From the sun-bleached sands of Nehekhara, the long-slumbering monarchs of ancient Blood Bowl have awoken. Once the beating heart of a civilization obsessed with glory, sport, and eternal fame, the Tomb Kings were playing Blood Bowl centuries before the rest of the world even had a league.
When war consumed the living world, the stadiums fell silent and the greatest players were entombed — mummified at the height of their careers, waiting for a new age of competition.
Now, with the dawn of a new season, the Nehekhara Nightmares have returned to the gridiron — bandages, bones, and all.
💀 Back from the Grave
According to Jay from the rules team:
“Crypts have been opened, bandages are being dusted off, and moans echo beneath the pyramid stadia — the Tomb Kings are back! While they aren’t the most agile team, their strength, resilience, and refusal to truly die make them a force to fear.”
And he’s not wrong. Tomb Kings bring an avalanche of raw strength and grim determination to the pitch. Their Tomb Guardians — mighty, Strength 5 mummies — dominate the line of scrimmage, and yes, you can field four of them. That’s a lot of ancient muscle for any team to handle.
⚰️ The Undead Playbook
The Tomb Kings’ game plan is simple and terrifying:
Pick up the ball with a Thrower, block everything that moves, and slowly grind your way upfield. They’re slow, but they hit like a collapsing pyramid.
Here’s a breakdown of their key positionals:
🦴 Skeleton Linemen
The backbone (literally) of the team. Costing only 40,000 gold, they’re cheap, sturdy, and efficient.
- Thick Skull keeps them in the game longer.
- Regeneration gives them a second (or third) chance at unlife.
These skeletons don’t quit — even when they fall apart.
🏈 Throwers
Quick (for the undead) with Movement 6, PA 3+, and Armour 9+. They come with:
- Sure Hands, letting them reliably scoop up the ball without relying on the new Secure the Ball action.
- Pass, granting a free re-roll for those risky tosses.
They may be brittle, but their technique is eternal.
⚔️ Blitzers
With Block and Armour 9+, these warriors are the team’s enforcers — fearless, durable, and unrelenting. Their necromantic resilience lets them keep charging back into the fray long after most mortals would crumble.
🏺 Tomb Guardians
The crown jewels of the roster. You can take four of these Strength 5 juggernauts, each boasting Armour 10+, Brawler, and Regeneration.
- Brawler allows them to re-roll a Both Down result when blocking.
- Decay means they’re fragile beneath all those wrappings, but even when they break, they’re likely to crawl back next drive.
Slow (Movement 4), unstoppable, and very, very angry — the ultimate undead frontline.
📜 The Wisdom of the Ages
It’s clear that the Nehekharans haven’t entirely grasped modern sporting regulations — taking four Big Guys, for example, is definitely bending the rules. But who’s going to argue with a seven-foot mummy in golden armour?
Their playstyle rewards patience, methodical positioning, and brutal efficiency. Once they control the middle of the pitch, their opponents rarely recover.
🏆 Glory Awaits in the Afterlife
For those wanting to master the art of eternal football, Spike! Journal Issue 20 will be your sacred text. Inside you’ll find:
- Full team rules, pitch and ball variants
- Tactical articles to keep your undead squad competitive
- Tournament guides, including the Khemri Classic Cup
The Tomb Kings have waited millennia for another chance at victory — and soon, you’ll be able to lead them back to glory yourself.
The sands are shifting, the mummies are marching, and the gridiron trembles once more.
Prepare your playbook, coach — Nehekhara has returned to claim the pitch.