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Maelok, the Dreadbound, is a [[BLINDWATERCONGREGATIONNEEDLINK]] Warlock in [[HORDESNEEDLINK]]

__NOTOC__
==Background and Description==
Maelok the Dreadbound is an undead Gatorman Warlock that exists in a perverse state between the living and dead.

==Special Abilities and Weapons==
*Feat: Spirit World
**Maelok can turn Friendly Faction models in his control area Incorporeal for one turn--he also gives any Friendly Faction undead models +2 ARM
*Amphibious: Like all the Gators, Maelok can navigate water of any kind with no penalty--and can attack other models while in deep water.
*Cull Soul: Maelok can gain a Fury next round for every living model that dies within 2"---and yes this can raise him above his Fury stat.
*Gatorman Warlock: Being a Gator (Kind of)--he can only control other Gatorman Warbeasts
*Bite-Spirit Eater: If he chews up another Warbeast with Fury on it, he keeps the Fury--not the enemy
*Weapons
**Bite
***Magical
***Spirit Eater (As above)
**Claws (x2)
***Magical
*Spells
**Venom: Corrosive 8 inch spray with a low POW--low casting cost
**Death Pact: Friendly Faction model/unit gets Undead an small ARM boost
**Malediction: He's scary to be around--enemies get a negative to their ARM and DEF if within 2"
**Revive: Bring back a Friendly Grunt--and yes it can activate this turn.

==Strengths==
*Gatorman Posse Attrition: Yes, he plays with Gatorman Posse as well as you think he would. Death Pact + Feat = ARM 22 Gatorman Posse when engaged--toss a Spiny Growth on it for another +2 ARM--and if your opponent actually manages to kill one--just revive it the next turn.
*Revive Angles: Revive can set up some surprising corridors. Bringing back a model within 12" and 3" of the unit before they activate gives you some range to get rear/2nd line charges on things. Plus, Revived Gatorman Posse will just make your opponent pull his hair out.
*Surprisingly Effective in Melee: While his stats certainly aren't anything to brag about--they are also slightly deceptive. Malediction which will often be active makes his 3 attacks a bit more frightening.
*Anti-Infantry: Undead Gator stomach bile causes corrosion and is a spray--this tends to deal with most light infantry.

==Weaknesses==
*Fury Squatter: After you cast your two Upkeeps first turn---Maelok tends to sit on Fury. With only an offensive spray to burn, unless you are losing Gatorman or running heavy Snappers--it will be hard to find Fury Efficiency with Maelok.
*Feat Timing: It can be difficult to decide whether or not to turn everything Incorporeal. At first, you would think it would be great offensively (and it is!)--but once your opponent is experienced with it, it tends to be more defensive in nature. (Gatorman Posse can be up to ARM 24 on his feat)

==Synergies==

===Warbeasts===
*Bull Snapper: Since Maelok doesn't have many spells, casting the Snapper's Spiny to make your Gatorman Posse near untouchable works pretty well.
*Wrastler: Throw your Death Pact Wrastler 6". Move Maelok up, pop feat. Rise Wrastler--then charge (through other units if need be due to Incorporeal). If you fail to finish what you charged the Wrastler will be sitting at 23 ARM next turn--25 if he had Spiny Growth going.

===Units===

*Gatorman Posse: Undead, ARM 18 Gators (20 when engaged) that can be brought back to life--or boosted up to ARM 22 for a turn? Yes please--Maelok was born (Or perhaps killed..) to run these guys. Plus, as Sour Clams pointed out--on Maelok's feat turn + Revive you can really get a nice threat range from these guys in an assassination run.
*Until we get more Undead Gators--this is really the best synergy Maelok has going

===Solos===
*Totem Hunter: The Totem Hunter shines with Maelok's feat. With the ability to charge through units + his speed = pick a target.
*Croak Hunters: No direct synergy with Maelok--however again, the ability to charge through units coupled with his Gang Fighter/Poison ability can put the hurt on units in the back.
*Thrullg: I consider the Thrullg an auto include in any Gator list--else Arcane Shield/buffed Heavies pose a real problem. Again, the Feat can make you get to the caster with his reach.
*Wrong Eye/Snapjaw: I like Snapjaw in a Maelok list--as he's relatively fast with his man hunter ability and Incorporeal can get him there.

Although his pillow-fisted offensive stats suggest otherwise, Maelok is the assassination caster for Blindwater. He excels at creating unorthodox charge lanes.

The universal option of Wrastler-tossing is still available to him (Wrastler 1 2hand throws Wrastler 2 over a screening unit, animus to stand Wrastler 2 up, Wrastler 2 charges warcaster for the 4-fury knockdown kill).

The second option available to him is to charge a max squad of Incorporeal Gatormen straight through the screening unit to pound up to 10 attacks into somebody important. These two vectors can actually be combined--Wrastler #2 knocks down warcaster/warlock and Posse gets autohitting POW13s.

sourclams wrote:Although his pillow-fisted offensive stats suggest otherwise, Maelok is the assassination caster for Blindwater. He excels at creating unorthodox charge lanes.

The universal option of Wrastler-tossing is still available to him (Wrastler 1 2hand throws Wrastler 2 over a screening unit, animus to stand Wrastler 2 up, Wrastler 2 charges warcaster for the 4-fury knockdown kill).

The second option available to him is to charge a max squad of Incorporeal Gatormen straight through the screening unit to pound up to 10 attacks into somebody important. These two vectors can actually be combined--Wrastler #2 knocks down warcaster/warlock and Posse gets autohitting POW13s.

Yeah, the Incorporeal option really makes for some interesting charges. It can still be difficult to fit/ear bases sometimes it seems.

Maelok seems to be a caster that doesn't look overtly frightening on the card--but plays much stronger on the table.

Agree but he's still got the same general Gator limitation of sucking against high armor. Gators badly need a P&S18+ heavy or some sort of damage buff beyond Calaban's parasite.

Edit: I need to brush up on Incorporeal but as long as you were careful with attack order, you should be able to get full attacks from 3 gators, and at least 2 more reach attacks from the other 2 gators for a total of 8. Might even be able to get in another bite or two, depending.

Another update to original thread