Horus Heresy 2e Review: Sigismund

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5/5 stars. The rules are very strong. I only just rounded down to be honest.

Background.

Of all the Imperial Fists, and even the space marines more widely, there are few who are not primarchs that have their names recognised. Sigismund is not just one of a number like Abaddon, Corswain, Kharn, and company - he is unique in the background. Alone, he is preternaturally skilled and sits only a whisker beneath the primarchs themselves. He is death incarnate and undefeated.

Strengths.

Although his stat line might appear at first glance to be nothing special, the WS=7 is a massive advantage. He comes with a small slew of special rules that make him more deadly.

The warlord trait allows bonus victory points for slaying the warlord by his hand. The additional reaction is splendid, and the bonus to combat resolution for the entire army is bonkers. 

Bonuses to charge distance and sweeping advances seem like icing on the cake, but there's even more here such as unlocking templar brethren as troops and the re-rolling of invulnerable saves against him is amazing for character killing. His sword really is just splendid for S=6 instant death and he also has precision strikes on top of this. 

Weaknesses.

Few. T=4 being the most obvious, and only available to Loyalists being the other. That said, having to get into combat with the enemy warlord for the bonus victory point will be tactically challenging, so take a transport option. Also note that he costs like a tank in and of himself. I regard the cost as worth while though.

Difference to First Edition.

Neutral. The rules are remarkably comparable. 

Overall.

There are few characters below primarchs that Sigismund cannot take on and win against. Take care against the primarchs themselves though. He is a close combat monster and has to be played in that manner.