Nighthaunt · battle formation

Royal Procession: the counter-charge formation (AoS 4th Ed)

Grants Anti-charge (extra Rend when charged) to a couple of Nighthaunt units, turning them into a counter-punch anvil.

Age of Sigmar 4th editionRules checked July 13, 2026

SprueSentry strategy commentary for Age of Sigmar 4th edition, not official rules. Games Workshop updates points and rules regularly — always confirm against the current official rules and your latest dataslate before a game.

Royal Procession is the Nighthaunt battle formation focused on punishing enemies who charge you. The effect below is summarised from current reviews, which rate it the least impactful of the four; confirm exact wording in the current Battletome and seasonal profiles before relying on it.

What the formation does

It grants Anti-charge (extra Rend on their attacks when they are charged) to two friendly Nighthaunt units for the turn. Enemies who charge those units take a harder hit back, rewarding a patient, reactive style.

Who it suits

Players who prefer to hold ground and counter-punch rather than initiate, and who want a defensive anchor that makes the opponent think twice about charging in.

Key units

  • Durable holding units that expect to be charged (e.g. Spirit Hosts, Grimghast Reapers blocks)
  • Objective-anchoring infantry that the enemy must assault
  • A hero nearby to add command support to the counter-punch

When to pick it

Pick it in defensive, objective-holding missions, or against aggressive charge-heavy armies where forcing the enemy to pay for charging you shifts the attrition math. Many reviewers consider it the weakest of the four, so choose it deliberately.

Common questions

Is Royal Procession worth taking?

Reviewers generally rate it the least impactful Nighthaunt formation, since it only buffs two units and only when they are charged. It can suit a dedicated defensive counter-charge plan, but many lists prefer the mobility or lockdown options.

How many units get the Anti-charge buff?

Current reviews report two friendly Nighthaunt units. Confirm the exact number, timing and the definition of Anti-charge in the current Battletome, as these details can change with balance updates.

Rules sources

Written by SprueSentry with SprueSentry editorial (hand-authored, research-grounded), grounded in the cited sources — original commentary, not Games Workshop rules text.