Today I review and unbox Arcane Cataclysm, the latest entry in the series of Age of Sigmar battleboxes. Lumineth Realm-lords face the Disciples of Tzeentch, when magical hosts duel in the ruins of eldritch war. Let’s find out more about the two exclusive models and whether the box is a good deal or not.
Arcane Cataclysm will be available for preorder starting Saturday, August 20 2022, and is on sale one week after. Inside this Warhammer Age of Sigmar battlebox you’ll find 55 models, a campaign booklet, a small core rules book, as well as warscroll cards and a token sheet. Of the 55 models, only two are new: the Scinari Enlightener for the Lumineth Realm-lords, and an updated Curseling in plastic for the Disciples of Tzeentch.
Arcane Cataclysm review
Arcane Cataclysm is one of the thinner Warhammer battleboxes, yet it’s chock full of models. For the Lumineth Realm-lords, we have five Vanari Bladelords, five Vanari Dawnriders, 10 Vanari Auralan Sentinels, plus the new Scinari Enlightener. The Disciples of Tzeentch come up with three Tzaangor Enlightened/Skyfires on Discs of Tzeentch, 10 Tzaangors, and 20 Kairic Acolytes, plus the updated Curseling sculpt.
And apart from the small Age of Sigmar core rules book and the cards and tokens, we have a nicely made campaign booklet with 44 pages, containing lore, unique scenarios, a showcase section, and warscrolls for the models included.
Lumineth Realm-lords contents
The Lumineth models are a solid mix of core units, all following the classic High Elf aesthetic. Since the Lumineth Realm-lords have not yet received a Start Collecting or Vanguard box, I’m sure most Lumineth Realm-lords collectors will appreciate the selection, even though the Dawnriders were already included in the army set and battleforce box before. If you’re looking for more recent models from the 2nd release wave you’ll be disappointed though.
New is the Scinari Enlightener, a battle mage hero for the Lumineth. The model comes on a small clampack-sized sprue and has two different head options, one with a helmet and one with female features and a long braid. The floating pose is well articulated and seems less forced than Myari’s yoga pose from the Myari’s Purifiers Warhammer Underworlds warband.
Disciples of Tzeentch contents
The Disciples of Tzeentch have had so many appearances in battleforces, Start Collecting and battleboxes over the years, that we see the same models over and over: Tzaangors, Tzaangors on disks, and Kairic Acolytes. Unfortunately, the Age of Sigmar Tzeentch model range isn’t very broad, so yet another repackaging of the same core units feels rather dull. It’s a good selection for new players though. The introduction of a new unit, like armoured warriors in the style of the Curseling’s host, would have made the Tzeentch side of things much more exciting.
The Curseling’s new model comes on a small clampack-size sprue as well, without any build or posing options. The model is takes a lot of ideas of the original Finecast model, but has a more open attacking pose and its host traded a flail for an atrophied arm. Not the best trade, but who am I to question the Changer of Ways.
Value
With an RRP of £135 / 175 € / $220, Arcane Cataclysm is significantly more expensive than previous Age of Sigmar battleboxes Echoes of Doom and Arena of Shadows, and with a similar amount of content (Arcane Cataclysm has 13 more models, but no larger kits like Echoes of Doom’s Screaming Bell). Let’s reflect if it’s still a good deal or not.
Adding up the value of the models purchased individually, and assuming a value of £135 / 24 € / $33.50 for the Scinari Enlightener (like a Scinari Cathallar / Calligraphe / Loreseeker) and £135 / 27 € / $220 for the Curseling (like the Changeling), the models add up to a value of approx. £250 / €331 / $413.50, which makes a discount of about 45%. Pretty good, though keep in mind that the older Tzeentch kits had quite a few price increases by now which diminishes the perceived value somewhat.
With the additional saving of up to 20% on Warhammer products at our partner stores Wayland Games, Element Games, and Taschengelddieb the box becomes even more attractive:
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