Malum Caedo
Weapon: Astartes Chainsword
Starts with a Chainsword that attacks horizontally and can hit multiple enemies.
Warhammer Survivors Guide
Survive the swarm with automatic attacks, weapon upgrades and a champion from Warhammer 40,000 or Age of Sigmar. Your movement still matters: some weapons aim for you, while others demand careful positioning.
Learn what your starting weapon hits, how combat effects change an approaching horde, and what an evolution actually does. The full game is scheduled for November 10, 2026.
What you can try in the new demo
The Legend of Catachan brings Frag Grenade attacks to Warhammer 40,000. Lyssa Ravenya brings Rope and Grapnel to Age of Sigmar. The new demo adds weapons, abilities and gameplay improvements; it is available on Steam and Xbox PC. The platform guide separates PC and console availability.
Start fresh, keep the experience
Earlier demo saves do not carry into the new demo. Demo progress also does not transfer to the full game, so expect to begin again at release. Use this trial to learn attack coverage and movement rather than prepare a full-game unlock route. See the demo changes and full release details.
Read the fight before choosing an upgrade
A damage effect is not always crowd control. Check what changes about movement, reach and enemy attacks. The beginner guide connects these rules to positioning.
- Targeting and coverage
- Kozlowski’s Lasgun targets the nearest enemy. Malum Caedo’s Chainsword attacks horizontally; Sharynn’s levelled Grandblade swings around her. Watch the actual attack lane before turning into a group.
- Oil and fire work together
- Nuln Oil applies Oiled, slowing enemies and increasing their vulnerability to fire damage. Combine it with Burning damage when those weapons appear in your run.
- Burning speeds foes up; poison slows them
- Both deal damage over time. Burning enemies move faster, while Poisoned enemies slow down. Leave room for a burning group to approach.
- A stun does not stop attacks
- Stunned enemies cannot move temporarily, but they can still attack. Keep clear of their attack range instead of treating a stationary enemy as safe.
Movement can change a weapon itself: Fyrestorm Greataxe loses damage while you stand still. Its evolved Zangrom-Thaz keeps swinging when stationary and speeds up while moving. Compare weapon behavior and combat effects after evolving.
Choose by weapon, then search the catalogue
These are examples from the guide’s 13 named character reveals, not the full release roster. Champions stay within their own universe; shared weapons do not let a Space Marine enter an Age of Sigmar selection. Browse the character catalogue for the other named reveals.
Trooper Kozlowski
Weapon: Lasgun
Starts with a Lasgun targeting the nearest enemy; levelling the weapon adds squadmates firing small arms.
Morvenn Vahl
Weapon: Heavy Bolter Fidelis
Playable in a Paragon Warsuit, armed with Heavy Bolter Fidelis.
Lyssa Revenya / Lyssa Ravenya
Weapon: Rope and Grapnel
Playable Age of Sigmar thief with Rope and Grapnel.
Search named reveals across both universes.
Six named evolutions, with different results
A named base-to-evolved pair tells you what the weapon becomes. It is not a complete passive recipe or an unlock checklist. Some evolutions summon another character rather than simply replacing your attack. Use the evolution lookup to search either name.
Boltgun
Becomes Heavy Bolter
An evolved Boltgun unleashing sustained firepower.
Fyrestorm Greataxe
Becomes Zangrom-Thaz
Evolved Fyrestorm Greataxe summons Gotrek unless he is already the player character. Swings continuously even while stationary and speeds up when moving.
Power Fists
Becomes Gauntlets of Ultramar
Summons Marneus Calgar carrying Gauntlets of Ultramar, adding bolter rounds to his attacks, unless you are already playing him.
Whirlwind Battery
Becomes Orbital Bombardment
Calls barrages of voidship fire from above.
Heavy Bolter Fidelis
Becomes Purgator Mirabilis
Adds Paragon Missile Launcher salvos alongside Fidelis fire.
Rope and Grapnel
Becomes Ghost of Rhea
An evolved Rope and Grapnel summons Rhea’s ghost, crossing the battlefield and bursting into damaging fog.
A Realmgate crossing and a corridor need different plans
Stages change more than the scenery. Read the active enemy faction and the room you have to move. Compare stage conditions with the enemy skills that occupy them.
Hammerhal: reassess after the crossing
Stormrift Realmgate connects Aqshy and Ghyran. Crossing changes the biome and enemy faction between Skaven and Blades of Khorne. Check the new threats before using the same route through the crowd.
Gallowdark: protect your escape route
The derelict Space Hulk has tight, corrupted corridors occupied by Death Guard. Poison clouds and ranged explosives make narrow routes dangerous. Leave yourself a path around a stationary hazard.
Questions before your next run
Do I have to aim every weapon?
No. Some weapons auto-aim and others do not. Lasgun picks the nearest enemy; other attacks have specific lanes or movement rules. Watch your weapon’s coverage rather than assume every attack tracks a target. To try the combat, check your PC specifications before installing.
Can I carry demo unlocks into the full game?
No. Demo save progress does not transfer to the full game. The earlier demo’s save also does not transfer to the new demo. Plan for a fresh start in each version.
Is Xbox PC the Xbox console demo?
No. The demo announcement names Steam and Xbox PC. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S are announced full-game platforms; that does not provide a console demo download.
Can Warhammer 40,000 characters play Age of Sigmar stages?
No. Each universe has its own champion selection and stages. Equipment such as Nuln Oil and D6 Dice can be shared, but the character boundary remains.
Is this a co-op game?
The Steam listing is single-player. Choose a champion for your own run; do not plan a co-op or crossplay session around the announced platform list.
What should I collect between fights?
Gold collected during runs increases power for future runs. Paint pots unlock character forms and secrets. Temporary pickups affect the current battlefield, and some, such as Purple Sun of Shyish, can hurt you as well as enemies. Compare the pickup effects before moving into one.
When enemy pressure changes suddenly, check the faction trait: kill a Tyranid Synapse emitter to temporarily stun nearby lesser bioforms, and react to the red-screen warning of an Ork Waaagh.
Keep the right reference close
Start playing
- demoInstall the PC demo and understand the fresh-save boundary.
- beginner guidePosition around your attacks, read enemy cues and use pickups.
- release dateFull release timing and the difference from the demo.
- platformsPC, console and mobile releases; Xbox PC versus console.
- PC system requirementsCheck Windows, CPU, RAM, graphics and installation space.
- updatesNew-demo changes, champion reveals and earlier-demo history.
Champion & arsenal
- charactersNamed champions, their universes and starting weapons.
- weaponsAttack coverage, movement rules and shared equipment.
- weapon evolutionsSearch base weapons and their named evolved forms.
Read the battlefield
- status effectsDamage, movement and attack rules for each effect.
- pickupsTemporary power, delayed blasts and hazards that can hurt you.
- enemy skillsRecognize pounces, charges, clouds and support abilities.
- faction traitsTyranid Synapse and the red-screen Ork Waaagh warning.
- stagesRealmgate transitions, confined corridors and Hobby Tables.
This is an independent fan guide. Read about the guide, browse the reference library, or send a correction with the page and item name.