Cities of Sigmar – Scourge of Ghyran Pontifex Zenestra
5" 9 5+ 2 4+ In Ghyran, Pontifex Zenestra is revered as an icon of stubbornness and faith, a living embodiment of the Life Realm’s ever-churning cycles. Several times she has appeared in lands corrupted by Chaos or wild magic, burning away the corruption with divine conjurations and cleansing it with the spilled blood of her faithful acolytes. | ||
| MELEE WEAPONS | Atk | Hit | Wnd | Rnd | Dmg | ||
| Sceptre of the Wheel and Acolytes’ Weapons | |||||||
| Sceptre of the Wheel and Acolytes’ Weapons | 5 | 4+ | 4+ | - | D3 | ||
BATTLE PROFILE
Unit Size: 1 Points: 260
Base size: 90 × 52mm
Can be reinforced: No
Regiment Options: Any HUMAN, 0-1 Freeguild Veteran
Notes: This unit is legal for Matched Play for battles fought using the General’s Handbook 2025-26 battlepack.
 Once Per Turn (Army), Your Hero Phase |
WORD OF THE GOD-KING: Zenestra can channel the divine will of Sigmar with but a single utterance, smiting heretical priests and practitioners of proscribed magic, as well as their conjurations.
Declare: Pick a visible enemy WIZARD, PRIEST or MANIFESTATION within 18" of this unit to be the target.
Effect: Roll a dice. On a 3+:
Effect: Roll a dice. On a 3+:
- If the target is a MANIFESTATION, it is banished and removed from the battlefield.
- If the target is a WIZARD or PRIEST, inflict an amount of mortal damage on it equal to the roll.
| Your Hero Phase | 4 |
SIGMAR’S WILL: As a vessel of the God-King’s celestial power, Pontifex Zenestra can scour the taint of corrupting magic from the earth around her.
Declare: Make a chanting roll of D6. If the roll is an unmodified 1, you can re-roll the dice.
Effect: Pick 1 of the following effects. Pick up to 2 different effects instead if the chanting roll was 10+.
Hallowed Ground: Until the start of your next turn, enemy
units using the ‘Normal Move’ ability cannot end that move within 5" of a friendly CITIES OF SIGMAR HUMAN unit while it is wholly within 12" of this unit.
Fervent Prayers: Until the start of your next turn, each time a friendly CITIES OF SIGMAR HUMAN model is slain by a combat attack while it is wholly within 12" of this unit and that model was in combat with the attacking unit, roll a dice. On a 6, inict 1 mortal damage on the attacking unit aer the FIGHT ability has been resolved.
Salvation: If you are the active player, pick up to 3 friendly CITIES OF SIGMAR HUMAN units that are more than 12" from this unit and not in combat to be the targets. Remove those units from the battlefield and set them up again wholly within 12" of this unit and more than 9" from all enemy units. Those units cannot use CHARGE abilities for the rest of the turn.
Effect: Pick 1 of the following effects. Pick up to 2 different effects instead if the chanting roll was 10+.
Hallowed Ground: Until the start of your next turn, enemy
units using the ‘Normal Move’ ability cannot end that move within 5" of a friendly CITIES OF SIGMAR HUMAN unit while it is wholly within 12" of this unit.
Fervent Prayers: Until the start of your next turn, each time a friendly CITIES OF SIGMAR HUMAN model is slain by a combat attack while it is wholly within 12" of this unit and that model was in combat with the attacking unit, roll a dice. On a 6, inict 1 mortal damage on the attacking unit aer the FIGHT ability has been resolved.
