Angelius

Legion of Everblight Dragon's Host Ravens of War Dragonspawn Heavy Warbeast

Model stats and abilities

Model Statistics

Base size = 50mm		SPD	MAT	RAT	DEF	ARM	FURY	THR
Health = 30
FA = C
Cost = 16		6	7	6	12	18	4	9
-
-

Model Advantages and Abilities

Trample Power Attack	This model can make a trample power attack. No errata for Trample Power Attack (Create)
Slam Power Attack	This model can make slam power attacks. No errata for Slam Power Attack (Create)
Headbutt Power Attack	This model can make Headbutt power attacks. No errata for Headbutt Power Attack (Create)
Dual Attack	This model can make melee and ranged attacks in the same activation. When this model makes its initial melee attacks, it can also make its initial ranged attacks. A model with Dual Attack can make its initial melee and ranged attacks in any order you choose. This model cannot make ranged attacks after making a power attack.   Errata-Dual Attack and Unit Charges (2023-10-27) Question: If a unit with Dual Attack charges a single model, are all placed in melee range, and the first model kills the charge target, can the remaining members of the unit make ranged attacks, or do they forfeit their Combat Action because they don't have any enemy models in their melee range? Answer: The check for melee range is done at the end of movement. If you kill the targets before they attack, they can still do their ranged attack. (Malkav13) Explanation: This post is correct. Infernal Ruling: elswickchuck (Bulldog) - PP Community forum   Errata-Dual Attack and Special Attacks (2023-08-10) Question: Can a model with Dual Attack make any combination of ranged special attack and normal melee initial attacks, or its melee special attack and normal ranged initial attacks? (Example: Bison Both Barrels and Ram, or Mariner Thresher and gunshot). Answer: No. Explanation: The bison can not use dual attack and also make a special attack. That is correct in that (Thresher) example too. Infernal Ruling: elswickchuck (Bulldog) - PP Community forum
Bond(Xekaar)	If Chiron begins the game in Xekaar's battlegroup, it is bonded to him. Chiron is not considered to be bonded while under your opponent's control. While Chiron is bonded to Xekaar and in his control range, it gains boosted ranged attack rolls.
Special Action	A model can make one of the following special action(s) during its Combat Action if it meets the requirements for the special action's use: Dig In - A model with Dig In gains cover, Resistance:Blast, and does not block Line of Sight (LOS). The model remains dug in until it moves, is placed, or is engaged. Cover A model with cover gains a +4 DEF bonus against ranged and arcane attack rolls. Cover provides no benefit against spray attacks. Cover is not cumulative with Concealment, but is cumulative with other effects that modify a model's DEF. Extra-large and Huge-based models never gain DEF bonuses from cover. No errata for Cover (Create)  Resistance-Blast: When this model suffers a blast damage roll, remove one die from the damage roll. No errata for Resistance-Blast (Create) No errata for Special Action (Create) No errata for Dig In (Create)
Leadership	Leadership grants the following to {{{model1}}} models within {{{d}}} of this model (see below). Leadership can affect this model, if it has the appropriate tag. Leadership can stack with Veteran Leader, since they are different abilities. Abilities/bonuses gained: {{{sub1}}}

Weapons

Destructive Gaze
	RNG	ROF	AOE	POW	LOCATION
	Sp 10	1	-	15	-
Damage Type:Magical	This weapon causes magical damage. No errata for Damage Type:Magical (Create)
Inflict Pain	When this model hits a warbeast with this weapon, this model can place 1 fury point on or remove 1 fury point from the warbeast. No errata for Inflict Pain (Create)

Bite
	RNG	ROF	AOE	POW	LOCATION
	1	-	-	16	-

Claws
	RNG	ROF	AOE	POW	LOCATION
	1	-	-	14	-
Throw Power Attack	This weapon can be used to make Throw power attacks. A warjack cannot use this weapon to make a Throw Power attack if this weapon is crippled. No errata for Throw Power Attack (Create)

Warbeast Rules

Warbeast Rules

• A warbeast is
  • an Independent Model.
  • a Cohort model.

Warbeast Animus

  Errata-Animus (2023-07-11)

	Question: Are Animi considered spells for all rules that affect spells (or that trigger when a spell is cast?
	Answer: An Animus that is cast is a spell for other effects.
	Explanation:
	Infernal Ruling: DarkLegacy Infernal - PP Community forum

Animus

Counterblast	Cost	RNG	AOE	POW	DUR	OFF
	1	Self	-	-	Rnd	No
When an enemy model advances and ends its movement or is placed within 5 inches of the spellcaster, the spellcaster can make one basic melee or ranged attack targeting theat model, then Counterblast expires. Counterblast lasts for one round.
No errata for Counterblast (Create)

Errata

No Errata specifically for this model.

