Review: Warmachine: Shadows & Scum

Today we’re doing something completely different: the Shadows & Scum Box from Warmachine, a perfect new starter set for two players with two 30-point Command Cadres. The set brings a wave of new hard plastic miniatures for the Khymaera and Trollkin Southern Kriels. In this review, we’ll find out how the casting quality and model design compare to current Games Workshop releases.

The Warmachine: Shadows & Scum box is currently in a pre-order phase that will last until 27 March 2025. Included in the box are 10 miniatures, that make two 30 pts Command Cadres:

• Vallyx, Fate’s Eclipse (Khymaera warlock)
• Aklyss (Khymaera character warbeast)
• Pythia (Khymaera character solo)
• Regulus (Khymaera character solo)
• Shades (Khymaera 3-model character unit)
• Commodore Foulblood (Southern Kriels warlock)
• Chum (Southern Kriels character warbeast)
• Mr Bogs (Southern Kriels character solo)
• Sully (Southern Kriels character solo)
• Lochabash Brothers (Southern Kriels 3-model character unit)

You won’t find a rulebook or printed assembly instructions in the box, just a QR code. The constantly updated rules and lore can be found in the free Warmachine app.

Warmachine: the story so far

Back in the 2000s, I used to buy the No Quarter magazine from Privateer Press quite often, as I enjoyed using Formula P3 paints at the time and the magazine had some fantastic painting tutorials. Beyond that, though, I never really delved deeper into the Warmahordes universe. Even though the cartoonish miniature design and, especially, the fantastic paint jobs always appealed to me. Fast forward to 2025. We’re now in the 4th edition of Warmachine, which has taken a roughly 10-year leap forward in the lore. As a result, many well-known and beloved factions like Cygnar, Khador and Cryx have changed significantly, many factions have left the setting entirely and been replaced by new ones. Along with this came a completely new range of miniatures, a clean slate, essentially. The cringeworthy “play like you’ve got a pair” attitude is gone, and all rules and lore are available for free in the Warmachine app, including legacy rules for the old Warmahordes models and units.

Privateer Press had long struggled to recapture the old successes of Warmachine. Then, in 2024, came the bombshell: Steamforged Games took over the Warmachine IP, as well as the P3 hobby paint range. Since then, the game has been given a serious shot in the arm. There are regular new releases, the P3 paint range has just been updated via Kickstarter (a review hopefully coming soon here on Tale of Painters and my YouTube channel), and, perhaps most importantly: finally, hard plastic miniatures.

Warmachine: Shadows & Scum unboxing

The majority of current Warmachine models are still produced via 3D printing. With Shadows & Scum, Steamforged Games is now releasing their second box in HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene, hard plastic), following the Cygnar & Khador 2-player starter set. It contains 8 medium-sized sprues plus bases, five of which are for the Khymarae, and three of which are for the Trollkin of the Southern Kriels Bloodborne Marauders.

Shard Nocturnes – Khymaera

“Under cover of darkness, the Shard Nocturnes glide in silence, led by cunning Vallyx. Abhorrent Aklyss masks their approach with clouds of acrid haze, while Regulus slips by unseen within the chaos. Aided by Pythia’s arcane acuity, this pack of master assassins track, locate, and dispatch prey with their inescapable blades.”

The Khymaera are flesh-crafted dragonkin made steel by the embrace of Cyriss, the goddess of machines. In addition to the warlock Vallyx (the leader), the box contains two other characters, another unit of 3, and a large warbeast in the form of Aklyss. The model design is damn cool, and thanks to the large wings and scenic rock bases, this Command Cadre has an impressive table presence. This is also due to the fact that the scale of Warmachine is significantly larger than Warhammer. While Games Workshop has now settled on a scale of around 32mm, Warmachine is closer to 35mm, and both the Kyhmarae and the Trollkin in this box are larger than normal humans (or Primaris Space Marines).

Foulblood’s Armada – Southern Kriels

“Wreaking of rum and grapeshot, the vicious buccaneers known as Foulblood’s Armada stagger across the battlefield in a tide of steel and obscenity. Dapper and murderous in equal measure, Commodore Foulblood’s every mad order is executed with swift efficiency by the towering Lochabash Brothers and his dead-eyed killer of a dire troll, Chum. Overhead, the raiding party’s pelican mascot-turned-bomber, Sully, delivers flaming death, while the diminutive pyg, Mr. Boggs, lets loose with his massive deck sweeper.”

The Trollkin have always been fan favourites in the old Warmachine or Hordes setting, and now, in their new incarnation, they’ve also become pirates and seafarers. Brilliant. The box contains Commodore Foulblood as the Warlock, as well as two solo characters, a unit of 3, and a warbeast. Chum, the dire troll, is an absolutely brilliant fusion of troll and shark, who batters opponents with his fishy friend.

Casting & plastic quality

The Warmachine plastic kits are made from a similar plastic to Games Workshop models. Steamforged Games calls this HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene). In direct comparison, the plastic of the sprues in Warmachine: Shadows & Scum is slightly glossier than the matte plastic of Games Workshop. This reminds me of the plastic used in Archon Studios kits, such as their Masters of the Universe board game, which Garfy has fully painted here.

However, the level of detail and sharpness of the casting is of the same high quality as Games Workshop. The fit is excellent, mould lines are minimal, and the plastic cuts well. You can use regular plastic cement. Similar to modern Games Workshop models, the models are sometimes assembled like puzzle pieces, which minimizes visible seam lines. The models are all monopose, so you cannot change the poses, and there are no alternative assembly options or extra parts.

Value

Warmachine: Shadows & Scum has an RRP of £80 / 90 € / $100. That’s significantly less than a Combat Patrol or Spearhead. While you do get slightly less plastic, I still think it’s reasonable considering you get 10 (monster) sized models on 8 sprues with high design and casting quality. Additionally, the rules are available for free in the app, so all you need are some dice and a tape measure to get started with a two-player game.

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I hope you found this review helpful, feel free to leave a reaction or comment below, or post your questions here or discuss on our Discord channel.