Warcrow: Corvus Belli's Answer to Warhammer Age of Sigmar?
Warcrow is a fantasy alternative to Warhammer Age of Sigmar, not a direct replacement for it. Corvus Belli’s game centres on compact forces and alternating activations in Lindwurm. Age of Sigmar offers the Mortal Realms, a broad miniature range, army-scale play, and the smaller Spearhead format.
The most useful question is not which company “wins.” It is which game gives you the decisions, models, and regular opponents you want. This guide compares the play experience and three actual Canadian starter listings rather than assuming that fewer models automatically means a cheaper game.
Buying information reviewed October 17, 2026. Prices and availability can change. This is a format-level comparison, not a substitute for either game’s current rules or updates.
Warcrow vs Age of Sigmar: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Warcrow | Age of Sigmar |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Corvus Belli | Games Workshop |
| Setting | Lindwurm | The Mortal Realms |
| Core attraction | Compact fantasy forces and activation-order decisions | Coordinated army play, faction variety, and multiple formats |
| Turn structure | Alternating unit activations | Player turns divided into phases, with interaction during the opposing turn |
| Combat interaction | Custom dice and unit-specific effects | D6-based attacks and alternating eligible combat selections within the combat phase |
| Smaller-game comparison | Battle Box introduction | Starter games or Spearhead, not only a full-sized army |
| Hobby commitment | A compact starter collection | Varies substantially by starter, faction, and format |
| First thing to check | Who will learn and play with you? | Which format and faction does your group use? |
What Makes Warcrow Its Own Game?
Corvus Belli’s official overview describes Warcrow as a fantasy miniature wargame where you control a small force of warriors, creatures, and wizards. Its Lindwurm setting and company-based battles offer a different project from building a conventional large fantasy army.
Alternating activations make the order of your actions part of the tactical problem. You may want to move toward an objective, but doing so gives your opponent an opportunity to respond before your next unit acts. Choosing what to activate now can matter as much as choosing where it moves.
Custom dice and unit-specific effects also require learning a different rules vocabulary. Familiarity with Infinity, made by the same company, should not be treated as knowledge of Warcrow’s rules.
Choose it for: the appeal of its actual system and miniatures, not merely because you want “Warhammer with fewer models.”
Age of Sigmar Is Not an Inactive Opponent’s Turn
Age of Sigmar’s overall structure uses player turns and phases rather than Warcrow’s alternating unit activations. However, saying one player simply uses the whole army while the other watches is misleading.
The combat phase includes alternating selections of eligible units to fight, and abilities can create interaction outside your own turn. Alternating combat selections inside a phase are not the same thing as an alternating-activation structure for the whole game.
Why this matters: try the actual turn flow before assuming either game will give you too much downtime. Familiarity with your force, scenario complexity, and your opponent’s experience all affect the rhythm.
Priority, consecutive turns, commands, and scenario details should be read in the rules for the edition and format you intend to use. In particular, do not apply a broad description of full-size Age of Sigmar to every Spearhead interaction.
Compare Warcrow with Spearhead as Well as Full Armies
Warcrow’s compact forces can be attractive if you want a manageable painting project. But the fair alternative is not always a large Age of Sigmar army. Spearhead uses predefined forces and dedicated format rules, offering another contained entry point.
For a beginner, compare the complete first few games: two suitable forces, the correct rules, battlefield, terrain, measuring tools, and dice. A single faction box is not automatically a complete two-player setup.
Our recommendation: compare Warcrow’s Battle Box with a two-player Age of Sigmar starter if you are learning with a friend. Compare your preferred Warcrow company with an appropriate Spearhead force if you are joining an existing group that already supplies the table and accessories.
Canadian Starter Comparison: What the Boxes Include
The prices and contents below come from Tistaminis catalog listings checked October 17, 2026. Corvus Belli’s official overview also confirms the Warcrow Battle Box’s 14 miniatures and introductory gaming components. The products are different packages, not identical measures of gameplay value.
| Product | Listed price | Listed contents relevant to starting |
|---|---|---|
| Warcrow: Winds from the North Battle Box | $150.00 CAD | 14 miniatures across Hegemony of Embersig and Northern Tribes; introductory rules, mat, custom dice, unit cards, templates, tokens, and terrain elements |
| Age of Sigmar Starter Set | $121.55 CAD | 35 push-fit miniatures across Stormcast Eternals and Skaven; handbook, gaming mat, rulers, reference sheets, and D6 dice |
| Age of Sigmar Ultimate Starter Set | $238.00 CAD | 37 push-fit miniatures, four terrain pieces, handbook, Spearhead: Fire and Jade book, mat, Spearhead cards, rulers, reference sheets, and dice |
The price lesson: the listed standard Age of Sigmar Starter Set costs less than the Warcrow Battle Box here, despite including more miniatures. The Ultimate Starter Set costs more but adds terrain and dedicated Spearhead materials. Model count alone does not establish which purchase suits your intended games.
