The Martillo de Magritta Brings Warhammer Fantasy to Life in Ajalvir

82 generals from different parts of Spain, and even Turkey, gathered in Ajalvir on June 27 for a day dedicated to Warhammer Fantasy, combining competition, painting, creativity and, above all, a passion for a game that its fans refuse to let die.

The sports hall in Ajalvir was transformed into a true fantasy battlefield on June 27, when the 1st Martillo de Magritta Tournament brought together 82 Warhammer Fantasy players ready to face one another across the gaming tables, while also sharing a hobby that, almost a decade after Games Workshop stopped supporting the original game, continues to bring together a passionate community.

Throughout the day, armies of miniatures took to the tables to fight their battles using the ruleset known as Sixth Edition Extended (Sexta Ampliada). Dwarfs, Orcs, Elves, Undead, Skaven, knights and other creatures from this fantastic universe clashed in an event where the results of the games were only one part of the experience.

Much More Than Winning Battles

One of the main attractions of the Martillo de Magritta was precisely that the competition was not limited to determining who was the best general.

The tournament included categories and awards celebrating different aspects of the hobby: from Best Painted Army and Best Background, to Best Conversion for players capable of transforming and customizing their miniatures, as well as an award for the Most Original Army List.

And, as could only be expected at an event like this, there was also room for humor with one of the tournament's most unusual trophies: the Wooden Spoon, awarded to the player finishing last.

Because in Warhammer, especially when experienced hobbyists come together, everything is not about winning. Building an army, painting it, creating its background, designing the army list and sharing it all with other players are an essential part of a hobby that combines strategy, modelling and creativity.

Keeping a Fantasy World Alive

The tournament also highlights the particular relationship many fans have with the original Warhammer Fantasy game.

Games Workshop discontinued the game in 2015, bringing an end to an era for a community that had spent years building armies and stories around a fantasy setting in which different races fought for survival in a world on the brink of collapse.

However, the end of official support did not mean the end of the game for its fans.

Part of the community decided to continue organizing events independently, adapting rules and creating new ways to enjoy their games. In this way, players themselves took control of their hobby and organized events to keep alive a game that continued to have a loyal following.

Games Workshop's return to the setting in 2024, with The Old World, opened a new official chapter for the universe. But events such as the Martillo de Magritta show that part of the community had already developed its own ways of keeping that experience alive.

Ajalvir Becomes a Meeting Point

The tournament was made possible through the collaboration of the Madrid-based associations Leyendas en Miniatura and Club Panzerhammer, both experienced in organizing this type of event, together with the support of the Ajalvir Town Council, which provided the municipal sports hall for the tournament.

The result was a large-scale event organized by and for the community itself.

Alongside the 82 participants, a large organizing team was responsible for a wide range of tasks, including setting up and dismantling the tables, scenery and other equipment, refereeing the games, judging the painting and background competitions, and providing photographic coverage.

And if there is one thing that defines Warhammer, it is that this is an especially visual hobby.

The tournament tables were filled with scenery that transformed the sports hall into a miniature fantasy world: pyramids, monoliths, lakes, ruined buildings, bridges, farmland, hills and walls provided the backdrop for the battles.

A Tournament with an International Touch

The event attracted players from numerous parts of Spain. Participants travelled from Navarra, Seville, Guadalajara, Murcia, the Balearic Islands, Castellón, Málaga, Valencia, Cuenca, Huesca, Madrid, Albacete and Alicante.

The tournament even crossed Spain's borders, with one participant travelling from Turkey.

This geographical diversity shows how these events have become meeting points for a community spread across the country. Many of the players already know one another from other tournaments and have the opportunity to meet again several times a year at events held in different parts of Spain.

Miniatures, Painting and a Hobby That Keeps Growing

The competitive side is only one part of everything surrounding these gatherings. Alongside the games there is an entire culture of modelling and miniature painting, supported by a wide range of specialized products.

The event received support from Terrain and Minis, which sponsored the tournament and helped increase the quantity and variety of prizes raffled among the participants.

Brushes, paints, pigments, inks, modelling putties and miniature-conversion tools sit alongside dice, markers, counters and other accessories. And, of course, there are the elements that help create the atmosphere of the games: the terrain.

On a Warhammer table, a hill can become a strategic position, a wall a desperate defensive line, or a ruined building the setting for a decisive clash. All of this helps give every game its own identity.

Heat, Dice and Plenty of Desire to Return

The day was marked by high temperatures, but the heat did not prevent the atmosphere among the participants from becoming one of the event's highlights.

Beyond the results of the games, the organizers emphasized the camaraderie between the players, many of whom regularly meet at tournaments held in different parts of Spain.

And if one thing became clear as the first edition came to an end, it was that there is strong interest in repeating the experience.

Even before the event had completely finished, the organizers were already receiving messages from participants interested in returning to Ajalvir for a second edition.

So, if plans move forward, 2027 could bring another battle to the Ajalvir sports hall.

The armies will have time to prepare, the miniatures to receive another coat of paint, and the generals to study their next strategies.

And, as always, one final question will remain:

Whose side will the dice be on next time?