View source for Grayle the Farstrider

{{Circlebox|{{Circle}} {{Wolf Sworn}} [[Warlock]] }} [[Category: Model]]
{{4P|Secret Dominion}}

''A powerful scion of a family with deep roots in the ancient lines of the Wolves of Orboros, Grayle the Farstrider was trained as a Wolf until he experienced the wilding. As a druid, he has proven his worth and skill as a trusted strike force leader and an unrelenting warrior who simply does not know failure. In battle Grayle embodies the wolf and moves from target to target with vicious speed and efficiency like a predator in human form whose blades strike with the feral precision of a hunting beast.''

=Basic Info=
{{Infobox-Model
| name  = Grayle
| image = Grayle.jpg
| base  = Small
| spd   = 7
| str   = 6
| mat   = 7
| def   = 15
| arm   = 16
| hp    = 17
| fury  = 6
| wbp   = +29
}}

{{Warlock}}


=== Feat : Darkest Night===
# While in Grayle's {{CTRL}} range, friendly Faction models gain [[Stealth]]. [[Category: Stealth Feat]]
# When a friendly Faction model in Grayle's {{CTRL}} range destroys an enemy model with a melee attack during its activation, another friendly Faction model in Grayle's {{control}} range can advance up to 3". A model can advance only once this turn as a result of Darkest Night.
: Darkest Night lasts for one round. (Well, the first part does at least).

=== Abilities ===
*{{Pathfinder}}
*{{Stealth}}
*{{Side Step}}
*{{Sprint}}
*{{Tactician|Wolf Sworn}}

===Weapons ===
{|class="wikitable"
{{melee|Hunting Blade (x2)|1|4|10|
* {{Weapon Master}}
* {{Magical Weapon}}
* {{Combo Strike|14}} }}
|}

=== Spells ===
{{Spellbox|
{{Death March}}
{{Gallows}}
{{Storm Rager}}
{{Wind Blast}}
}}

===Theme Forces ===
* {{si|Secret Masters}}
* {{The Bones of Orboros}}. He can start the game with friendly upkeeps in play in this theme.
* {{The Devourer's Host}} 
* {{The Wild Hunt}}


= Thoughts on {{PAGENAME}} =
=== {{PAGENAME}} in a nutshell===
Grayle is an infantry support warlock in a game that seems to skew towards armour. There is (unlike in Mk2) little inherently wrong with Grayle. But he does little to support warbeasts and his infantry doesn't hit hard enough to break bricks under most conditions - and circle has no problem dealing with infantry. Grayle himself, when under Storm Rager, has caught enemy casters napping via a side-step assassination.

===Feat thoughts===
'''Feat''' is good, with both offensive and defensive uses by providing both Stealth and extra movement. It's best to have a forward vanguard unit to help trigger the movement part of his feat to help get the slower portions of your army up the field - Wolves of Orboros and Tharn Bloodtrackers can fulfill this role. Additionally, you can use the movement part of his feat to move ranged models back after they've fired, allowing you to move and shoot.

===Spell Thoughts===
* '''Death March''' is a very good upkeep which you put on a unit you expect to get mauled. It works great on models like the Death Wolves when they have Heart Tokens, really punishing enemy infantry for when the opponent fails to kill them. 
* '''Gallows''' is a good zap and threat range extender although Grayle himself is rarely in position to cast it. Taking a Gallows Grove can help, as does Morraig for the Veteran Leader.
* '''Storm Rager''' frequently gets cast on Grayle if you want to use his Stealth to play him forward. Even if he doesn't kill everything he wants. There are several models in Circle that that love it, such as Lord of the Feast, a member of the Death Wolves, and the Tharn Wolf Rider Champion - typically models with the ability to make multiple attacks.
* '''Wind Blast''' is a hard counter to cloud walls. You can get a lot of use out of it against shooting heavy armies, at the very least denying them an Aim bonus. It's also incredibly effective against shooting models on Huge bases, or slow shooting models in general such as the [[Aradus Sentinel]] - unless they're especially fast (usually via a movement buff), they won't be able to get out. Structures are completely helpless against Wind Blast.

=== Drawbacks & Downsides ===
* He doesn't have Parry so if he messes up in combat he takes a free strike extracting himself.
* His feat doesn't help his assassination run as he needs to activate to use it and it can only move another model.
* He does little to protect his army.
* One of the few Circle warlocks that can't go in [[Secret Masters]].

=== Tricks & Tips===
* You have some interesting threat extenders in Gallows and the feat.
* Remember that Death March still works if the models survive being hit, so works well on both the Skinwalkers and the Death Wolves.
* His assassination threat range is pretty good; 10" charge + 1" swords, + 2x 2" side steps = 15"
* To assassinate "pinball" off enemies by going almost past them, killing them, and getting the extra 2".

