Skarlock Thrall

Skarlock thralls are insidious creatures of blackest sorcery. Linked to their warcasters by bonds so powerful they can act in their master's stead, skarlocks move against enemies with a confidence born of a baleful intelligence.

Basic Info

• Template:Attached

Abilities

• Template:Undead
• Template:Soul Cage
  • Template:Strength of Death
• Template:Magic Ability

Weapons

• Claws - 0.5" reach, P+S 6 melee weapon

Spells

{{Category: Template:Dark Fire AttackTemplate:Spell Slave }}[[Category: Template:Dark Fire AttackTemplate:Spell Slave ]]

Theme Forces

• Cryx
  • Template:Black Industries
  • Template:Dark Host

• Other Factions
  • Infernal players can use this model in the Template:Hearts of Darkness theme, but only if Mortenebra is leading the army.
  • Mercenary and Convergence players can use this model in the Template:Strange Bedfellows theme. This model gains Swift Vengeance in this theme

Thoughts on Skarlock Thrall

Skarlock Thrall in a Nutshell

The Skarlock Thrall is a spell-support solo who is terrible at its job. In earlier editions of the game it was a great solo and practically an auto-include in every Cryx list, but it got over-nerfed in the transition to mk3 in 2016. Then Dr Stygius was released in 2020 who does the same job, does it better, and does it for the same points cost.

Admittedly, they don't do exactly the same job because they have slightly different rules, but their main job (being a Spell Slave) ... Stygius wins hands down.

The model is available in Strange Bedfellows and it gains swift vengeance in this theme if you are not running the Corollary Warjack you can get some good threat vectors in order to use spell slave.

Combos & Synergies

• In Dark Host you can take a Skarlock Thrall without using a Mercenary slot. Stygius does use the Mercenary slot in that theme.

In all other themes, either the Skarlock isn't available or Stygius doesn't use the Merc slot.

• Terminus gives it tough passively; something he can’t offer to Dr Stygius.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• There are two better options for Spell Slave; Dr Stygius already mentioned for 4 points, and the Withershadow Combine for 9 points.
  • Those options don't exist in the Strange Bedfellows theme ... but instead the Skarlock competes with, and loses to, the Corollary for the Warcaster Attachment slot.
• What you can cast with Spell Slave is even more limited than it appears on the card. If the spell description includes a sentence that has "the spellcaster's battlegroup" or "the spellcaster's control range" you have to mentally delete that sentence from the spell effects, because the Skarlock has neither of those things. Examples:
  • Locomotion targets a jack in the spellcaster's battlegroup. The Skarlock cannot cast Locomotion.
  • Excarnate targets an enemy and, if you RFP that enemy, you create a free undead Grunt in your control range. The Skarlock can cast Excarnate, RFP the target, but he can't create a free Grunt.
  • Siphon Bolt lets you remove focus from the enemy and then the spellcaster gains it. The Skarlock gets to remove the point of focus but no one gains it.

Tricks & Tips

• Keep him safe casting support spells until the late game, when you can risk (and/or need to risk him) getting him forward and casting an offensive spell.

Other

Trivia

• Released way back in Warmachine: Prime (2003)
• Sculptor: Chaz Elliot