Warhammer: The Old World – Grand Cathay Army Is Impressive

Games Workshop is coming out swinging with the Grand Cathay Army. It’s really impressive looking. Almost too impressive looking.

So the Warhammer Preview for AdeptiCon 2025 happened and Grand Cathay was announced. The entire range is coming out in plastic and it looks fantastic.

There’s a lot to chew on with this army but for me it’s just really cool to see so many cool army centerpiece miniatures. First, there’s the Sky Lanterns:

Then there’s the Storm Dragon, Miao Ying:

And there’s also my personal favorite of the lot of centerpiece miniatures, the Cathayan Sentinels:

Giant-sized clay golem warriors? Uh, yes please! Anyhow, these are really impressive sculpts. They have a ton of details and I’m honestly a little intimidated by that Sky Lantern in particular.

Anyhow, this army is clearly made using modern sculpting technology. Even the rank-and-file troopers are looking highly detailed and impressive. All that said, it’s making me worried for the other armies in the game. Mostly because I’m concerned that Grand Cathay is just going to look so out of place compared to the older ranges.

Grand Cathay – Almost Too Good

What do I mean? Okay, here’s an example. This is the new Shugengan Lord on Great Spirit Longma:

This miniature is going to be squaring off against one of my favorites of all time: Orion.

I have always liked this miniature. It’s got a lot of details and his pair of hunting hounds look like actual hounds. That said, I think seeing Orion in combat with a Great Spirit Longma is going to look off. It’s two very different generations of miniatures taking to the same tabletop. I know some folks won’t have a problem but I think, for me at least, it’s going to take some getting used to. Basically: the Grand Cathay looks more like a modern Age of Sigmar Army. 

A Modern-Style Warhammer Army In The Old World

I do think that many of the Old World armies have some (comparatively) newer kits in plastic that make for good cross-generation miniatures. The Wood Elf Army box is packed with great example of that:

But then you’ve got really old school kits that just clash in my head. The majority of the Empire range comes to my mind. Bretonnians, too. Seeing the Jade Warriors square up against a line of Empire State troops is going to showcase the difference in styles for sure.

It’s a clash of styles: Old School miniatures vs New School miniatures

Maybe that’s the point. This is really the first new army for Warhammer: The Old World, or really Warhammer Fantasy in a LONG time. Perhaps GW is showing off with Grand Cathay because players have been waiting for so long for a new army. Hopefully this is just a sign of things to come for the Old World. I know of another army that got teased with art a long time ago. Maybe those plans will be thawed out next…

Either way, I can’t wait to see Grand Cathay on the tabletop. It will be a sight to behold!

Author: Adam Harrison

Writer, Editor, Texas Native, and now Tex-Pat, Adam covers all things Tabletop Gaming. Which includes Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, D&D, Board Games and everything else that involves dice, boards, cards and a table. A hobbyist, player, and collector of miniatures and games, Adam's current obsession are his Death and Chaos Armies for Age of Sigmar, his Blood Angels and Tyranids for 40k, an expanding collection of Marvel: Crisis Protocol minis, and his ever growing Arkham Horror: The Card Game Collection.