Warhammer Underworlds Deathgorge: Zondara's Gravebreakers and Rimelocked Relics Review - Perfect First Expansion

The trip through the Deathgorge continues in the latest releases for Warhammer Underworlds Deathgorge; Zondara's Gravebreakers is a new Warband to add to your ranks, and the Rimelocked Relics is an expansion Rivals Deck.

Zondara's Gravebreakers Warband Analysis

Zondara Rivenheart is a necromancer who after failing to properly bring her beloved back to life is hunting through the Deathgorge to unlock the secrets to true revival. 

Her warband is made up of Lost Ferlain, the failed attempt to resurrect the love of her life, as well as Pikk, Cracktomb, and Toyle - three of her rearisen minions.

Zondara has an ability to heal friendly fighters through necromancy, or deal damage to enemy fighters and Lost Ferlain has the power to discard an objective that names a friendly fighter who is out of action to draw a different objective card.

Minions At Work

Toyle, Cracktomb, and Pikk have abilities that work off one another. After any of them is activated they're able to place an objective token and then Unearth to search for an upgrade for Zondara, or Exhume by bringing back a minion and placing a Raise counter on it.

These abilities create a chain reaction of events where Minions become inspired after being raised, while Zondara and Ferlain becoming inspired when their partner has two upgrades. The aim of this game is to let minions die and return, while farming for upgrades for Zondara and Ferlain at the same time.

There's an extremely satisfying synergy between the flow of power from the minions up to the leader that's immediately recognizable. Unlike some of the other Warbands that have been released that have you trying to predict opponent moves there's a focus on ones own forces here.

Objectives That Reflect Story

These themes of Zondara and Ferlain being together, or Zondara's minions hunting for magic powerful enough to truly resurrect Ferlain is also extremely present across the Objectives in Zendara's Gravebreakers Rivals Deck.

'Cruel Hope' relies on Ferlain's upgrades, 'Dreamers' Respite' is earned if Zondara and Ferlain have survived the battle, and 'Ever Searching' is rewarded when performing Gravebreak multiple times in the same phase.

There is also a health mix of standard "Have more surviving inspired fighters" and "Take an opposing fighter Out of Action" objectives to earn so even if you're not playing to the story of the deck there's room to obtain Objectives.

Specific Upgrades For A Specific Deck

Looking through the Gambits and upgrades there are a lot of cards specific to different characters. Zondara herself has eight cards restricted to her, when you remember there's only twenty cards that's a lot.

Just like the objectives there are a number of story related upgrades, like Ferlain regaining health if Zondara is still in action or if one of the lovers is Out of Action the other becomes more powerful. There are just as many generic upgrades and gambits allowing for additional dice to be rolled, fighters moved, and new attacks to be learned.

There's a beauty in the simplicity of this deck that a lot of other Warhammer Underworlds Warbands don't have. For a newcomer to the game this is a fun Warband that will promote the idea of synergy between each of the fighters without being overly complicated.

Rimelocked Relics Rivals Deck Analysis

As the title suggests this deck focuses on a series of ancient artifacts that have been frozen in the ice of the Deathgorge since ancient times. These powerful artifacts can be used to upgrade the fighters of any Warband but they do take time to thaw before their powers can be unleashed.

There are six Rimelocked artefacts. These have a number of different effects such as the Frostgale Bow that gives you a new attack, Leyfrost Conduit bowgun that reduces your opponents defence when that fighter attacks, and the Arctyc Crown which allows your fighter to become Inspired.

The main drawback from these Rimelocked upgrades is that when you first play them they're facedown. Each activation step you'll add a Thaw counter, at three Thaw they will reveal themselves.

There are other Gambits that will interact with these Rimelocked artefacts. Some can only be used on Fighters with activated Rimelocked gear while others can serve to speed up the process of Thawing them out.

There's a fun element of surprise in playing the Rimelocked cards face down, especially when facing off against a knowledgable opponent as they will know you're making moves, but they won't know what move your making. With good planning and timing you can have a fighter in a perfect position to reveal your equipment and turn the tide of battle.

Warhammer Underworlds Deathgorge: Zondara's Gravebreakers and Rimelocked Relics | Final Review

Both Zondara's Gravebreakers and the Rimelocked Relics are very unique and interesting additonals to the Warhammer Underworlds Deathgorge family. Both of these decks deal heavily with upgrading fighters creating an easy-to-understand sense of power scaling.

For a newer player looking to expand past the Starter Set or the Deathgorge Set these are two additional that will very quickly demonstrate more expanded gameplay mechanics, and how different Warbands can interact with separate Rivals Decks.

The copy of Warhammer Underworlds Deathgorge: Zondara's Gravebreakers and Rimelocked Relics used to produce this review was provided by the Publisher. All photos were taken by the reviewer over the course of the review.