File:Mk4 icon.png Template:Red This mk3 Theme Force has no equivalent in mk4. You can build a similar army in Unlimited Retribution (if/when the models in this theme get ported to mk4 rules)

With a vast array of myrmidons and skilled arcanists at its disposal, House Shyeel is considered by some to be virtually a sixth Great Military House. When the time comes for House Shyeel to stoke the forges of war, it brings the full weight of its militart forces to bear as an unstoppable tide of towering myrmidons supported by the immense arcane power of its formidable battle mages.

Theme Rules

For the core rules on how Theme Forces work, see this article.

Theme Restrictions

An army made use the Forges of War theme force can include only the following Retribution models:

Retribution warcasters
Non-character warjacks
Discordia
Template:Shyeel solos, units, and battle engines
Arcanist Mechanik solos
Fane Knight Guardian solos
Sylys Wyshnalyrr, The Seeker
Solos with the Battlegroup Controller special rule
Dawnguard Trident battle engines

This army can also include one Mercenary solo and one Mercenary unit that will work for Retribution.
- These models/units can be included even if they have the Partisan [Retribution] rule.
- Mercenary units can have non-Ranking Officer attachments

Full model list

Template:FoW models

Requisition Options

Each Requistion Point can be spent on either:

One House Shyeel Arcanist unit
One small- or medium-based Retribution solo with a points cost of 5 or less

Theme Bonuses

Retribution warjacks in this army gain Shield Guard.
Template:Shield Guard

Thoughts on Forges of War

Forges of War in a nutshell

Forges of War is the Warjack & Shyeel infantry theme - because the non arcanist Shyeel models aren't much to write home about this is the theme for any caster who wants to run Warjack heavy.

It has a great anti ranged theme benefit that really helps keep your support models like the Arcanists alive, who in turn keep the jacks ticking.

Anti magic effects will shut down the ranged capabilities of your troops and none of them are that great in melee.

Theme's weaknesses and Mitigating them

Low model count

With most of your points spent on warjacks and few units available (and especially zero units that can act as a screen), it can leave you with a small force that makes it difficult to score scenario zones. This can be slightly offset by the Mercenary options available to you.

If your opponent can land a few critical debuffs and stop even a few models from participating meaningfully, it can completely kneecap your army.

Also, with fewer models you potentially have fewer attacks, making it harder to deal with infantry swarms or anything else that needs you to roll a lot of dice. You can offset by having "high value" attacks - rather than hinging your strategy on lots of attacks at low MAT/RAT you have fewer attacks with good MAT/RAT.

Using your Requisition Slots

House Shyeel Arcanists as a 5 point option they are a great pick if you are running lots of warjacks and they are one of the main reasons to play the theme.
Hermit of Henge Hold he may use up your merc slot but telemetry is great on Shyeel infantry.

List Building Tips

If you want almost all warjacks you get Shield Guard for free. Two popular lists are eVyros Griffon Spam and "Pacific Rim" - three Colossals in a single list.

Starting a 25 point Brawl list

In 2021.05 Phillip Melvin, one of the LOS authors, put together this list for the Brawlmachine format. It was then updated for the 2021.10 errata. He even wrote about it's playstyle and expanding it beyond 25 points, which you can read here.

Helynna1: [+30 WBP]