Nurgle Daemons Warband - Guide, tactiques et vue d'ensemble

Grandfather Nurgle is the benevolent Chaos God of plagues and diseases spreading his “gifts” to everyone, willing or not. Nurgle’s Daemons are as cheerful as their master and live to fester all Mortal Realms.

Are you ready to spread Nurgle’s blessing in the Eightpoints? This is the guide for the Nurgle Daemons warband in Warcry.

What changed in the new edition for the Nurgle Befouled Bands?

As all warbands, even Nurgle Daemons had some point changes, but they also saw few profiles updated, like the Plague Drone hitting much harder or Plaguebearers becoming tougher.

Few abilities changed as well. Please note, that at the publication of the Compendium (Aug 2022) there is a most likely typo that makes the Grandfather’s Blessing ability available only to Spoilpox Scrivener and his Menacing Overseer ability available to all Leaders. We are treating that as a typo so all references in our guide is inverted compared to the Compendium.

Briar and Bone added an optional battle trait.

Background and Lore of the Nurgle Daemons Warband

Nurgle is called Grandfather by his followers because he distributes his gifts equally. He rejoices in death and decay because from rot and corpses new life can bloom in form of maggots, parasites, flies, etc. He is akin to the Goddess of Life Alarielle (but quite a bit more nasty), and as such he long coveted her realm Ghyran, until Sigmar rescued her and together closed the main entrance of Nurgle’s armies in the Realm of Life.

Nurgle’s daemons are a mirror of their creator, happy to fester any corner of the realms and distribute the dubious boons under form of diseases and pestilence. At the head of a daemon’s army there are Great Unclean Ones, similar in shape and form to Nurgle himself, a huge mass of rotten flesh, ichor and pus. The most numerous warriors of these armies are the Plaguebearers: one-eyed beings covered in every sort of disease. Some of them ride Rot Flies in battle and are known as Plague Drones.

While the Plague Drones roam in the sky, on the ground horrible slug-like Beasts of Nurgle charge to battle in search of unlucky playmates. Wherever Nurgle’s armies go, a carpet of small Nurglings follow them, literally drowning their opponents in swarms.

Nurgle has a particular interest in the Eightpoints, as an important gateway to spread his gifts to all other realms and as an important laboratory for development of new diseases.

But Nurgle Deamons Befouled Bands are wise enough to not attack directly the centre of power but rather slowly corrupt everything they touch biding their time.

How do Grandfather’s minion play on the tabletop in Warcry? If you have the stomach to continue, let’s have a look at the most disgusting details.

Overview and Points for the Fighters in the Nurgle Daemons Warband

Daemons of Nurgle Befouled Bands are made from 7 kits with 9 options of which 5 are leaders.

Poxbringer: 130 points

The Poxbringer is now much cheaper, despite being the only ranged option in the warband.

His 2 Attacks can reach 7″ for 3/6 damage.

However in melee he is much more performant with a profile on par with a Plaguebringer: 4 Attacks at Strength 4 for 2/5 damage.

He is the only leader without special abilities, but he has access to La bénédiction du grand-père that for a Triple allows to increase the Strength of all friendly fighters within 7″. Strength is indeed the weakest point of this warband.

Movement is also another weak spot of the Befouled, and the Poxbringer with 3″ Movement is no exception.

Resilience however, is not too much an issue with 20 Wounds, Toughness 4 and the ability to heal some damage allocated on a Double (Une résilience déconcertante).

Spoilpox Scrivener: 135 points

The Spoilpox Scrivener has the highest strength in the Befouled (5) but only 2 Attacks (for 3/5 damage).

He has however access to many abilities, including Superviseur menaçant that increases the number of Attacks for friendly fighters within 9″. If you have two leaders (or two activations), you can combine it with La bénédiction du grand-père to add +1 Strength as well. Please note the 2022 Compendium swaps the two abilities, granting Superviseur menaçant to every leader. We believe it is an error to be corrected in the next FAQ.