Salvation: If you are the active player, pick up to 3 friendly CITIES OF SIGMAR HUMAN units that are more than 12" from this unit and not in combat to be the targets. Remove those units from the battlefield and set them up again wholly within 12" of this unit and more than 9" from all enemy units. Those units cannot use CHARGE abilities for the rest of the turn.
| KEYWORDS | PRAYER |
KEYWORDS | UNIQUE, HERO, PRIEST (2), INFANTRY, WARD (4+) |
| ORDER, CITIES OF SIGMAR, HUMAN |
The INFANTRY keyword is used in the following Cities of Sigmar warscrolls:
The ORDER keyword is used in the following Cities of Sigmar warscrolls:
The CITIES OF SIGMAR keyword is used in the following Cities of Sigmar warscrolls:
Army List
Warscrolls collatedShooting attacks
Shooting attacks are made with ranged weapons. The target unit(s) must be within a distance equal to the Range characteristic of the weapon being used and visible to the attacking model. Models cannot make shooting attacks if their unit is in combat, unless otherwise specified (see 20.0 Weapon Abilities).18.1 Ward Saves
Units with the WARD keyword have the ‘Ward Save’ passive ability. The number after the WARD keyword indicates the ward value for the ward save. If a unit had WARD (5+), for example, its ward value would be 5. If a unit has more than one ward save, only the ward save with the lowest value applies to it; the other has no effect. Passive |
WARD SAVE: Whether through their uncanny reflexes, unnatural toughness or a source of mystical protection, these warriors can avoid otherwise lethal attacks.
Effect: In step 1 of the damage sequence (see 18.0), make a ward roll of D6 for each damage point in this unit’s damage pool. If the roll equals or exceeds this unit’s ward value, remove that damage point from the damage pool.
Combat attacks
Combat attacks are made with melee weapons. The target unit(s) must be within the combat range of the attacking model and visible to it. The model must attack with all of the melee weapons it is armed with.6.0 Visibility
A target model is visible to another model (which we’ll call the ‘observing model’) if you can draw a straight line through the air (whether horizontal, diagonal or vertical) from any point on the observing model to any point on the target model that does not intersect any objects except for other models in the observing model’s unit. A target unit is visible to an observing unit if at least 1 model in the target unit is visible to at least 1 model in the observing unit. A model is always considered to be visible to itself.If a rule or ability requires a target to be both within a given range of and visible to the unit using that ability, or to a model in that unit, both conditions must be met by the same model in the target. You could not, for instance, target a unit where one model is within range but not visible and another model is not in range but is visible.
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| In some cases, it might not be immediately clear whether a model is visible. If so, stoop down to get a look from behind the observing model. If any part of the other model is visible, even if it is just the tip of a spear, then that model is visible for rules purposes. | ||
The CITIES OF SIGMAR and HUMAN keywords are used in the following Cities of Sigmar warscrolls:
17.2 Mortal Damage
Some abilities inflict mortal damage. If an ability inflicts mortal damage on a unit, add that number of damage points to the unit’s damage pool for that ability (see 18.2 Allocating Damage).
The HUMAN keyword is used in the following Cities of Sigmar warscrolls:
7.0 Combat Range
Each model has a combat range that extends 3" horizontally from its base and any distance vertically from that circle to form a cylinder. The combat range of a unit extends 3" horizontally and any distance vertically from every model in that unit. Units from opposing armies that are within each other’s combat range and that are visible to each other are in combat with each other. When a unit that is not in combat enters the combat range of a visible enemy unit, it moves into combat.
A model is considered to be in combat with an enemy unit if that unit is within the model’s combat range and visible to it’
A model is considered to be in combat with an enemy unit if that unit is within the model’s combat range and visible to it’
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The HERO keyword is used in the following Cities of Sigmar warscrolls:
1.0 Wizards and Priests
WIZARDS are special units that can cast spells, and PRIESTS are special units that can chant prayers. Spells and prayers are powerful abilities that can have a dramatic impact on the battle.
13.1 Fight Abilities
Abilities with the FIGHT keyword follow a different sequence to other abilities. When the players are using Combat Phase
abilities as described in 13.0, they cannot use FIGHT abilities.After the players have finished using
Combat Phase
abilities that are not FIGHT abilities, they must alternate picking 1 eligible unit to use a FIGHT ability, starting with the active player. Each unit in combat must use a FIGHT ability if it is able to.Once a player has no more units that are eligible to use a FIGHT ability, the other player continues to pick units that are eligible to use a FIGHT ability, one after another, until there are no more units that are eligible to use a FIGHT ability.
