Wait, Did Shadowheart Secretly Audition as a Dark Eldar Archon? Games Workshop Has Fans Seeing Double!
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Games Workshop's new Warhammer 40,000 Drukhari model, Lady Malys, has Baldur's Gate 3 fans doing a double-take, thanks to her striking resemblance to everyone's favorite cleric, Shadowheart, sparking delight and debate across both fandoms.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're just minding your own business, romancing a certain mysterious cleric in Baldur's Gate 3, and then suddenly her evil space-elf twin pops up from a different universe? No? Well, Games Workshop just made it happen, mate. Seems their new Warhammer 40,000 Drukhari model, Lady Malys, has Baldur’s Gate 3 fans doing a serious double-take, and honestly, I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared.
Fair warning: this news sounds like it's just for miniature enthusiasts at first glance, but stick with me because it’s about to get interesting for anyone who's ever wondered what their favorite fantasy characters get up to on their interdimensional holidays.
Now, for those not fully steeped in the grimdark future of Warhammer 40,000, the Drukhari (or Dark Eldar, as some of us old-schoolers still call them) are basically space elves who delight in torture, slavery, and generally making everyone else's existence a living nightmare. They're not exactly known for their warm cuddles. They’ve been chilling – or rather, sadistically torturing – in the shadowy depths of Commorragh, largely forgotten by Games Workshop when it comes to fresh new plastic. Their fans have been in the wilderness for a while, looking on enviously as Space Marines get their tenth new Primaris Lieutenant.
But this week, GW, bless their cotton socks, finally remembered the Dark Eldar exist! They announced a new codex (the rulebook, for the uninitiated) and a Combat Patrol, alongside two shiny new models. And one of them, Lady Malys, Archon of the Poisoned Tongue, has caused quite a stir.
"At the fore is a character long known for her quicksilver intellect and violent tendencies, who now steps onto the battlefield with a wicked weave of schemes and strategies to confound her prey," Games Workshop teased on their Warhammer Community website, detailing Lady Malys's arrival. She’s armed with a barbed longsword, a fan of razor-sharp knives, and a knack for poisons that'd make any assassin proud. Oh, and she can apparently spirit away Kabalites (her elite troops) before battles even begin – which sounds like a magic trick gone gloriously wrong, if you ask me.
But what does this have to do with Faerûn, you ask? Well, cast your eyes upon Lady Malys’s visage. That dark bob, that piercing stare, the imposing demeanor... if you’re thinking, “Crikey, that looks an awful lot like Shadowheart from Baldur’s Gate 3,” then you’re not alone, mate. A veritable chorus of gamers has pointed out the uncanny resemblance.
It’s not just the hair and the sort-of-similar facial features; there’s an air about her. That subtle blend of deadly grace and quiet intensity. It screams 'Dark Justiciar who decided the Sword Coast was too small and took her talents – and her blades – to the stars.' Or perhaps, as one Redditor, lycantrophee, put it, "Yeah, this is GW making a good looking female head, and this is Shadowheart if she became a Dark Justiciar and then took things to space." Fair dinkum, that’s a pretty accurate assessment.
Another Redditor, Sliversix, summed up the temptation: "It legit is Shadowheart. I was just tempted to get her model because of how gorgeous it looks." And you can’t blame them, can you? It’s a beautifully sculpted model, and sometimes, a familiar face, even one that’s been twisted by galactic villainy, is all it takes to open your wallet. The crossover potential here is just delightful chaos.
Of course, not everyone’s doing cartwheels. Some Warhammer 40,000 purists are squinting their eyes, muttering about how a Drukhari Archon – a literal space pirate torturer who thrives on misery – shouldn't look quite so... 'cute' or 'light.' As Perversoris asked, "Am I the only one who feels her face looks wrong for a Drukhari? Like way too light and closer to Craftworld than Drukhari appearance imho." There's an expectation that these masters of pain should look appropriately grim, twisted, and maybe a bit less like someone you might share a pint with (before they steal your soul, that is).
And I get it, mate. You expect your agents of galactic misery to look, well, *miserable*. Or at least, suitably twisted. But what if the true horror is how *normal* evil can look? A cunning disguise, perhaps, to lure in unsuspecting souls for... 'recreational' purposes? Or maybe the GW sculptors just had a seriously epic Baldur's Gate 3 playthrough on their breaks and couldn't help but let a bit of Larian's magic bleed into the grimdark.
Whatever your take, the fact remains that Drukhari fans are finally having a moment. After years spent in the cold, gazing longingly at every new Space Marine release, they're getting a whole wave of new stuff. And this particular model, Lady Malys, might just bring a few Baldur’s Gate 3 players along for the ride. Who knows, maybe we’ll see some truly inventive kitbashes, like a Selunite Craftworld version, as suggested by OftenSarcastic, or maybe even a Karlach-inspired World Eater someday?
It’s a reminder that gaming communities, no matter how disparate, often share a common appreciation for stunning character design and compelling aesthetics. Sometimes, a well-placed haircut and a fierce gaze are all it takes to bridge universes.
This article was inspired by and draws content from an original report by IGN South Africa, titled 'Was Shadowheart a Dark Eldar All Along? New Warhammer 40,000 Drukhari Model Gets Baldur’s Gate 3 Fans’ Attention,' found.
Tags: Warhammer 40K, Baldurs Gate 3, Miniatures, Gaming Culture, Crossover
Original article: IGN South Africa