Captain Aiakos

Cryx Blackfleet Scout Warcaster

Model stats and abilities

Model Statistics

Base size =
Health =
FA = C
Cost = free
-
-

Model Advantages and Abilities

Headbutt Power Attack	This model can make Headbutt power attacks. No errata for Headbutt Power Attack (Create)
Slam Power Attack	This model can make slam power attacks. No errata for Slam Power Attack (Create)
Trample Power Attack	This model can make a trample power attack. No errata for Trample Power Attack (Create)
Pathfinder	This model treats rough terrain as open terrain while advancing. While charging, slam power attacking, or trample power attacking, this model does not stop its movement when it contacts an obstacle. No errata for Pathfinder (Create)
Dual Attack	This model can make melee and ranged attacks in the same activation. When this model makes its initial melee attacks, it can also make its initial ranged attacks. A model with Dual Attack can make its initial melee and ranged attacks in any order you choose. This model cannot make ranged attacks after making a power attack.   Errata-Dual Attack and Unit Charges (2023-10-27) Question: If a unit with Dual Attack charges a single model, are all placed in melee range, and the first model kills the charge target, can the remaining members of the unit make ranged attacks, or do they forfeit their Combat Action because they don't have any enemy models in their melee range? Answer: The check for melee range is done at the end of movement. If you kill the targets before they attack, they can still do their ranged attack. (Malkav13) Explanation: This post is correct. Infernal Ruling: elswickchuck (Bulldog) - PP Community forum   Errata-Dual Attack and Special Attacks (2023-08-10) Question: Can a model with Dual Attack make any combination of ranged special attack and normal melee initial attacks, or its melee special attack and normal ranged initial attacks? (Example: Bison Both Barrels and Ram, or Mariner Thresher and gunshot). Answer: No. Explanation: The bison can not use dual attack and also make a special attack. That is correct in that (Thresher) example too. Infernal Ruling: elswickchuck (Bulldog) - PP Community forum
Construct	This model is a construct, and is not a living model. No errata for Construct (Create)

Weapons

GUN
	RNG	ROF	AOE	POW	LOCATION
	11	1	-	13	-
Special Attack	A model can make a special attack during its Combat Action if it meets the requirements for the special action or attack's use. Ground Pounder - Place a 3 inch template anywhere completely within this weapons RNG and in this model's LOS. This model makes one ranged attack roll against each model in the template, ignoring concealment and Stealth. This model does not gain a bonus for aiming when resolving a Ground Pounder attack. Models do not gain the target in melee DEF bonus when resolving Ground Pounder attack rolls. Models hit suffer a ranged attack damage roll with a POW eaual to the POW of this weapon. Ground Pounder attacks are simultaneous. No errata for Special Attack (Create)   Errata-Ground Pounder (2024-1-13) Question: Can a an engaged model without Gunfighter use its Ground Pounder special attack to make the attack against things outside of melee? Answer: For ground pounder, if you are engaged you will not be able to make a ground pounder attack. Explanation: For ground pounder, if you are engaged you will not be able to make a ground pounder attack. Currently it is still being discussed on some other points but that is where the discussion currently is Infernal Ruling: elswickchuck Infernal - PP Community forum

AXE
	RNG	ROF	AOE	POW	LOCATION
	1	-	-	14	-
Weapon Master	When resolving an attack with this weapon, add an additional die to damage rolls. No errata for Weapon Master (Create)

Warcaster Rules

Additional special rules:

Focus Manipulation

1. This model begins the game with a number of focus points equal to its ARC.
2. During your Maintenance Phase, this model loses all focus points in excess of its ARC.
3. During your Control Phase, this model replenishes its focus points so that it has a number equal to its current ARC.
4. This model can spend focus points only during its activation.
5. This model has a Control Range, and can spend its focus points to buy additional melee attacks, boost attack and damage rolls, and to Shake Effects.
   No errata for Focus Manipulation (Create)

Battlegroup Controller

This model can control a group of warjacks.

1. This model and the warjacks it controls are a battlegroup.
2. This model can allocate focus to warjacks in its battlegroup during your Control Phase.
3. This model can channel spells through warjacks in its battlegroup with the Arc Node advantage.

