Ogor Mawtribes · battle formation

Blackpowder Fanatics: the shoot-in-combat gunline formation (AoS 4th Ed)

A Gutbusters formation that lets your gut-cannon units keep firing even while locked in melee.

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.

Blackpowder Fanatics leans into the ogors' crude but powerful blackpowder weapons, letting Leadbelchers and Ironblasters shoot while in combat near a hero. This is an unofficial summary; confirm the exact conditions and which units qualify in your current book.

What does the formation do?

It allows your ranged Gutbusters units, such as Leadbelchers and the Ironblaster, to shoot even while engaged in melee, provided they are near an Ogor Mawtribes hero. That effectively adds their shooting output on top of their melee, turning them into double-threat units. Verify the range to a hero and which units are named in your book.

Who does it suit?

Players who like a shootier flavour of Gutbusters and want their gun-toting ogors to contribute damage in every phase. It pairs naturally with a Tyrant or other nearby hero to switch the ability on.

Key units

Leadbelchers - the core beneficiary; strong short-ranged fire that keeps working in melee.
Ironblaster - a heavy war machine whose big gun stays online when charged.
Tyrant - a nearby hero to enable and support the gunline.
Ogor Gluttons - a durable anchor to hold the line around your shooters.

When to pick it?

Pick it when your list includes a meaningful number of Leadbelchers and/or an Ironblaster and you want them to keep firing after contact. It's wasted in a list with little or no shooting.

Common questions

Do my shooters still fight in melee too?

Yes, the point of the formation is that they add shooting on top of their normal melee while engaged, near a hero. This makes gun units far more efficient. Confirm the exact trigger and any restrictions in your book.

Does it need a hero nearby to work?

As reported, the shoot-in-combat ability keys off proximity to an Ogor Mawtribes hero, so keep a character close to your gunline. Verify the required distance in your current book.

Rules sources

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