=List Building Advice=
===Strategy===
Grayle prefers an infantry-heavy army, as except for his feat he offers nothing for his battlegroup. He'll typically have two parts of his army; the vanguard to help trigger the movement part of his feat, and the main body that will hopefully deliver the crushing blow. His feat and Wind Blast can helps against shooting-based armies, and due to his high survivability and melee potential, makes him one of the better warlocks in Circle when it comes to the end game.

===Theme thoughts===
{{Header|[[The Wild Hunt]]}}

Grayle loves this theme with the Wolf Sworn shenanigans.

* The [[Death Wolves]] make great targets for Death March, especially if you can load them up with heart tokens beforehand via the [[Boil Master & Spirit Cauldron]], punishing enemy infantry for failing to kill them. With Death March and Morraig, they can go to MAT 10! Additionally, individuals in the unit can make great targets for Storm Rager.
* [[Warpborn Skinwalkers]] are tough and so love Death March. His feat can also let them dig deeper for when they use their mini-feat.
* [[Wolves of Orboros]] love Death March because they are numerous; their speed, as well as a potential Ambushing unit, makes them good for triggering the feat.
* [[Wolf Lord Morraig]] is an excellent Storm Rager target (as are the Death Wolves) and Grayle gains the Veteran Leader bonus while also triggering Morraig's flank.

{{Header|[[The Devourer's Host]]}}

* The [[Death Wolves]] fit into Devourer's Host better than Wild Hunt due to being able to start with an additional heart token each.
* Melee solos like the [[Lord of the Feast]], [[Tharn Wolf Rider Champion]], and the [[Bloodweaver Night Witch]] ... do something for Grayle. Generally, models able to make multiple attacks are excellent Storm Rager targets.
* [[Tharn Bloodtrackers]] like the extra movement from Vengeance and are a large unit, as well as melee buff for triggering Quick Work. If Nuala is still alive by late game, she makes a decent Storm Rager target.
* [[Ghetorix]] is an excellent heavy hitter independent of damage buffs and is one of the most survivable living warbeasts available to Circle. Grayle appreciates Spiny Growth for an extra layer of ARM; when combined with Storm Rager, he goes to an impressive 15/20 with Stealth.

{{Header|Minions}}

* Because so many of his abilities are in-faction only, there are few standout Minions for Grayle.  However, the [[Bog Trog Mist Speaker]] provides some of the support he's lacking, and the [[Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew]] is always a cheap and useful unit to have.
* If you're playing in Devourer's Host or are using Death Wolves, the [[Boil Master & Spirit Cauldron]] are great for loading the models up with extra hearts. Puppetmaster and Spectral Lash are also useful effects for any army to have.
* The [[Primal Archon]] hits amazingly for a solo, is ARM 19 and is a Partisan so works really well with Storm Rager.

===Battlegroup===
As Grayle does little for his battlegroup, strongly consider taking independent warbeasts and those with animi that will be useful for him.

* If you're taking ranged units, the [[Argus Moonhound]] greatly increases their shooting prowess and can remove Stealth on enemy models.
* The [[Scarsfell Griffon]] is an independent solo-killer, and Dodge is a useful animus for Grayle.
* [[Ghetorix]] is a powerful, survivable independent warbeast, and Spiny Growth is an excellent animus for Grayle.
* The [[Gnarlhorn Satyr]] and [[Woldwatcher]] provide Earth's Blessing, making Grayle immune to most status and control effects.
* [[Woldwarden]] gets Gallows, and is effectively a ranged warbeast who likes not being shot on the way in.

===First Seven Purchases===
A few veteran players have put their heads together and tried to figure out the seven best things to buy for this specific caster. This is ''not'' designed to add up to a nice round points limit, nor be balanced vs other "First Seven" lists you find on this website. It is simply going to give you some of the essentials this caster needs ''most'' of the time. 

# Warbeast: [[Ghetorix]]
# Warbeast: [[Warpwolf Stalker]]
# Solo: [[Tharn Ravager Shaman]]
# Solo: [[Lord of the Feast]]
# Unit: [[Tharn Ravagers]] + CA
# Unit: [[Tharn Ravagers]] + CA
# Unit: [[Death Wolves]]


=Other=
===Trivia===
* Released in [[Hordes: Domination]] (2011)
* One of the rare people to undergo the Wilding as an non-infant/child.

===Other Circle models===
{{Index Circle}}

===Rules Clarifications===
{{RC Magical Weapon}}
{{RC Weapon Master}}
{{RC Combo Strike}}

{{RC Warlock}}
{{RC Pathfinder}}
{{RC Stealth}
{{RC Side Step}}
{{RC Sprint}}
{{RC Tactician}}
{{RC Stealth}}

{{RC Death March}}
{{RC Gallows}}
{{RC Storm Rager}}
{{RC Wind Blast}}