Are Cities of Sigmar Becoming Age of Sigmar's New Protagonists?

Over the past few months, Cities of Sigmar has been gaining ever more prominence within Age of Sigmar. New miniatures, standout appearances in recent products, and a growing role in the background lore have raised a question among many hobbyists: is Games Workshop positioning Cities of Sigmar to become the new face of the game?

It’s a debate that has generated plenty of discussion in the community and leads to an interesting conclusion: the faction is living through one of its best moments, though that doesn’t necessarily mean it will replace Stormcast Eternals.

A faction that’s easy to identify with

One of the arguments that comes up most often among hobbyists is that Cities of Sigmar better represents the ordinary inhabitants of the Mortal Realms.

Unlike Stormcast Eternals, who are near-divine warriors, the soldiers of the Cities are everyday people fighting demons, monsters, and horrors far more powerful than themselves. That sense of facing the impossible with determination is deeply appealing to many players.

Plenty of people compare the dynamic to the relationship between the Imperial Guard and Space Marines in Warhammer 40,000: a more human, more relatable faction that’s easy to empathise with.

Stormcast remain the game’s icon

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding Cities of Sigmar, the general consensus seems to be that Stormcast Eternals will remain the main image of Age of Sigmar.

Their role as protagonists of major campaigns, their presence in new edition launches, and how easily their range can be expanded make it hard to imagine a handover any time soon.

Rather, the prevailing feeling is that Games Workshop is spreading the spotlight across several factions, making the universe more varied and offering stories from different perspectives.

Are they really the “good guys” of the Mortal Realms?

Another aspect that stands out is the moral role of Cities of Sigmar.

Although they belong to the forces of Order, they aren’t a wholly heroic faction. Their expansion campaigns, the founding of new settlements, and conflicts with other peoples show that they too make questionable decisions when they believe protecting civilisation demands it.

That complexity fits perfectly with one of Warhammer’s most defining traits: even heroes have light and shadow.

A design that’s winning players over

If there’s one thing the community broadly agrees on, it’s how successful their refresh has been.

The new miniatures combine the classic aesthetic of old Warhammer Fantasy humanity with a far more modern, spectacular design. The result conveys the feeling of an army made up of ordinary people standing up to overwhelming threats.

That blend of epic scale and relatability seems to be attracting both veterans who missed this style and new players looking for an army they can identify with from the start.

Our take

Cities of Sigmar are going through an excellent moment and will probably keep gaining prominence over the coming years. Their pitch offers something different within Age of Sigmar: more vulnerable heroes, cities worth defending, and a much closer perspective on the Mortal Realms.

That doesn’t mean Stormcast Eternals have lost their place, though. Everything suggests Games Workshop is building a universe where both factions complement each other. Stormcast Eternals represent the epic of the demigods sent by Sigmar, while Cities of Sigmar focus on those who fight every day just to survive.

If this trend continues, Age of Sigmar will be better for it. A world needs great heroes, but it also needs ordinary people who can remember exactly what is worth protecting.