The Drukhari have raided the realspace once more, bringing with them a couple of fresh releases. Among them a model for Lady Malys, and a Battleforce featuring a brand new multipart Archon. We’ll take a close look at both new sculpts, complete with HQ sprue images and all the possible build options.
The new Drukhari releases will be available for pre-order starting Saturday, 27 September 2025. The pre-order period lasts two weeks, with the official release date set for 11 October 2025.
Lady Malys unboxing & review
Lady Aurelia Malys is the Archon of the Kabal of the Poisoned Tongue. She is an incredibly intelligent and precognitive leader, whose mind can even match the wits of Asdrubael Vect.
Her model comes in a small box containing a single sprue, a 32mm base, and the assembly guide. The sprue surfaced in the wild a few months ago, likely due to a packing error at the warehouse, but is now finally available. The RRP is
Like many Drukhari and Asuryani models, Lady Malys stands on a scenic base decorated with fragments of ancient Aeldari ruins. Her silhouette is strikingly designed – her two distinctive braids and flowing robe sweep dramatically in one direction, while her steel fan and sword, The Lady’s Blade, extend in the other.
Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.
The model is monopose, though you have a choice of two heads: one with a veil covering her face (parts 14 and 15), or one bare face (11 and 12). I would recommend the veiled option, as the bare face feels a little too smooth and youthful for a Dark Eldar character to me (Drukhari sculpts tend to feature sharper features). In fact, the face sculpt is almost directly lifted from one of the heads of the new Aeldari Guardians (I painted some of them for my Ulthwé collection here).
That aside, Lady Malys is a very well-designed miniature, and I’m delighted she has finally received a model, as she has always been one of the more intriguing figures in Dark Eldar lore.
Drukhari Realmspace Raiders Battleforce
This weekend also sees the release of a Drukhari Battleforce box, which includes a brand new multipart Archon. The set is available only while stocks last, with an RRP of £145.
Recently, Games Workshop has made a habit of debuting new characters in Battleforces before releasing them separately (for example, the Death Guard Lord of Poxes and the World Eaters Slaughterbound). In the past, these kinds of bundles tended to be two-army Battleboxes containing small forces for different factions, such as Blood of the Phoenix or Eldritch Omens.
The Realspace Raiders box contains the following 37 models:
- 1 new (multipart) Archon
- 5 Incubi
- 5 Scourges
- 5 Hellions
- 10 Kabalite Warriors
- 10 Wyches
- 1 Vyper
Thirty-seven models in one box isn’t bad at all these days. However, bear in mind that apart from the Archon and the Incubi, these are all older kits that have largely been spared from price increases and stayed comparatively inexpensive. As they’re mostly standard units, many Drukhari collectors will already have these kits in abundance.
The real draw of the box is the Archon. This kit comes on a small sprue with a 32mm base and a wealth of options:
- 1 male bare head, 1 female bare head with an impressive scar, 1 helmet with a daemon mask
- 1 male chest plate with sash, 1 female chest plate with an apron of flayed skin
- 1 hip armour with a chain of butcher’s hooks, 1 hip armour with spirit stones strung on a cord
- 1 left arm with huskblade, 1 left arm with either agoniser whip or power sword
- 1 right arm with splinter pistol or blast pistol, 1 right arm with soul trap
Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.
The design of the new Archon closely echoes the pose of Jes Goodwin’s original metal sculpt – particularly if you build him with huskblade and soul trap and the daemon-mask helmet, which have all been carried over almost unchanged. However, the new model has the more modern, slightly larger proportions of the Incubi. As with most Drukhari and Asuryani characters, the Archon is posed atop Aeldari ruins, adding extra height. The previous plastic incarnation was a solid miniature, but the sheer number of customising options here (including the ability to build a female Archon) really sets this version apart.
Where to get
You can find the latest GW releases at our 🇬🇧/🇪🇺 partner stores Wayland Games, Element Games, and Firestorm Games, at 🇩🇪 Taschengelddieb and PK-Pro, and at 🇺🇸 Noble Knight Games with a welcome discount of up to 20% over RRP. Using our links helps to support Tale of Painters at no additional cost to you, so thank you very much for using them!
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.
8.0 Score
Pros
- Lady Malys has a striking silhouette and two head options
- Multipart Archon has loads of customization options
- Battleforce has 37 models
Cons
- Malys' bare face looks a bit too Craftworld-ish perhaps
- Archon locked into a box with mostly older sculpts