No errata for Battlegroup Controller (Create)

Feat

A feat can be used at any time during this model's activation, once per game.
No errata for Feat (Create)

Power Field

1. At any time during its activation, this model can spend focus points to remove damage it has suffered. For each focus point spent this way, the model can remove 1 damage point.
2. When this model would suffer damage, it can immediately spend up to 1 focus point to reduct the damage it would suffer by 5. This model is still considered to have suffered damage even if the damage is reduced to 0 or less. Excess damage prevention is lost.
   No errata for Power Field (Create)

Spellcaster

This model can cast spells by paying the COST of the spells in focus points.
No errata for Spellcaster (Create)

This model must have at least one non-lesser warjack in its battlegroup at the start of the game.

Errata

No Errata specifically for this model.

Lore

• • • • • • • • • • • • • LEGACY **********

A merciless cutthroat of the high seas, Aiakos has risen from humble beginnings among the gangs of Blackwater to become one of the fiercest captains in Cryx’s pirate fleet. The warcaster rushes to the forefront of every engagement, bounding from ship to ship to skewer his opponents with harpoon and blade. Wherever the promise of a bloody battle arises, Aiakos and his crew are not far behind.

Basic Info

Warcaster abilities:

• Focus Manipulation

• Battlegroup Controller

• Power Field

• Spellcaster

• Independent Model

• Leader

Feat: Boarding Action

Models in Aiakos battlegroup that are currently in his Template:CTRL range gain +3 SPD and Assault. Boarding Action lasts for one turn.

Abilities

• Template:Tough
• Template:Leap

Weapons

Harpoon
File:Gun icon.jpg		RNG			ROF			AOE			POW
		10			1			Template:-			12
Template:Magical Weapon Template:Aim for the Shoulder Template:Drag
Reaver
File:Sword icon.jpg		RNG				POW				P+S
		1				7				13
Template:Magical weapon Template:Blood Boon Template:Grievous Wounds

Spells

{{Category:

}}[[Category:

]]

[[:Category:{{{name}}}|{{{name}}}]]	Cost	RNG	AOE	POW	DUR	OFF
	2	6	-	-	Upkeep	No
Target friendly Faction warjack can charge or make slam or trample power attacks without spending focus. The warjack gains +2 SPD when it charges or makes a slam or trample power attack. Models slammed by the warjack are moved +2".
No errata for {{{name}}} ([[:Category:Errata-{{{name}}}|Create]])
[[:Category:{{{name}}}|{{{name}}}]]	Cost	RNG	AOE	POW	DUR	OFF
	2	6	-	-	Upkeep	No
Target friendly Faction warjack can charge or make slam or trample power attacks without spending focus. The warjack gains +2 SPD when it charges or makes a slam or trample power attack. Models slammed by the warjack are moved +2".
No errata for {{{name}}} ([[:Category:Errata-{{{name}}}|Create]])

Theme Forces

• Template:Black Industries
• Template:Dark Host
• Template:The Ghost Fleet
• Template:Scourge of the Broken Coast

Thoughts on Aiakos2

Aiakos2 in a nutshell

Captain Aiakos is a potent melee assassination warcaster. Walk, leap, harpoon, drag, stab stab stab dead then a potential spellcast. 21" threat range (+d6" with a clever arc node + White Squall).

He has a great spell list but suffers from not having enough focus to do everything he wants to do - so he really needs to be leveraging Blood Boon for the free spell. Hopefully the enemy has left something easy to kill within 16" of Aiakos position and forgotten to block the Drag lane - this lets Aiakos walk, shoot his harpoon, get Blood Boon, then Leap back to a safer position.

His feat is fairly weak - if you try to leverage the Assault by taking lots of shooting 'jacks you'll quickly find that a) Cryx jacks are not good at shooting and b) Aiakos does not have enough focus to support a lot of 'jacks. The +3 SPD is decent, though.

Spell thoughts

He has a good spell list that lets him support his army in a variety of ways.

• Assail is a movement and power buff for a single 'jack, and really lets you turn it up to 11, especially on feat turn. It wants to be cast on an elite warjack, and maybe cycled to a 2nd 'jack mid-turn.
  • For instance, Deathjack can charge 14" on feat turn and still have 5 focus.

• Carnage is your MAT-fixer. On most casters it's useful, on Aiakos it's a backbone spell because the Cryxians have so many MAT 5 troops and the difference between MAT 5 and MAT 7 is stunning.

• Scything Touch is your ARM-fixer. You'll want a fast solo with 1" or 2" reach that can take this spell and run into the enemy lines to spread the debuff.

• Stranglehold is a 'soft control' spell to be used against high-value models (such as enemy heavies, battle engines, or combat Archons). Unfortunately those sorts of target tend to have high ARM so you'll normally need to boost damage, but if/when you get the spell to land it you will greatly reduce the effectiveness of that enemy.

