

He can also fight followed immediately after by another unit, and in that case it forms a good power pair with the Ironbreakers after issuing them the Form Shieldwall order so that they still get the 4+ ward bonus, but they ignore the strike-last effect as they are selected to fight out of sequence.

The Cogsmith is a shooting hero whose only role is to issue commands to any Gyrocopter or Gyrobomber on the battlefield. And that’s it… Too little for him to ever be useful.

Aelves

The Dreadlord on Black Dragon is a hero from the Order Serpentis. He is a melee character with a shooting attack that depends on the number of models in the enemy unit, and a plethora of weapon loadouts. The shield in particular makes him always save on a 6 independently from the enemy modifier (so he basically still has a chance against rend -3 or higher). Apart from this, his most important trait is the ability to re-roll charge rolls of friendly Order Serpentis units within 12″.

The Assassin is a Shadowblade hero specialised in warfare. He has decent attacks that allocate D3 mortal wounds on unmodified 6s to hit, receives strike-first effect the turn he charges and is invisible from enemy unit further than 12″ as long as he is close-by an Aelf unit with 3 or more models.

The Black Ark Fleetmaster is a Scourge Privateers hero. When attacking him, every unmodified hit roll of 1 is automatic 2 mortal wounds to the attacking unit and when he issues All-out Attack to a Scourge Privateers unit, it adds +1 attack in addition to the +1 to hit. Works both in the shooting and combat phase, and creates a nice power pair with the Black Ark Corsairs.