Warlord Games is bringing the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 to its Epic Battles range in 2026, introducing new plastic miniatures, enormous Zulu regiments, British infantry battalions and two major battle sets recreating the legendary engagements at Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana.

The new Black Powder Epic Battles: Zulu! range is designed for hobbyists who want to recreate the scale and drama of the Anglo-Zulu War, from disciplined British firing lines armed with Martini-Henry rifles to the sweeping formations of the Zulu army.

For collectors familiar with Warlord Games' existing 28mm Anglo-Zulu War miniatures, the new release offers something different. Epic Battles uses smaller figures arranged into formations, allowing players to field hundreds or even thousands of warriors across a tabletop battlefield.

But the appeal goes beyond miniature counts. The Anglo-Zulu War remains one of the most studied military campaigns of the Victorian era, remembered for the dramatic Zulu victory at Isandlwana, the British defence of Rorke's Drift and the enduring influence of the classic 1964 film Zulu.

In this guide, we'll examine the new Warlord Games Zulu kits, explain the different warrior and infantry variations, explore how historical regiments and British battalions were organized, and look at how the famous battles translate into tabletop gaming.

The History Behind the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879

The Anglo-Zulu War was fought in 1879 between the British Empire and the independent Zulu Kingdom in southern Africa.

At the time, the Zulu Kingdom was ruled by King Cetshwayo kaMpande, who had inherited a powerful military system developed during the reigns of earlier Zulu kings, including Shaka kaSenzangakhona.

British imperial authorities sought to bring the region under greater colonial control. In December 1878, British High Commissioner Sir Bartle Frere issued an ultimatum to Cetshwayo containing demands that threatened the Zulu Kingdom's independence and military organization.

When the ultimatum was not met, British forces invaded Zululand in January 1879 under Lieutenant-General Lord Chelmsford.

The British expected their modern firearms, artillery and professional military training to provide a decisive advantage. However, the Zulu army possessed experienced commanders, an effective regimental organization, extensive knowledge of the terrain and highly developed battlefield tactics.

The resulting campaign produced some of the most famous battles in Victorian military history.

What Is New in Warlord Games Epic Battles: Zulu!?

Announced in July 2026, Epic Battles: Zulu! expands Warlord Games' popular Epic Battles family, which already includes the American Civil War, Napoleonic Waterloo and the American Revolutionary War.

The new Anglo-Zulu War range uses the same broad Black Powder Epic Battles rules engine, but introduces changes appropriate to warfare in the late 19th century.

Unlike earlier Epic Battles periods, which largely focus on armies using muzzle-loading firearms and traditional horse-and-musket formations, the Anglo-Zulu War introduces modern breech-loading rifles, artillery and rocket weapons fighting against an army whose main strength was close combat.

This creates a fascinating tactical contrast: British troops can deliver devastating firepower, while Zulu commanders must use movement, terrain, coordination and numerical strength to close the distance.

Two Major Battle Sets

• Rorke's Drift: a detailed recreation of the famous defensive battle, featuring buildings, barricades, British defenders and large numbers of Zulu warriors.
• Isandlwana: a much larger battlefield set designed for massed regiments, cavalry, artillery and the dramatic Zulu encirclement of a British camp.

Both sets include the period-specific Epic Battles rules and introductory materials, making them suitable starting points for players entering the range.

Rorke's Drift Battle Set: The Famous Last Stand

The Battle of Rorke's Drift took place on January 22–23, 1879, when a small British garrison defended a mission station and supply post against several thousand Zulu warriors.

Approximately 150 British defenders held improvised fortifications against an attacking force commonly estimated at 3,000–4,000 warriors.

Lieutenants John Chard and Gonville Bromhead were among the officers directing the defence, while Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne and other non-commissioned officers helped organize the troops.

Warlord Games has recreated this engagement as one of the flagship releases in the new Epic Battles range.

Rorke's Drift Box Contents

The Zulu forces provide enough bases for ten large married regiments and ten large unmarried regiments in the game's standard presentation.

The British infantry includes special single-line basing options, allowing players to position their redcoats along barricades rather than placing every unit in a conventional ranked formation.

This is particularly important for Rorke's Drift because the battle was fought around a compact defensive perimeter, not across an open field between large conventional battle lines.

The inclusion of Natal Native Contingent infantry also allows players to explore alternative scenarios. Historically, most of the NNC troops at the station withdrew before the main battle, but the set provides the opportunity to recreate a hypothetical defence in which they remained.

Isandlwana Battle Set: The Zulu Army at Full Strength

While Rorke's Drift is remembered for its defensive stand, Isandlwana demonstrates the scale, organization and tactical effectiveness of the Zulu army.

On January 22, 1879, a large Zulu force attacked the British camp beneath the distinctive mountain of Isandlwana.

Lord Chelmsford had divided his army, leaving part of the force at the camp while moving out with another column. Zulu commanders exploited the situation, bringing a powerful army against the remaining British and allied troops.

The Zulu victory was one of the most significant defeats inflicted on a British imperial force during the Victorian era.

Isandlwana Box Contents

The Isandlwana set contains enough Zulu bases to represent 40 tabletop regiments, divided between married and unmarried warriors.

This makes it the stronger choice for players interested in the full scale of the Anglo-Zulu War rather than a single defensive scenario.

The British and allied forces are also more varied, including regular infantry, colonial auxiliaries, mounted troops, artillery and rocket weapons.

Because the set includes both mounted and dismounted cavalry representations, players can recreate the tactical flexibility of mounted colonial forces.

