Swabber

Escalating conflicts at sea has seen a steady upgrade of armament among a number of familiar warjack chassis, resulting in several dedicated war machines in place of dual-purpose labor and fighting ’jacks. The Swabber is an outcome of this, swapping out the Mariner’s improvised cannon for a dedicated shield-cannon that is extremely powerful, if inaccurate beyond short range. It is also equipped with a harpoon launcher and reeling engine that lets it drag in its catch. While marketed as being useful for whaling, the Swabber has been purchased almost exclusively by pirates to employ against their targets.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Amphibious
• Template:Construct
• Template:Girded
• Template:Lash
• Template:Shield Guard

Weapons

Harpoon
File:Gun icon.jpg		RNG			ROF			AOE			POW			LOCATION
		8			1			Template:-			12			Right
Template:Drag
Shield Cannon
File:Gun icon.jpg		RNG			ROF			AOE			POW			LOCATION
		10			1			Template:-			14			Left
Shield
File:Sword icon.jpg		RNG				POW				P+S				LOCATION
		1				4				15				Left
Template:Shield

Theme Forces

• Mercenaries
  • Template:Flame in the Darkness
  • Template:Llaelese Resistance
  • Template:Operating Theatre
  • Template:Soldiers of Fortune
  • Template:Strange Bedfellows
  • Template:The Irregulars. If it is 'jack marshalled in this theme, it gains Flank [Warrior]
  • Template:The Kingmaker's Army
  • Template:The Talion Charter

• Other Factions
  • Convergence players can use this warjack in the Template:Strange Bedfellows theme, or by putting it in Aurora2's, Asphyxious4's, or Nemo4's battlegroup in various themes.
  • Cryx players can use this warjack by putting it in Asphyxious4's battlegroup in various themes.
  • Cygnar players can use this warjack in the Template:Flame in the Darkness theme, or by putting it in Nemo4's battlegroup in various themes.
  • Infernal players can take this model in the Template:Hearts of Darkness theme, but only if Crosse2 is leading the army. This model gains Accumulator [Soulless] in this theme.
  • Khador players can use this warjack in the Template:Flame in the Darkness theme.
  • Aside from that, Mercenary warjacks can be taken in a plethora of Faction's themes via by putting it under the control of a Mercenary 'Jack Marshal or Mercenary "Junior Warcaster" (see #Who can take this warjack?). However the "Faction Type" of the warjack doesn't change when you do it this way.

Thoughts on the Swabber

Swabber in a nutshell

The Swabber brings a formidable suite of defensive abilities to make up for a somewhat lackluster offensive output. Drag must be respected, however the short range on the guns and low POW on the melee attack means you should have a very specific plan for this model as there are no defensive stats so high that well-built armies cannot still destroy them. RAT 6 is solid for a gunline 'jack. The pirates of Talion Charter for which this was designed especially appreciate Girded.

Combos & Synergies

• Dougal, Crosse1 & 2, Ossrum and Magnus1 up its range threat.
• They are as close as you will come to getting Caine3 to work in Mercenaries.
• Bart cranks the ARM to a whopping 23, and Magnus2 takes it to 22 vs Melee.
• Though marshalling is generally subobtimal, Raluk Moorclaw gives it Assault, with which it can charge and then drag something in. In Irregulars it's melee attacks can also benefit from flank.
  • As with any marshalled jack, if you make it charge for free (Hunters Mark, Boundless Charge or Coup De Main), Raluk can give it the Strike True! or Crush! orders indead of Hurry!
• If you are playing Talion Charter, there is no safer place for Lady Aiyana, Doc Killingsworth and First Mate Hawk to stand than right next to a Swabber, preferably surrounded by Sea Dogs
• Widget lets you squeeze in an additional attack, either before or after activation. This can be used to clear a jamming model (Ancillary a melee attack), get in an extra cannon shot (killing a model which would block the drag), or getting in an extra drag (either by clearing the first model dragged in, or by placing an intervening model such that the drag still pulls what you need it to pull far enough, but not actually into melee with the Swabber).
  • This combo is most relevant in Strange Bedfellows, where the Swabber can benefit from Mortenebra1's massive focus pool.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• Drag sounds good until you consider stealth, Shield Guard, Sacrificial Pawn, stuff that can’t be moved, walls/terrain/other models ... it’s a long list.
• The gun ranges are rather low at 8 and 10", and the shield's P+S is comparatively low as well. It's not a powerhouse, but a ranged utility jack through and through.

Tricks & Tips

• Pair the Swabber with a non-pillow-fisted heavy or something else that can finish the job when it reels in a heavy.
• If you have allocated focus to the swabber to "guarantee" pulling off the drag attack it may best to go for this attack first - this way if the drag misses you can boost the shield cannon shot. If the drag works you are losing out on a ranged shot, but aren't "wasting" allocated focus.

Other

Trivia

• Released at Adepticon (2019.03)
• While it is a resin-metal kit, the Swabber shares a chassis with the Freebooter. However they're sold as separate models.