Bullets ripped through the air as the Allied Wildfire maneuvered to get a better line of fire at the onrushing zombies. Already, the wave of zombies had ripped through two infantry squads and a Pounder. The Wildfire pilot pulled the trigger, and tore into two zombies. “Stay down!” she muttered as they hit the ground. As she wondered what it took to stop them, she heard gunfire back down the alley. Then it stopped, followed only by a loud buzz and whine. She turned to see a pack of zombies rushing forward, led by one with a massive circular saw…

Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to announce the next wave of Dust Tactics heroes! Two new expansions increase your tactical options for Allied and Axis armies alike. Both the Allies Hero Pack and Axis Hero Pack present three fantastic Heroes ready to join your squads or lead the charges on their own.

A deader breed of hero

The new Axis Hero Pack allows players to guide their Axis Zombie units with one (or both) of two new Heroes with the Blutkreuz Zombie skill. Shrugging off small arms fire with his Damage Resilient skill, Grenadier X flings himself into Close combat with his circular saw where he cuts into troops and walkers indiscriminately. Any Allied forces that don’t fall to Grenadier X and any zombie squad he joins may find themselves concerned by the sinister presence of TotenMeister . Not only did this Blutkreuz Korps experiment manage to cheat death and become both Damage Resilient and ferociously strong, but her supply of Wiederbelebungsserum allows her to recover from nearly any wound. With their unholy strength, these Heroes lend resilience to any Axis army, with or without squads of Axis Zombies to join them.

Additionally, the Axis Hero Pack introduces Stefan , a deadly Oberleutnant who uses some of the Allies’ most effective tricks against them, literally fighting fire with fire with his Flammenwerfer 40.

If you didn’t get Stefan or TotenMeister from our previous Game Night Kits, you’ll soon have the chance to see why everyone has been clamoring for their general release. These Heroes greatly expand your tactical options.

Allied in their response

Though they each come from different backgrounds and though they each pursue their own methods, the famous warriors of the Allies Hero Pack all share a talent for wiping out Axis units. Action Jackson and Johnny One-Eye have already seen limited release through our Game Night Kits, and now you’ll soon get the chance to to inspire your armies with these dynamic leaders.

Action Jackson drops onto the battlefield as a British paratrooper, armored in a high-tech ASOCOM battle suit and equipped with two 60W Phaser Guns. Phaser technology may still be new, but when it all comes together, Action Jackson can blast through even the heaviest Axis walkers in a single instant.

Meanwhile, The Priest prefers to operate up close and personal, where he’s a sly expert with his dynamite charges, and Johnny One-Eye may not be the first badass to walk the Dust Tactics battlefields, but he’s the first Hero with the skill to prove it. His Badass skill means he’s not the type of guy who likes running out of ammunition while Axis forces close in around him. Johnny One-Eye and any squad he joins gain unlimited uses of their limited ammunition weapons.

Bigger personalities for bigger battles

World War II continues to heat up as Allied forces rally for a desperate defense of Southern England in the alternate reality of Dust Tactics . While the battles rage and both sides suffer casualties, the new Axis and Allies Hero Packs provide your armies with exciting new reinforcements and inspirational leadership.

Meanwhile, keep your eyes open next week for an article that will reveal the details about the Heroes for our next Game Night Kits.

If you can’t attend Game Nights, or if you’ve missed any of these exciting Heroes, don’t fret. The Allies Hero Pack and Axis Hero Pack are scheduled to release in the first quarter of 2012! As always, these products will see simultaneous release in our Dust Tactics Premium line, where you can get the same outstanding miniatures professionally pre-painted.

Dust Tactics is a tactical miniatures game of brutal combat for 2-4 players. Based on the popular universe created by artist Paolo Parente, Dust Tactics presents an alternate 1940s reality in which alien technology fuels gigantic machines of war, and the world's superpowers clash over rare mineral deposits that could ultimately decide the outcome of WWII.