Von Schtook vs Yan Lo: Malifaux Core Box Comparison
By Wyrd Games Official Store | Tabletop Games & Miniatures | Published: 2026-10-26
Category: Comparisons
Compare the Resurrectionist Von Schtook and Yan Lo core boxes for Malifaux Third Edition. Learn which Transmortis or Retainer crew fits your playstyle.
Quick answer
Choose Von Schtook if you want a resilient, attrition-focused crew that improves through failure; choose Yan Lo if you prefer a scaling, hard-to-uproot force that grows stronger as the battle progresses.
Playstyle differences
Von Schtook and Yan Lo both lead Resurrectionist crews, but their keyword mechanics push them in very different directions. Von Schtook's Transmortis keyword turns death into a learning opportunity—his Undergraduates and Research Assistant can fail, die, and return more efficient. This makes the crew forgiving for new players and punishing for opponents who can't finish the job.
Yan Lo's Retainer keyword, shared with the Ten Thunders faction, focuses on summoning Ancestors and building a center of strength that becomes harder to remove over time. His crew rewards patient positioning and long-term planning, with Izamu the Armor and Gokudo providing durable anchors.
What you get in the box
The Von Schtook Core Box includes Professor Von Schtook, Anna Lovelace, a Research Assistant, and 3 Undergraduates. That's 6 miniatures for USD 40.25 (catalog comparison price USD 57.50). The Yan Lo Core Box contains Yan Lo, Soul Porter, Izamu the Armor, and 3 Gokudo—also 6 miniatures for USD 37.95 (catalog comparison price USD 55.00). Both are supplied unpainted in 32mm heroic scale.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Resilience vs scaling: Von Schtook's crew bounces back from losses; Yan Lo's crew becomes stronger over time. If you prefer a forgiving attrition game, go Von Schtook. If you like building an unstoppable momentum, go Yan Lo.
- Complexity: Von Schtook is more straightforward—send models in, let them die, bring them back better. Yan Lo requires careful resource management and timing to summon Ancestors and protect your center of strength.
- Faction flexibility: Yan Lo can also be played in Ten Thunders, giving you two faction options. Von Schtook is Resurrectionist-only, but his keyword is deep and self-contained. If you want dual-faction versatility, Yan Lo is the better pick.
Product details at a glance
- Malifaux Third Edition: Von Schtook Core Box: Professor Von Schtook has turned higher education into a literal graveyard of ambition. His Transmortis students learn by failing, dying, and trying again, while the faculty converts every hard lesson into a more efficient form of necromancy. This means the crew can afford aggressive plays and recover from mistakes, making it ideal for players who enjoy attrition and second chances.
Malifaux Third Edition: Von Schtook Core Box - Malifaux Third Edition: Yan Lo Core Box: Yan Lo walks between the living and the dead with generations of power at his back. His Retainers call upon Ancestors, protect a growing center of strength, and turn old obligations into an army that becomes harder to uproot as the battle deepens. Yan Lo rewards careful setup and long-term thinking—once his engine gets rolling, opponents will struggle to dismantle your growing force.
Malifaux Third Edition: Yan Lo Core Box
Which core box fits you?
Best for
- Players who enjoy resilient, attrition-based crews that learn from failure (Von Schtook)
- Players who want a forgiving crew that rewards aggressive play (Von Schtook)
Not for
- Players who prefer a slow-building, momentum-driven army (choose Yan Lo instead)
- Players who want dual-faction flexibility (choose Yan Lo instead)
