File:Mk4 icon.png Template:Purple This mk3 Theme Force is somewhat similar to the mk4 Legacy Army. If you're planning on starting a mk4 Secret Dominion army you may get some use out of this article, espcially the In a Nutshell, the Theme Weaknesses, and maybe even the List-Building Tips sections.

The blackclads are few in number, but their work is constant and endless. Only a small handful of these druids can be devoted to any single task at a given time. But the masters of the wilderness are cunning. They have woven a web of many debts among the inhabitants of the wilderness, whom they can call upon to fight on their behalf.

Theme Rules

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

Theme Restrictions

An army made use the Secret Masters theme force can include only the following Circle models:

Circle Blackclad warlocks
Wurmwood, the Tree of Fate
Non-character warbeasts
Brennos the Elderhorn
Template:Blackclad models/units
Shifting Stones units
Gallows Grove solos
Circle structures

This army can also include any number of Minion solos, Minion units, and Minion battle-engines that will work for Circle.
- These models/units can be included even if they have the Partisan [Circle] rule.
- Minion units can have non-Ranking Officer attachments

Full model list

Template:SM models

Requisition Points

You can spend each Requisition Point on either:

One Circle command attachment
Two Blackclad Stoneshaper solos
Three Gallows Grove solos
One other small- or medium-based solo with a point cost 5 or less
- Note:This can be a Minion solo or a Circle solo.

Theme Bonuses

Blackclads gain Sacrificial Pawn [Minion Warrior Model]
Template:Sacrificial Pawn

Thoughts on Secret Masters

Secret Masters in a Nutshell

This is a minion infantry theme with Blackclad support and Blackclad guns to roast infantry. Your mainline infantry will be multiple Farrow or Gatorman units (Farrow Valkyries, Farrow Brigands, Farrow Slaughterhousers, and Croak Raiders). Also this is the theme where you can play Archons and (Riot Quest) minion solos as much as you like.

This theme has three selling points:

A cloud wall to hide your beasts behind. Other factions do it better, but it's still fun to have one of your own.
It lets you mix living and construct warbeasts and take a Blackclad Stoneshaper to support the constructs.

See also this Insider article for the Developer's opinion on it.

In terms of what Circle models are available, there's a lot of overlap with The Bones of Orboros and Wild Hunt, so any of the three themes are a good option to start a new Circle collection.

Theme Weaknesses

Your Blackclad infantry does no armour cracking; the strongest attack your warriors can make is POW 12. Bring heavy beasts
Certain builds are better off as a Bones of Orboros force, namely if you're thinking of a Celestial Fulcrum plus construct beasts. Bones also has better in-faction skirmish units.
Farrow models need an update. As of the time of writing (2019.06) they haven't been touched since the start of Mk3.

List Building Tips

The most expensive requisition points are the three Gallows Grove solos and the minions i.e. Alten Ashley, Hutchuck, Ogrun Bounty Hunter, and the Totem Hunter, also as more and more Riot Quest solos are released you get more and more options to choose from.

If going for sacrificial pawns the Gatorman Bokor & Bog Trog Swamp Shamblers can be really effective. Especially if you are double-dipping the bodies with Morvahna the Autumnblade and Regrowth.

Circle Models

The main draw of the theme is being able to take powerhouse minion models like Malvin & Mayhem, Death Archons, Kogan the Exile and Scythe and supply them with a Blackclad support engine and a powerful friendly faction agnostic caster, aka Krueger2, but casters like Tanith1 or Una2also have game here. Krueger protects your army from shooting, applies Telekinesis where needed and has a feat that lets you take an alpha twice, so the above models can go to town and hopefully win you the game.

The Well of Orboros is a powerful gun platform that also buffs Krueger's already large control range, buffs construct beasts and distributes corpses to Crock pots, Death Archons and Kogan. It also summons a non-character friendly faction solo once per game.
Chuck Dogwood is a vital source of Veteran Leader and hands out Puppet master.
Blackclad Wayfarer - Hunter Mark is also faction agnostic.
Shifting Stones let your Circle models teleport around the battle field.
Kogan the Exile - Star Smite on a Tharn Axe and Heart Eater is pretty good and he get fuelled by Croc Pots and the Well. Run him with a caster that protects him going in.

Minion models

Death Archon - this is arguably the most powerful option in this theme, 2 of them make the start of a lot of lists
Dhunian Archon - they heal and protect key models.
Primal Archon - a straight up beater with knock down on the fists and shadow bind within 3" of itself. Really loves a caster that cranks up its damage.
Boil Master & Spirit Cauldron - An extra Puppet master and free corpses for any takers.
Scythe - She loves hanging out in forests and is a real threat with her bow.
Hermit - Ever useful, a once per game damage negate, an ARM debuff or an accuracy buff for magic.
The Wastelander - He is an excellent anti-gun piece able to protect more important models from incoming fire. Once he gets there he also does a ton of damage with his sword.
Farrow Valkyries - Three Shield Guards ready to protect important models, such as a Storm Raptor.
If going for sacrificial pawns the Gatorman Bokor & Bog Trog Swamp Shamblers can be really effective. Especially if you are double-dipping the bodies with Morvahna the Autumnblade and Regrowth.

Starting a 25 point Brawl force

In 2019.03 Neonchameleon came up with this list as a cross-over list for Circle players who want to start a Minion army or vice versa. It consists of Circle stapes plus several Minions that are useful in a Will Work for Food list (which is a Minion theme force).

Tanith1: [+31 WBP]

Warpwolf Stalker [15 pts]
Feral Warpwolf [14 pts]

Blackclad Wayfarer: [3 pts]

Gallows Grove [2 pts]

Lynus Wesselbaum & Edrea Lloryrr [5 pts]

Farrow Valkyries [8 pts]

Farrow Bone Grinders (Max unit): [7 pts]

Total RRP: USD $214 (based on PP's online store prices 2021.05)

- Since the 2021.10 point reductions you can add any solo with a cost up to 5 points as a requisition option.

In 2020.10 Phillip Melvin, one of the LOS authors, put together this list for the Brawlmachine format. He even wrote about it's playstyle and expanding it beyond 25 points, which you can read here.

Tanith1: [+31 WBP]