Defender

The Cygnaran Armory takes pride in its innovation and technological superiority, traits seen in all the battle-tested warjacks built on the classic Ironclad chassis. The Defender employs its long, heavy barrel cannon for unprecedented long-range and accurate firepower without sacrificing its effectiveness in melee.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Construct

Weapons

Heavy Barrel
File:Gun icon.jpg		RNG			ROF			AOE			POW			LOCATION
		16			1			Template:-			15			Left
Shock Hammer
File:Sword icon.jpg		RNG				POW				P+S				LOCATION
		1				6				17				Right
Template:Cortex Damage

Theme Forces

• Cygnar
  • Template:Flames in the Darkness
  • Template:Gravediggers
  • Template:Heavy Metal
  • Template:Sons of the Tempest
  • Template:Storm Division. This model gains Immunity: Electricity in this theme.

• Other Factions
  • Infernal players can use it in Hearts of Darkness, but only if Sloan is leading the army. This model gains Accumulator [Soulless] in this theme.
  • Mercenary and Khador players can use it Flame in the Darkness
  • Mercenary and Convergence players can use it by putting it under the control of Nemo4 in various themes.

Thoughts on Defender

Defender in a nutshell

The Defender is heavy jack, boasting a high-powered gun with near-unparalleled range, and a melee weapon, which is quite dangerous with its cortex damage. This jack almost always ends up compared to the Hunter, Cygnar's other long-range jack: Template:Hunter Defender comparison

Combos & Synergies

• Heavy Metal - This theme offers extended deployment zone, enabling you to to lob shells up to half of the board from turn 1.
  • Long Gunners - The Defender's shot is the best quality firepower in Cygnar's arsenal barring the colossi. It is a frustrating scenario, if it gets intercepted by a shield guarding Servitor in a Destruction Initiative, or saved by an eligible Sac Pawn / Sucker! infantry. Clear off them with Long Gunners, then let the Heavy Barrel sing.
  • Kraye - The Defender is prone to be jammed by cheap infantry to negate its gun. Between Admonition and Iron Horse it becomes anything but easy. With the boosted mobility the Defender often gets to use its powerful hammer too, beating light beasts and jacks into submission, and frying the cortices of the heavies.
  • Siege1 really likes strong, long range shooting, but a 2 pts upgrade for Triumph is usually a no-brainer choice with him.
  • Sloan - Her battlegroup usually includes one, or even 2 of these. Fire Group makes their threat range extremely long and Guided Fire keeps them very accurate regardless (and you don't even have to risk putting a 2nd focus on them outside of feat turn).
  • Caine3 - Caine likes jacks with more shots to his feat, but sometimes all you need is a POW 18-20 shot to finish off your enemy.
  • Journeyman Warcaster - You don't have to worry about your lousy CTRL range, if you can stay way back from the frontline.
• Gravediggers - Most of the Trencher lists lack serious armor cracking capabilities. The Defender is an ideal solution for that.
  • Rangers - Whenever you play Gravediggers, bring them - an effective RAT8 ensures that very few target will escape.
• Sons of the Tempest - If your caster lacks Snipe, or just want to spent it elsewhere, put the Defender under the care of an ATGM Officer. You have the option for a RNG 20" POW 17 shot between Snipe and Take Aim! To really make that count. Add in Falk and Strangewayes' Empower to the mix, and now we're talking about a boostable POW 19 shot.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• You pay for both its excellent gun, and its close combat prowess, even if you don't use both of them.
  • If you just want shooting the Hunter hits about as hard for 30% off.
  • If you want a brawler, go for the Ironclad
  • If you are willing to give up on its melee prowess for an improved gun and utility, Triumph is only a 2 pts upgrade - either with Siege or in the Gravediggers theme.
  • If you want a mix and are willing to have a shorter range, encouraging you to get closer to the melee the Reliant is one point less and the Avenger one point more.

Tricks & Tips

• Remember that every swing of the Defender's hammer is more accurate and harder hitting than the main gun - and that three hits means that an enemy warjack is almost unable to fight back. The Defender is a melee heavy that uses its gun to soften the enemy up not the purely ranged heavy people think it is.

Other

Trivia

• Released in Warmachine: Prime (2003)