Cognifex Cyphon

Cyphon is the premier cognifex of the Thornwood cephalyx hive, devoted to the systematic dismantling of intractable minds. Risen from the chthonic tunnels beneath the forest, Cyphon floats silently through the trees, a telepathic predator seeking its quarry. Subjects forced to endure Cyphon’s art are reduced to hollow-eyed shells, their minds destroyed by unrelenting waves of suffering. Cognifexes typically operate within the cloistered and antiseptic cells of a cephalyx hive, but Cyphon’s work does not afford it such luxury. Commanding a force of drudges and monstrosities, Cyphon sweeps through the ranks of potential subjects, constantly probing for anyone who might hold secrets useful either to its hive or to its own work

Basic Info

Mercenary - In a 2+ caster game, this model can work for Template:Cryx mercenary.

Warcaster abilities:

• Focus Manipulation

• Battlegroup Controller

• Power Field

• Spellcaster

• Independent Model

• Leader

• Template:Cephalyx Warcaster

Feat : Adrenaline Rush

Monstrosities in Cyphon's battlegroup currently in his Template:CTRL range can gain +3 SPD, STR and ARM for 1 round. Those that do suffer 1 damage to each column of their damage grids at the end of their activations this turn. Template:Tipbox

Abilities

• Template:Pathfinder
• Template:Essence Amplifier
• Template:Sacrificial Pawn
• Template:Steady
• Template:Synergistic Magic

Weapons

Mind Wipe
File:Gun icon.jpg		RNG			ROF			AOE			POW
		SP10			1			Template:-			10
Template:Magical Weapon Template:Silencer
Surgical Claws
File:Sword icon.jpg		RNG				POW				P+S
		1				7				12

Spells

{{Category: Template:BlurTemplate:Breath StealerTemplate:Empathic Overload

}}[[Category:

]]

[[:Category:{{{name}}}|{{{name}}}]]	Cost	RNG	AOE	POW	DUR	OFF
	8	1	6	12	up	no
No errata for {{{name}}} ([[:Category:Errata-{{{name}}}|Create]])
[[:Category:{{{name}}}|{{{name}}}]]	Cost	RNG	AOE	POW	DUR	OFF
	2	Self	Ctrl	-	Turn	No
Spellcaster and friendly Faction models beginning their activations in the spellcaster's control range gain Relentless Charge for one turn.
No errata for {{{name}}} ([[:Category:Errata-{{{name}}}|Create]])
[[:Category:{{{name}}}|{{{name}}}]]	Cost	RNG	AOE	POW	DUR	OFF
	8	1	6	12	up	no
No errata for {{{name}}} ([[:Category:Errata-{{{name}}}|Create]])
[[:Category:{{{name}}}|{{{name}}}]]	Cost	RNG	AOE	POW	DUR	OFF
	2	Self	Ctrl	-	Turn	No
Spellcaster and friendly Faction models beginning their activations in the spellcaster's control range gain Relentless Charge for one turn.
No errata for {{{name}}} ([[:Category:Errata-{{{name}}}|Create]])

Theme Forces

• Template:Operating Theater

Thoughts on Cognifex Cyphon

Cognifex Cyphon in a nutshell

Of the two Cephalyx warcasters, Cyphon is the predictable one. It counters difficult terrain by handing out Pathfinder. It can blow up infantry with a close packed Empathic Overload. It takes as many monstrosities as it can (usually 5 or 6) and throws them at the enemy caster as fast as it can.

Feat thoughts

Smack! The feat is for when the monstrosities go in. There's nothing super deep about its usage, use it for your alpha and try to send as many Wreckers as you can straight at the enemy caster. (Note that the ARM bonus applies to monstrosities that have already activated, but they won't take any damage. It is thus usually advisable to keep at least one bodyguard monstrosity blocking near Cognifex).

Spell thoughts

• Blur - This spell is best used on a Dominated Merc unit or the monstrosity blocking for Cyphon.
• Breath Stealer - This spell is best used to deny charges, and serves as Cyphon's primary defensive spell.
• Empathic Overload - A powerful attack spell, especially against packed jamming infantry. A highly effective way to use this spell is to run a drudge into the middle of a pack of enemies, as Empathic Overload automatically hits friendly models.
• Gallows - This spell is best used to pull an enemy 'beast or 'jack out of position, especially in conjunction with Cyphon's feat enabling super long distance charges deep into enemy lines.
• Onslaught - You almost always want to cast this first turn and commit to the upkeep. Cyphon's typical game plan is to use [its] feat to set up a super charge with a number of monstrosities, Onslaught really enables this game plan and in many ways can be considered Cyphon's signature spell.
• Perseverance - This spell is best used on your blocking monstrosity, making it very hard for your opponent to get at Cyphon short of killing the monstrosity in question.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• Cyphon is predictable due to how limited Operating Theater is as a theme and how few monstrosities exist
• Cyphon's feat is strong, but is easy for your opponent to predict and play around
• Jamming infantry give Cyphon a huge headache, forcing [it] to spend focus on Empathic Overload rather than buffing [its] monstrosities
• Placement can be an issue for Cyphon, hits army has a habit of bunching up in the middle of the table, which is especially problematic due to Operating Theater's lack of good ranged options.
• High DEF skew is a big headache for Cyphon, the answer to which is dumping a bunch of focus on Breath Stealer

