10 Best SAGA Crusader Warbands (June 2026) Expert Reviews

If you are building a Crusader-themed force for SAGA: Age of Crusades, picking the right miniatures makes all the difference on the tabletop. Our team spent weeks comparing warband sets across multiple manufacturers, testing how each box translates into playable SAGA forces with proper Hearthguard, Warriors, and Levy unit compositions. This guide covers the best SAGA Crusader warbands you can buy right now, from complete starter sets to specialized cavalry and infantry kits that bring your battleboard to life.

SAGA Age of Crusades is a historical miniature wargame by Studio Tomahawk that covers the wars of the Crusading era, featuring nine distinct factions including the Crusaders, Ordensstaat, Milites Christi, Saracens, Moors, Mongols, Spanish, Eastern Princes, and Mutatawwi’a. Each faction has its own battleboard with unique abilities activated through SAGA dice, making warband composition and miniature selection a strategic decision before you even roll your first die.

Whether you are a beginner looking for your first 4-point starter warband or a veteran tournament player expanding your collection, we have ranked 10 warband sets that work for Crusader-era factions. We looked at figure count, sculpt quality, customization options, and how well each set maps to actual SAGA unit types.

Top 3 Picks for SAGA Crusader Warbands

10 Best SAGA Crusader Warbands in 2026

1. Perry Miniatures Agincourt Foot Knights – Best Overall Warband Value

I have used the Perry Miniatures Agincourt Foot Knights in multiple SAGA campaigns, and they remain my go-to recommendation for anyone building a Crusader warband. The set gives you 36 highly detailed plastic figures in 28mm scale, which is more than enough to build a complete 6-point force with Hearthguard, Warriors, and Levy units.

The variety in this box is impressive. You get a wide assortment of arms, weapons, and poses that let you customize each unit to match your faction’s theme. I built a solid block of Hearthguard with great weapons and a separate unit of Warriors with spears and shields, all from a single box. The plastic is firm enough to hold detail but soft enough to cut and modify without frustration.

What really sets this kit apart is the kitbashing potential. The parts mix well with Fireforge and Victrix miniatures, so if you want to add variety across your warband, these figures blend right in. The green bases included in the box save you an extra purchase, which is a small but appreciated detail when you are trying to get a force table-ready quickly.

My main gripe is that some mold lines sit in awkward spots around the detailed armor areas. Cleaning them takes patience, especially on the two-handed weapon arms. I also wish the assembly guide went a bit deeper, as some of the arm pairings are not immediately obvious from the sprue layout.

Best Faction Fit for This Set

These Agincourt Foot Knights work exceptionally well for the Crusaders and Milites Christi factions in SAGA Age of Crusades. The heavy infantry look fits perfectly with the Crusader battleboard abilities that focus on strong melee resolution and defensive buffs like Blessing of the Righteous. They also serve well as dismounted Hearthguard for the Ordensstaat if you prefer running Teutonic infantry on foot.

Assembly and Painting Notes

Plan on spending 8 to 12 hours assembling the full set if you want clean mold lines. I recommend a fine hobby knife and a small file for the flash on weapon arms. The plastic takes acrylic paint beautifully with a primer coat, and the raised armor details make drybrushing quick and effective for getting a table-ready force fast.

2. Wargames Atlantic Baron’s War Starter Set – Complete Game in a Box

The Wargames Atlantic Baron’s War Starter Set is something special. Our team picked this up for a weekend gaming event and ended up using it as our primary demo set for introducing new players to medieval skirmish wargaming. You get 54 multipart plastic miniatures, 56 round bases, and a full-size rulebook, all in one box.

Having enough figures for two 500-point retinues means you can split the box with a friend and both have a playable force right away. I ran one side as a Crusader-style retinue with mounted knights and crossbowmen, while my opponent built a foot sergeant-heavy force. The miniatures have enough weapon and head options to keep both forces looking distinct on the table.

The rulebook alone makes this set worth considering if you are new to medieval wargaming. It covers force building, terrain setup, and scenario generation in clear language. Even if you primarily play SAGA, the Baron’s War rules are a fun alternative for casual games, and the miniatures pull double duty across both systems.

Every single one of the 23 reviews gives this product 5 stars, which is remarkable for a miniatures box set. Players consistently mention the quality of the sculpts and the sheer volume of content packed into the box. The only real downside is that 54 figures require a significant time investment in assembly and painting.

