To kick off 2026, we opened the doors on the Woehammer Discord for a Chat with the Champs. An informed discussion with experienced tournament players about where the Age of Sigmar meta might be heading next.
The intention isn’t to predict exact win rates, instead, it was to talk about what the players are feeling and which factions look well placed into the new Battlescroll.
What follows is more coherent than it first appeared.
“I have a sneaky suspicion that wound density is about to become a whole lot more important.“
Roland Rivera
Wound Density Over Precision
Some of the strongest discussion was around whether the game is rewarding armies that can simply stay on the table.
Several players pointed out that many current top lists operate on thin margins. Lose one key unit, sometimes even a few models, and the list collapses. But armies that can put large amounts of wounds on the table, particularly with decent saves or wards, are better placed to absorb losses while still maintaining board control.
“A lot of the top builds are operating on razor thin margins. Armies that can put 130+ health with good saves or wards on the table will be able to weather losses and maintain board position.”
Roland Rivera
It’s not that damage output no longer matters, but that durability and redundancy are possibly becoming more important than efficiency. Lists that rely on perfect trades are fragile against chip damage and mortal wounds.
That fed into which factions players expect to rise.
Shooting Isn’t Dead
There was some debate around whether shooting is about to become more common again.
It was generally agreed that Kharadron Overlords have been hit hard, but several players noted that changes to obscuring may encourage targeted shooting elsewhere, particularly in Stormcast Eternals lists featuring Longstrikes.
The difference here is that nobody is expecting a return to shooting dominanting the games. Instead, it’s for targeted shooting supporting armies that can fight for space.
“Shooting units have been included little by little. Obscuring has changed, and it’s easier now to justify bringing more shooting than before.”
Luis Mendoza
Sylvaneth: Finally Turning Up?
Sylvaneth came up often and mostly positively.
There was agreement that Sylvaneth are now going to be where many players expected them to be earlier in the season. With strong internal balance and being able to pressure multiple parts of the board have made them competitive.
Some players commented that they’ve taken Sylvaneth into events with only a little practice and still felt comfortable.
“My last GT I played Sylvaneth with only one practice game, and I don’t regret the decision. Really fun.”
Luis Mendoza
Generally we think that Sylvaneth are making a real push, and a good example of a faction that benefits from flexibility.
Nighthaunt
Nighthaunt were a point of uncertainty.
While not many expect them to continue at their previous heights, there was no agreement that they’ve fallen off a cliff. Instead, the view is that Nighthaunt have been nudged back into the middle of the pack.
Some remain unconvinced they’ll still contend, while others are waiting to see whether a new list type emerges. Either way, the sense was that Nighthaunt are now suitably back im the middle of the field again.
Khorne, Powerful in the Right Hands
Many players felt Khorne is ready to rise, with several suggesting they’ll easily make the top ten. Recent buffs were mostly seen as meaningful.
That said, there was an important point, Khorne isn’t easy.
“The trouble with Khorne is they’re not easy to play. Experienced players can make them sing, but newer players…”
Peter Holland
Several players noted that while experienced players can do well with Khorne, newer players may struggle. That usually means a faction can get strong results without meta chasers running to them. This often allows a faction to fly under the radar longer than expected.
Tzeentch and Slaanesh
As well as Sylvaneth, there were a few other factions that had quietly avoided the gaze of GW.
Disciples of Tzeentch were described as largely untouched by the changes, with the opinion that their win rate may climb. Flesh-eater Courts were also mentioned as quietly well positioned thanks to their warscrolls and ability to pressure opponents.
Hedonites of Slaanesh have some optimism. While competitive, several players had concerns that they may struggle in a meta leaning towards chip damage and particularly if Nurgle becomes prevalent.
Nurgle
Speaking of Nurgle, almost everyone agreed that it was too early to be certain.
The new rules look strong, the mechanics appear decent in practice, and there’s a sense that Nurgle could be a problem. But, everything hinges on points. Several players stressed that without seeing costs and unit sizes, any prediction is just pure guess work.
“New Nurgle has the potential to be extremely strong, but it’s points dependent, and we likely won’t see much of the new stuff until the next battlescroll.”
Popliteal
That said, if Nurgle lands cheaply and brings large, resilient units to the table, many expect it to put pressure on factions reliant on recursion and healing.
Final Thoughts
If there’s a single takeaway from this chat, it’s that the next phase of the meta looks about discovering which factions are structurally sound.
Armies with large wound pools and multiple viable builds, as well as redundancy are the ones players are quietly backing.
Whether the data will show that remains to be seen, but the instincts of experienced players are a good indicator of where the meta is really heading.
