Sentry Stone & Mannikins

The Circle methodically inscribes certain stones to imbue mystical energy into their very essence. These self-sustaining fulcrums of power mimic thought, reaction, and awareness. Territorial and aggressive sentries, these stones animate creatures of sticks and vines cobbled together in imitation of humanity. Such mannikins collapse when beyond the influence of their stone but show an almost sentient pleasure in rending flesh.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Entire unit
  • Template:Construct
  • Template:Advanced Deployment

• Mannikins
  • Template:Pathfinder
  • Template:Fury Linked

• Sentry Stone
  • Template:Officer
  • Template:Immobile
  • Template:Strange Growth
  • Template:Prowl
  • Template:Forest Growth
  • Template:Wellspring

Mannikin Weapons

Splinter Burst
File:Gun icon.jpg		RNG			ROF			AOE			POW
		SP8			1			Template:-			10
Template:Magical Weapon
Claws
File:Sword icon.jpg		RNG				POW				P+S
		0,5				4				11

• Sentry Stone
  • Template:Unarmed

Theme Forces

• Template:The Bones of Orboros - despite their being a unit you can get a Sentry Stone & Mannikins for a requisition point in this theme.

Thoughts on Sentry Stone & Mannikins

Sentry Stone & Mannikins in a nutshell

An excellent front-line unit which can help ensure that you get the alpha, assist in piece trading (as the stone is difficult to remove at range, and often requires something more expensive to commit to killing it), clear jams, and reach deep into the enemy's backline support with surprisingly accurate (and magical!) sprays—at least when they boost.

Combos & Synergies

• Gobber Chef - there is nothing tastier or more nutritious than a mannikin. Maybe it's just a twiggy salad—but it's certainly the cheapest thing to sacrifice for fury management.
• They work better in pairs than one on their own.
• Most casters can't go wrong with two Sentry Stones as a start to a list. They're relatively cheap, hard to remove, and will nearly always make back more than their points in either actual casualties or in pure aggravation to the opponent.
• Baldur2 - Roots of the Earth puts the sentry stone to armour 21 making it even harder to get rid of. Add in a forest and a rock wall if you need it.
• Chuck Dogwood - Veteran leader is a great passive buff.
• Megalith can lower the defence of nearby models with his animus

Drawbacks & Downsides

• The Sentry Stone is easy to hit and if it dies, all the Mannikins get removed. Of course between stealth, damage boxes, and high ARM this isn't always easy.
• Kara Sloan, Siege, and anyone who can give a ranged battlegroup True Sight or even Guidance make Sentry Stones cry, as they ignore their principal defense (Stealth) and often pack enough of a punch to remove them fairly trivially.
• They can't really hurt heavy warbeasts or warjacks.
• The Stone makes an excellent target for things like electro-leaps and Ashes to Ashes. Be mindful of putting anything valuable too close to them.

Tricks & Tips

• Even without its Mannikins, the Stone makes an excellent blocker. Between high ARM/boxes and Immobile, it can ruin charge lanes and contest zones with the best of them.

Other

Trivia

Released in Hordes: Evolution (2007)