High Exemplar Gravus

The epitome of his order, High Exemplar Sarvan Gravus shirks from no order, no matter how bloody, and has shattered the weak flesh of Devourer worshipers, Cygnaran soldiers, and every other enemy of his faith. Men decades his junior struggle to match his energy as Gravus rides with his Venger cavalry to where the battle rages fiercest and breaks whatever foe he meets.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Mounted
  • Template:Cavalry
  • Template:Brother's Keeper
  • Template:Crusader's Requiem
    • Template:Soul-Powered
    • Template:Strength of Death
  • Template:Desperate Pace
  • Template:Reposition 3

• Dismounted
  • Template:Si
  • Brother's Keeper
  • Soul Taker: Crusader's Requiem
    • Soul-Powered
    • Strength of Death
  • Desperate Pace [ small- or medium-based Exemplar ]
  • Template:Si

Weapons

• Mounted
  • Reverence - 1" reach, P+S 11 melee weapon.
    • Template:Weapon Master
    • Template:Magical Damage
    • Template:Chain Weapon
    • Template:Dispel
  • Mount - 0.5" reach, POW 12 mount attack.
• Dismounted
  • Reverence - As above
  • Template:Si

Theme Forces

• Protectorate
  • Template:Exemplar Interdiction. He gains Aegis in this theme.
  • Template:Warriors of the Old Faith. This model gains Line Breaker 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.
  • Khador players can use this model in the Template:Warriors of the Old Faith theme. This model gains Line Breaker in this theme.

Thoughts on High Exemplar Gravus

High Exemplar Gravus in a nutshell

Gravus is a support model who spends the early game using Desperate Pace and preventing certain abilities shutting down the army - and hits like a light warjack when he finally comes in, a very solid light warjack between his being cavalry, Weapon master, and Dispel.

Almost obligatory in Exemplar Interdiction lists that can use Desperate Pace - it's an amazing ability and Gravus has the mobility and survivability to keep it useful all game until he charges something. Brother's Keeper also keeps his fellow Exemplars safe from knockdown and stationary, and he can pack a hefty punch if he's got three souls on him.

Combos & Synergies

• Exemplar Errants can jam opponents out of scenario, their crossbows threat further, and you can set up self-sacrifice positioning more easily.
• Exemplar Cinerators can shieldwall while advancing very far up - with their minifeat you can shieldwall while advancing 11" or charge 9" then shieldwall a further 5".
• Exemplar Bastion Seneschal tactician is really helpful when mixing up your desperate pace units and navigating Gravus's large base around your backlines.
• Rhupert's tough is still effective with his no-knockdown bubble and the opportunity cost of doing this is lower.
• Grand Exemplar Kreoss grants tough in a bubble as well.
• Harbinger keeps him alive longer once he's dismounted via Martydom.
• Intercessor Kreoss' gives him Divine Inspiration, making him much more dangerous in combat. All of the Kreoss' appreciate being immune to knockdown and stationary, but especially Kreoss 3 due to being on a large base.
• Vindictus lets you double up on movement boosts for extremely long threat ranges. The same goes for High Exemplar Cyrenia.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• He's one of the squishier dragoons as well, meaning he'll probably be relegated to Desperate Pace duty for much of the game.
• Weirdly he synergises the least with his fellow cavalry Vengers, which matters a lot in Warriors of the Old Faith, where he also competes with Champions of the Order of the Wall, Hand of Silence and Menite Archons and beats out neither of them, even if he is 1-2 points cheaper.

Tricks & Tips

• He can hit your own models to remove offensive upkeeps, but at the cost of Desperate Pace.
• With Tactician he can charge through your own lines.

Other

Trivia

Originally released in Warmachine: Legends (2008)