Videos

The six-winged Angelius screams into the sky as a pronouncement of Everblight s power. This beast falls like a sword upon its prey, pierces any armor with its barbed tail, and rises again despite all attempts to halt it. Soaring for the first time in two thousand years, the Angelius gluts itself on slaughter as the Legion inexorably advances south.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Eyeless Sight
• Template:Soulless
• Template:Flight
• Template:Serpentine
• Template:Sidestep

Weapons

• Flame Jet - 12" range, POW 12 ranged weapon.
  • Template:Fire Damage
  • Template:Critical Continuous Fire

• Tail Strike - 2" reach, Template:Small, P+S 14 melee weapon.
  • Template:Armor Piercing
  • Template:Single Shot

• Bite - 2" reach, Template:Small, P+S 14 melee weapon.

Animus

{{Category: Template:Repulsion }}[[Category: Template:Repulsion ]]

Theme Forces

• Template:Children of the Dragon
• Template:Oracles of Annihilation
• Template:Primal Terrors
• Template:Ravens of War

Thoughts on Angelius

Angelius in a nutshell

Angelius is the quintessence of the Legion's play-style: for a heavy beast it is deceptively mobile, nimble, and can deliver a crippling alpha strike to everything except the beefiest targets via its armour-piercing Tail Strike. With SPD 7, Flight, and 2" reach on its melee weapons, the Angelius has one of the longest melee threat ranges in the faction, and Side Step enables it to extend that threat even further. It is a strong assassination piece, but its fragility and high point cost mean that it is anything but a point-and-click solution in Legion lists.

Other than the armour-piercing Tail Strike, which has a Single Shot restriction, the Angelius is pretty pillow-fisted. There are light warbeasts which have the same base P+S as the Angelius' Bite. If the enemy has the ability to negate your single armour-piercing attack (with the Hermit of Henge Hold or a Dhunian Archon, for example), then you'll find the Angelius capable of much less output than something like the Carnivean for 1 point more or even the Neraph for 2 points less.

The Angelius relies on its high defense and immunity to knockdown from Serpentine to stay alive. It lacks the staying power to survive for very long if it does start to take hits. This means you'll want evasion and movement tricks to couple with Side Step to help keep it alive. Fyanna2 offers it Overtake, as well as +3 DEF and Dodge on feat turn. The Blight Archon can give Sprint to its battlegroup.

Warlocks that can capitalize further on the Angelius' speed and mobility may reach for them before the more reliable heavies, but in general, you may want to find a balance between speed and power in your beast selection when considering to include an Angelius in your army.

The Angelius' animus, Repulsion, is an incredibly valuable spell for scenario play, allowing you to push out models who are toeing a zone. It can also be combined with Legion's other push tricks: the Neraph's Attractor, the Hellmouth tentacle's Grip, Proteus' Pull, Fyanna2's Gallows, and the Blight Archon's Impending Doom.

Combos & Synergies

The Angelius, with a few exceptions, is best utilized sprinkled into a list. One is usually enough to keep around as an initiation tool, finisher, or assassin. It can go in just about any list, but some casters like him more than others.

