Defiler

Unlike the Deathripper, the Defiler avoids close combat. Instead it fires on the enemy from a distance with its sludge cannon, which spews concentrated, caustic poison that consumes metal and stone more easily than flame eats wood. Faced with the potential of its arc node and the horrendous wounds caused by its sludge cannon, enemies often desperately try to close and deal with this bonejack before their allies are torn apart.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Construct
• Template:Arc Node

Weapons

Sludge Cannon
File:Gun icon.jpg		RNG			ROF			AOE			POW			LOCATION
		SP8			1			Template:-			10			Head
Template:Continuous Corrosion Template:Corrosion Damage
Bash
File:Sword icon.jpg		RNG				POW				P+S				LOCATION
		0.5				0				7				Template:-

Theme Forces

• Cryx
  • Template:Black Industries
  • Template:Dark Host
  • Template:The Ghost Fleet
  • Template:Scourge of the Broken Coast. Defiler gains Gang Fighter in this theme.

• Other Factions
  • Infernal players can use this model in the Template:Hearts of Darkness theme, but only if Mortenebra is leading the army. It gains Accumulator [Soulless] in this theme.
  • Mercenary and Convergence players can use it by either:
    • putting it under the control of Asphyxious4 in various themes,
    • putting it under the control of Mortenebra in Strange Bedfellows.

Thoughts on Defiler

File:Defiler Classic.png

Classic Sculpt

Defiler in a nutshell

Defiler as an arc node

The Arc Node is one of the most useful abilities a model can have, and with Cryx you can field them very cheaply. An arc node allows your warcaster to cast spells using the arc node as the point of origin. The obvious benefit is casting spells on the frontline while staying safely in the backline. You can also use it to launch surprise attacks from unexpected angles, by running an arc node right across the board into a good position before activating your warcaster. For this reason it pays to keep at least one arc node on the outskirts of the conflict, waiting for an opportunity.

Defiler as a combat jack

The Sludge Cannon is a good weapon for hosing down a unit of infantry, but due to the poor RAT will mostly miss. Luckily, sprays ignore a lot of defensive bonus and as such, can be considered to be more precise than raw stats would indicate. In any case sprays are a very useful tool for eliminating key targets, and the extra speed the bonejack brings can make it appealing in certain situations, especially if you ran on the first turn.

Combos & Synergies

• Seek casters who can increase a Defiler's RAT or reduce an enemies defense.
• Take one under Aiakos2 and on feat turn it can charge 13" and spray 8" (total 21" threat).
• Skarre2 or Rahera both have black spot which is useful for hitting and the nature of a spray make the second shot more likely. The former grants Future Sight for efficiency the latter has Rough Seas to help deliver the Jack.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• Its damage grid has just enough boxes to allow the bonejack to take a good hit and keep going, but a second one will likely leave it crippled if not totally destroyed. This sets the tone for Cryx bonejacks being fast and hard to hit, but easily damaged if they are struck.
• The Defiler costs slightly more points than other arc nodes.
• Once engaged by an enemy the Defiler can't arc nor shoot. And it sucks at melee.

Tricks & Tips

• Slam a target to cause damage and leave it knocked down. This has the added benefit of leaving the Defiler out of combat afterwards so its arc node may still be used.

Other

Trivia

• Released way back in Warmachine: Prime (2003)
• Sculptor: John Winter