Basilea Leads The Charge – Start Here

Basilea is an iconic faction in the world of Pannithor, and across many of the fun and accessible games we make here at Mantic. Basilean troops are dogmatic, ruthless, and driven by a fierce loyalty and zeal. They're (ALWAYS) in the right and if you're going to question them on that, then you'd better have a good parry already lined up with your sword arm...

They also have a brilliantly diverse range of models to field, from flaming phoenixes to charging cavalry, winged angels with flaming swords, well-equipped men-at-arms, equisitely armoured ogre palace guards, and so much more to discover!

So, with the introduction of new sets for both Champions and Kings of War, let's scratch the surface and look at what they have to offer...

Who are the Basileans?

The Basileans are adherents of the Shining Ones, and large numbers of paladins, warrior monks and battle nuns are found in their armies. The angelic Elohi fly above the hosts of Basilea, lending their pure voices to the battle hymns of holy warriors, and their strength to the army’s assault.

Basilea’s wealth means that its foot-soldiers march to war clad in the finest plate and bearing the very best weapons that money can buy. Vast armies of them march to protect its borders, bolstered by the elite religious warriors of the Paladins on foot and atop mighty warhorses, and the fanatical sisterhood, fighting on foot or riding to battle mounted on war panthers or chariots pulled by these magnificent, if terrifying apex predators. Their war machines are intricate and well built, and their magical support can rival the best, Basilea having the highest concentration of magical colleges anywhere in the world.

With these forces alone, Basilea could endure for centuries as one of the great powers of Pannithor. When the forces of the Shining Ones are added, the eternal supremacy of the Golden Horn is assured. Elohi march alongside the troops of Basilea, living manifestations of divine fury, each the equal of many dozens of men. It is no surprise that Basilea has become as arrogant as it is fervent. There are simply no powers in the world who can match it. For now.

Basilea in Kings of War: Champions

In Champions, Basilea is one of the two company factions in the 2-Player Starter Set, Faith and Fury. You'll take on the role of Alanis Sallustis, a war priest looking to live up to her legendary family name...

Since being a young girl, the pressure has been on Alanis to walk in the footsteps of her great uncle, the legendary Basilean hero Gnaeus Sallustis. Now she has the opportunity to prove herself on the battlefield.

Her rousing hymns and sermons featuring the words of the Shining Ones inspire those around her and encourage them to greater feats of heroism in the name of the Hegemony.

Playing as Alanis Sallustis

There's a lot more going on with Alanis, including why she holds a special personal hatred (over and above that already ingrained into Basilean culture) for the denizens of the Abyss. You'll find her full back-story in the Kings of War: Champions rulebook!

Alanis is accompanied by hand-picked and trusted warriors - hailing from the city of Tarisios, which lies south-east of the Forest of Galahir. These three other units bring a balanced mix of cavalry, ranged and melee options to bear against the enemies of the Hegemon - the perfect company for a young war priest facing the dangers of Pannithor. And because this is Champions, each of these units will come with their own snippets of backstory that really help set the scene.

Accompanying her faction in the starter box, you'll of course get all of the unit and ability cards that you're going to need. And then it's time to lead them out into combat on the table! Excitingly, this is also one of your first chances to get your hands on brand-new hard plastic Basilean cavalry - the Paladin Knights.

You'll find five knights spread across two sprues, one for the riders and one for the horses. They're our very latest hard plastic kit, so expect great detail and all the parts labelled so you can see right on the frame which bits go together for each miniature. (Part A1 being designed to fit with A2, A3, A4 etc).

Basilea in Kings of War

Champions is full of fast and fun thrills that play in an hour on a small table.

But what if you're looking for full-size and spectacular mass battles? Then Kings of War is where it's at! With the addition of those new Paladin Knights, the Basilean Army and Mega Army sets are getting a 2025 overhaul to include the new hard plastics and bring them right up to date.

How Do They Play?

The Basilean list is very flexible and armies can be constructed with very different themes and purpose. The army can include units that excel at healing and removing damage, and has some very fast and hard hitting units to pick from. The army is less specialised in ranged combat, preferring to deliver the Basilean message to non-believers face-to-face with elite troops like the Ogre Palace Guard.

What’s in the army?

Blocks of Men-at-arms are accompanied by paladin knights on foot or on mounted warhorses. The Basilean Sisterhood can be represented on foot or as light cavalry on their speedy panthers. Flying high above the army (and with excellent speed), the angelic Elohi are ready to sweep down and purge the unworthy from the world. The majestic phoenix is a nice Titan choice and the hero options are powerful with High Paladins, War-wizards and Ur-Elohi.

If you like what you see, your next port of call would be to check out their army list on The Mantic Companion, and their full army range right HERE on the webstore.

Further Reading

Want to know more? Excellent - there's a whole world of content to discover.

Your first port of call is the FREE World of Pannithor Guide, covering both Basilea and the rest of this rich fantasy setting - downloadable HERE.

We'd also heartily recommend checking out 'Steps to Deliverance' by Mark Barber, which is just one of the many Pannithor-set novels from our friends at Winged Hussar publishing.

Let's hear what it's all about...

Over a decade after violating his ruthless orders from his superiors in the Basilean military, ex-legion captain Dionne emerges from hiding in the Mountains of Tarkis, leading a force of rebels against the dark forces of the Abyss. Desperate to clamp down on the popular rebel leader, the Basilean Duma dispatches a force to bring the former legion officer to justice. Leading the paladins of this force is Tancred, freshly promoted and harboring political ambitions of his own. Under the brutal leadership of Hugh, the commander of the force, Tancred must struggle to find the balance between obeying orders, following the path of righteousness, and advancing his own ambitions.

You can pick up a digital copy of this novel HERE, or order a physical edition from either Amazon or Winged Hussar Publishing.