Patrol Dog

Not all trenchers stand on two legs. Many companies have one or more patrol dogs assigned to them - eager canine soldiers that go through their own rigorous trencher training. Patrol dogs assist the infantry in several ways, lending their keen senses and unquestioning loyalty to their unit

Alternative Fluff - Wow. Such bite. Many Trenchers. Much dodge.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Advance Deployment
• Template:Pathfinder
• Template:Tough
• Template:Annoyance
• Template:Dodge
• Template:Foxhole Buddy

Leadership

While within {{{d}}} of this model, friendly [[{{{model}}}]] models gain [[:Category:{{{ability}}}|{{{ability}}}]].

• Template:Noisy

Weapons

• Bite - 0.5" reach, P+S 7 melee weapon.
  • Template:Critical Knockdown

Theme Forces

• Cygnar
  • Template:Gravediggers. He gains Rise in this theme.

• Other Factions
  • Infernal players can use this unit in the Template:Hearts of Darkness theme, but only if Sloan is leading the army.

Thoughts on Patrol Dog

Patrol Dog in a nutshell

It's a useful 1 point support solo - a bit of defensive boosting for when your trenchers get engaged, as well as couple of personal defensive buff, and a nice anti-stealth aura that will probably lead to his death after using it aggressively. He can’t break armour but he is annoying to kill and that has its own value when it comes to contesting points.

Being able to take a 2 post 2021 update for the same value a 1 pre update (and actually being allowed to take a 2nd dog) allows you to take more risks with his close range stealth removal.

Combos & Synergies

• It can reload the Grenadier. No one is sure quite how...
• Annoyance synergises well with Haley3's Temporal Distortion.
  • Effective DEF16 Trenchers and DEF17 with Dodge will give your opponents serious headaches in melee.
  • Even if they do hit the trencher, they still have Tough and Rise (in Gravediggers).

Drawbacks & Downsides

• It doesn't hurt anyone.
• Models that are dug in lose that benefit if they take advantage of Dodge.
  • Dodge has no down side to a trencher who is already engaged or one who can use Foxhole buddy to stand next to another trencher.

Tricks & Tips

• At DEF 15 against living models in melee and two points it's often worth just running the Patrol Dog into enemy models and letting them try and hit it.
• Be sure to keep him safe against stealth armies - he’s vital to keeping your ranged game effective against them, if only for one key turn.
  • Exploit Foxhole Buddy and consider keeping a Trench Buster nearby for added safety.
  • Siege2’s feat can also allow the dog to pull back to relative safety and dig in independently.

Other

Trivia

• Released in the Gravediggers expansion (2017.06)
• Cygnar players brought out all of the Doge puns.