• Kryssa - With the feat it will deal scary amounts of damage with the Tail Strike, and even more so with Ignite added. Energizer can further extend its threat range, adding another 2".
• Fyanna2 - Fyanna's kit works quite well with the Angelius. The combination of Overtake and Side Step allow it to threaten deep into enemy lines, or duck behind cover after delivering a powerful blow. Fury improves the Angelius' overall output, and brings its Tail Strike into the realm of terrifying. Admonition and her feat both improve on the Angelius' already high evasiveness, potentially allowing it to stay alive after you commit it to the front lines. Do beware stationary effects, as those still work on Serpentine models.
• Vayl2 - She can make an Angelius as fast as cavalry using Boundless Charge. Combine with the Seraph's Slipstream and the Mekanoshredder's Full Steam, and just about the only thing that Angelius cannot get to is a Defender with Snipe at max range - or things with Polarity Shield on. She'll still want some heavier hitters in her list, but one or two Angelii are worth considering for her.
• Abby2 - Being a monster polisher second to none, her Alpha Hunter can help you a lot to add additional mobility, and will bring it up to an impressive MAT 8. You'll still want to boost that Tail Strike whenever possible, though, especially since you'll already be charging for free. Alpha Hunter's SPD boost combines with the Angelius' impressive native threat range and Side Step to create a monster that is difficult to escape. On feat turn, the STR bonus makes Tail Strike quite impressive.
  • Absylonia can combine Repulse with her 5" reposition to ensure she can make it back to safety after triggering Alpha Hunter.
• Either version of Thagrosh doesn't mind an Angelius peppered in. Both tend to build their lists a little on the slow side, so having a fast body helps them maintain a longer threat range, and there's also no reason a fast style list can't be tried with them.
  • Thagrosh1 can help keep his Angelius alive a little longer with Dark Shroud - just try to say inside his CMD range. Also, if the enemy RFPd your most expensive warbeasts, an Angelius is not bad either for a revival through your feat.
  • If the Angelius forgoes its Tail Strike during its regular activation, and uses Side Step to set up an appropriate charge lane, then under Thagrosh, the Messiah's feat it can threaten an unexpected assassination deep within enemy lines. Manifest Destiny is great on all Legion warbeasts, and the Angelius is no different.
• Lylyth1 makes the armor pierce as scary as Fyanna with Fury, and doesn't drop the Angelius' DEF to do it. She can also offer them free charges through Blood Lure, letting them get an extra boost or an extra bought attack. (That said, they also have access to free charges through the Blighted Nyss Sorceress & Hellion's Aerial Coordination or the Mekanoshredder's Full Steam.
• Lylyth3 can use an Angelius as an assassin better than most Legion warlocks - a well placed, stationary caster is easy pickings for a SPD9 (from Battle Host) Angelius to wipe the floor with.
• The Twins get a special Repulsion mention. With one Angelius the Twins get three Repulses, which means a lot of board control. This is especially useful on Rhyas2 as she loves to be thrown neck deep in the enemy, allowing for more chance to push survivors of her Flashing Blade spam off the point.
  • An extension of this concept exists with the Nephilim Bloodseer; he can borrow Repulse for around half the cost of a second Angelius, which may be worth thinking about for a very scenario focused list.
• Playing God from Abby1 makes a single Angelius even harder to hit (especially against living enemy models), and much more reliable on its follow-up attacks. They'll compete for the spell with Zuriel if you bring him.
• Sorceress - Charge, boost to hit, Repulse - that'll eat up all of the Angelius' FURY stack. Free charge from Aerial Coordination helps you to save 1 Fury.
• In the Blight Archon's battlegroup, the Angelius can gain access to Sprint, which can stack with Repulse and Side Step to help it reach safety after an alpha strike.
• Rhyas1 - Rapport is an ideal fix for the beast's average MAT, but it is the feat that elevates the Angelius' mobility to new level. See the Warlock's page for a detailed run-down, which is omitted here for the sake of brevity.
• Ice Witches or the Blackfrost Shard have Ice Cage to alleviate its middling MAT.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• It's two points more expensive than a Neraph, and if the enemy has any way to negate its Single Shot with the Tail Strike, it is typically less effective overall.
• High DEF is its only way of staying alive, as it only has ARM 17 and 25 boxes.
• Things that negate single, powerful attacks may make your Angelius run for its points. This was once pretty rare (like the Vision spell or Madrak1's Scroll of Grim Perseverance), but with the coming of the Dhunian Archon and the Hermit virtually every army have access to this ability.

Tips & Tricks

• Always remember the Golden Rule of running an Angelius: boost your Tail Strike attack roll. Always. Really, no matter what. OK, maybe if your target is stationary, or knocked down. Consider this: you have a 14 pts model, and its effectiveness is tied to a Single Shot attack in 99% of the time. You don't even want that 1/36 chance to risk that your point investment is just poured down the drain.
• Your ranged attack is basically a hand-cannon shot, with critical continuous fire - keep that in mind, if you cannot run or charge, but need some work to be done.
• Sidestep behind the enemy, then use Repulsor to push them into your army. Especially potent with Fyanna's Gallows spell. Watch your move, since you're not immune to free strikes while advancing with Sidestep.

Other

Trivia

• Released in Hordes: Evolution (2007)
• Name possibly derives from Angelus, the Catholic devotion, which commemorates the Incarnation (the event when God made himself manifest in the flesh-clad form).