Death claims its tithe in the latest Warhammer Underworlds warband. We’re reviewing Thanatek’s Tithe, the new Ossiarch Bonereapers warband that brings a Flex-style playstyle focused on cadaver tokens and tactical resurrection. With five fighters including the four-armed Thanatek and his two-headed retainers, this warband offers unique mechanics but raises questions about sculpt quality. In this review, we examine the models with high-res sprue images.
Thanatek’s Tithe, along with the Nexus of Power Rivals deck, will be available for pre-order starting Saturday, 21 February 2026. The pre-order period lasts two weeks, with the official release date set for 7 March 2026.
Thanatek’s Tithe unboxing
The Thanatek’s Tithe box contains two small sprue segments that build all 5 models of the warband: Thanatek himself (28mm base), his two-headed Mornial caste retainers Xar-Tamok and Medeb-Ahk (25mm each), as well as the two Mortis Reapers Tukhar and Sekhmor (28mm bases each). Additionally, you get the necessary warband and fighter cards in multiple languages.
Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.
As usual for Warhammer Underworlds warbands, the sprues are cast in coloured plastic (bone-coloured in this case). The Ossiarch Bonereapers fighters are all monopose models that can be assembled without glue (push fit).
Honestly, I have to say I find the design of the individual sculpts very mixed. The two Mortis Reapers are cool but don’t particularly stand out from the models in the new Mortis Reapers kit (my review of that and all the new Ossiarch Bonereapers models here). The two Mornial caste retainers look more like a bad kitbash, with their two heads that seem to grow out of their shoulders next to the urn. Thanatek himself has a rather boring and static pose, despite floating. His four arms are randomly stretched out in all directions. An expressive silhouette is lacking.
Thanatek’s Tithe gameplay summary
Thanatek’s Tithe are a Flex-style warband, meaning they can effectively either slay enemy fighters or claim treasure tokens depending on the situation. Their unique mechanic revolves around cadaver tokens, which they collect when their Retainers (Xar-Tamok and Medeb-Ahk) are adjacent to enemies during Thanatek’s attacks. These cadaver tokens serve two crucial purposes: they can resurrect slain Mortis Reapers, and they’re required to inspire fighters.
The warband’s strategic depth comes from careful positioning of Retainers and tactical decisions about when to sacrifice Mortis Reapers. Thanatek can channel attacks through his Retainers, making their placement critical. Success requires planning ahead and managing your limited cadaver token supply wisely, as you’ll need them both for resurrection and inspiration.
The accompanying Nexus of Power Rivals deck is also Flex-focused and introduces the covetous rule, which synergizes with both treasure collection and combat. However, being covetous allows opponents to flip treasure tokens, creating strategic risk-reward scenarios.
Where to get
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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.
6.0 Score
Pros
- Flex playstyle allows adaptation between combat and objective play
- Unique cadaver token mechanic offers tactical depth and resurrection options
Cons
- Mixed sculpt quality with some uninspired designs
- Thanatek's pose is static and lacks dynamic silhouette despite floating
Final Verdict
Thanatek's Tithe offers an interesting gameplay experience with its cadaver token mechanics and Flex warband style, requiring thoughtful positioning and resource management. However, the sculpt quality is disappointingly inconsistent. Whilst the Mortis Reapers are serviceable, they don't differentiate themselves from the standard kit, and both Thanatek and his retainers suffer from uninspired or awkward designs. If you're drawn to the unique mechanics and don't mind the sculpt issues, there's tactical fun to be had, but visually, this warband falls short of recent Underworlds releases.
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