Trollkin Warders

Trollbloods Storm of the North Northkin Legacy Unit

Model stats and abilities

Model Statistics

Base size = 40mm		SPD	MAT	DEF	ARM
Health = 8
FA = C
Cost = 5		5	8	12	17
-
-

Model Advantages and Abilities

Tough	When this model is disabled, roll a d6. On a 5 or 6, remove 1 damage point from this model; it is no longer disabled and becomes knocked down. While knocked down, this model loses Tough. No errata for Tough (Create)
Resistance:Cold	When this model suffers a cold damage roll, remove one die from the damage roll. No errata for Resistance:Cold (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)
Feign Death	A model with Feign Death cannot be targeted by ranged or arcane attacks while knocked down. No errata for Feign Death (Create)
Retaliatory Strike	If a model with Retaliatory Strike is hit by an enemy melee attack during your opponent's turn, after that attack is resolved the model with Retailatory Strike can immediately make one basic melee attack against the attacking model. A model with Retaliatory Strike can make only one Retaliatory Strike per turn. No errata for Retaliatory Strike (Create)
Righteous Vengeance	If one or more friendly Faction warrior models were destroyed or removed from play by enemy attacks while within 5 inches of a model with Righteous Vengeance during the last round, during your Maintenance Phase the model with Righteous Vengeance can advance up to 3 inches and make one basic attack. No errata for Righteous Vengeance (Create)
Rise	Models in this model's unit that are knocked down at the beginning of your Maintenance Phase stand up. No errata for Rise (Create)
Unyielding	This model gains +2 ARM against melee damage rolls. No errata for Unyielding (Create)

Weapons

Rune Axe
	RNG	ROF	AOE	POW	LOCATION
	1	-	-	12	X2
Weapon Master	When resolving an attack with this weapon, add an additional die to damage rolls. No errata for Weapon Master (Create)
Damage Type:Magical	This weapon causes magical damage. No errata for Damage Type:Magical (Create)
Grievous Wounds	A model hit by this weapon loses Tough and cannot have damage removed from it for one round. No errata for Grievous Wounds (Create)

Unit Rules

Solos are independent warrior models.

Errata

No Errata specifically for this model.

Lore

Kriel warriors are the heart of the armies of the trollkin. These bands of warrior brothers march to war in defense of their people wielding shields, hand weapons, and an indomitable spirit. They are often accompanied by mighty caber throwers, who put their prowess in the traditional sport of their people to lethal use against all enemies.'

Hurling cabers, stone columns that seem too big to lift, has proven a surprisingly effective and devastating attack in battles throughout the centuries. These weapons have more than justified the backbreaking effort as they tumble forward with bone-pulping power in a nearly unavoidable and crushing attack. Anything caught in the caber's path is usually reduced to paste.

Trivia

• The CA and WA were both released in Hordes: Evolution

Videos

Trollkin warders dedicate their lives to the defense of not just their chieftains and shamans, but also the kith and kin least able defend themselves. When warders take up defensive arms, they do so with zealous fervor. Shouting the words of their oath and the battle cries of their kriels, they challenge any who would dare harm those they are sworn to protect.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Tough
• Template:Carapace
• Template:Roadblock
• Template:Shield Guard

Weapons

Battle Weapon
File:Sword icon.jpg		RNG				POW				P+S
		2				4				11
Template:Brutal Charge

Weapon Attachment

As with most Trollblood units, they may have a Trollkin Sorcerer weapon attachment. His info has been omitted for brevity.

Theme Forces

• Template:Band of Heroes. They gain "Optional Take Down" in this theme.

Thoughts on Trollkin Warders

Trollkin Warders in a nutshell

Tough, Shield Guards. ARM 21 vs ranged attack ARM 23 when under the Krielstone, Warders have one real job : soak up bullets. But they can fight in melee as a second choice.

Roadblock is a situational buff but it can help casters like Madrak1 deliver other models by stacking defence. Gaining Carapace but losing Wall of Steel helps the unit spread out for shield guard and is an extra 2 armour against guns; but it comes with the downside of them being considerably weaker when in melee or vs offensive spells.

When deciding wether to run Warders or not you have to ask yourself if the rest of the army can make up for their minimal offensive output if you utilise shield guard and roadblock on turn 1 and 2. If your enemy runs a minimalist ranged game you may be better suited to another unit of Trollkin Champions or the Sons of Bragg

Combos & Synergies

• Krielstone helps their survivability. They want to be tough to tank incoming fire.
• Anyone and everyone you don't want shot. How useful they are depends more on your opponent than you but there is no one they don't go well with so it's hard to call out specific combos for them.
• Ragnor1, Madrak3,and Grissel2 all help their survivability on feat turn.
• Madrak2 - Blood Fury and his feat minimise the single attack, they also help deliver other models which Madrak needs.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• They don't hit hard for their points. Just absorb hits at range very well thanks to the stone buff and Carapace.
  • The Kriel Warriors have the Caber WA which hands out Carapace to other models and is cheap so the only things special about them is roadblock and shield guard.
• They are too expensive to be spammable even as a min unit and spammable shield guards is what the game is all about nowadays.
• It is generally not worth upgrading a min unit to a max unit because you are paying 6 points for just two bodies with the Shield Guard rule. For two points less than a min unit you can get a unit of Farrow Valkyries which are less durable and unable to take friendly faction buffs in Band of Heroes, but have a higher volume of attacks and Vengeance. There is also basically zero opportunity cost in regards to the minion unit slot as Trollblood only realistically hire Valkyries or a Bellows Crew as minions, if any. This also make the max unit option even less appealing because then you are paying double the price for Valkyries but only get two extra Shield guards, and 8 points is a LOT, especially when models like Boomhowler3 exist. TL/DR: Instead of paying 16 points for 5 shield guards you can also pay the same price for 3 shield guards and a beefy solo, or multiple smaller ones. Choose wisely.

Tricks & Tips

• Remember they aren't bad fighters, they won’t do much to heavies but they are still trolls
• Shield Guard works even while you're out of formation. If you don't need them fighting next turn, spread them out and protect your high-risk models!

Other

Trivia

Released in Hordes: Gargantuans (2013)