Exemplar Warder

While most Exemplars are aggressively deployed on the battlefield against unbelievers, some veterans are singled out for another role. Upon reaching the rank of warder, those with exceptional vigilance and the proper humility and loyalty might be chosen to protect the theocracy’s leaders. Wielding consecrated halberds, these warders drill in defensive tactics and stand ready to endure the blows intended for others.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Bodyguard
• Template:Inhuman Resolve
• Template:Set Defense
• Template:Shield Guard

Weapons

• Consecrated Halberd - 2" reach, P+S 11 melee weapon
  • Template:Blessed
  • Template:Magical Damage
  • Template:Weapon Master
• Shield - 0.5" reach, P+S 8 melee weapon
  • Template:Shield

Theme Forces

• Protectorate
  • Template:Exemplar Interdiction. He gains Aegis in this theme.
  • Template:The Creator's Might. He gains Reposition [3] in this theme.

• Other Factions
  • Infernal players can use this model in the Template:Hearts of Darkness theme, but only if Feora is leading the army.

Thoughts on Exemplar Warder

Exemplar Warder in a nutshell

The Warder combines the fighting prowess of an Exemplar with the bodyguard utility of an Ogrun Bokur. He's a hard and accurate hitter with a decent ARM score for his cost and Inhuman Resolve adding to his survivability and creating headaches for his opponents. When he needs to defend his client, he makes them harder to hit and debilitate in melee from Guard Dog while jumping in front of whatever bullets, cannons, or fireballs to save a squishy target. Inhuman Resolve also makes him an excellent model for contesting and/or controlling scenario elements.

In case you missed it: Inhuman Resolve makes him nigh-unkillable because instead of going disabled-boxed-destroyed he goes disabled-wait until next Maintenance Phase-destroyed and while he waits he can get healed by anyone else that dies.

Combos & Synergies

• If you want a Shield Guard for a squishy warcaster (like the warcaster versions of Severius) or solo but can't afford a Devout, you can do a lot worse than taking the Warder.
• Warcasters who want to be on the front lines will love the additional defensive utility he provides via Bodyguard and Shield Guard. Kreoss2, Kreoss3, Durst, Thyra, Reznik2, and Cyrenia are all potent combatants that appreciate the extra protection.
• The Harbinger of Menoth loves another Shield Guard she can Martyr. Additionally, she becomes an excellent DEF 18 in melee against living models with Bodyguard and Awe.
• High Exemplar Gravus and the Covenant of Menoth can prevent the Warder from being knocked down or made stationary.
• Severius1 can put Vision on it, allowing it to take a big hit as a Shield Guard and live another day.
• A Reclaimer Gatekeeper solo can put Ashen Veil on your client, giving them a total of +4 DEF against non fire immune, living models in melee. This lets us play our higher ARM casters much more aggressively.
• A Menite Archon is among the single clients for him. Parry, Shield Guard, Parry and +2 DEF are all great boons to the Archon. The DEF boost makes it even harder to take down than it is already, and with Flight And Parry it can go right past enemy models without eating free strikes.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• He isn't particularly fast, meaning that some of his clients can leave him behind unless he runs.
• Grievous Wounds will stop him from healing via Inhuman Resolve.

Tricks & Tips

• Although it's not as thematic, the Warder is perfectly capable of Shield Guarding models that aren't its client.
• All your opponent has to do to counter Inhuman Resolve is ignore the Warder until the end of their turn, then kill him last. Thus, you should play the Warder aggressively and make him something they can't ignore until the end of their turn.
• He likes to have squishy models stay in his command range, so he can heal when they get squished.

Other

Trivia

• Originally released in Exemplar Interdiction CID (2018.05)
• The Warder was originally a warcaster attachment but was changed to a solo after the end of the CID but before the release of its rules.