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3.0 Prayers
The declare step of each prayer will tell you to make a chanting roll of D6. On an unmodified chanting roll of 1, the prayer fails, its effect is not resolved and you must remove D3 ritual points from the PRIEST using the prayer.Otherwise, pick one of the following
- Give a number of ritual points to the PRIEST equal to the chanting roll (ritual points can be accumulated over multiple turns).
- Add the PRIEST’s ritual points to the chanting roll. If the chanting roll equals or exceeds the prayer’s chanting value (at the top-right corner of the prayer), it is answered: resolve the effect of the prayer, then reset the PRIEST’s ritual points total to 0.
All PRIESTS know the following prayer:
| Your Hero Phase |
SACRED RITES: The priest focuses on safely setting their ritual into motion.
Declare: Pick a friendly PRIEST to use this ability, then make a chanting roll of D6. On an unmodified chanting roll of 1, remove 1 ritual point from that PRIEST instead of D3.
Effect: Give a number of ritual points to the PRIEST equal to the chanting roll.
Effect: Give a number of ritual points to the PRIEST equal to the chanting roll.
| KEYWORDS | PRAYER, UNLIMITED |
EXAMPLE PRAYER
 Once Per Battle, Your Hero Phase | 7 |
RESURRECTION: A fallen hero is brought back from death, their vitality fully restored.
Declare: Make a chanting roll of D6.
Effect: Pick a friendly INFANTRY HERO that has been slain and return them to the battlefield. Set up that HERO wholly within 3" of this PRIEST.
Effect: Pick a friendly INFANTRY HERO that has been slain and return them to the battlefield. Set up that HERO wholly within 3" of this PRIEST.
| KEYWORDS | PRAYER |
The PRIEST keyword is used in the following Cities of Sigmar warscrolls:
Those HEROES can join an eligible regiment as a Freeguild Veteran.
War Machine Hero
Cavalry Hero
Universal Core Abilities - Movement Phase
 Your Movement Phase |
NORMAL MOVE: The warriors advance across the battlefield.
Declare: Pick a friendly unit that is not in combat to use this ability.
Effect: That unit can move a distance up to its Move characteristic. That unit cannot move into combat during any part of that move.
Effect: That unit can move a distance up to its Move characteristic. That unit cannot move into combat during any part of that move.
| KEYWORDS | CORE, MOVE |
| Your Movement Phase |
RUN: The unit rushes into position.
Declare: Pick a friendly unit that is not in combat to use this ability.
Effect: Make a run roll of D6. That unit can move a distance up to its Move characteristic added to the run roll. That unit cannot move into combat during any part of that move.
Effect: Make a run roll of D6. That unit can move a distance up to its Move characteristic added to the run roll. That unit cannot move into combat during any part of that move.
| KEYWORDS | CORE, MOVE, RUN |
| Your Movement Phase |
RETREAT: The fighters disengage from combat, though at the cost of lowering their defences.
Declare: Pick a friendly unit that is in combat to use this ability.
Effect: Inflict D3 mortal damage on that unit. That unit can move a distance up to its Move characteristic. That unit can move through the combat ranges of any enemy units but cannot end that move within an enemy unit’s combat range.
Effect: Inflict D3 mortal damage on that unit. That unit can move a distance up to its Move characteristic. That unit can move through the combat ranges of any enemy units but cannot end that move within an enemy unit’s combat range.
| KEYWORDS | CORE, MOVE, RETREAT |
The UNIQUE keyword is used in the following Cities of Sigmar warscrolls:
The WARD keyword is used in the following Cities of Sigmar warscrolls:
Universal Core Abilities - Charge Phase
| Your Charge Phase |
CHARGE: With a mighty battle cry, the warriors charge into combat with the enemy.
Declare: Pick a friendly unit that is not in combat and has not used a RUN or RETREAT ability this turn to use this ability. Then, make a charge roll of 2D6.
