4th Edition: Designing the Xirkaali

By Kyle Przelenski

Beginnings

From the echoes of Halpi’s Rift comes a force unlike any other. The world of Pannithor will never be the same - the Xirkaali have arrived! Noble canine warriors and their human allies march together as a brand-new faction for Kings of War, bringing a look and playstyle unlike anything the game has seen before. This is more than just another army…it’s a full-scale invasion, forged from myth, martial discipline, and man’s best friend turned battlefield legends. Their arrival signals a new chapter in Kings of War, one told with teeth, steel, and loyalty. 

Few things are as exciting as creating something truly new for Kings of War. After years existing only in our books and supplements, the Xirkaali are finally on tabletop as one of the most unique factions we’ve ever designed. I had the privilege of helping bring them to life, and in this blog I want to share the inspirations, choices, and behind-the-scenes stories that shaped the Xirkaali into the army you’ll soon see on the battlefield. 

Concepting 

When Matt and Ronnie very first raised the idea of the Xirkaali as a race of canines, my mind lit up with the appeal.

There was so much potential to do something new that wasn’t really represented in the fantasy tabletop space. Instead of simple gnolls or beastmen, we wanted true canine inspiration - drawing from the loyalty, intelligence, and character of real-world dogs. They hunt magic. They stride through any terrain. They are intelligent and dangerous...

There’s so much just in the nature of dogs that lends itself to creative lore and design. We had always known the Xirkaali would be invading Pannithor seeking to snuff out the threat of magic. What immediately comes to mind is that they would be the perfect hunters that could smell the magical residue and track it down to the source. Not only that, but they are also creatures who could stride effortlessly through terrain and make for an impressive invasion force. It was starting to feel like we were...barking up the right tree. 

But how do you personify these ideas into design briefs? I knew we wanted them to have the demeanour of a trained police dog. A calm, focussed expression that denotes intelligence instead of a feral frothing-at-the-mouth beast. You should know immediately that despite being a dog, you could have a conversation with a hemicyon. At any moment, a simple command could turn it ferocious and precise; but a well-placed scratch behind the ears would present you with a wagging tongue and a lifelong friend. 

Translating Lore into Form 

Hemicyon and Yan

While the canine Xirkaali themselves are hugely fantastical, the region of Pannithor they've settled in has some real-world eastern influences. This opened up tremendous opportunities with the kinds of weapons and armours they could use.

It also helped us to start exploring the human side of the Xirkaali Empire even more. Suddenly, the prospect of mainline units of temple monks with martial arts, and throwing chakrams, made my little diorama-loving heart glow. It’s something we don’t see much of in fantasy tabletop, and fitted so well with the theme that we had to push forward! 

The next question to arise was how the species dynamics between the Yan and hemicyons might work.

We decided that the hemicyon were seen as so noble (maybe even divine) that the Yan are more than willing to join the Empire's cause as allies, rather than servants.

Cavalry and Creatures

When it came time to come up with a noble steed for our Xirkaali cavalry units, we looked to the imagery of temple guardian statues, now come to life as Lionsnarl Cavalry.

They had to be bulky and large enough to carry a hemicyon warrior on their backs, while invoking the fantastical and familiar idea of a powerful beast. Imagining the sheer force behind a charge from them felt instantly like we could create an iconic and hard-hitting unit, with a new and unique flavour for Pannithor.

Monstrous Beasts

Having such a wealth of amazing mythology to pull from, we had to go with some iconic creatures that would fight as part of the Xirkaali Empire on the tabletop.

One of the first things that came to mind when thinking of both large creatures and dogs was a core childhood memory of an iconic movie with a dog-themed-dragon...The Neverending Story! There was an opportunity to lightly pay homage to the beloved dog-dragon concept here, while absolutely creating something that was uniquely 'Kings of War'.

The end result, the Gokluu, is one of my absolute favourite miniatures we’ve ever designed. It’s the kind of centrepiece model that I would happily paint just to have on my desk that feels like a personal guardian spirit in miniature form. 

I also wanted a monster-sized creature that would be found in the mountains of the Xirkaali regions. Not quite a yeti, but one that felt like it could visually stand alongside the ranks of Yan warrior monks. I initially pitched an over-the-top kung-fu gorilla with wild expressions straight out of a martial arts flick. While we dialled that back for practicality, the final Shaoquan still channels that energy - muscular, intimidating, and dynamic. I think I owe our lead sculptor Luigi a paid vacation on this one!

War Engines

Traditional fantasy battlefields often come with powerful war engines, especially necessary in a faction that may have to crack open some potently defended castles hiding magical secrets.

But hang on a sec…how do you get around the problem of dogs and loud noises? For starters, the Yan can clearly be the ones to step up to actually light the fireworks but a proper hemicyon is needed to guide the barrage. We decided to pack so much steel plate (especially around the ears) onto the Siegemaster that we’re certain nothing is getting through! 

Looking Ahead 

Getting to be a part of this process was so much fun. From the very beginning it seemed like so much of the background and inspiration fitted together perfectly. Our canine-themed Xirkaali are a force that aren’t just new to Kings of War, but to fantasy tabletops everywhere.

I am beyond excited to see how players will paint and play with these models. Who knows what new mysteries the Xirkaali Empire holds and how they will shape the world of Pannithor into the future...

Hopefully after seeing this, you’re excited to take part in the invasion yourself!

If you like the look of the Xirkaali but want to switch up the breeds with different heads, stay tuned for the Mantic Vault where some new head options will become available in the near future. Maybe you can put your own dogs into your next army!

New blogs, videos and stories will be dropping regularly between now and the launch of 4th Edition in December 2025.

Xirkaali Pre-Orders are now live and can be found HERE.

Watch out for more exciting Kings of War news HERE.