Sons of Behemat Add Magic and Versatility to Their Brute Strength

There is something deeply satisfying about marching across the battlefield with a Sons of Behemat army and crushing everything in sight. Strategy is still necessary to avoid being overwhelmed by smaller factions, but subtlety has never been the army’s defining quality.

The latest models and Battletome for the fourth edition of Warhammer Age of Sigmar introduce an unexpected element: versatility. The faction remains highly effective in close combat, but it can now attack from range and use magic to make its gargants even more dangerous. As a result, the Sons of Behemat feel less one-dimensional and offer more tactical depth.

Ma Maegran Brings Magic to the Army

The Sons of Behemat are traditionally defined by brawn and brute force, making Ma Maegran’s unsettling pagan-witch aesthetic a striking departure. More importantly, she fills a role unavailable anywhere else in the faction: spellcaster.

Ma Maegran is primarily a support character designed to increase the effectiveness of nearby units. Her Creepy Cantrips ability adds 1 to rampage rolls and 1 to hit rolls for a nearby gargant of your choice. She can also use three generic spells from the Battletome’s Lore of Behemat. These spells can improve the combat effectiveness of friendly gargants, weaken enemy units, or grant Crit (Mortal) to fortunate units, giving her a dependable collection of buffs and debuffs.

Although she is the army’s only magic-wielding model, Ma Maegran is not limited to spellcasting. As a Chooser of the Mighty, she can bless “Little” gargants and cause them to grow to monstrous proportions. In gameplay terms, this ability can allow gargants to inflict mortal damage on rolls of 6 or resurrect a slain Big gargant. The resurrection is represented by removing a Little model and replacing it with the defeated Big model, symbolizing the smaller gargant’s sudden growth.

The Ancient Gyrochs

Ma Maegran is accompanied by Ancient Gyrochs that are formidable in their own right. They regenerate three wounds during each turn, making them difficult to eliminate. Ma can also increase their damage by 1, grant them a bonus move that may carry them into combat, or draw upon their life force to improve her spellcasting.

Overall, Ma Maegran is an excellent backline asset. She can keep opponents under pressure while the rest of the army handles the direct fighting. Because no other Sons of Behemat unit serves the same role, she is a valuable addition to the faction.

Building Ma Maegran

Despite being a leader model with a seemingly complex design, Ma Maegran is relatively straightforward to assemble. Most components fit together quickly. Some details on the legs sit very close to the sprue connections, so care is needed when using clippers, but the remainder of the build is uncomplicated.

The Ancient Gyrochs are similarly manageable. One includes numerous small accessories that must be attached, but this is only a minor inconvenience. Taken as a whole, the kit is considerably easier to construct than its appearance suggests.

Boss-Stompers and Rock-Hurlers

At first glance, these models may resemble ordinary gargants, but they are the closest equivalent the Sons of Behemat have to rank-and-file soldiers. The Battletome describes them as giants who take pride in maintaining a degree of organization and keeping their weapons in comparatively good condition. They function as reliable all-rounders and make more attacks than similarly sized Mancrushers, although Mancrushers retain more distinctive abilities.

Their similarities to Mancrushers raise the possibility that they could eventually become a long-term replacement for the older model. Boss-Stompers occupy a comparable visual and tactical role but are supplied as a set of three rather than as a single miniature. The Mancrusher design is also approaching two decades of service, having first appeared for Warhammer Fantasy Battle in 2006.

Boss-Stompers

Boss-Stompers embody the faction’s direct approach to combat. Their core club strike provides seven attacks, hitting on a 4+ and wounding on a 2+, with each successful blow dealing 2 damage. They also have 12 health and can provoke Big gargants into immediately using a fight ability after their own activation, representing the larger giants’ irritation with these ambitious upstarts.

Rock-Hurlers

Rock-Hurlers give the army a valuable ranged option. Their Hurlin’ Rocks ability makes three attacks, with each successful strike dealing D3 damage. This attack can be customized with modifiers, including the ability to shoot while in combat or gain +1 to hit rolls. Rock-Hurlers also retain a capable melee profile, preventing them from becoming ineffective when enemies close the distance.

Which Unit Should You Build?

Boss-Stompers fit naturally into the Sons of Behemat philosophy of attacking first and asking questions later, and they appear more powerful on paper. Rock-Hurlers, however, are among the faction’s few ranged units and can provide important covering fire for the rest of the army. A single trio also forms the Sons of Behemat Spearhead.

If an army already contains several melee-focused units, Rock-Hurlers are the more useful choice. Their ranged attacks fill a significant tactical gap and help create a more balanced force.

Assembly and Model Details

Despite their enormous size compared with typical miniatures, these gargants are surprisingly quick to assemble. A few arm connections can initially be confusing, and the instructions could communicate their positioning more clearly. In most cases, rotating the component until it settles into place resolves the issue. Such difficulties are uncommon, so even players who are relatively new to Warhammer or Age of Sigmar should find the kits manageable.

The models also include numerous entertaining references to other Age of Sigmar factions. Pieces of Stormcast Eternal armor, Soulblight Gravelord coffin lids, and Helsmiths of Hashut shields have been repurposed as improvised equipment. These details give the miniatures character and reward close inspection.

One practical concern is the amount of exposed skin across the models. The broad, smooth surfaces make mold lines particularly noticeable, so additional cleanup may be necessary before painting.

Final Assessment

The new Sons of Behemat releases preserve the faction’s signature emphasis on overwhelming physical power while adding meaningful tactical options. Ma Maegran introduces unique magical support, while Rock-Hurlers provide much-needed ranged pressure. Boss-Stompers remain a strong choice for players who want to reinforce the army’s traditional melee strength.

Together, these additions make the Sons of Behemat more flexible without sacrificing their identity as towering monsters built to crush everything in their path.