Effect: That unit can move a distance up to the value of the charge roll. That unit can move through the combat ranges of any enemy units and must end that move within 1/2" of a visible enemy unit. If it does so, the unit using this ability has charged.
Effect: That unit can move a distance up to the value of the charge roll. That unit can move through the combat ranges of any enemy units and must end that move within 1/2" of a visible enemy unit. If it does so, the unit using this ability has charged.
| KEYWORDS | CORE, MOVE, CHARGE |
18.4 Destroyed Units
When the last model in a unit is slain, the unit is destroyed and all remaining damage points inflicted on that unit have no effect. Similarly, if something causes a unit to be destroyed, all models in the unit are slain and removed from play.
16.0 Picking Targets
When declaring an ATTACK ability for a unit, you must pick the target unit(s) for its attacks. The number of attacks each model can make is equal to the Attacks characteristic of the weapons it is using. In most cases, models attack with every weapon on their warscroll (melee weapons for combat attacks, ranged weapons for shooting attacks), though some warscrolls specify that certain models in the unit are armed with special weapons or that the unit must pick between multiple weapons when it attacks.If the unit is in combat, it can only target units that are in combat with it. If a model has more than one attack, you can split the attacks between eligible targets as you wish.
- Combat attacks are made with melee weapons. The target unit(s) must be within the combat range of the attacking model and visible to it. The model must attack with all of the melee weapons it is armed with.
- Shooting attacks are made with ranged weapons. The target unit(s) must be within a distance equal to the Range characteristic of the weapon being used and visible to the attacking model. Models cannot make shooting attacks if their unit is in combat, unless otherwise specified (see 20.0 Weapon Abilities).
 Your Shooting Phase |
SHOOT: The warriors take aim and unleash a deadly volley.
Declare: Pick a friendly unit that has not used a RUN or RETREAT ability this turn to use this ability. Then, pick one or more enemy units as the target(s) of that unit’s attacks (see 16.0).
Effect: Resolve shooting attacks against the target unit(s).
Effect: Resolve shooting attacks against the target unit(s).
| KEYWORDS | CORE, ATTACK, SHOOT |
 Any Combat Phase |
FIGHT: Locked in a deadly melee, the fighters strike out at their foes.
Declare: Pick a friendly unit that is in combat or that charged this turn to use this ability. That unit can make a pile-in move. Then, if that unit is in combat, you must pick one or more enemy units as the target(s) of that unit’s attacks.
Effect: Resolve combat attacks against the target unit(s).
Effect: Resolve combat attacks against the target unit(s).
| KEYWORDS | CORE, ATTACK, FIGHT |
7.0 Manifestations
There are two types of manifestation: endless spells, which can be summoned by WIZARDS, and invocations, which can be summoned by PRIESTS. Each manifestation has its own warscroll, and the spell or prayer that allows that manifestation to be summoned will be found in the appropriate manifestation lore. No more than 1 friendly WIZARD or PRIEST can attempt to summon the same manifestation per turn, and a friendly WIZARD or PRIEST cannot attempt to summon a friendly manifestation that was removed from play in the same turn.
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7.2 Banishing Manifestations
Instead of using a SPELL or PRAYER ability (including when using the ‘Magical Intervention’ ability), each WIZARD and PRIEST can use the ‘Banish Manifestation’ ability:| Your Hero Phase |
BANISH MANIFESTATION: The wizard or priest disrupts the arcane forces sustaining a manifestation, wiping it from existence.
Declare: Pick a friendly WIZARD or PRIEST to use this ability, pick a MANIFESTATION within 30" of them that was not summoned this turn to be the target, then make a banishment roll of 2D6. Add 1 to the banishment roll for each additional enemy MANIFESTATION on the battlefield after the first.
Effect: If the banishment roll equals or exceeds the banishment value listed on the MANIFESTATION’s warscroll, it is banished and removed from play.
Effect: If the banishment roll equals or exceeds the banishment value listed on the MANIFESTATION’s warscroll, it is banished and removed from play.
| KEYWORDS | BANISH |