The format lesson: the standard and Ultimate Age of Sigmar starters do not have identical contents. Do not assume the cheaper box includes the additional models, terrain, book, and cards listed in the Ultimate set.
Paint, preparation tools, and any later expansions remain separate considerations. Miniatures are supplied unpainted. The Age of Sigmar listings describe push-fit assembly; the Warcrow listing says assembly is required. Follow the material and assembly instructions for the specific kit rather than assuming the same glue suits everything.
Shipping note: these Tistaminis Age of Sigmar listings state that the new Games Workshop products are sold for delivery within Canada, not internationally. Check the current listing before ordering from outside Canada.
Miniatures and Factions: Pick a Project You Want to Finish
Warcrow’s official site presents nations including Hegemony of Embersig, Northern Tribes, Sÿenann, Feudom, Scions of Yaldabaoth, Mounthaven, and Red Caps. A setting’s faction list is not a guarantee that every unit or starter is currently available at your retailer.
Age of Sigmar gives you a wide selection of different fantasy aesthetics, including armored heroes, monsters, undead, and massed infantry. That breadth can be appealing, but it is not a reason to choose an army whose models you dislike.
For either game, look beyond the centrepiece. Would you enjoy assembling and painting the ordinary troops too? A compact force you finish and play is a better first project than an ambitious collection you abandon.
How to Choose Before Buying Expansions
- Find an opponent: arrange an introductory game or choose a starter with a friend. Do not assume local player numbers from worldwide popularity.
- Pick the format: introductory Warcrow, a developed company, Age of Sigmar starter missions, Spearhead, and larger army games are different commitments.
- Read one unit profile from each: decide which rules vocabulary you want to learn rather than judging complexity by dice shape alone.
- Count missing components: confirm the battlefield, terrain, cards, measuring tools, dice, and current rules needed for your intended games.
- Play before expanding: learn which roles or options you actually want before buying a second wave of models.
Neither system is automatically easier. Fewer models can reduce painting work without eliminating tactical complexity. Familiar D6 rolls can ease recognition without making every Age of Sigmar faction or scenario simple.
Who Should Choose Which Game?
Choose Warcrow If…
You specifically want alternating activations, like Lindwurm’s miniatures, and have someone willing to learn the system with you. The two-player Battle Box is a concrete starting point rather than a commitment to a large army.
Choose Age of Sigmar If…
A particular Mortal Realms faction excites you, your regular opponents already play it, or you want an entry through Spearhead with the option to explore larger army formats later.
Already Play Age of Sigmar?
Consider Warcrow as a different tactical experience, not proof you chose the wrong game. An introductory Battle Box is a more sensible test than immediately purchasing a complete second collection.
Warcrow vs Age of Sigmar FAQs
Is Warcrow Corvus Belli’s official replacement for Age of Sigmar?
No. They are separate games from different manufacturers. “Answer to Age of Sigmar” is a comparison headline, not a statement of official compatibility or design intent.
Is Warcrow always cheaper?
No. In the dated comparison above, the standard Age of Sigmar starter has the lower listed price. Compare the complete package and intended format, not just the number of models.
Does Age of Sigmar have alternating activations?
Its overall structure uses player turns and phases, while eligible combat units are selected alternately within the combat phase. That distinction is important when comparing it with Warcrow’s broader alternating unit activations.
Do I need a full-sized Age of Sigmar army to begin?
No. Starter games and Spearhead provide smaller entry points. Confirm that your selected box has the models and supporting components for the format you intend to play.
Can I use the same miniatures in both games?
They are sold for separate systems, not as officially interchangeable units. Any casual proxy arrangement should be agreed with your opponent; follow the relevant organizer’s requirements for events.
Where should I check current rules?
Use the official Warcrow game page and its linked learning resources, and the Warhammer Community Age of Sigmar downloads page. Check updates for your chosen format rather than treating an older starter booklet or this comparison as the final rules reference.
Final Verdict
Warcrow is worth exploring because it offers a different fantasy game, not because it must defeat Age of Sigmar. Its compact-company approach and alternating activations make a distinct proposition. Age of Sigmar’s attraction lies in its factions, hobby range, and formats that include both Spearhead and larger battles.
Our first-purchase advice is straightforward: choose the models and turn structure you enjoy, confirm a regular opponent, and buy the smallest complete setup for that plan. Use the starter comparison above to judge the package you will actually use.
Sources and Review Notes
Warcrow’s setting, compact-force description, starter overview, and current nation menu were checked against Corvus Belli’s official Warcrow game page. Current Age of Sigmar updates are maintained on the official downloads page. Starter contents, CAD prices, assembly notes, and the Games Workshop shipping restriction above come from the linked Tistaminis listings, checked October 17, 2026. This is a buying comparison, not a complete rules tutorial or a measurement of local community size.