The Bloodthorne emerged as a mysterious force shortly after the first Rupture, a creeping shadow that seemed to awaken the very heart of nature itself. It was as if the wilds had turned sentient, driven by an insatiable hunger for essence and flesh. Scholars and sages have spun countless theories about the Bloodthorne's origins and purpose. Some whisper that they are a divine punishment, sent to cleanse the land of the rot wrought by the disbelievers. Others speculate that they are the manifestation of ancient, forgotten magic, a primal force unleashed upon the world. Yet, regardless of their genesis, one truth remains: they are a dire threat to every race in Astira.
Since their first appearance decades ago, the Bloodthorne have carved out a significant swath of territory, their roots sinking deep into the Forest of Souls. While the Chosen of the Spirit Tree have managed to hold half of this sacred land, the Kingdom of Astira has responded sluggishly, allowing the Bloodthorne to spread their corruption far beyond the forest’s borders.
Their influence extends beyond their physical forms; the essence they consume seeps into the earth itself, creating pockets of corrupted wilderness known as Thornscapes throughout Astira. These treacherous regions are alive with hostility, actively seeking to devour any essence that dares to enter. In these areas, flora flourishes at unnatural rates, twisting into grotesque shapes that defy nature's intent. Vines, imbued with a sentience of their own, slither through the underbrush, hunting for living creatures to drain. The air is thick with spores and pollen that can induce hallucinations, madness, or even death. Travelers tell tales of ground that shifts and buckles beneath their feet, making navigation a perilous endeavor.
The Bloodthorne on the Tabletop
In battle, the Bloodthorne deploy a grotesque array of corrupted flora and fauna as their soldiers, including monstrous plant-beasts and sentient trees. Most viciously, they transform their enemies into weapons, corrupting them and turning them into puppets for the Bloodthorne’s sinister will.
The Bloodthorne faction revolves around consuming all essence on the battlefield, no matter the cost, making them particularly appealing to aggressive players. While a Bloodthorne army typically has less essence to work with in the first few game rounds, their power grows with each enemy slain, as they absorb more and more essence. Their faction mechanic allows them to spread “Infested” tokens among enemy units, slowly draining their essence and absorbing a significant portion of it once the infested unit is destroyed. Additionally, units that are infested attract the Bloodthorne like a beacon, enhancing every attack Bloodthorne units make against them.
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Bloodthorne units
Bloodthorne armies offer flexible builds based on player preferences. Bloodthorne players can field the offensively powerful Razorleaf units, as well as the expensive but resilient Elderbark units. Armies focusing on these units may have a lower model count but will strike hard wherever they apply force. On the other hand, with the Sporebound units, players can deploy a horde of cheap, weaker units focused on overwhelming opponents.
Units in focus: Blookoak Juggernaut
The Bloodoak Juggernaut is a strong defensive tool for the Bloodthorne army, capable of protecting friendly Bloodthorne models from arcane and ranged attacks, and is a key asset in CONTROL scenarios. Its ability to create a treacherous forest around it further limits opponents’ chances of targeting important and expensive Razorleaf units.
Synergy tip: The ability “Unnatural Growth” of the Bloodoak Juggernaut strongly synergizes with the ability of Razorleaf Stalkers to place themselves in nearby forest area terrain.
Units in focus: Vineheart
The Vineheart is a key support unit for the Bloodthorne, especially effective in assisting SPOREBOUND units. It can move them out of activation and improve their damage output. However, its general support abilities can be vital for many Bloodthorne armies.
The Bloodthorne will keep growing …
Within the next months the Bloodthorne unit choices will be expanded to match the level of choice of the other core factions. In the unit cards you can already get a glimpse at some of the concepts that are planned.
Check out the new Faction Bundle for the Bloodthorne with a selection of core models for the Bloodthorne as well as movement widgets and a set of 15 essence dice.
Happy consuming and as always ... break the game!
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