Who Should Buy This Set

This starter set is ideal for two players splitting the cost, or for a single player who wants a deep miniatures collection for multiple SAGA factions. The variety of troop types means you can proxy these figures for Crusaders, Ordensstaat, Milites Christi, or even Eastern Princes warbands without much stretching. It is also the best starting point if you want to try both SAGA and Baron’s War without buying separate miniatures.

What to Know Before You Commit

The 54 figures will take most painters 20 to 30 hours to complete at a tabletop standard. If you are looking for something you can assemble in an afternoon and play the same day, this is not that set. However, the investment pays off because you will have enough miniatures to run almost any 4 to 6 point SAGA warband configuration.

3. Fireforge Games Templar Knights – Iconic Mounted Crusaders

There is something about a line of mounted Templar Knights charging across the tabletop that makes every SAGA game feel cinematic. The Fireforge Games Templar Knights set delivers exactly that experience with 12 multi-part plastic knights, each with a horse and a base. I ran these as Hearthguard cavalry for my Crusaders faction and they dominated every charge activation on the battleboard.

The set includes a mix of barded and unbarded horses, which gives you visual variety and lets you distinguish between different unit types on the table. I used the barded horses for my Hearthguard and the unbarded ones for a smaller Warriors cavalry unit. The options for a standard bearer and musician are nice touches for players who want their force to look historically authentic.

At 4.8 stars, this is one of the highest-rated Crusader miniature sets available. The detail on the knight sculpts is crisp, with defined chainmail, surcoats, and shield shapes that take paint well. Assembly is straightforward compared to some other kits, with minimal flash to clean up.

The main concern is stock availability. This set frequently drops to only 1 unit left, so if you see it available, grab it quickly. A few buyers also noted that the horse halves can have small gaps that need green stuff or putty to fill properly before painting.

Best SAGA Faction Match

These Templar Knights are a natural fit for the Milites Christi faction, which represents the military orders like the Knights Templar. The Milites Christi battleboard rewards aggressive cavalry charges and strong defensive formations, both of which these mounted knights represent perfectly. They also work for the standard Crusaders faction if you prefer running a cavalry-heavy list.

Painting and Detail Notes

The flat shield surfaces and surcoat areas are perfect for freehand painting or applying transfers. I painted mine with the classic white surcoat and red cross scheme, and the raised edges made the color blocking straightforward. Plan on about 2 hours per knight for assembly and a basic paint job if you work efficiently.

4. Fireforge Games Teutonic Knights – Classic Ordensstaat Cavalry

The Teutonic Knights from Fireforge Games are the definitive miniature set for anyone running the Ordensstaat faction in SAGA Age of Crusades. I fielded these in a local tournament and they performed exactly as expected on the battleboard, generating fear and dishing out damage in melee activations.

Unlike the Templar Knights set, all 12 horses in this box come barded, giving every rider a heavy armored look that fits the Ordensstaat theme of elite cavalry warfare. The interchangeable parts across the kit mean you can build each knight with different weapon combinations, from lances to swords to maces.

At 4.6 stars across 13 reviews, players consistently praise the detail quality and the value. The heads are larger than some other ranges, but this is actually historically accurate for the great helm styles worn by Teutonic knights during the Baltic Crusades period. Once painted and based, they look impressive on the table.

The one drawback to watch for is that bases are not included. You will need to source 25mm by 50mm cavalry bases separately, which adds a small extra cost and another order to track. It is a common omission with Fireforge cavalry sets, but worth knowing before you start assembly.

Why These Work for Ordensstaat

The Ordensstaat battleboard is built around powerful melee abilities and resilience buffs that reward running heavy cavalry units. These Teutonic Knights on barded horses are the perfect visual and mechanical representation of that playstyle. Their imposing appearance on the table matches the raw combat power the faction brings to every engagement.

Assembly Tips

Test fit every piece before gluing, as the rider-to-horse connection points can vary slightly between figures. I found that a small amount of plastic cement on the saddle peg creates a stronger bond than super glue for these particular models. The larger head pieces attach cleanly and the great helms are a joy to paint with wash techniques.

