Games Workshop is keeping up the previews for the new edition of Warhammer Age of Sigmar and the factions getting new Battletomes and miniatures. The Sylvaneth were in the spotlight over the weekend with the reveal of a new miniature for the faction and more.

Grove Guardian // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

The new miniature for the Sylvaneth is the Grove Guardian. They are tasked by Alarielle to nurture the fallen lamentiri seeds that then grow into new Sylvaneth. You can see this taking place here in the miniature as the Grove Guardian tends to their blooming flowers whilst a growing Sylvaneth emerges from the nook of a tree.

The miniature looks awesome and I really like how the sculpt shows the Grove Guardian emerging from the tree, intertwined with the bark, as if she has just arrived to tend to this tree before heading to the next one, vanishing down back into the depths. She also has a couple of different weapon options for you to choose from, with the syche/sickle (very druidic) and the shimmering blades (seen on the right of the image above).

A Grove Guardian is probably going to be taking up a support role within your force. We heard whisperings of the priest keyword alongside the ability to heal nearby units. This sounds about right for the lore of the Grove Guardians.

New Spearhead

If this miniature has got you interested in the Sylvaneth, you can also get started with the faction thanks to a new Spearhead, the Spitewing Flight.

Spearhead: Spitewing Flight // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

This set of miniatures represents the graceful but deadly winged warriors of the Sylvaneth. The force is led by an Arch-Revenant backed up by three Spiterider Lancers, three Revenant Seekers and five Gossamid Archers. A great set of movement-focused killers who want to get up close and personal, plus five archers to lay down covering fire as you swoop down from on high.

New Battleforce & Regiment of Renown

You can also start off strong and really focus in on the Kurnothi vibes with the Strongroot Grove Battleforce.

Strongroot Grove // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

This big boxed set comes with three Treelords that can also be built as towering Treelord Ancients or the fearsome Spirit of Durthu. They are backed up by six Kurnoth Hunters who can be armed with a variety of weapons, including greatswords, greatbows or greatscythes.

I really like this boxed set as it gives you a solid core of points to build off, especially if you want to go down the route of "treemen". This set (based on current points) would give you a decent chunk of a 1500-point force and it wouldn't take much to expand this out to get to 2000 points and a full army.

Lastly, we have another Regiment of Renown that can't be taken by the Sylvaneth but could find its way into the ranks of other Order armies on the tabletop.

The Twisted Branch // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

The Twisted Branch represents what happens to the Sylvaneth should the lands become infected and rotten. A Branchwych leads this scouting force and offers magical healing and succour to injured Sylvaneth like those of the Twistweald, an old Warcry warband now coming to the battlefield in Warhammer Age of Sigmar.

This set gives you eight fearsome warriors led by the savage and uncaring Swarmsage. Get some vengeance and show your enemy that you don't mess with plants!

New Battletome

All of these miniatures will be featured inside the new Battletome for the Sylvaneth.

Order Battletome: Sylvaneth // Warhammer Age of Sigmar

This will contain brand new background lore for the Sylvaneth, plus all of the new and updated rules you need for playing them on the tabletop. That means updated Warscrolls for their twenty-five entries in their army list.

Whilst this is all nice to see, I can't help but feel like this was a missed opportunity for Games Workshop. With the addition of so many Kurnothi miniatures to the likes of Warhammer Underworlds and Warhammer Quest: Darkwater, it seemed like this would have been a good chance to introduce this subfaction to the Sylvaneth on the tabletop. A bit like what we've seen with the Gloomspite Gitz and other factions. Maybe they're waiting for the next edition to do the big Kurnothi drop? Perhaps the new Battletome will give us some hints as to what's on the cards?

Drop your thoughts below...