What Is Warhammer City of Ash and Why It Matters
City of Ash is the first Warhammer: Age of Sigmar Spearhead box that feels like a complete, standalone game rather than just a bundle of units. Spearhead itself is a compact, streamlined mode with fixed army lists and a smaller battlefield, designed to be faster to learn and play than full-size Age of Sigmar. Until now, Spearhead products have mostly sat in the shadow of the main game, which led to confusion over whether it was a real game or just a label for small army sets. City of Ash changes that by packaging two full forces, a dedicated 30" × 22.4" game board, terrain, and a 72‑page handbook of rules and missions into a single product. If you have been Spearhead‑curious but unsure where to begin, this box is intentionally built to be your on-ramp.
Inside the Box: Armies, Rules, and Onboarding Quality
The Warhammer City of Ash box pits Cities of Sigmar against Clan Eshin Skaven in a tightly themed urban showdown. On the Cities side you get Jorvan Kreel on his Ash Panther, an unnamed Mallus Forgepriest, 10 Freeguild Grenadiers split into two units, and five elite Freeguild Gallants. Opposing them are 10 Gutter Runners, 10 Night Runners, two Bomb Rats, Deathmaster Crixxit, and a classic Skaven Deathmaster sculpt. Crucially, almost all of these miniatures are new designs, which makes the set attractive even if you already collect these factions. The box also includes two ruined manor terrain pieces, five relic objectives, the double‑sided board, and a dedicated Spearhead handbook. Apart from dice, which you must supply yourself (and you will need plenty), it truly functions as a Warhammer Spearhead starter that finally teaches the mode clearly and coherently.
Build and Play Experience: Learning Spearhead Fast
From a practical standpoint, City of Ash is designed to get you playing quickly. The fixed Spearhead lists remove army construction complexity, so once the models are built you can go straight to the table. The terrain layout is relatively light on the included board, which keeps movement and line-of-sight rules simple for newer players while still delivering cinematic ruined-city vibes through the manor pieces and relic objectives. The 72‑page handbook doesn’t just reprint core rules; it walks through Spearhead’s streamlined systems and mission pack, so you learn the mode as you play rather than having to juggle multiple books. Reviewers have praised it as “an easy way into the game” if you have never tried Spearhead before, and the mission variety gives you enough replayability that the box doesn’t feel like a one-and-done tutorial product.
Availability, Discounts, and Where to Buy City of Ash
Despite being a strong Spearhead box review darling, City of Ash has been difficult to track down. Initial allocations sold out rapidly at many retailers, and current stock is described as “thin on the ground” in some markets. Online, independent stores are the best place to look: Miniature Market has carried the set but often sells out, while Rogue Traders reported selling out of their first allocation with a second round ordered. Both are worth monitoring for restocks. Marketplace sites like eBay do have copies, yet prices can be inflated and shipping costs high. In other territories, Wayland Games and Firestorm Games have listed the box, sometimes with City of Ash discounts compared to the standard price, but availability changes quickly. Amazon is also likely to get stock late and without warning, so periodic checks there can pay off.
Who Should Buy Warhammer City of Ash?
City of Ash is best suited to three broad groups of players. First, complete newcomers who want a structured, low-friction introduction to Age of Sigmar via Spearhead; the contained rules, fixed lists, and compact board make it one of the most accessible ways to learn. Second, returning players who drifted away from large‑game formats but still enjoy painting and gaming in the setting will appreciate the fast setup and focused scope. Third, collectors of Cities of Sigmar or Skaven will find a wealth of new miniatures, including almost entirely fresh Clan Eshin sculpts, making the set compelling even if Spearhead isn’t your primary mode. If you simply want a cheap way to build a large matched‑play army, other products may serve you better, but as a Warhammer Spearhead starter and teaching tool, City of Ash is currently the standout option.