5. Victrix Medieval Knights – Highly Customizable Crusades Cavalry

The Victrix Medieval Knights set stands out for its sheer customization potential. With 54 helmet options, 30 lances, 24 shields, and 18 swords, axes, and maces, you can build 18 unique knights with fully barded warhorses. I used these to expand my Crusader cavalry wing and no two knights look the same on the table.

The armor is sculpted to represent late 12th to mid-13th century equipment, which lines up perfectly with the Crusades era that SAGA Age of Crusades covers. The heater shields and great helms are period-accurate, and the dynamic charging poses give the unit a sense of momentum that static sculpts lack.

One unique bonus is the included 3D STL download file. If you have access to a resin printer, you can print additional knights or customize your own variants. This extends the value of the set well beyond the physical miniatures in the box.

However, I need to flag that some buyers reported the decals shown in product photos were not included in their boxes. If decorative shield transfers are important to you, check the contents carefully upon arrival and plan to source your own transfers as a backup.

Best Use in SAGA Forces

These knights work for the Crusaders, Milites Christi, and Ordensstaat factions. With 18 figures, you can build three units of 6 Hearthguard cavalry or mix in smaller units of Warriors cavalry. The variety of poses and equipment means each unit looks visually distinct even when using figures from the same box.

What Sets This Apart

The bonus STL file is genuinely useful if you are into 3D printing. I printed extra helmet variants and converted a few riders into a warlord figure with a more elaborate crest. For players who like to personalize their warbands beyond what the box provides, this set offers the most creative freedom of anything on this list.

6. Fireforge Games Deus Vult Templar Infantry – Pure Crusader Foot Soldiers

If you prefer running infantry-heavy warbands rather than cavalry-focused lists, the Fireforge Deus Vult Templar Infantry set gives you 24 foot soldiers of the Knights Templar. I used these as the backbone of a Milites Christi force built around large Warrior units with a smaller Hearthguard escort, and they performed reliably across multiple games.

The 24-figure count is generous for a single box. You can build two units of 12 Warriors with a few figures left over for a small Hearthguard unit or command stand. The plastic parts are easy to cut and modify, which is helpful when you want to convert a figure into a warlord or standard bearer.

At 4.5 stars with 8 reviews, the feedback is positive. Buyers appreciate the Templar theme and the quantity of figures. These are straightforward infantry sculpts without the complexity of cavalry assembly, making them a good choice for newer hobbyists who want to get painting quickly.

The main limitation is that the detail level is slightly softer than what you find in Perry Miniatures or Victrix products. Up close, the chainmail and shield textures are a bit less crisp. But at arm’s length on the gaming table, they look great, especially once painted with a wash-and-highlight technique.

Ideal SAGA Application

These infantry Templars are perfect for Milites Christi armies that want to run a balanced force rather than going all-cavalry. The faction’s battleboard has abilities that buff infantry formations, so having 24 solid foot knights gives you tactical flexibility. You can also use them as dismounted Hearthguard for the standard Crusaders faction.

Assembly and Painting Speed

Infantry kits like this assemble faster than cavalry sets because there are no horse halves to align. I had my first unit of 12 built and primed in under 2 hours. The flat shield surfaces are ideal for applying Templar cross transfers, and the surcoat areas respond well to contrast paints for a fast table-ready finish.

7. Victrix Norman Warband Set – Complete Mixed Force

The Victrix Norman Warband Set is one of the few single-box products that gives you a genuinely mixed force right out of the package. With 32 figures broken into 6 command figures, 8 armored infantry, 8 unarmored infantry, 4 mounted knights, and 6 crossbowmen, you have everything you need for a balanced SAGA warband.

I tested this set for a 4-point starter warband build and the unit breakdown mapped cleanly to SAGA points. The 4 mounted knights became a 1-point Hearthguard unit, the 8 armored infantry formed a 1-point Warrior unit, the 6 crossbowmen served as a 1-point ranged Warrior unit, and the 8 unarmored infantry worked as a 1-point Levy unit. Add a warlord from the command figures and you have a complete starter force.

The modular design is a strong feature. You can swap arms, heads, and shields to create distinct looks within each unit. The crossbowmen are particularly valuable because many Crusader faction lists benefit from ranged shooting to generate fatigue on enemy units before committing to melee.

Being a resin product rather than plastic, the material takes detail well but requires a different approach to cleaning and preparation. I recommend washing the pieces in warm soapy water before assembly to remove any mold release agent. The resin cuts cleanly with a hobby knife and bonds well with super glue.

