Stormfall Archers are a unit for the Retribution of Scyrah faction in Warmachine MkII.

Background and Description

Stormfall Archers provide mobile artillery to an army that is constantly on the move..^[1]

Special Abilities and Weapons

• Attack Type Each archer can choose a different attack type each time they fire.
  • Brutal Shots: Deals additional die of damage against a target directly hit.
  • Snipe: Gains additional RNG.
  • Star Strike: Causes fire on direct hits.
• Weapon
  • Greatbow (Ranged)
    • Blast damage
  • Sword (melee)

Attachments and Options

• Unit Size: 4
• Escort Weapon Attachment

Theme Armies

Dawnlord Vyros, Legions of the Dawn Theme Force

Strengths

• Faster than a Cannon Crew: At SPD 5, Stormfall Archers move swiftly on the battlefield, enjoying threat ranges with their Brutal shot out to 17" away (21" with Snipe). You can even use them as part of a flanking force, raining down arrows as you move them down the side of the field forcing the enemy to either run away or deal with the threat.
• Versatile like Haweye from Avengers: The different shots represent different arrows or arrowheads they can deliver, giving them anti-ranged, anti-armor, and anti-something-you-want-to-stick-with-fire.

Weaknesses

• Not as fast as an Elf: Though they keep pace with Dawnguard elements of the Retribution, Strike Forces and Houseguard will leave them in the dust. (Still they're faster than cannon).
• Direct Hits with a RAT 5: Between the two shots that need to hit to be effective, Brutal shot might be the easiest one to pull off given that you're shooting at heavies (DEF 10, 11, 12). In order to leverage these attacks, a Stormfall archer may want to run into an advantageous position and then stand still for the aiming bonus when directing fire.

Synergies

• Adeptis Rahn: Force Hammer an important target to knock it down. Stormfall Archers will easily hit the target with their Brutal Shot, causing no less than an average roll of P+S 22 each.
• Garryth, Blade of Retribution:Use Death Sentence on heavily armored/low DEF targets so that the archers can get re-rolls with their Brutal Shot ability, dealing an average POW 22 hit. Death Sentence also helps them with their Star Strike ability as the shot does no damage if Star Strike misses.
• Ravyn, Eternal Light: Push the limit on your artillery range by casting Snipe on the archers or use Ravyn's Feat Turn to make for highly accurate Brutal Shots and Star Strikes. Remember that Snipe will not stack with a Sniped shot, so use Snipe to leverage placement of Brutal Shot and Star Strike and allowing the Archers to aim on the turns that they fire.
• House Shyeel Battle Mages: Look for opportunities for a Critical Knockdown and then drop a Brutal Shot on the head of the unfortunate target with the Archers.
• Houseguard HalberdiersThe archers are effectively screened by the ranked attacks and so can stand still and use Snipe for an aiming bonus or use Brutal Shot against highly armored targets moving in on the Halberdiers.
• Escort Weapon Attachment: Protect the unit from magic from arc nodes and front line spell casters.

Articles

Notes

1. ¹ Forces of Warmachine: Retribution of Scyrah. 2009