Now every cheap Plaguebearer in range becomes 4 Attacks at Strength 4 each activation.

The second special ability reserved to the Scrivener is Disgusting Sneeze that allows to do up to 6 damage to an enemy within 7″ quite reliably (on a 2+). It can be useful if you spread wide and need to kill an enemy otherwise unreachable. Consider it has now a reduced range and less damage. If your Triple is not high enough it may not be worth as a La bénédiction du grand-père is probably the best use of your Triple most of the time.

Sloppity Bilepiper: 130 points

As all previous leaders, the Bilepiper has 20 Wounds and Toughness 4, however he is also the fastest (only behind the Plague Drones and Nurglings) with 4″ Movement.

In melee his 3 Attacks at Strength 4 for 2/4 damage are probably the better balanced attacks available outside of the Poxbringer.

His special ability however solves the other problem of the warband outside of Strength: Movement! For a Double he can increase of 1″ the Movement of all friendly fighters starting within 7″.

Considering he has access also to La bénédiction du grand-père, he can sort out the needs of the warband by himself adding Movement in the initial turns when is needed to reach the enemies, and Strength later on when the engagements start.

Drones pesteux

• Plaguebringer: 255 points
• Plague Drone: 205 points

The Plague Drones are the fastest (and most expensive) unit of this warband with 6” flying Movement that allows them to reach corners otherwise difficult. High wounds (30 or 35 for the Plaguebringer) and Toughness (4) will allow them to resist most attacks and, on the other hand, dish out some of their own.

Le Plaguebringer presents 5 attacks at Strength 4 for 2/4 damage, while the Plague Drone has 1 attack less (4). The Rot Fly Venomous Sting ability allows for a Double to immobilize a victim: on a 2+ the enemy cannot perform disengage or move actions for the rest of the battle round (pretty good for a Double).

Porteurs de peste de Nurgle

• Plagueridden: 90 points
• Plaguebearer: 60 points

Le Porteurs de plumes are cheap units, including the cheapest leader of this warband, to be used as sacrificial pawns.

Despite this they still have a decent profile: 10 wounds, Movement 3”, Toughness 4, 3 attacks at Strength 3 for damage 1/4

Le Plagueridden has more wounds, 1 more attack and more damage (2/4).

What distinguishes the Plaguebearers is their trademark ability: Nuage de mouches. This ability costs a Triple but reduces by 1 the number of attacks that targets them. While normally a strong unit would get rid of them easily, horde units may start to struggle to remove a strategically placed Plaguebearer.

If that was not enough, on a Double they can also heal back with Une résilience déconcertante.

A Plaguebearer shoved of gifts by Nurgle can become quite dangerous: for a Triple and a Quad you can use both La bénédiction du grand-père et Superviseur menaçant to increase Attacks and Strength by 1.

Beast of Nurgle: 150 points

The Beast of Nurgle is the elite unit of this warband. It is now a Beast (meaning they cannot open doors), with a “bestial” profile: 30 wounds, Movement 4”, Toughness 4, 4 attacks at Strength 4 for 2/4 damage.

Its ability, Acidic Slime Trail, allows it to perform a bonus disengage and damage the unit at the same time, possibly to finish off a horde unit preventing otherwise the Beast from engaging more succulent objectives.

Nurglings: 115 points

The Nurglings are an interesting fighter, or to better put it, a swarm of mini fighters. With 20 Wounds but Toughness 3, they can take some punches before being knocked out, but then, for a Quad, you can heal them as much as 12 wounds in a single round. The advantage of this ability is that it doesn’t matter if they are already engaged, as opposite to other similar abilities like the universal Respite. Why would you use a Quad to prolong the life of a Nurgling? That will most likely be situational, but surely an instrument more in your arsenal.

In melee Nurglings have 6 attacks at Strength 3 for 1/3 damage, but don’t forget the La bénédiction du grand-père that can bring their Strength to 4 in the right circumstances or Superviseur menaçant that can bring their Attacks to 7. Now 14 attacks at Strength 4 represent a visible threat.