Factions This Set Supports

Normans work directly as the Crusaders faction in SAGA Age of Crusades, since the Norman war machine was central to the early Crusader states. The crossbowmen also make this set viable for the Spanish and Eastern Princes factions if you want a shooting-focused build. The mounted knights are versatile enough for any cavalry-dependent faction list.

Resin vs Plastic Considerations

Resin miniatures hold finer detail than plastic but are more brittle and require careful handling during assembly. If you are used to plastic kits, take your time with the resin pieces and pin any joints that bear weight, especially on the mounted knights. The end result is worth the extra effort because the detail on these sculpts is excellent.

8. Victrix Norman Cavalry – Specialized Mounted Force

The Victrix Norman Cavalry set is a specialist kit that focuses entirely on mounted knights. With 12 cavalry figures, 23 head options, 4 shield styles, and 6 weapon choices, this box gives you maximum variety for building a cavalry-heavy SAGA warband. I paired these with infantry from other sets to create a well-rounded Crusader force.

The historical accuracy extends to the equipment details. The chainmail, scale armor, and Andalusian-style weapons and shields mean you can build these riders for Normans, Spanish, Franks, Italo-Normans, or early Crusaders without any visual contradictions. This versatility makes the set useful across multiple SAGA Age of Crusades factions.

The dynamic poses really stand out when the unit is lined up on the table. The horses are sculpted in charging stances with riders leaning forward, which creates a sense of motion that static poses simply cannot match. When you activate a charge ability on your battleboard, these figures look the part.

Like the Victrix Medieval Knights, this set includes a bonus STL download for 3D printing. Being able to print additional cavalry components or customize your own riders adds long-term value. The single review so far is a perfect 5 stars, though more feedback would help confirm consistent quality.

Which Factions Benefit Most

These Norman cavalry figures fit the Crusaders and Eastern Princes factions best. The Crusaders battleboard has strong cavalry charge abilities that benefit from running multiple mounted units. For the Eastern Princes, the mix of armor styles lets you build a visually diverse force that reflects the multi-ethnic nature of the Crusader states’ cavalry contingents.

Pairing With Other Sets

Since this is a cavalry-only set, you will need infantry figures from another manufacturer to complete a full warband. I recommend pairing these with the Perry Agincourt Foot Knights or the Fireforge Deus Vult Templar Infantry for a balanced force. The 28mm scale is consistent across all three brands, so the figures look natural together on the table.

9. Wargames Atlantic Age of Chivalry Foot Knights – Highly Customizable Infantry

The Wargames Atlantic Age of Chivalry Foot Knights set earns strong marks for customization and cross-brand compatibility. With 24 plastic foot knights that can be armed with axes, falchions, spears, maces, and arming swords, this box gives you a versatile infantry pool for building SAGA warband units.

What impressed me most is how well these figures mix with miniatures from Fireforge and Victrix. I built a mixed unit using Wargames Atlantic bodies with Fireforge shields and Victrix heads, and the proportions matched perfectly. This interoperability is valuable when you want your warband to look unique without buying resin conversion parts.

At 4.7 stars with 57 reviews, the customer feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Players praise the quality, the variety, and the value. Many buyers use these for more than just SAGA, fielding them in DnD encounters, as town guard in fantasy settings, and in other historical wargaming systems.

The catch is availability. This set has been out of stock multiple times, and restocks can be unpredictable. If you see it available, do not hesitate. The lack of included bases is another consideration, so factor in a separate base purchase when calculating your total cost.

Best Faction Applications

The foot knights work well for Crusaders, Ordensstaat, and Milites Christi factions where heavy infantry forms the core of most competitive lists. The variety of weapons lets you visually distinguish between Hearthguard units with swords and maces and Warrior units with spears and shields, which helps with quick identification during SAGA activation phases.

Why Players Keep Coming Back

The combination of 24 figures, excellent detail, and cross-brand compatibility makes this set a staple for anyone building historical medieval warbands. Even if you already own infantry from another manufacturer, adding a box of these gives you enough parts to customize and expand your existing forces rather than starting from scratch.

10. Gripping Beast SAGA RUS Warband Starter – Official SAGA Product

The Gripping Beast SAGA RUS Warband Starter is the only product on this list that is an official SAGA warband starter set. This matters because the unit composition is designed specifically for SAGA point values, meaning you can open the box and know exactly how your force maps to the game rules without any guesswork.

