Steelhead Arcanist

While the Steelhead Mercenary Company isn’t known for occultists, its commanders and captains know the value of battlefield magic and are willing to offer a premium wage to recruit seasoned arcanists. These individuals enjoy privileged positions in Steelhead companies and the most competent quickly earn officer commissions, receiving even greater pay. A number of Steelhead arcanists formerly served in Ord’s navy, earning combat experience and knowledge of weather magic and lethal barrage spells.

Basic Info

Mercenary - This model will work for Template:Crucible Guard mercenary, Template:Cryx mercenary, Template:Cygnar mercenary, Template:Khador mercenary, and the Template:Protectorate mercenary.

Abilities

• Template:Hit the Deck!

Leadership

While within {{{d}}} of this model, friendly [[{{{model}}}]] models gain [[:Category:{{{ability}}}|{{{ability}}}]].

• Template:Magic Ability

Weapons

• Banded Staff - 2" reach, POW 5, P+S 10 melee attack
  • delete

Spells

{{Category: Template:Bombshell AttackTemplate:Empower SpellTemplate:Wind Thrower }}[[Category: Template:Bombshell AttackTemplate:Empower SpellTemplate:Wind Thrower ]]

Theme Forces

• Mercenary
  • Template:Soldiers of Fortune - This solo gains Mark Target in this theme.
  • Template:The Kingmakers Army - This solos gains Feign Death in this theme.

• Other Factions
  • Mercenary models can be hired by other Factions. Normally those Factions' themes will have a limit on how many models they can hire. Refer to #Other Theme Forces, below.
  • Aside from that, there are a few themes that will change what Faction this model counts as (and thus what "friendly Faction only" buffs it can receive). They are:
    • Infernal players can use this model in the Hearts of Darkness theme.

Thoughts on the Steelhead Arcanist

Steelhead Arcanist in a nutshell

The Arcanist is an essential part of a Steelhead force being the major source of Magic Weapon (every Steelhead within 8" gets it). He will spend most of his time using Empower unless that rare opportunity to remove clouds or toss out a mediocre blast arises. His anti-shooting bubble is very small and short ranged, and is difficult to use in such a way that it impacts your opponent too much. Any caster who prefers to run without having to hand off anything to warjacks would be pleased to have him around.

Combos & Synergies

• Steelheads, and warjacks obviously.
• Thamarite Advocate - For a Thamarite battlegroup they are able provide a lot of focus to jacks together.
• Crosse2 and Durgen Madhammer - They both hate cloud effects and the Arcanist can dispel them. They are also very focus starved.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• One of the few Mercenary models not allowed in the Irregulars theme force.
• The range on his anti-cloud is pretty short and forces you to expose him.
• In most games, he's just an Empower bot and that's not really worth 4 points, but you kind of need to bring him.

Tricks & Tips

• The Arcanist has the longest ranged empower in the game, so can be a very back line model if there's no need to project the magical weapon aura

Other

Trivia

• Released at LVO (2019.02)