Here comes part 2 of our Maggotkin of Nurgle review. This time we’re looking at Festus the Leechlord, the new Pestigors in plastic, and the Pox-wretches familiar from Darkwater, which have received a standalone release. High-res sprue images and a list of all build options can be found in this post, but click quickly before all rots away.
The new Maggotkin of Nurgle releases will be available for pre-order starting Saturday, 3 January 2026. The pre-order period lasts two weeks, with the official release date set for 17 January 2026.
Maggotkin of Nurgle review part 2
Here on Tale of Painters we’re unboxing and reviewing all the new Maggotkin of Nurgle releases. In the first part we looked at the new Putrid Blightkings, the Sloven Knights, and the Rotswords. Part 2 covers Festus the Leechlord, the new Pestigors, and the Pox-Wretches.
Additionally, The Court of Gelgus Pust and the Cankerborn from Warhammer Quest: Darkwater will also be available individually. These kits are identical to the sprues from Darkwater, so check out our in-depth Warhammer Quest: Darkwater review for those.
Festus the Leechlord model kit review
Festus the Leechlord comes in a box with a two-part sprue: one medium-sized and one small segment. The base size is 150mm oval, the box contains instructions, and the RRP is £57 / 74€ / $94.
Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.
Festus the Leechlord is a spectacular remake of the previous Finecast model. Where Festus used to travel on foot, he’s now been given a slug-like mount similar to Horticulous Slimux to carry his even fatter body. On his palanquin he sits on his throne, behind him a cauldron in which all manner of mischief is brewing. The model is monopose. The only build option is one of two faces: Festus with a serious expression (part 18), or with a contemptuous grin (19).
Plastic Pestigors unboxed
The Pestigors come in a box with 10 models spread across a sprue with two medium-sized segments. You also receive 10 32mm bases and the instructions. The RRP is £37 / 47.50€ / $60.
Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.
The build options:
- Pestigor 1 can optionally be built as a Champion. For this there’s a right shoulder/arm piece with raised axe (part 4), an empty left hand (5), and a special head (6). Alternatively, the regular Pestigor has a flail and alternative head (parts 7 to 9).
- Pestigor 2 can optionally be built as a Standard Bearer. For this there’s a right shoulder/arm piece with standard (12 and 13), a left arm (14), and an extra head (15). Alternatively, you can build a regular Pestigor with axe (parts 16 to 18).
- Pestigor 3 can optionally be built as a Musician. For this there’s an arm pair with bell staff (21) and an extra head (22). Alternatively, you can build a regular Pestigor with spear (23 to 25).
- Pestigors 4 to 10 have no build options and are monopose/monobuild models.
As we noticed in our test of the new Putrid Blightkings and Sloven Knights, the Pestigors also come largely monopose without build options. Interestingly, Games Workshop chose a different design for this kit compared to the Pestigors from Warhammer Quest: Darkwater (our review here). The Darkwater Pestigors remind me more of the classic Beastmen models (which now call Warhammer The Old World their home), while these Pestigors have something zombie-like about them. Both versions are pretty cool and deserve their place.
Pox-wretches review
The Pox-wretches from Warhammer Quest: Darkwater get a separate release, which is currently only available on Warhammer.com. These are exactly the models from Warhammer Quest: Darkwater, but they come on a recut sprue (without the Pestigors). The kit comes in a generic black box and contains 14 Pox-wretches and 6 Mire Kelpies on 25mm bases. The RRP is £36 / 45€ / $60.
The box contains 2 identical sprues, each with 7 Pox-wretches and 3 Mire Kelpies. The models are monopose, but you can choose between at least two arm or head parts for each body, so each of the 14 Pox-wretches is unique. The 3 Mire Kelpies have no build options, so you get each sculpt twice.
The build options:
- Pox-wretch sculpt 1: choice of right arm with flail (32) or axe (34), plus choice of two heads (31 and 33)
- Pox-wretch sculpt 2: choice of right arm/head section with axe (36) or sword (37)
- Pox-wretch sculpt 3: choice of right arm/head section with hammer (41) or cleaver (42)
- Pox-wretch sculpt 4: choice of right arm/head section with sickle (45) or hammer (46)
- Pox-wretch sculpt 5: choice of left arm/head section with shield (48) or axe (49)
- Pox-wretch sculpt 6: choice of right arm/head section with sword (53) or club (53)
- Pox-wretch sculpt 7: choice of left arm with shield (56) or axe (57)
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
- Festus is a fantastic upgrade over the old Finecast model
- Unique take on Pestigors with an AoS twist
- Pox-wretches get a stand-alone release
Cons
- Kits are very sparse on build options or optional pieces
- Yet rather pricey kits for little options
Final Verdict
The 2026 wave of Nurgle releases offers everything that collectors love about Nurgle models. But as already noted in part 1, the sculptors have unfortunately skimped on optional parts. Almost all kits are monopose. For the rather high price, you can expect somewhat more from the market leader. Nevertheless, the new Pestigors and especially Festus are once again real eye-catchers.
Tale of Painters is the unofficial Warhammer hobby magazine run by hobbyists like you. Support our work by using the affiliate links from our partner stores for your next orders so we can continue to bring you fantastic FREE content every day:
Or support us directly:
