Skarre, Admiral of the Black Fleet

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

Perched on the shattered timbers of her ghost ship, Skarre Ravenmane brings ruin to the mainland, the thudding of her iron cannons beating out a rhythm of war wherever she travels. She chooses companions aboard her funeral ship from the most accomplished Satyxis reavers, sending them into masses of infantry to claim a plunder of fresh blood. The ghostly chariot she rides was once the wreckage of a ship captained by pirate King Moorcraig, who had defied Toruk and died in the Dragonfather's all-consuming flames. The ancient dead hold this accursed vessel's shattered aft section aloft and are ground under its hull as it glides across the earth.

Basic Info

Warcaster abilities:

• Focus Manipulation

• Battlegroup Controller

• Power Field

• Spellcaster

• Independent Model

• Leader

Feat : Blood Rite

Skarre can suffer 1 damage point to cast a spell instead of spending focus this activation. She can cast each of her spells once as a result of Blood Rite.

Abilities

• Template:Flight
• Template:Dual Attack
• Template:Repairable
• Template:Reinforcements

Weapons

• Cannon (x2) - 12" range, 3" AOE, POW 14 guns
  • Template:Magical Weapon
  • Template:Shadow Fire

• Hand Cannon - 12" range, POW 12 gun
  • Template:Magical Weapon

• Ram - 1" reach, P+S 14 melee weapon
  • Template:Magical Weapon
  • Template:Ram

• Cutlass (x3) - 0.5" reach, P+S 9 melee weapons
  • Template:Magical Weapon
  • Template:Independent Attack

Spells

{{Category: Template:Dark WavesTemplate:DecelerationTemplate:Draconic BlessingTemplate:Guided Fire }}[[Category: Template:Dark WavesTemplate:DecelerationTemplate:Draconic BlessingTemplate:Guided Fire ]]

Theme Forces

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

Thoughts on Skarre3

Skarre3 in a nutshell

Skarre, Admiral of the Black Fleet, is a highly versatile and powerful warcaster that is more than capable of leading any Cryx army. Thanks to her flexible spell list, Skarre is a strong contender for all of Cryx’s theme forces. Spells such as Guided Fire allow Skarre to run a very battlegroup-centric Black Industries army, focused on ranged warjacks such as the Kraken, Reaper, or Leviathan. On the other hand, spells such as Dash also allow Skarre to run a dangerously fast infantry-centric Scourge of the Broken Coast army. Whether you like the look of models such as the newly resculpted Satyxis Raiders or the upcoming Scharde Pirates, Skarre can make any infantry fighting under her banner shine.

Skarre 3 is a support-style Warcaster that brings a solid shooting platform to the table. She should synergize well with her battle group and supports a variety of Cryx options. Reinforcements [Living] gives excellent support to the living portions of the Black Fleet (Scourge of the Broken Coast). Guided Fire and Deceleration have proved very powerful in Black Industries and Infernal Machines lists.

Spell thoughts

• Dash - Because Skarre3 isn't a warrior model, she doesn't get Parry from this spell. Don't try for a flying assassination just to die to free strikes!
• Draconic Blessing - Blighted Trollkin Marauders have the Thrown rule on their weapons, which means the +2 STR translates to +2 POW on their ranged attacks.

Feat thoughts

While her feat doesn't read as impressive as other casters, remember that the damage you take to cast every one of her spells can be healed either by spending focus (effectively reducing the cost of her spells to 1), or by having a model with the Repair ability patch her up and largely negate the 'drawback'.

Her feat turn becomes more about leveraging your newly freed up focus stack to either position aggressively and camp or load up a few warjacks.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• Template:BAHI2
• She is on a huge base, with mediocre defensive stats. She can die very fast if you are not careful. In particular, avoid to greedily send her in melee if that does not win you the game
• No damage buff for ranged attacks.

Tricks & Tips

• Although you need to carefully consider if/when to get into melee, Skarre on a Boat can potentially do quite a bit there.
• She's a living model, not a construct, so Axiara can target the boat with battle plans.
  • Mostly you'll give her Reposition so the boat can move, shoot/cast spells, then scoot back to safety.
  • But you could give her Dodge (although DEF 12 won't get missed that often) ...
  • ... or even Prowl. Yes, she can get stealth via Prowl, even though battle engines never get the +2 DEF from concealment. There is a difference between "Does this model have concealment (and thus get Prowl)?" and "Does this model benefit from concealment (and thus get +2 DEF)?"
• Resolve Reinforcements before you use rules like Vengeance or the heal from a Steamroller Stockpile.

List Building Advice

Strategy

Skarre3 is one of those toolbox casters who don't have one set strategy, but instead adapts to whatever is needed for a particular matchup. So what she "needs" to have in her army list is kind of dictated by how you want to play her!

In saying that, though, she does like to buff her army to work at an attrition advantage then, when your enemy's offensive power is somewhat depleted, Skarre can make her presence felt with her natural tankiness and personal offensive potential.