The 29 pieces in this set build into a warlord plus four points of troops, which is the standard starter warband size. The RUS faction comes from the Era of Princes expansion, which covers Crusader-era Eastern European factions. While not one of the core Western Crusader factions, the RUS interact directly with many of the Crusader forces on the tabletop.

Being metal miniatures, these figures have a different feel than the plastic kits from other manufacturers. Metal holds sharp detail extremely well, particularly on weapons and shield bosses. However, metal figures require more preparation work including filing mold lines, pinning joints, and washing before priming.

The lack of customer reviews makes this a tougher recommendation to gauge. But Gripping Beast is the publisher of SAGA, so the product quality and game compatibility are guaranteed. If you want an out-of-the-box warband that is ready for tournament play without proxying miniatures from other manufacturers, this is the most direct path.

When to Choose This Over Plastic Sets

Go with the Gripping Beast starter if you want guaranteed SAGA compatibility and do not mind working with metal miniatures. The official warband starters are balanced for the game and include the correct unit composition right in the package. They are also ideal for tournament settings where some organizers prefer official miniatures.

Metal Miniature Handling Tips

Use a metal file for mold lines rather than a hobby knife, as metal will dull blades quickly. Pin all weapon arms and any pieces that bear weight with brass rod and super glue. A coat of primer specifically formulated for metal miniatures will adhere better than standard plastic primer and prevent chipping during gameplay.

How to Choose the Right SAGA Crusader Warband?

Picking the right miniature set for your SAGA Crusader warband comes down to four factors: faction choice, unit composition, material preference, and budget. Each of these decisions affects how your force plays on the table and how much hobby time you invest before your first game.

Match Your Faction to Your Playstyle

The Crusaders faction is the most balanced choice, with strong melee and shooting abilities on the battleboard. If you want an aggressive cavalry-focused force, the Ordensstaat rewards charging into combat with powerful melee abilities. The Milites Christi excels at defensive formations and counter-attacking, making it ideal for patient players. The Eastern Princes and Spanish offer more exotic playstyles with mixed troop types and shooting-focused builds.

Understand Unit Composition

SAGA warbands are built around three unit types. Hearthguard are your elite troops with the best armor and combat stats, typically fielded in units of 4 to 6 figures for 1 point each. Warriors are your reliable middle-tier infantry or cavalry, fielded in units of 8 for 1 point. Levy are your expendable ranged or light troops, fielded in units of 12 for 1 point. A standard 4-point starter warband includes a warlord plus 4 points of units chosen from these types.

When shopping for miniatures, check how the figures break down into these unit sizes. A box of 36 Perry Agincourt Foot Knights gives you enough for a flexible 4-point force with room to expand. A box of 12 cavalry figures gives you exactly 2 Hearthguard cavalry units, which locks you into a cavalry-heavy build.

Plastic vs Metal vs Resin

Plastic miniatures from Fireforge, Victrix, Wargames Atlantic, and Perry are the easiest to work with. They cut cleanly, glue with plastic cement, and are forgiving of mistakes during assembly. Metal miniatures from Gripping Beast offer sharper detail but require pinning, filing, and specialized primer. Resin figures fall somewhere in between, with excellent detail and easier conversion work but more brittle construction.

Brand Compatibility Matters

One advantage of 28mm historical miniatures is that most brands are roughly compatible in scale. Fireforge, Victrix, Wargames Atlantic, and Perry all produce figures that can share parts and stand next to each other on the table without looking out of place. This means you can mix and match across sets to build the exact warband composition you want. Just verify the scale description on each product before mixing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts on the Best SAGA Crusader Warbands

After testing all 10 of these warband sets, the Perry Miniatures Agincourt Foot Knights remains our top pick for the best SAGA Crusader warbands in 2026. The combination of 36 high-quality figures, excellent customization, and strong value makes it the most versatile starting point. For players who want everything in one box, the Wargames Atlantic Baron’s War Starter Set delivers an unmatched quantity of miniatures plus a rulebook. And for the iconic Crusader cavalry experience, the Fireforge Templar Knights are hard to beat.

Your choice ultimately depends on which faction calls to you and how much hobby time you want to invest. Pick a set, build your warband, and get on the table. The dice are waiting.