Who are the Cities of Sigmar?
The last great bastions of civilisation, the Cities of Sigmar are where humans, duardin and aelves stand shoulder to shoulder against the dark. This is the classic fantasy army of Warhammer Age of Sigmar — ranks of disciplined soldiers, thundering artillery, battle-wizards and gallant cavalry, all in one combined-arms force. If you love traditional fantasy battle lines, this is your army.
The Core Fantasy
Cities of Sigmar are the combined-arms army of the Mortal Realms: massed infantry backed by cannons, casters and cavalry. This is the fantasy of holding the walls against impossible odds — ordinary soldiers, extraordinary courage, and a gun line that makes monsters think twice.
Expect:
- Ranks of affordable, dependable infantry
- Powerful artillery and war machines
- Battle-wizards bringing real magical punch
- A true combined-arms toolkit with an answer to everything
How They Play on the Tabletop
The Cities plan is all about synergy: anchor the line with infantry, soften the enemy with artillery and magic, then counter-charge with cavalry at the decisive moment. No single unit wins the game alone — it's the way they support one another that makes the army sing. Reward your planning and you'll out-think armies that just point and charge.
What you'll love:
- Flexibility: a genuine combined-arms force with a tool for every job
- Firepower: real shooting and magic, a rarity among many armies
- Value: affordable infantry let you field an imposing battle line
What can bite you:
- Synergy-dependent: units underperform if you don't combine them well
- No single knockout: you win through coordination, not one big hammer
- Complexity: more moving parts to manage than a focused army
The Last Bastions of Civilisation
The Cities identity is unity in diversity: humans, duardin and aelves fighting as one, blending ranked infantry, gunpowder, steel and sorcery. It's the most traditional, recognisably fantasy army in the game — and the most rewarding for players who enjoy orchestrating a battle plan rather than rolling dice and hoping.
They stand alongside the realms' other defenders of Order. For the immortal heavy infantry that often fight beside them, see our Stormcast Eternals army analysis; for sky-borne duardin firepower, compare the Kharadron Overlords.
Key Unit Roles (What You'll Commonly Need)
Forget memorising every warscroll. Think in jobs:
1) The Line (massed battleline infantry)
Ranks of dependable soldiers to hold objectives and anchor the army. Cheap, numerous and essential.
2) The Guns (artillery and war machines)
Cannons and bolt throwers to punish the enemy at range and crack their toughest units.
3) The Casters (battle-wizards)
Wizards to dominate the magic phase, buff your troops, and add ranged threat.
4) The Hammer (cavalry and elites)
Fast, hard-hitting units that deliver the decisive counter-charge once the enemy is softened up.
Getting Started the Smart Way
Building Cities of Sigmar from scratch? Start with a solid core and add your support pieces around it. Aim for:
Step 1: Two units of battleline infantry
- Your dependable, objective-holding heart. Affordable bodies that anchor the whole army.
Step 2: A war machine
- An artillery piece to add ranged punch and threaten the enemy's big targets.
Step 3: A battle-wizard
- A caster to buff your line and contest the magic phase — a real force multiplier.
Step 4: A cavalry or elite unit
- Your counter-charge hammer to deliver the killing blow once the enemy is worn down.
Cover those four jobs and you've got a flexible, characterful combined-arms force. New to the brushes? Our beginner painting guide will get those proud city regiments started.
Common Beginner Mistakes (Avoid These)
- Fighting piecemeal. Your units are strongest together — coordinate, don't scatter.
- Wasting your guns. Target the enemy's key threats, not the nearest cannon fodder.
- Forgetting buffs. Wizard and hero buffs turn ordinary troops into winners — use them.
- Charging too early. Hold your cavalry for the decisive, softened-up moment.
Who the Cities of Sigmar are For
"Choose the Cities of Sigmar if you love classic fantasy battle — ranks of soldiers, booming artillery, battle-wizards and gallant cavalry, all working in concert. Give them a miss if you want a focused army with one overwhelming trick; this is a thinking player's combined-arms force. Cities reward planning, synergy and patience. Hold the line — and let civilisation endure."
Further reading: meet Sigmar's immortal champions in our Stormcast Eternals army analysis, or explore the full range over in Warhammer Age of Sigmar.
Start your Cities of Sigmar collection
Ready to bring Cities of Sigmar to your tabletop? Shop the Cities of Sigmar range at Loaded Dice for miniatures, box sets and everything you need to build your army.