Understanding Zulu Regiments: The Amabutho System

One of the most important aspects of building a historically inspired Zulu army is understanding how the Zulu military system worked.

The Zulu Kingdom organized many of its warriors into age-based regiments known as amabutho (singular: ibutho).

These regiments were not equivalent to British infantry battalions. Their organization reflected the social, political and military structure of the Zulu Kingdom.

Warriors were recruited into age-based formations and could remain associated with their regiment throughout much of their adult lives.

Regiments could contain hundreds or thousands of men, although their actual strength varied considerably depending on the period and campaign.

Married and Unmarried Zulu Warriors

Warlord Games divides its Zulu miniatures into two broad categories based on historical distinctions in age and social status.

Variation	Historical Characteristics	Miniature Appearance
Unmarried Warriors	Generally younger regiments without permission to marry	More elaborate feathers, fur and decorative elements
Married Warriors	Generally older regiments granted permission to marry	Characteristic head rings and more restrained adornment

The distinction was not simply a question of battlefield experience. Marriage permission was tied to royal authority, regiment membership and social standing, while individual warriors within a regiment could have varied combat experience.

For miniature collectors, however, the visual differences provide an excellent way to create recognizable formations.

The New Zulu Plastic Sprues: What's Included?

Warlord Games designed the new Epic Battles Zulu sprue to represent warriors in less rigid formations than the tightly ranked infantry seen in earlier Epic Battles releases.

Each Zulu sprue contains 65 individual warrior figures, combining married and unmarried appearances.

The figures are arranged in strips of three, four and five warriors, alongside individual miniatures.

This gives players greater freedom when assembling their bases. A regiment can appear as a dense mass preparing to charge or as a more dispersed group moving across uneven ground.

Weapon and Equipment Variations

• Iklwa: the short stabbing spear strongly associated with Zulu close-combat tactics.
• Iwisa: a traditional knobkerrie or fighting club.
• Isihlangu: a large shield made from cattle hide.
• Firearms: a smaller number of warriors equipped with rifles or muskets.
• Married warrior details: distinctive head rings and mature-warrior appearances.
• Unmarried warrior details: decorative feathers, furs and other adornments.

The sprue also includes an Nguni cow, which can be used as battlefield scenery or an objective marker, along with casualty markers for both armies.

These details make the new plastic kit useful beyond simply creating identical blocks of warriors.

Building Different Zulu Regiments

Historical Zulu regiments often had distinctive shield patterns and associations that can help miniature collectors distinguish them.

Although shield colours and patterns varied, they provide one of the most practical visual tools for identifying formations on the tabletop.

Examples of Historical Zulu Regiments

Regiment	Historical Association	Tabletop Modelling Idea
uThulwana	Senior regiment associated with the reserve at Isandlwana and the attack on Rorke's Drift	Experienced warriors with predominantly pale shield patterns
iNdluyengwe	Regiment involved in the attack on Rorke's Drift	Distinctive shield markings and an aggressive formation
uDloko	Veteran regiment involved in the 1879 campaign	Mature warriors and contrasting shield patterns
uNokhenke	Regiment that fought at Isandlwana	Large charging formation
uMbonambi	Regiment associated with the Isandlwana battle	Distinct shield designs and a dense central formation
iNgobamakhosi	Prominent regiment in the Zulu army at Isandlwana	Large formation with consistent regimental markings

Exact shield colours and individual regiment identifications are subjects of historical research, and not every surviving account agrees. For a historically focused collection, use a specialist reference for the specific battle and date rather than assuming every regiment had one perfectly uniform shield pattern.

For casual gaming, using different shield patterns to distinguish regiments is both practical and visually impressive.

British Battalions: The Famous 24th Regiment of Foot

On the British side, the most recognizable troops of the Anglo-Zulu War are the red-coated infantry armed with Martini-Henry rifles.

The 24th Regiment of Foot played a central role in both Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift.

At the time, the regiment was officially the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot. It later became associated with the South Wales Borderers through subsequent army reforms.

The 24th had two battalions, and elements of both participated in the 1879 campaign.

1st Battalion, 24th Regiment

The 1st Battalion suffered catastrophic losses at Isandlwana. Its men were among the British regulars who attempted to defend the camp against the advancing Zulu army.

For a tabletop recreation of Isandlwana, the 1st Battalion provides an obvious historical starting point.

2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment

The 2nd Battalion is particularly associated with Rorke's Drift, where B Company under Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead formed much of the defending force.

Its soldiers became central characters in the 1964 film Zulu, although the film took dramatic liberties with individual personalities and events.

Both battalions wore the recognizable red uniforms of British infantry, making the same Warlord Games miniature range suitable for representing either formation.

British Infantry Sprue Variations

The new Epic Battles British infantry are equipped with Martini-Henry rifles and wear the distinctive uniforms and helmets associated with the 1879 campaign.

Warlord Games designed the British infantry sprues to support large formations while maintaining recognizable details at the smaller scale.

The new range also includes troops from the Natal Native Contingent and mounted colonial forces, allowing players to recreate the more varied composition of British-led armies in southern Africa.

British and Allied Unit Types

• British Regular Infantry: professional red-coated soldiers armed with Martini-Henry rifles.
• Natal Native Contingent Infantry: African soldiers recruited into British-led colonial formations.
• Natal Native Contingent Cavalry: mounted African troops represented in mounted and dismounted configurations.
• Natal Mounted Police and Carbineers: colonial mounted units used for reconnaissance and combat.
• Royal Artillery: artillery crews operating RML 7-pounder guns.
• Rocket Artillery: the Hales rocket launcher, included in the Isandlwana set.