Capacités pour les démons de Nurgle

• Résilience déconcertante (double, tout le monde) : Lancez jusqu'à 6 dés et pour chaque 3+, retirez une blessure à ce combattant.
• Trace de bave acide (Double, Bête de Nurgle) : Désengagez-vous d'un ennemi et infligez-lui jusqu'à 6 points de dégâts.
• Piqûre venimeuse (Double, tous les bourdons de peste) : Choisissez un combattant ennemi visible dans un rayon de 1" et lancez un dé : sur un 2+, cette unité ne peut pas effectuer d'actions de déplacement ou de désengagement jusqu'à la fin du round de combat.
• Jolly Gutpipes (Double, Sloppity Bilepiper) : Ajoutez 1″ au déplacement des combattants amis commençant à portée.
• Nuage de mouches (triple, tous les Plaguebearers) : Soustrayez 1 à la caractéristique Attaques (jusqu'à un minimum de 1) pour les attaques qui ciblent ce combattant.
• Bénédiction du grand-père (triple, tous les chefs) : Ajoutez 1 à la caractéristique de Force des armes de mêlée de tous les combattants amis à portée.
• Atchoum dégoûtant (Triple, Spoilpox Scrivener) : Jusqu'à 6 points de dégâts à un seul chasseur ennemi dans un rayon de 7″.
• Essaim sans fin (Quad, Nurglings) : Retire jusqu'à 12 blessures à ce combattant.
• Superviseur menaçant (Quad, Spoilpox Scrivener) : Ajoutez 1 à la caractéristique d'attaque des armes de mêlée de tous les combattants amis à portée.

Réaction pour le Warband Nurgle Daemons

Introduit dans la nouvelle saison de Warcry, Réactions sont des choses qui peuvent être faites dans certaines circonstances, mais toujours pendant le tour de l'ennemi. Elles coûtent une action et ne peuvent donc être utilisées que par les combattants qui n'ont pas encore été activés ou qui attendent. Il existe 3 réactions universelles et une réaction spécifique à chaque groupe de combat :

Impossible à blesser (Tout le monde)

• Quand: Pendant une action d'attaque en mêlée de l'ennemi, mais avant les jets de touche.
• Quoi ? 1 dégât en moins (jusqu'à un minimum de 1) à chaque coup réussi.

Trait de bataille pour le Warband Nurgle Daemons

Vecteurs d'infection : Au début du round de combat, pour chaque combattant ennemi engagé, sur un 5+ allouez-lui 1 dégât. Ne fonctionne pas avec les autres combattants de Maggotkin of Nurgle.

Strategy and Tactics for Nurgle Daemons

Daemons of Nurgle Befouled Band is an interesting warband making good use of the various disgustingly Nurgle demon units. Each unit feels like it has its scope and place:

• Plaguebearers represent horde units to take objectives by sheer number or slow down the toughest opponents.
• Plague Drones provide that desperately required mobility to a warband otherwise quite slow.
• Beasts of Nurgle are the elite tank units able to withstand some damage and punch back.
• The Nurglings are the usual nuisance and distraction, able to regenerate, decent wounds and lots of attacks to not underestimate.

What this warband is missing is some ranged attack, but that is the case for a lot of warbands.

Then there is the leader option, and each one has its own niche, allowing you to bring even more than one if required:

• The Poxbringer is there for sheer damage and the occasional ranged attack in case he has to stay in a certain place to maximise La bénédiction du grand-père.
• The Scrivener is there to increase Attacks at the best occasion. He can also perform some ranged damage for a Triple, but considering he has access to two buffing abilities, you may not have a chance to use that attack.
• The Bilepiper increases the Movement instead.
• The Plaguebringer is the toughest leader in the warband going toe to toe with the Poxbringer.
• The Plagueridden is the cheapest and…. mmm well is the cheapest if you really are struggling for points.

