The second warband for the new season of Warhammer Underworlds introduces the cunning and ruthless Skaven of Clan Skyre. Led by the devious Warlock Engineer Zikkit, this Tunnelpack has ventured deep into the mines of Embergard, driven by an insatiable hunger for power. Their prize? The coveted Aqshian Realmstone—Emberstone. This potent resource could tip the balance of power in the Underworlds, and Zikkit is determined to seize it, no matter the cost.
At the helm of this chaotic warband is none other than Warlock Engineer Zikkit Rockgnaw [1], a Skaven mastermind who combines malicious cunning with brutal efficiency. Accompanying him is his eager apprentice, Rittak Verm [2], who pilots the deadly Kill-Wheel—a whirling menace that leaves devastation in its wake. The two are supported by a pair of Acolytes: the grim Krittatok [3] and grenadier Nitch Singe-Snout [4], both brimming with the reckless ambition typical of Skaven. Rounding out the team is the volatile blast-vermin Tik-Tik [5], a throw away minion with an explosive surprise.
Fighter Characteristics
Each member of the Tunnelpack offers something distinct, creating a warband that demands tactical nuance.
Zikkit, the warband's devious leader, is agile with a Move of 4 and boasts a Save of 2 Dodge, providing a solid blend of mobility and defense. His Health sits at a reasonable 4 and his Bounty is 3. His warp-powered rockdrill makes him truly versatile: two melee options, one with a Range of 1 (2 Hammers for 2 damage) and another at Range 2 (2 Hammers for 1 damage). Upon inspiration, Zikkit’s Save improves, gaining 2 Block—making him even harder to take down. In addition, both of his melee attacks improve from 2 to 3 Hammers, significantly boosting his accuracy.
Rittak, the apprentice, zips around in his dreaded Kill-Wheel, moving with a slightly lower Move of 3 but still capable of wreaking havoc. He has a Save of 1 Block, Health of 3 and a Bounty of 2, with a single melee attack (Range 1, 2 Hammers for 3 damage). Inspired, Rittak becomes even deadlier, with his Move increasing to 5, his Save going to 2 Dodge and his attack changing from 2 Hammers to 3 Swords.
Krittatok and Nitch are the warband's Acolytes, each boasting a Move of 4 and a Save of 1 Dodge. Their Health sits at a reasonable 3 and each has a Bounty of 1, but it’s their attacks that bring diversity to the warband’s approach. Krittatok hits hard up close, with a melee attack (Range 1, 3 Swords for 1 damage) enhanced by Crit Grievous. Nitch, on the other hand, operates from a distance, firing a ranged attack (Range 3, 2 Hammers for 1 damage). Upon inspiration, both Acolytes become far more durable, with their Save increasing to 2 Dodge, and reliable—Krittatok’s damage increases to 2, though Grievous is lost, while Nitch’s ranged attack becomes more accurate, hitting with 3 Hammers.
Finally, there’s Tik-Tik, the unpredictable blast-vermin. With a Move of 4, a Save of 2 Dodge, Health of only 2 and a Bounty of 0, he’s fragile but fast. His melee attack (Range 1, 2 Swords for 1 damage) may seem modest, but don’t be fooled—Tik-Tik’s true value lies in his Ka-Boom ability, which can turn the tide of battle in a blink, when use at the opportune moment. Tik-Tik gains nothing from inspiring!
How Does the Tunnelpack Inspire?
Inspiration is a key mechanic for this warband, and in typical Skaven fashion, it’s tied to misfortune. Fighters in this warband inspire when another friendly fighter takes damage or is slain. This simple yet effective trigger can rapidly transform your fighters, but managing it well is crucial. The trick is deciding who to sacrifice first and how to leverage their inspiration in the right moments. Sacrificing Tik-Tik with his Ka-Boom ability (more on that later) is one reliable way to turn a bad situation into a strategic advantage.
Warscroll Abilities
As with any good Skaven warband, the Tunnelpack's abilities reflect their willingness to gamble everything for fleeting power. The warband's faction ability, More-More Power, exemplifies this perfectly. It allows you to remove a Move or Charge token from a friendly fighter, provided all friendly fighters already have a Charge token. The immediate benefit is obvious again. This could lead to some devastating multi-attack plays, especially if you’ve got Rittak in position with his Kill-Wheel, ready to tear through enemy ranks. However, as with most Skaven plans, there's a catch: after the attack, you roll an attack die. On a Hammer or Crit, the fighter is slain — a 50% chance of destruction. This makes More-More Power a dangerous tool, best used with vulnerable or expendable fighters. In some cases, though, you might even use it strategically to deny your opponent objectives that score from killing your fighters. If you take out your own fighter first, the enemy gets nothing! And hey, if the ability kills one of your own, you might just inspire another fighter. Overall, though, the risk is high—2 out of 5.