• White Squall is expensive but very useful. It can knockdown targets, move them closer to your lines (if you run an arc node behind them), or move them further away.

Usually Aiakos will not be casting Stranglehold or White Squall himself (as he doesn't have the focus to spare) but a Spell Slave and/or the Deathjack can make good use of these spells. Sometimes Aiakos will cast them via an arc node, but doing so will not leave him camping much so it'll put Aiakos in danger of being assassinated himself.

Feat thoughts

His feat is a great little SPD buff to help you get the alpha strike, but the Assault portion is not viewed favorably by many Cryx players (as mentioned in the Nutshell above).

• Important: It doesn't quite stack with Drag to let you get super long threat ranges, because whether your charge is successful or not is determined before you take the Assault shot. Instead a 'failed charge; would go:
  • Make charge movement. If the target is out of melee range the charge is unsuccessful.
  • Before ending your activation you get to make the Assault shot. That will let you trigger Drag and get the free melee attack from Drag ... but then that's it. Also, the free Drag attack is not considered a charge attack (see Infernal Rulings).
  • End activation without getting your charge attack and/or any bought attacks.
• Conversely if you make a successful charge then you'll get the Assault Drag shot, move them via Drag, get the free Drag melee attack, and get your normal melee attack(s). But the Drag movement is kinda irrelevant in this case.

• That said, feat + Drag does let a Reaper or Malice Drag something 20" away (SPD 9 +3" charge +8" gun range) and leaves it 8" closer to the rest of your army.

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.
• Aiakos is probably the most focus-hungry caster in all Cryx. He has many great spells, including two very powerful offensive spells, but he's only FOC 6.
• At first glance he looks like he wants several 'jacks (due to his feat and Assail), but really he doesn't have enough focus to fuel them.
• He's somewhat easy to assassinate. He often won't camp much, he has no defensive tech (other than Tough), and average DEF/ARM for a caster.
• You can't use Aiakos1 with him.
• RAT 5 limits his assassination's likelihood of working; it's something the enemy can't afford to ignore, but even on boosted to-hit rolls you're going to miss more than you'd like.

Tricks & Tips

The "Waverunner" Trick:

Total threat range = 21" to 26"

One ranged attack, one melee attack

Requires an Arc Node

1. Run an arc node directly behind your small-based target
2. Feat to gain +3 SPD
3. Walk (9") then jump (5")
4. Cast White Squall through the arc node, throwing the target (d6") towards Aiakos.
5. Use initial ranged attack to Harpoon the knocked-down target (6")
6. Take free Drag melee attack
7. Template:Grey
8. Three focus left to buy/boost attacks.

The "Flying Dutchman" Trick:

Total threat range = 13"

One ranged attack, two melee attacks (one of which gets boosted damage)

No Arc Node

1. Template:Grey
2. Feat to gain +3 SPD and Assault.
3. Charge a small-based target (12" charge +1" reach).
4. Cast White Squall to throw target d6" away and knock target down.
5. Use Assault ranged attack to Harpoon the target and drag it back into B2B.
6. Take free Drag melee attack.
7. Take melee charge attack (boosted damage because you charged).
8. Three focus left to buy/boost attacks.

List Building Advice

Strategy

His main method of winning is to control the enemy with a threat of a scary assassination, and win by attrition while the enemy caster cowers.

His army likes to include support models that help his spell-casting and/or focus efficiency.

Theme thoughts

BI brings a lot of things Aiakos2 wants to see. Deathjack, the Withershadow Combine, Warwitch sirens are all available. Mechanithralls love the Carnage he brings and Brute Thralls can protect Aiakos2 as well.

