AdeptiCon 2026 Keynote – Clash of the super heavies
Things got super heavy in the Warmachine keynote last night with the reveal of four momentous new cohorts for Gravediggers, House Kallyss, Brinebloods, and Shadowflame Shard.
First spotted in Warmachine: Tactics, Bandit was assigned to Alison Jakes during her final tour as a journeyman warcaster. After surviving the Thornwood and Infernal Wars at Alison’s side, this loyal ‘jack has been her faithful guard dog ever since.
So, when Jakes was given command of the Cygnar Gravediggers, it’s no surprise one of her first actions was to commission a new-and-improved chassis for Bandit.
Once a Charger, Bandit’s unique chassis was re-engineered to maintain the hallmarks of its original design, with some notable power upgrades — enough to take it up not one, but two weight classes. From guard dog to guard wolf, this warjack’s got bite.
Previously the personal warjack of Dawnlord Vyros, Imperatus was thought lost following the catastrophic clashes with the Infernals. But you can’t keep the Eldritch down for long, and apparently, this myrmidon got the memo. Fitting for a ‘jack best known for its resurrection protocol.
Still, when you make it to the other side of an Infernal war, it tends to take some of the shine off. Imperatus is no longer the noble paragon it was before, replaced by an unforgiving avatar of destruction that’s almost unrecognisable after its rebirth from bleak tragedy.
This cantankerous beast grouched about the Shattered Spine Islands before encountering the Brinebloods, chasing and sinking several of their ships in the process.
A testament to Firequill’s “shoot first, ask questions later” ethos, Ol’ Scuttlebutt was hunted down, mastered, and now just about tolerates the pyg crew that festoon its encrusted hide.
In an almost symbiotic relationship, those pygs serve as spotters, range finders, and loaders, turning Scuttlebutt into a powerful weapons platform that announces their arrival with cacophonous blasts. You’ll hear it before you see it.
Khymaera’s Shadow Seraph is a creation that shows three important things: the increasing lucidity of Saeryn’s thoughts, her growing desire to shape the future of Khymaera, and, for the first time, tension between the Shyvess sisters.
Sibling rivalry or no, it’s a clear assertion of dominance following the victory against the Legion of Everblight. You can’t build something with that many wings and not be looking to make a statement. Saeryn’s eyes are fixed on the coming conflict with Toruk and Cyriss, and she’s creating ever more powerful weapons to bolster Khymaera’s arsenal in preparation.
Forcing Rhyas’ concerns aside, during the Seraph’s creation, Saeryn manipulated the warbeast into something akin to dragon spawn from Everblight’s Legion. Somewhat ironic that in doing so, she’s begun to demonstrate the traits she found so abhorrent in her former master. Still, the Shadow Seraph is a triumph, so perhaps it’s worth it…
