*** Image sourced from Games Workshop's Warhammer Sunday Preview ***
Grand Cathay’s debut Warhammer: The Old World battalion box is the first wave of a completely new faction marching out of Nan-Gau. This set is packed with 50 brand-new miniatures – jade-armored warriors, swift cavalry, and roaring artillery – everything you need to muster a formidable army straight from Cathay’s legendary empire. It’s an exciting release for both lore enthusiasts and competitive players, bringing an ancient eastern empire into the Old World for the very first time. If you’ve been itching to start a new army that balances discipline and firepower, this might be the faction that gets your hobby knife moving again.
What Comes in the Grand Cathay Battalion Box
The Grand Cathay Battalion is a hefty army set designed as a one-box foundation for a Cathay force. Here’s what’s inside:
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30 Jade Warriors: The core infantry of Cathay, armed with either sword-and-shield or halberds. Buildable as two units of 15 or three units of 10, complete with leaders, musicians, and standard bearers. These heavily armored troops form an immovable wall on the battlefield.
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10 Jade Lancers: Armored cavalry wielding Cathayan lances, hand weapons, and shields. They hit hard on the charge and provide mobile support. Can be built as one unit of 10 or two units of 5.
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2 War Machines: Includes two kits that can be built as Cathayan Grand Cannons or Fire Rain Rocket Batteries, each with four crew members. Ogre artillery crew options are also included for thematic variety and battlefield muscle.
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404-Design Transfer Sheet: Comes with a large sheet of Cathay-themed decals, allowing you to easily mark banners, armor, and regiments with faction-specific flair.
This is a one-box army start with everything except characters, and it’s all-new plastic. Whether you’re starting from scratch or expanding, this box provides the infantry, cavalry, and artillery backbone to build from.
Is It Worth Preordering?
For New Players
If you're just getting into Warhammer: The Old World, this is a top-tier starter army. It has multiple unit types (infantry, cavalry, artillery) so you can learn every core mechanic in one go. Jade Warriors hold the line. Lancers give you movement and offensive power. Artillery adds tactical depth. You won’t need to assemble dozens of different kits to get a playable force — this does it all in one go.
The box also aligns perfectly with the new Grand Cathay Arcane Journal, which will include your full army rules, unique magic lores, and gameplay traits. That makes this launch timing ideal for beginners.
For Competitive Players
Grand Cathay isn’t just a thematic new force — it’s a serious competitor in matched play. In the early Warhammer: The Old World meta, armies that mix durability, ranged threat, and synergy are performing well. Cathay fits that mold.
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Jade Warriors provide a cost-efficient, armored line that won’t fold easily.
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Jade Lancers offer flank pressure, objective grabbing, and reliable charge damage.
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Grand Cannons and Rocket Batteries let you control the board and punish enemy backlines.
This box includes every unit you're likely to run in a competitive list. Cathay’s synergy mechanics (such as harmony bonuses and magical coordination) reward smart positioning and combined-arms strategy. It’s the kind of army that competitive players will love to fine-tune and opponents will struggle to counter early in the meta.
How Does Grand Cathay Play?
Grand Cathay plays like a combined-arms faction with a control tilt. It can play defensively with sturdy infantry and long-ranged artillery, but also pivots into aggression when needed with fast, high-impact cavalry.
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Harmony mechanics encourage keeping your units together and coordinated, unlocking buffs and tactical options.
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Yin and Yang magic lores provide versatile spells for damage, movement, and defense.
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Artillery forces the enemy to engage on your terms, softening up threats or controlling board space.
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Mobility from Jade Lancers and potential flying units means you aren’t stuck turtling.
Cathay armies favor thoughtful positioning and tempo control — perfect for players who want a general’s army, not just a hammer to swing. Against alpha strike lists or skirmishers, Cathay’s discipline and firepower can grind out wins through smart play and layered defenses.
In the current competitive environment, Grand Cathay offers a great counterpoint to more reckless factions like Beastmen or glass-cannon elves. It’s a faction that rewards patience and punishes mistakes — and in tournament settings, that’s a real advantage.
Final Verdict
Whether you’re a competitive tournament player or a beginner starting fresh, the Grand Cathay Battalion is a strong, well-rounded army box. The miniatures are gorgeous, the tactics are rewarding, and the playstyle offers long-term depth.
With preorders opening June 21st and shipping expected to begin Saturday, July 5th, this box is positioned to be one of the most sought-after Old World releases of the year. If you’re even slightly interested in starting Grand Cathay, don’t wait.
