Age of Sigmar Annihilators GMC-21: Painting and Tactics Buying Guide

Quick answer

Buy the Annihilators GMC-21 if you want a durable, hard-hitting Stormcast Eternals unit that rewards simple metallic-and-blue paint schemes and mid-table objective play. Skip it if you prefer fast, disposable skirmishers or already own three units of heavy infantry. If budget is tight, a secondhand Lord Relictor or Vulkite Berzerkers can fill a similar role for less.

Annihilators are the anvil of a Stormcast Eternals army: slow, heavily armored, and capable of delivering a devastating charge. The GMC-21 kit gives you the models, but the real decision is how you paint them and where you place them on the table. This guide walks through both so you can buy with a plan.

Because the GMC-21 kit is a multi-part plastic set, assembly choices affect both painting access and tabletop performance. You also have secondhand options that cost less but come with final-sale caveats. The sections below give you concrete rules for deciding whether this kit belongs in your collection.

What the Annihilators GMC-21 kit actually gives you

The GMC-21 box builds a unit of Annihilators: heavily armored Stormcast Eternals with grandhammers and shields. The kit is designed for Age of Sigmar, and the models are push-fit or multi-part depending on the release. You get enough components for a minimum-sized unit, with options for a leader and weapon swaps. Because the kit is plastic, you can pose arms and heads before gluing, which matters for painting access.

If you are new to Stormcast, this unit fills a specific role: it holds objectives and absorbs charges. It is not a fast flanker. That role distinction should drive your purchase. If you already have fast units like Vanguard-Hunters, Annihilators give you a durable anchor. If you have none, they may feel slow in smaller games.

• Check the sprue count before buying: more parts means more assembly time but better posing options.
• Dry-fit the shields before gluing so you can still reach the chest and face with a brush.

Painting Annihilators: three routes that actually work

Annihilators have large, flat armor panels and deep recesses. That makes them ideal for metallic basecoats followed by a wash and drybrush. Route one: leadbelcher spray, nuln oil wash, stormhost silver drybrush, then blue shoulder pads. This takes about two hours per model and looks clean on the table. Route two: contrast paints over a silver base for a faster, slightly more textured finish. Route three: non-metallic metal if you want a display piece, but expect five to eight hours per model.

The biggest painting mistake is assembling the shield arm before painting the torso. Leave the shield and backpack off until after you finish the body. Also, paint the head separately if you can. The helmet is small and recessed, and a separate head lets you get a clean faceplate without splattering the collar.

• Use a size 1 brush for the recesses and a drybrush for the edges; avoid overloading the drybrush.
• If you use contrast paint, thin it slightly with medium to avoid tide marks on flat armor.

Annihilators tactics: where they win and where they stall

On the table, Annihilators want to sit on a central objective and dare your opponent to charge. Their 3+ save and 2 wounds each make them hard to shift with small arms. Their grandhammers hit hard enough to threaten monsters and elite infantry. The catch is movement: 4 inches means they will not chase down fast units. You need to place them where the fight comes to you, or use a Lord-Relictor to teleport them.

A common trap is charging them into a screen of cheap models. They will win, but then they are out of position and exposed. Instead, keep them on an objective and let your faster units handle screens. If you do charge, target something that justifies their damage output: a hero, a monster, or a unit holding a key objective.

• Pair them with a Lord-Relictor for teleport tricks; that solves their speed problem.
• Keep a hero within 12 inches for command abilities that improve their save or damage.

Secondhand alternatives and what they cost you

If you are building Stormcast on a budget, secondhand models are a legitimate route. Frontline Gaming sells used miniatures through its Secondhand Store Program, and those sales are final and sold as-is. That means no returns for missing parts or bad paint. You are buying what you see. For example, a used Stormcast Eternals Lord Relictor HKF-30 at USD 12.50 is a cheap way to add a support hero, but you must accept the condition shown in the listing.

Used Vulkite Berzerkers and Helsmiths of Hashut units offer different playstyles. Vulkite Berzerkers are cheaper and more aggressive, while Helsmiths bring ranged pressure. None of them replace Annihilators directly, but they can fill gaps in your army while you save for the GMC-21 kit. Always check the photos for mold lines, missing parts, or thick paint before buying secondhand.

• Secondhand is best for heroes and filler units, not for your centerpiece unit unless the photos are clear.
• Budget for stripping supplies if the used models are painted; simple green or isopropyl alcohol works on most acrylics.

Decision rules for buying Annihilators GMC-21

• You need a durable objective holder: Annihilators have 2 wounds, a 3+ save, and grandhammers. They are built to sit on a point and survive. If your army lacks a unit that can do that, buy them. Best for mid-table control lists.
• You want a fast, aggressive playstyle: Movement 4 means they will not keep up with cavalry or deep-strike units. If you prefer mobility, spend your money on Vanguard-Hunters or Prosecutors instead. Skip if you hate slow units.
• You are on a tight budget: The GMC-21 kit is a new plastic kit. Secondhand heroes like the Lord Relictor HKF-30 cost less and still support your army. Buy used first, then save for the Annihilators. Secondhand is final sale, so inspect photos.
• You already own two or more heavy infantry units: A third unit of Annihilators may sit on the shelf. In most lists, two units is plenty. Spend the money on a support hero or a different threat instead. Diminishing returns after two units.

Product facts from the Frontline Gaming catalog

• Stormcast Eternals Lord Relictor HKF-30: Secondhand Shop Product sales are final and sold as-is. Items are 'What you see is what you get' and are purchased exclusively from clients through our Secondhand Store Program. A cheap support hero for your Annihilators, but you cannot return it if the condition is not what you expected. Check photos carefully.
• Age of Sigmar Vulkite Berzerkers HAZ-31: Secondhand Shop Product sales are final and sold as-is. Items are 'What you see is what you get' and are purchased exclusively from clients through our Secondhand Store Program. A budget alternative for aggressive melee, but they do not fill the same anvil role as Annihilators. Buy them as a supplement, not a replacement.
• Soulblight Gravelords: Blades Of The Hollow King: This multipart plastic kit builds the Blades of the Hollow King, a trio of unique characters for your Soulblight Gravelords armies in Warhammer Age of Sigmar. If you play multiple Death armies, this kit adds three characters. It is not a Stormcast unit, but it shows the kind of multi-character value you can get for a similar price.

Who should buy Annihilators GMC-21

Best for

• Stormcast Eternals players who need a durable anvil unit for objective play
• Painters who enjoy metallic armor, washes, and simple blue-and-gold schemes
• Players who already have a Lord-Relictor or similar support hero to offset their speed

Not for

• Players who prefer fast, disposable skirmishers or heavily mobile armies
• Hobbyists who dislike assembly and want a single-piece model
• Anyone who already owns three or more units of heavy Stormcast infantry

Annihilators GMC-21 reward planning: assemble with painting access in mind, paint them in a simple metallic scheme, and use them as a stationary anvil rather than a charge piece. If that role fits your army, buy the kit. If not, a secondhand Lord Relictor or Vulkite Berzerkers can support your force for less.