Warhammer Underworlds: Nightvault – Mollog’s Mob

During Warhammer Fest Europe last year the new season of Underworlds Nightvault was announced, we were told that factions would be introduced to the game that haven't been released for Warhammer or Age of Sigmar. Thus bringing us the warbands of Mollog's Mob and Godsworn Hunt.

Let's start with Mollog's Mob today. The warband was released early this year, but already previewed at Spiel in Essen, where it was shown fully painted during the event.

Mollog's Mob is a warband expansion for Warhammer Underworlds Nightvault, with 4 models and costs 22.50 EUR. It comes with the pre-coloured two sprues in purple, a card deck and brief instructions on the assembly.

The card deck covers 64 cards, 4 cards for the warband itself, 29 are unique cards for the Troggoth/Squig warband and 31 universal cards (split across objectives, upgrades and ploys) to be used with any Warhammer Underworlds warband.

If you have build any other Nightvault - or Underworlds in general - miniatures, you'll know these are push-fit. This means they can be assembled without the use of glue and come with pre-sculpted bases. Very focused on easy access / start up, so you need no PVA, glue or flock (or at least optional) to set up the models for gaming. The sprues of Mollog's Mob are the only warband for Underworlds (at least so far) that was produced in China and not in the UK. But the casting is really good, very crisp details (on eye level with the UK products, you don't note the difference with the other warbands made in UK). For the sprue itself, very well use of the space within the frame.

The leader of Mollog's Mob is obviously Mollog, the Mighty. Mollog is a Dankhold Troggoth, compared to the one from the Gloomspite Gitz range a rather small one, but still a Dankhold Troggoth, as they grow or shrink to fit the space they have claimed, deep below the earth in a cavern. Troggoths are the (former) trolls of Age of Sigmar, have regenerative abilities, which isn't taken into account for this game, but he comes with solid 7 wounds. For him to be inspired, it requires him to have received damage, very similar to the Orruks. But once he has taken 3 wounds, the entire warband becomes inspired.
Mollog is the clear centre piece of this warband, he stands on a large 5 cm round base, mushrooms grow rampantly all over him and he has his makeshift club to smash everyone who is keeping him further from his nap. The toad in his right hand isn't listed as an option, but would have been fun as some kind of one-time range attack. The 6 piece model is quickly assembled and the parts line up very neatly, without large gaps.

Mollog isn't alone in the Mirrored City, not really. But as Troggoths are loners, unlike other warbands, he is not accompanied by other warriors, but Squigs that live in the cavern with him. The first one to show you is the Spiteshroom. This is mushroom-squig that releases a deadly cloud of spores against enemies as an attack and one last time, when he dies. This is a 5 piece model, two small shrooms are added to the base and the Spiteshroom consists out of 3 parts. He is inspired when a friendly Mollog has 3 or more wound markers.

The second squig is a Bat Squig. From the looks the closest to what we know as a Squig, just with wings. He is the fastest of the mob and can move 4 (5 if inspired) hex, and because he's flying ignores filled or deadly hexes. The flying stance is cleverly done with a stalagmite. The Bat Squig is inspired in the same way as the Spiteshroom. I could see this model being used with Orruks or 40k Orks as well, in case of the later it would be funny if you gave him a leather helmet with goggles.

And the last fighter of Mollog's Mob is the Stalagsquig. This squig is some kind of an odd job, as he can't move I am not even sure if I should even call him a fighter or if "friendly" terrain that can deal would be a better notation. The Stalagsquig will be most likely the unit that will sacrifice his action for Mollog to fight instead. Quite simple assembly once again, with smaller bits to improve the base details. You could paint this one as a tree trunk as well.

And the assembled Mob of Mollog.

As for the size comparison, Mollog is quite the broad and tall miniature for a skirmish and likely the largest of the Underworlds miniatures so far (if you exclude the Scenario with the Giant and count that one in). In the second picture a comparison, so you can see the Batsquig next to a "regular" squig from the Zargag Warband and Mollog next to one of the newer ogres.

For Nightvault the Underworld Community page was updated and covers a Deck Builder, where you can take a look into all the cards from this supplement. The deck build section got updated as well, but doesn't cover any recommendations for Mollog's Mob currently.

This is very special warband. We have seen other warbands that were rather "leader-centric", for example Spiteclaw's Swarm. But this build is even more build around Mollog. First of all inspiring is solely build around Mollog receiving damage. Yes, he has 7 wounds and you need him to be wounded to unfold the full power of him and the remaining warband. But as the remaining fighters of this warband are not that easy to play, you have to make sure you use them wisely. And with the one of them not being able to move, and none of them having access to upgrades for attacks nor being able to claim objectives, the possibilities of them to support Mollog are limited - be aware of that. So it is best to use cards that protect Mollog or receive bonuses from the damage that he has to take for him to be inspired.

The Warhammer Community post recommends Shrouded in Gloom to guard Mollog from being picked off with range attacks, at best along with Horrific Stench to prevent him from being swarmed. In combination with Got Them you can earn some glory rather easily, just for being in contact with three or more enemies.

Conclusion
If you would have shown me the miniatures without any context, I would have expected them to be a supplement for Warhammer Quest. A small box with an NPC and some critters. And that is somewhat the motivation of Mollog to be part of Nightvault. Dankhold Troggoths are loners, even more than other troggoths, and Mollog's cave was swarmed by Skaven. After the took care of the invaders, he went further down into the den below the ground, finding himself in the Mirrored city, just looking for a place to nap. And everybody who denies him his sleep will make acquaintance with his club. Therefore an interesting and funny motivation for a warband, not the usual group of adventurers looking for glory and shade glass, but a grumpy troll just wanting to hibernate.

At 22.50 EUR this is reasonable. A rather special interest, motley crew, without heroic poses, more appealing for humorous players. It is a bit difficult to calculate the saving or compare it to the Age of Sigmar range. The other troggoths are a bit bigger and between 37 to 45 EUR per three (so 12-15 EUR per multipart troggoth), and comparing Mollog to the Dankhold Troggoth / Troggboss makes no sense, as that kit is gigantic. And squigs are around 3 EUR each, so we have 12 EUR for a troggoth, 3 times 3 EUR per squig, 21 EUR of "miniature worth". You get the point.

But all that makes for a great alternative choice. If you're an experienced Underworlds player and looking forward to play something that really differs from the other warbands, providing a different meta, then Mollog's Mob may be just for you.

Warhammer Underworlds is a brand by Games Workshop.

The reviewed product item was provided by the manufacturer.