Leverage Skarre’s spells and abilities to again an advantage on attrition. Select the right spells for the right occasion. If you need to win a firefight, use Deceleration and Guided Fire. To push aggressively for scenario, consider Deceleration and Dash. Dark Waves and Dash can give you unusual reach into the enemy lines for spot removal or even assassination. Draconic Strength is so awesome that it might be hard to find who doesn’t want this spell.

Theme thoughts

Short version: Skarre3 is probably best in Scourge of the Broken Coast.

• Black Ogrun Iron Mongers are a fantastic addition. Between decent armor, dismantle, and their ability to repair, they make competent guardians for Skarre and her typically ranged battlegroup.
• Cephalyx Overlords are a good option in the undead themes, because they become your only Reinforcement target. They're not a shabby option in the living themes, either, for that matter.

This is the theme to go in if you want her to lead a 'jack gunline. Deceleration plus Carapace makes your jacks +6 ARM vs shooting, Guided Fire gives you plenty of accuracy, and Dark Waters is just silly with so many 'jacks to choose from, something will always be able to move somewhere interesting.

• You'll want Black Ogrun Ironmongers for a reinforcement target.
• You'll probably take multiple Leviathans.

This is where it's at, tbh. The theme is just so diverse that you can make a much better generalist list with it, and Skarre3 is the supreme generalist. Slaughter Fleet doesn't lean hard into any part of her kit, but it uses everything on her card which no other theme really does.

• Bloodgorgers or Marauders are an excellent target for Draconic Blessing. Note that the Marauder's guns also benefit from the STR buff.
• Kharybdis makes excellent use of Guided Fire.
• A Kraken and a sea of medium-based models to screen your two huge bases has proven quite effective. The Kraken can use its 4" noodle arms to reach over the sea.
• Satyxis are just silly with Dash - it's not the +1 SPD that does it (although that is nice to have), but rather the stupid mobility tricks enabled by giving Satyxis of all stripes Parry. Decel is quite nice in scourge to save your super-solos from scattering blasts and the like, but will do very little to protect infantry.
• Satyxis Blood Priestess - She does a ton for Skarre. Granting Sucker! helps her stay alive, as does Distillation or dispelling upkeeps and animi, while the free upkeep helps her focus efficiency. Rites of Blood does nothing for her though, as all of her spells are either target SELF, an upkeep or range CTRL.

In Dark Host you're looking to leverage Deceleration in combo with the Wraith Engine and/or Darragh to make Banes nigh-immune to small arms fire, and leveraging Dash in combo with Darragh's Death Ride to give you a legitimate threat.

• Warriors become ARM 19 with tough/Rise, Bane Knights become ARM 22 while B2B, and Bane Riders are ARM 22 with 5 boxes and Vengeance.
• Desecrators are the frequently the warjack of choice for Dark Host given their inherent synergy with Bane Infantry. With Skarre they benefit her guided fire and ranged armor buff.

• Ragman the usual damage buff, but he also is a huge boon to survivability to her. The Sucker granted by the Blood Priestess is not optional, so armies like SHadows of the Retribution or Gravediggers will weather her with low POW shooting, trying to kill all of her sucker targets first since she has to bounce all of the shots into something. If Ragman is around, she can Sucker into him, he can then Sac Pawn it back into her, where low POW shooting will most likely bounce off her massive hull.

Battlegroup

• Ranged jacks. Untypically for Cryx, she has very few uses for an arc node, and she don't help melee jacks that much, with only a single target upkeep usually better used with infantry. Guided fire make spray much better, so a Defiler to deal with infantry and place Draconic Blessing more easily can still be useful.

First Seven Purchases

A few veteran players have put their heads together and tried to figure out the seven best things to buy for this specific caster. This is not designed to add up to a nice round points limit, nor be balanced vs other "First Seven" lists you find on this website. It is simply going to give you some of the essentials this caster needs most of the time.

1. Warjack: Leviathan
2. Warjack: Leviathan
3. Solo: Gerlak
4. Solo: Axiara
5. Solo: Satyxis Blood Priestess
6. Unit: Blighted Trollkin Marauders
7. Unit: Bloodgorgers + CA

Note that you should definitely magnetise the Leviathans, as it is very rare that any other Cryx caster will want two of them. Alternatively, you could swap them out for a single Kraken which has roughly the same amount of firepower.

Other

Trivia

• Originally released in the Black Fleet CID (2017.11)
• The sculptor, Doug Hamilton, took suggestions from the Cryx Facebook group for one of the crew members. The one with the scar and broken horn.
• She can be affected by a Repair roll, but her boat can never be fixed.
• Dark Waters has been nicknamed "Shipstream" due to its similarity with the Slipstream animus.

Video Battle Reports

• 2019.11 Advanced Maneuvers, vs Haley3
• 2018.05 Not Snakes Gaming, vs Barnabas2
• Template:VBR