Highland Miniatures Empire: Complete Sunland Empire Guide

The Highland Miniatures Empire, known in the catalog as Sunland Empire, is the studio's most extensive army: 71 miniatures covering the entire diversity of a classic fantasy Renaissance empire. From halberdiers and steel-armored warriors to armored war machines and emperors on colossal griffins, the Sunland Empire is the best Empire of Man proxy for Warhammer The Old World available on the market today.

Who are Highland's Sunland Empire?

Highland Miniatures, founded by a Spanish couple based in Edinburgh, has developed the Sunland Empire as their particular version of the classic imperial fantasy army: a combination of European Renaissance, Holy Roman Empire, Kingdom of Poland, and noble cavalry, with touches of their own fantasy. The emperor, the electors, the knights on griffins, the handgunners, the college wizards... all the spirit of the classic Empire is here, but with unique details: solar armor, inquisitorial band, magical houses with distinct schools, and specific units like Winged Hussars or Port Cossacks.

Equivalencies with Warhammer The Old World and other systems

• Warhammer The Old World – Empire of Man: total direct equivalence. It is the most faithfully covered army in the Highland catalog.
• Age of Sigmar – Cities of Sigmar: excellent compatibility, especially for Free Peoples / Empire-style lists.
• Kings of War – Kingdoms of Men: 1:1 equivalence in troops and commanders.
• OPR – Human Defense Force: 100% compatible standard list.
• Mordheim, Frostgrave, D&D: ideal for human mercenary warbands.

The 71 Miniatures of the Sunland Empire

Commanders and Characters (15 minis)

The Sunland Emperor on Griffin is the absolute star piece of the catalog: the supreme emperor mounted on a colossal golden griffin, one of Highland Miniatures' most detailed and best-selling miniatures. The Sunland General on Pegasus offers the light flying version, ideal as an Empire General on Pegasus. The Sunland General on Foot is the classic general for battalion lists.

The Electors of the different houses (Fierce Claws, Golden Flames) are the regional lords of the empire. The Baroness of Lunnenburg is a distinctive noble leader. The Sunland Captain and the Battle Priest complete the intermediate command staff.

Battle Wizards: Battle Wizard, two variants Mounted V1 and V2, and the supreme Grand Wizard. Each represents one of the magical houses of the empire (Alchemy, Cosmology, Darkness, Fire, Healing, Light, Nature, Necromancy).

Renaissance Line Troops (12 minis)

The Halberdiers, Spearmen, and Swordsmen are the imperial backbone: steel armor, heraldic shields, close formation. The Sunland Militia is the levy troop: poorly armed but numerous.

The Sunland Arquebusiers, Swordsmen Reinforcements, Pistoliers, and Repeater Pistoliers are the gunpowder unit: arquebuses, pistols, and flintlock rifles. The Sunland Crossbowmen Unit maintains traditional ranged fire. The Sunland Duelist is an individual dueling hero.

Imperial Cavalry (5 minis)

The Sunland Knights are heavy cavalry: full Renaissance armor, lances with pennants, barded mounts. The Golden Flames Knights and the Fierce Claws Knights are the versions from the Elector houses. The Knights of the Rising Sun are an elite mystical order. The Light Cossack Cavalry provides fast eastern skirmishers.

Heavy Artillery (10 minis)

The Sunland Great Cannon is the main artillery. The Sunland Volley Gun fires multiple salvos. The Sunland Mortar launches high-angle projectiles. The Sunland Artillery Set offers the barricade with several pieces. The Arcane Cannon is mystical artillery.

But the unique pieces are: the Sunland Land Ironclad (classic Land Ship), the Sunland Armored Wagon (armored combat wagon), the Iron Opinicus (colossal mechanical war machine in the shape of a mythical beast), the Cosmological Machine (flying magical contraption), and the War Wagon.

Magical Houses of the Empire (8 minis)

A unique feature of the Sunland Empire are its 8 Magical Houses: miniature buildings representing each school of magic (Alchemy, Cosmology, Darkness, Fire, Healing, Light, Nature, Necromancy). They are decorative pieces that can function as scenario objectives, thematic terrain, or narrative campaign components.

Special Units and Characters (21 minis)

The Sunland empire has an enormous variety of unique units: Inquisitorial Band, Zealot Fanatics, Cossack Leader, Port Cossacks, Port Streltsy, Black Riders, Winged Hussars (mounted and on foot), Mergenheim Druid, Mergenheim Knight, Mergenheim Knights on Foot, Soltau Landsknechts, Long Shooter V1 and V2, Khazarian Warriors, Khazarian Artillerymen, and many more.

Carts and altars (4 minis)

The Sunland Altar on Cart, the Golden Wagon, the Sunland Standard Bearer, and the Sunland Engineer complete the catalog.

Why Drakholm for your Highland Empire of Man

• Official Highland Miniatures licensee: your royalties go to the creative couple.
• Saturn 4 Ultra 16K printer: the best on the resin market in 2026, 18 micron XY resolution.
• Proprietary resin developed by Drakholm: exclusive blend with a balance between ultra-sharp detail, flexibility of thin parts, and impact resistance. Your minis withstand transport and play without breaking.
• Variants with Command Group in infantry: configure units of 5/10/20 with or without CG.
• Unique narrative lore in each product, written by Drakholm.
• Fast shipping from Alicante: production 3-5 business days.

Comparison with Games Workshop's Empire of Man

• Catalog: Highland offers 71 products. GW Empire of Man in Warhammer The Old World is comparable in variety but at a drastically higher price.
• Price: a box of 20 official GW Empire State Troops costs around €50. The equivalent Highland unit at Drakholm costs less than a third.
• Quality: comparable or superior with the Saturn 4 Ultra 16K. Feather detail, buckles, baroque brocades perfectly printed.
• Aesthetic variety: Sunland Empire offers unique units (Cossacks, Winged Hussars, Magical Houses, Land Ironclad) that GW does not have in its current catalog.
• Compatibility: 28mm Highland mixable on the table with GW Empire.

Initial Sunland Empire list (1500 points)

1. 1× Sunland General on Foot (general)
2. 1× Battle Wizard (magic support)
3. 1× Sunland Captain (combat hero)
4. 2× 20 Halberdiers (main line)
5. 1× 10 Sunland Arquebusiers
6. 1× 10 Sunland Crossbowmen
7. 1× 10 Sunland Militia
8. 1× 5 Sunland Knights
9. 1× Sunland Great Cannon
10. 1× Sunland Mortar

View full Sunland Empire collection at Drakholm →

Legal notice: Drakholm is an official Highland Miniatures licensee. Mentions of Warhammer, Warhammer The Old World, Empire of Man, Cities of Sigmar, and Games Workshop are descriptive editorial references. Drakholm is not affiliated with Games Workshop.