Regarding the base units (and their corresponding leaders), Plaguebearers can reduce the number of attacks towards them with a Triple (Nuage de mouches), while Plague Drones can prevent move or disengage actions of a target enemy unit (Venomous Sting). Both abilities are better left to the units than used on the leaders, unless necessary and no better Triple to be used to buff units with La bénédiction du grand-père.

The Beast of Nurgle is not the strongest or most resistant unit in the game but has a well-balanced profile for its point cost. In addition, if bogged down by horde units, for a mere Double (Acidic Slime Trail) can perform a bonus disengage and damage the fighter in the process, potentially finishing it off (up to 6 damage depending on the value of the Double). It can be useful to abandon a cheap unit almost dead and concentrate the remaining attacks on something meatier.

The Nurglings have 6 attacks for relatively low damage, but their strength is in the numbers. With well 3 abilities to heal them (Une résilience déconcertante for a Double, the universal Respite for a Triple and Endless Swarm for a Quad) if you want to keep them alive you definitely can! Why you would do that, would probably depend on the scenario but if you are playing tag, with 5” Movement, they are definitely your best bet for the long run.

All units in the warband have a chance to regenerate some wounds for a Double, compensating with the otherwise quite low Toughness (3). And we already talked at length of the ways to boost Movement (Bilepiper), Attacks (Scrivener) and Strength (all leaders).

The warband reaction, Impossible to Wound, should also reduce the damage taken, but it works only on fighters with a minimum damage of 2 or more and only on normal hits, meaning that most of the time you have better use for your actions.

In summary, Befouled Bands are well balanced with quite few synergies, forgiving in the paint job (can be as disgusting as you want) and probably a good starting warband for a beginner.

Avantages et inconvénients des démons de Nurgle

+ Un groupe de combat bien équilibré

- Pas d'options échelonnées

Some thematic warbands for the Befouled Bands

Pour le plaisir, nous vous présentons ici quelques groupes de guerre thématiques, davantage destinés à l'amusement ou au contexte narratif qu'au jeu compétitif. Notez que dans le jeu narratif, vous devez accomplir une quête qui vous permet de recruter un Héros avant de pouvoir l'ajouter à votre liste.

The Merry Band: Spoilpox Scrivener, Sloppity Bilepiper, 1 Plague Drone, 1 Beast of Nurgle, 2 Nurglings, 3 Plaguebearers to submerge your opponent in music of joy.

How to buy the Warband

Independently if  you are starting a Nurgle Age of Sigmar army or just want a Warcry warband, the Commencez à collectionner ! Les démons de Nurgle is an excellent starting point. Almost all miniatures available are in this box: this includes 3 Plague Drones, 10 Plaguebearers, a Poxbringer and 3 Nurglings, the first 2 with their own leader option. The only missing models would be the Beast of Nurgle, available in a single model box.

Please note that this box has been replaced by the Vanguard: Maggotkin of Nurgle, that is now a better starting point for Nurgle armies, but not such a good deal for Warcry Nurgle Daemons as it contains only a Spoilpox and 10 Plaguebearers (the other units are Rotbringers).

And Spoilpox Scrivener et Bilepiper de Sloppity available in individual blisters for £20 each.

We have a review of the Daemons of Nurgle Start Collecting box if that is something that interest you.

If you want to buy individual boxes Drones pesteux are available for £35, Porteurs de plumes for £22.5 and Nurglings for £20 (as of March 2021). But yeah, that start collecting is really the way to go.

Tips on painting Nurgle Daemons

Nurgle’s Daemons are available in different game formats from Warhammer 40k to Age of Sigmar, so there is plenty of tutorials out there. The best thing is that you can be messy when painting Nurgle armies.

From Warhammer Community you have the new battle ready tutorials with the classic et contrast method for Plaguebearers.

For the Rot Fly on the Plague Drones you can find details like the wings or if you have an airbrush this tutorial.

Not really a painting tutorial but if you are good at sculpting this video shows a nice way to make two Beasts from one single box with some clay.

Finally, Nurglings can be painted in different ways, here is an example.