Azrael

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 Basilisks 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: you can remove 1 fury point from that model.

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

A marriage of blighted blood and Nyss flesh, Azrael is the personal warbeast of Kryssa, Conviction of Everblight and manifests the greatest qualities of the nephilim. He possesses a cunning intellect and wields more power than most of his kin. A muscular, serpentine body and full, leathery wings propel Azrael through the sky, and his ash and flame scour the battlefield of all who would oppose the Legion of Everblight.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Eyeless Sight
• Template:Flight
• Template:Immunity Fire
• Template:Bond (Template:Ashen Veil-alt)
• Template:It Burns!
• Template:Serpentine

Weapons

Thrown Spear
File:Gun icon.jpg		RNG			ROF			AOE			POW
		10			1			Template:-			17
Template:Continuous Fire Template:Thrown Template:Reload 1 Template:Critical Smite
Spear
File:Sword icon.jpg		RNG				POW				P+S
		2				5				17
Template:Continuous Fire

Animus

{{Category: Template:Vortex of Fire }}[[Category: Template:Vortex of Fire ]]

Theme Forces

• When taken by Kryssa
  • Template:Children of the Dragon. Azrael gains Unyielding in this theme.
  • Template:Oracles of Annihilation
  • Template:Primal Terrors
  • Template:Ravens of War

• When taken by anyone else
  • Template:Children of the Dragon. Azrael gains Unyielding in this theme.

Thoughts on Azrael

Azrael in a nutshell

Azrael is an expensive beast that packs a reasonable stat line and decent abilities along with one of the highest POW guns in the game - only Colossals can hit harder at range than this beast. While the POW of the gun is mitigated somewhat by its lower range, Azrael himself has okay RAT and with SPD6 and Flight, he can probably make it in range what he wants to hit, and he has a solid chance of hitting it when he does. As usual with Legion beasts, his Eyeless Sight goes a long way to making his ranged attacks even better. Critical Smite is nice to have, but don't bank on this effect.

Not only is the POW of his spear really impressive, it also has the very valuable Thrown rule which is what really makes his package complete.He can be taken with a much larger variety of warlocks, as many of them pack STR buffs rather than general damage buffs or ARM debuffs. Finally, while his spears have Continuous Fire, they do not have fire type damage, something that is incredibly valuable when building a Legion gunline and raises his stock against factions like the Protectorate of Menoth or other lists that have easy access to fire immunity.

His animus is quite unique, though very situational. He can keep enemies within 5" of him or 8 - 12" of his warlock burning all day long. Not terribly useful against enemy jacks and beasts, but may have a place against enemies with a handful of lower ARM infantry, or a low ARM caster that you just barely failed to assassinate but did manage to light ablaze.

Combos & Synergies

Azrael can be a very solid gun with many casters due to it's best in class POW, Reload, and ability to be buffed by STR spells/upkeeps.

• Kryssa isn't most everyone's first warlock choice, but she does offer Azrael a lot, which is good considering he's her personal beast.
  • Her feat is a STR buff which works well with his gun.
  • Tactical Supremacy gives him some much needed hit and run capability to offset his shorter range.
  • Ashen Veil from their bond gives her essentially two copies of the spell out, keeping him safer at range and against living melee threats, and letting her cast Cloak of Ash elsewhere in her army.

• Thagrosh1 can buff his STR with Draconic Blessing
  • His feat can bring Azrael back and allow him to still shot something. Remember that you can't reload to make another shot, as feat prohibits forcing.
  • Fog of War gives concealment to all models in Thags CTRL range. Azrael can benefit from it while completely ignoring FoW bonus on enemy models thanks to Eyeless Sight.

Children of the Dragon Combos

Any model can take Azrael in this theme, which opens up a few more combos:

• Saeryn1 makes Azrael an impressive zone-denier during her feat. Even though sitting at 21 Arm with a nasty P+S 17 Retaliatory Strike, the enemy will have no choice but to engage him or face numerous warlock-threatening shots during his next turn.
• Thagrosh1 keeps Azrael safer in melee and against shooting, and can get his spears to POW19 with Draconic Blessing. He's also pricey which lets you get more value out of the feat.
• Fyanna2 works very well with Azrael, as Serpentine pairs perfectly with her DEF feat, making him hard to hit and impossible to knock down. The Dodge aspect (and/or Admonition) can allow him to disengage from melee for more shooting if so desired (though at that point you may be better off meleeing your enemy).
  • Unfortunately, Fury is only a buff to melee damage rolls, so it doesn't buff his ranged attacks. If he has to commit to melee he is certainly a decent target for the spell.
• Lylyth1 offers him the option of effective POW20 (Parasite -3ARM), and saves him FURY on boosts with her feat or lets him hit very evasive targets if he also boosts during the feat. Four dice to hit (feat + boost) is actually decent odds at landing Critical Smite as well.
• Lylyth2 gives Azrael a much welcomed accuracy and damage boost with Pin Cushion, and lets him fire three times on the feat (with Gunfighter to boot, if he's been jammed up).
• Kallus2 loves Azrael's automatic continuous fire and Reload[1] to ensure a few targets are burning for his feat.
  • Overrun lets him move up and shoot something twice from 16" away, and move back if he or another battlegroup friend kills something else (depending on who the spell is cast on). This gives him impressive hit and run capabilities.
• Abyslonia2 can't buff his RAT, but her feat is a STR buff if you want to have a decent ranged presence in your list. Despite one initial melee, he's not a complete waste in close combat if you need it on feat turn as well.
• Absylonia1's - Azrael is often dogged by his short range on his otherwise formidable gun. Not with Refuge, any more. If you don't have to worry about retaliation, try to exploit the possibilities with Playing God's +2 STR and an effective 17" threat range. You can even replicate its bond with Kryssa for "free". Azrael is the cornerstone of the Children of the Dragon theme, consider bringing a Sorceress for Fury management.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• High points cost
• Only one initial melee attack.
• Serpentine is a boon and a bane, as it prevents him from slamming.
• Fury hungry. If you're firing twice you'll max out his stack if you try to boost everything.

Tricks & Tips

• If you get Critical Smite by chance on your first shot, you can choose to let it not trigger. This way you don't slam your target out of shooting range by accident.

Other

Trivia

• Released 2017.02
• "Azriel" is the name of an angel in Jewish and Muslim tradition who separated the soul from the body upon death. He is sometimes referred to as the Angel of Death.