One-use abilities
Two of the three abilities are Surges.
The warband comes equipped with three one-use abilities, two of which are surges, offering fleeting but powerful effects. Here’s a breakdown:
Skitter is a great ability, especially useful at the end of Turn 1 if your fighters are still standing. It allows you to move a fighter who has no Move or Charge token, which can be critical in repositioning your warband for strategic advantage. Whether you're grabbing Treasure tokens or contesting objectives, the mobility boost is invaluable in Underworlds. Early use could also disrupt your opponent's plans by contesting key positions. Overall, it’s a solid ability—3 out of 5.
Warp-Charged adds some serious punch to your attacks. When you select a weapon for an attack, this ability gives it Cleave, Ensnare, and Brutal—a lethal combination that forces your opponent to make Save rolls on Crits alone, making it extremely difficult to defend against. However, as is typical for the Skaven, there’s a downside: after the attack, roll an attack die. On a Sword or Crit (a 33% chance), the attacker suffers 2 damage. The potential for game-changing attacks is immense, but the self-inflicted punishment is severe. A high-risk, high-reward ability—3 out of 5.
Finally, there’s Ka-Boom, which is Tik-Tik’s personal signature move and one of the most thematic abilities on the Warscroll. It’s as fun as it sounds: you choose a friendly minion (without a Move or Charge token), move the fighter, and then roll dice equal to the current turn number for every fighter (friendly or enemy) within 2 hexes. For each Hammer rolled, 2 damage is dealt to that fighter. The later in the game, the more effective Ka-Boom becomes. But even in earlier turns, it can be a clever way to damage enemies while inspiring your own fighters. Since it’s tied to Tik-Tik, it’s best to use this ability before he inevitably falls to his explosive tendencies. Overall, it’s the most flavorful and fun ability in the warband—4 out of 5.
Possible Playstyle Pairings
While I’m still working through the potential playstyles for this warband, a few directions seem to stand out. Much of this will depend on deck builds, but here are some early impressions:
Main Playstyle: Flex
Strike – This pairing could work, as the Tunnelpack has respectable damage potential, particularly if you can protect Rittak and use Tik-Tik effectively. However, the warband's overall fragility makes direct confrontation risky. They might land some good hits, but toe-to-toe brawls won’t be their strength. Overall, 3 out of 5.
Take and Hold – The warband has decent movement, with several fighters able to reach Treasure tokens quickly. However, their low durability means they’re unlikely to hold these positions for long, making this playstyle risky. It could work in the short term, but don’t expect them to dominate objective control. Overall, 3 out of 5.
Flex – This feels like the warband’s natural fit. Against objective-focused warbands, the Tunnelpack can adopt an aggressive stance, pushing opponents off key points. Against Strike warbands, their superior mobility and the ability to control space with Ka-Boom and other tricks could help them maneuver around enemy threats. This adaptability makes Flex their strongest style—4 out of 5.
Mastery – At this point, I’m still uncertain how Mastery will integrate into their playstyle, but it’s something worth exploring as decks become more defined.
Conclusion
The Skaven of Clan Skyre bring a warband that is as fun as it is unpredictable. With their sleek, well-designed miniatures, they will be a joy to field on the tabletop—though I’ve never been the biggest Skaven fan, I can’t deny their appeal here. Their moderate movement and unique abilities make them a threat in positional play, but their lack of durability means that careful planning is essential. In battles where eliminating enemy fighters is the goal, you’ll need to balance the explosive potential of Tik-Tik with keeping Rittak safe for that devastating killer blow.
Inspiration will come naturally, but knowing when and how to inspire each fighter is key to success. Do you want to focus on improving their survivability with enhanced Save rolls, or boost their accuracy in attacks? The decisions you make will determine whether this warband flourishes or flounders.
In terms of playstyle, the Tunnelpack fits well into a Flex approach, though I can also see them having some potential with Mastery once we have more information. My main concern is that they may become a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none warband—solid at many things but excelling at few. The Warscroll abilities perfectly capture the chaotic, "life-is-cheap" nature of Skaven, with all the unstable power of warpstone. However, the many downsides to their abilities mean that careful consideration is required to maximize their potential.
But that’s part of the thrill with Skaven, isn’t it? Chaos, risk, and a little bit of luck are the ingredients for success. What do you think of this new warband? How do you see them playing on the battlefield? I'd love to hear your thoughts and strategies for unleashing the full potential of Clan Skyre!
Thanks for reading and I hope to see you soon in the Underworlds.
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