Tricks & Tips

• Monstrosities that activate before you feat won't get damaged, but can still benefit from the +3 ARM (and +3 STR on free strikes). A Warden is a perfect for this, because often it just needs to slam something, so it doesn't always need not need the +3 SPD & STR

List Building Advice

Strategy

Cyphon's main win condition is a beatdown, although its feat can set up some scary assassination runs (His unfortunately predictable build means the latter is really very difficult, except against unprepared players). Both Cephalyx warcasters, Exulon Thexus & Cyphon, will end up running very similar lists due to the singular Cephalyx theme of Operating Theater and its focus on drudges. Cyphon typically wants at least 3 monstrosities, and is most effective when pushing up to 5 or 6.

Now one thing that Cyphon has that Thexus really doesn't is stat boosting spells. This gives him a unique opportunity to branch out into dominated units which Operating Theater lists normally wouldn't consider. For example, putting Blur on Idrian Skirmishers or Perseverance on Asphyxious the Sanctified. Beyond simply Cyphon's spells, dominated mercs work very well with the 4 or 5 monstrosities Cyphon wants to take. For example Kayazy Eliminators have a low P+S and Anatomical Precision with 2 attacks a piece. This makes them a highly effective way of getting extra Focus onto your monstrosities (remember that any time a monstrosity takes damage, it can gain a point of focus). Of special mention is Herne & Jonne. They are fairly point efficient as a shooting unit, but the real key is the Artillerist action. Artillerist can be used on a friendly faction model using a ranged AOE attack, so in this case, the Subduer; on Cyphon's feat turn, the Subduer becomes Spd 8 with 6" reach. It is RAT 4, but with Instigate and Artillerist it jumps to a boostable RAT 8, 14" threat range, and can knockdown and pull in a target. Not to mention the free, auto hitting P+S 21 attack. The result is a remarkably potent assassination, with an otherwise nonthreatening monstrosity.

Army

• Wrecker - The "standard" monstrosity, Cyphon wants at least two or three Wreckers in its battlegroup. They are your best bet for harder targets and their Thresher attack is extremely good at clearing otherwise expensive to deal with infantry.
• Warden - A solid Shield Guard, Wardens have a great slam attack both of which makes them great bodyguards for Cyphon and the softer Cephlyx models in your army.
• Subduer - An interesting choice with Cyphon (see the Strategy section above), especially when paired with its feat.
• Cephalyx Mind Bender & Drudges - Doesn't pair super well with Cyphon, he'd rather take a bunch of monstrosities.
• Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges - More useful on its own than the Mind Benders, and probably the drudge unit you want to be taking with Cyphon.
• Cephalyx Overlords - A great support unit for all Cephalyx armies, and Cyphon is no exception. Influence is a solid spell, good for popping command attachments. Anatomical Precision allows Overlords to power up your monstrosities while dealing the minimal amount of damage.
• Cephalyx Agitator - An even better support piece for monstrosities than the Overlords, Instigate is pretty much essential to get the most out of your Wreckers.
• Cephalyx Dominator - The choice enabler which makes Cephalyx interesting. Ranking Officer makes whatever unit attached Cephalyx, which combos with your Overlords and Cyphon's spell list. There are too many good combinations to list here, please check the Dominator page.
• Bloat Thrall - An okay shooty solo, a good choice if your Dominated unit is melee-focused.
• Bloat Thrall Overseer Mobius - Massively improves other Bloat Thralls, making them one of the better shooting options in Cephalyx (which is really sad when you think about it). Costs a ton of points once you factor in the cost of the other Bloat Thralls, which is usually better spent on more monstrosities or a better dominated unit.
• Machine Wraith - More than any other model, the Gremlin Swarm proved how effective an Incorporeal solo on a medium-base is at disrupting zones and reducing enemy scoring. The Machine Wraith is almost as good, with the bonus of being able to mess with softer enemy 'jacks.
• Pistol Wraith - Another really solid Incorporeal solo, plus it has a decent ranged attack. A good flanking model for picking off unit leaders or other enemy solos.

Starting a 25 point Brawl list

In 2021.03 Phillip Melvin, one of the LOS authors, put together this list for the Brawlmachine format. It was then updated for the 2021.10 errata. He even wrote about its playstyle and expanded it beyond 25 points, which you can read here.

Theme - Operating Theater

Cognifex Cyphon [+29 WJP]

• Doctor Stygius [Free] Template:Grey
• Wrecker [14 pts]
• Subduer [11 pts]
• Warden [10 pts]

Cephalyx Agitator [2 pts]

Machine Wraith [2 pts]

Cephalyx Dominator [1 pt]

• Kayazy Eliminators [4 pts]

Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (Max unit) [10 pts]

Template:Brawl

Other

Trivia

• Released in the Warmachine: Reckoning expansion book (2015).