• The Withershadow Combine are also a great choice. Free upkeep, Puppet Masters to make Stranglehold more reliable, and a free White Squall are all great abilities that will help Aiakos2 a lot. With him, they are definitely superiour to the Skallock Thrall and Dr. Stygius.
• Warwitch Siren is a reliable, but costly way to fuel his jacks, they don't really do much other than support, but Aiakos needs the focus. In a pinch, he can also put Scything Touch on her and she runs 14" to apply it where needed, in Scourge she even procs Gang Fighter for jacks this way.
• Mechanithralls - The difference between MAT 5 and MAT 7 is massive. Mechanithralls and Brute Thralls in particular, under Aikos, get almost as much work done as under Skarre1; even against heavies reliably hitting POW 13s are excellent.
• Deathjack is a fantastic toolbox under Aiakos2. He will be able to cast powerful White Squalls or Strangleholds better than Aiakos himself due to Magic Ability[7]. He can threaten 15" under feat and Assail and/or hit MAT10 POW20 with Carnage and Scything Touch.
• Malice - for the same reason you may bring a reaper, except she is less focus hungry when given access to souls.
• Barathrum - The best jack in faction, and with Assail/Sycthing Touch and the speed boost from the feat it gets even better. With the feat, you can make a 9" Drag Below move, which is really nifty.
• Scrap Thrall - White Squall one in the back and throw it into enemy lines, where it will explode. This can really catch opponents off guard.
• Necrotech - The repair of your jacks and turn fallen jacks into Scrap Thralls, keeping you in scenario. They are an absolute steal for 1 point each.

This theme has less spell casting support, but you get access to the Satyxis Blood Priestess and Misery Cage. The troops in Scourge form a great self-sufficient core, although the troops lack hitting power and all Aiakos brings is Scything Touch (which might not be enough). Bloodgorgers love Carnage, and all Crabjacks will love Gang Fighter from the theme. Kharybdiss is a monster assassin in this theme.

• Misery Cage will give him one more focus to toss per round, as long as you can fuel and protect them.
• The Satyxis Blood Priestess brings a free upkeep, can cast two great spells, and will help protect from ranged assassinations a caster with poor stats and a tendency to use a lot of focus.
• Bloodgorgers (with Gerlak Slaughterborn) MAT 9, Berserk, Overtake, and two attacks each. I'm sure there was some infantry 'round here somewhere?
• Satyxis Raiders - Satyxis Raiders don't need Carnage but will appreciate the damage boost from Scything Touch.

The Banes will love his Carnage, but he otherwise doesn't do much to deliver them. This theme also limits your spell-support to just the Skarlock Thrall, which is also the worst spell-support option for Aiakos2.

• Bane Warriors and Bane Knights on the other need will love Carnage to help their average MAT

GF usually plays with the minimum amount of jacks, no caster support, and infantry that needs a lot of help (delivery, damage increase). Probably not the best choice for Aiakos2.

• Misery Cage, mentioned above, can also be in this theme.

• Black Ogrun Iron Mongers - Curse is a to-hit buff for his jacks, which includes DJs spell-slinging if you bring him (and you should). Dismantle also makes them a threat to any constructs, and repairs a never not nice to have.
• Hermit of Hengehold - An extra ARM debuff is never a bad thing for a caster that wants to kill as fast as possible. Telemetry on the other hand pushes Aikaos's effective focus stat for spell-slinging to acceptable levels and makes DJ and Maelovus very accurate (DJ can even double stack Telemetry and Curse for M.A. 11). Lastly, Mad Visions is a gift of Toruk himself for a caster that wants to play forward in order to project assassination vectors.

Battlegroup

File:Kharybdis.jpg

Kharybdis is Aiakos' pet warjack that he can take in any theme.

He likes amphibious warjacks. Carnage makes them shine, they synergize with his feat with their guns, and they have Pathfinder. He'll often squeeze in an arc node just for White Squall shenanigans, and he is one of the few casters that might want to spend the points on upgrading the node to a Nightwretch or Defiler for the feat combo.

• Kharybdis is his pet warjack, that he can take in any theme.
  • With Assail it threatens 14" outside of feat turn, and on feat it has a 17" threat with a pretty groovy spray.
  • Having a 4" melee range makes it a valid assasination warjack, as it becomes much harder to block its landing spots. MAT 9 under Carnage and Chain Weapons can be clutch to ignore Shields.

• Kraken is effectively a bigger version of Kharybdis. One neat piece of tech is, on feat turn, it can get 2 ranged attacks (once from Assault, and once from Kill Shot).

• Harrower - good gun, can potentially generate its own focus from souls, has Thresher, and has 2" reach. It'll love both the SPD buff and the MAT buff that Aiakos can provide.
• Desecrator - similar to the Harrower, and if you're using the Dark Host theme it will even generate its own bonus focus.

• Reaper or Malice - The Drag + Feat combo can be useful.

Other

Trivia

Released 2016.08

Video Battle Reports

• 2019.03 Feat Fetish, vs Issyria1
• Template:VBR

Rules Clarifications

Template:RC Magical Weapon Template:RC Aim for the Shoulder Template:RC Drag }} Template:RC Blood Boon Template:RC Grievous Wounds }}