A common situation new players find themselves in (as well as some returning players who have been out of the game for a while) involves what to do with older warbands they’ve gotten second hand. Maybe you found an old box laying around, or you got something on a great deal from eBay or a garage sale etc. It’s not any of the newest season’s stuff, so that can leave people scratching their heads, asking the questions of “hey, I just picked up this old warband, are the cards legal, and is there anything I need in order to be able to play? Also, what new products should I try to match them up with in order to be more competitive?” These are very common questions that I hope to be able to help with here. So let’s dive into the next in a series of articles: “Can I Use This Old Warband? A Beginner’s Guide to the Harrowdeep Season”

You can find my other seasonal overviews here:
Shadespire (Season 1)
Nightvault (Season 2)
Beastgrave (Season 3)
Direchasm (Season 4)
Nethermaze (Season 6)
Gnarlwood (Season 7)
Wyrdhollow (Season 8)
Deathgorge (Season 9) and Wintermaw (Season 10)

Overview:
Everything from Harrowdeep (Season 5) is able to be played in the current game of Warhammer Underworlds. The only cards you’ll be able to use are the newer cards from Embergard, which have been released in the new edition of the game. All of the cards and boards from this season have been left behind as editions changed, so all you’ll need to hold on to are the minis themselves.

Some of the Harrowdeep warbands (Xandire’s Truuthseekers, The Exiled Dead) are in the “other warbands”/”legends” category in that they aren’t valid for competitive play and have to use generic warscrolls, but they’re still totally fine for learning the game and getting some casual games in. The other half (Da Kunnin Krew and Blackpowder’s Buccaneers) are newly re-released in the Grand Alliance boxes and are valid for competitive play.

Xandire’s Truthseekers

Xandire and her pals have been updated for Spitewood and you can read my full review here.

Xandire’s Truthseekers is a four fighter warband, with three Stormcast Eternals and a flying animal homie. You love to see it.

Da Kunnin Krew

Da Kunnin Krew is a five model warband that is a ton of fun to play and has an very high skill ceiling – once you figure them out you can do quite well in most of your games. The inspire mechanic is one straightforward – a fighter inspires if they succeed on a supported attack, or supported a friendly fighter’s successful attack while adjacent to the target. Making attacks with supports is a piece of cake with this warband, and you’ll have even more accuracy boons when you consider the three grots in the warband have the ‘Pain the in Knee’ ability, wherein they count as surrounding rather than flanking if a big boy is attacking. They play very well as a counterpunch/ flex warband. These guys can hit early and hit often if you make the enemy come to you. A Champion’s Guide to their best uses is here

Torka Tuffskull lost his support bubble from first edition, but does inspire to two shields on defense and when inspired has a flat 3 damage at range 1, so he’s still a very important piece – possibly your most important. Mannok no longer lets the lil guys infinitely move, but can give a push equal to the round number once a game, if he has a move token. These guys will take some figuring out, but can do a lot of good in the right pilot’s hands. Their dirtiest trick is fittingly called “Dirty Tricks” and makes your opponent take a gamble – should they lose, you get to change the die facings of EVERY DIE in a given roll. Incredibly powerful. Even if the opponent guesses right, you’re still drawing a card. Nasty stuff. Once you get the hang of these swampy Kruleboyz the sky is the limit.

Rivals deck pairings to consider with this warband include anything that will allow you the opportunity to set up that pile-on support fest. I would say Emberstone Sentinels or Pillage & Plunder so you can get some good glory rolling while staying safely at home in your swamp. I think this Krew has the potential to make good use out of Wrack and Ruin or Countdown to Cataclysm as well, forcing more bad choices and frustration out of your opponent while you laugh, Kruelly. Edge of the Knife is worth considering with two Tempered fighters at the start of the game, but may not be their best option. Realmstone Raiders can potentially play well here too, since they have some relatively accurate melee options.

Blackpowder’s Buccaneers

Blackpowder’s Buccaneers are a five fighter warband that are this season’s ‘Big Boy’ gang, and because so much hinges on a single fighter, they have been given the Mastery tag. The special feature that this warband has is centered on Swag Tokens, which thematically are scrap metal/stolen upgrades that Blackpowder stuffs into his Grunderbuss hand cannon and fires back at the enemy. Blackpowder and his warband inspire if he spends enough swag and fires his gun enough times with special warscroll abilities, but he needs ammo, which he and his minions (except the bird, who ain’t no swashbuckler) gladly grab for him using the ‘Swashbuckle’ runemark. Blackpowder himself can dish out some nasty damage at range 1 with his gigantic sword, and take a punch himself being at a MASSVIE 8 wounds. Despite this, the rest of the team is pretty forgettable and the warscroll abilities are pretty weak, so they’re still on the harder side to succeed with. Beautiful models and a fun playstyle however, so go bananas! Who doesn’t like having multiple pets?

The warscroll abilities are sadly lackluster, and all pivot around spending swag (the only way you can do so, and therefore the only way you can inspire). You get access to a potential slash damage and stagger with Swag Shrapnel, though it’s not reliable. You can get cleave on one shot, though with decent accuracy and still only dealing 1 damage it’s not that cool. Lastly, you get Swag Mortar, which lets you extend your range on your shots, if you ever felt the need. None of them make Blackpowder’s gun particularly good, and you get literally no other tools outside of whatever your deck gives you. A bit of a letdown if I am being honest.

Rivals deck pairings to consider with this warband include anything that can leverage the most economy out of the pirate ogre himself. Consider Blazing Assault for heals and pushes, Reckless Fury to let him drop a charge token and take more actions, or Emberstone Sentinels or Pillage & Plunder to encourage the enemy to walk into your range. Edge of the Knife may be their best option, as their four Tempered fighters and capacity to get a lot out of you Big Boy mean you can do some nasty stuff.

The Exiled Dead

Deintalos and his puppets are updated for Spitewood, and you can read my full review here.

The Exiled Dead are a seven fighter warband that was previously among the most complicated in the game, and now continues to fill that niche as a potent swarm aggro band for those who can unlock the puzzle.

Wrap

Ultimately any and all Season 5 warbands are playable in the Rivals or Nemesis formats if you pick up a universal rivals deck. You absolutely can play with those old toys you’ve just acquired, and in some cases still do pretty well with them. You’re likely safe to toss the ‘extra’ cards that come with them. Until next time, I hope you enjoy spending that glory!