Nephilim Protector

Legion of Everblight Dragon's Host Ravens of War Dragonspawn Heavy Warbeast

Model stats and abilities

Model Statistics

Base size = 50mm		SPD	MAT	RAT	DEF	ARM	FURY	THR
Health = 30
FA = C
Cost = 16		6	7	6	12	18	4	9
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Model Advantages and Abilities

Trample Power Attack	This model can make a trample power attack. No errata for Trample Power Attack (Create)
Slam Power Attack	This model can make slam power attacks. No errata for Slam Power Attack (Create)
Headbutt Power Attack	This model can make Headbutt power attacks. No errata for Headbutt Power Attack (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
Bond(Xekaar)	If Chiron begins the game in Xekaar's battlegroup, it is bonded to him. Chiron is not considered to be bonded while under your opponent's control. While Chiron is bonded to Xekaar and in his control range, it gains boosted ranged attack rolls.
Special Action	A model can make one of the following special action(s) during its Combat Action if it meets the requirements for the special action's use: Dig In - A model with Dig In gains cover, Resistance:Blast, and does not block Line of Sight (LOS). The model remains dug in until it moves, is placed, or is engaged. Cover A model with cover gains a +4 DEF bonus against ranged and arcane attack rolls. Cover provides no benefit against spray attacks. Cover is not cumulative with Concealment, but is cumulative with other effects that modify a model's DEF. Extra-large and Huge-based models never gain DEF bonuses from cover. No errata for Cover (Create)  Resistance-Blast: When this model suffers a blast damage roll, remove one die from the damage roll. No errata for Resistance-Blast (Create) No errata for Special Action (Create) No errata for Dig In (Create)
Leadership	Leadership grants the following to Basilisks models within {{{d}}} of this model (see below). Leadership can affect this model, if it has the appropriate tag. Leadership can stack with Veteran Leader, since they are different abilities. Abilities/bonuses gained: you can remove 1 fury point from that model.

Weapons

Destructive Gaze
	RNG	ROF	AOE	POW	LOCATION
	Sp 10	1	-	15	-
Damage Type:Magical	This weapon causes magical damage. No errata for Damage Type:Magical (Create)
Inflict Pain	When this model hits a warbeast with this weapon, this model can place 1 fury point on or remove 1 fury point from the warbeast. No errata for Inflict Pain (Create)

Bite
	RNG	ROF	AOE	POW	LOCATION
	1	-	-	16	-

Claws
	RNG	ROF	AOE	POW	LOCATION
	1	-	-	14	-
Throw Power Attack	This weapon can be used to make Throw power attacks. A warjack cannot use this weapon to make a Throw Power attack if this weapon is crippled. No errata for Throw Power Attack (Create)

Warbeast Rules

Warbeast Rules

• A warbeast is
  • an Independent Model.
  • a Cohort model.

Warbeast Animus

  Errata-Animus (2023-07-11)

	Question: Are Animi considered spells for all rules that affect spells (or that trigger when a spell is cast?
	Answer: An Animus that is cast is a spell for other effects.
	Explanation:
	Infernal Ruling: DarkLegacy Infernal - PP Community forum

Animus

Counterblast	Cost	RNG	AOE	POW	DUR	OFF
	1	Self	-	-	Rnd	No
When an enemy model advances and ends its movement or is placed within 5 inches of the spellcaster, the spellcaster can make one basic melee or ranged attack targeting theat model, then Counterblast expires. Counterblast lasts for one round.
No errata for Counterblast (Create)

Errata

No Errata specifically for this model.

Videos

From birth, nephilim protectors obey an instinctive imperative to guard Everblight’s warlocks and will dive into harm’s way without hesitation or concern for their own lives. They are also ideal vessels for any grave wounds their warlocks shunt to them, as they are bred to endure these injuries. Ever alert to their surroundings, protectors stand with halberds ready to intercept any approaching threat.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Eyeless Sight
• Template:Guard Dog
• Template:Shield Guard

Weapons

• Halberd - 2" reach, P+S 12 melee attack.

Animus

{{Category: Template:Safeguard }}[[Category: Template:Safeguard ]]

Theme Forces

• Template:Children of the Dragon. Nephilim Protector gains Unyielding in this theme.
• Template:Oracles of Annihilation
• Template:Primal Terrors
• Template:Ravens of War

Thoughts on Nephilim Protector

Nephilim Protector in a nutshell

The Nephilim Protector is a utility beast who shares many similarities with the Cyclops Brute of Skorne or Troll Bouncer of Trollbloods. Though it has a weapon, the Nephilim Protector brings very little in the way of offensive output (though its 2" reach can tie up enemies fairly well). It is the only in-faction Shield Guard, but quite expensive at 8 points when compared to options like Farrow Valkyries or the Ogrun Bokur. The value of the Nephilim Protector comes from the combination of Shield Guard, Guard Dog, and Safeguard - giving your warlock additional protection at range and in melee, preventing pop-and-drop assassination tricks, and allowing them to disengage freely on their next turn. Beyond that it is a transfer target that may fight in melee in the late game.

With that said, the Nephilim Protector is slow and lacks Pathfinder, while needing to stay close to its warlock to make full use of its abilities. This can be problematic when combined with highly-mobile warlocks. The warlocks who most need the Protector's kit are the ones who will be pushing forward aggressively, and those are often the ones that the Protector will have the most trouble keeping up with.

Since it is expensive and not designed to be spammed; and because Guard Dog doesn’t work with the Blight Archon you probably only ever want to own a single Protector that you may include in your army occasionally. If staying power is your #1 priority on a Shield Guard, the Protector can fit this task well.

Combos & Synergies

The Protector can be reliably applied to any list that may want to have a Shield Guard to fend off an unwanted shot. It also has unnaturally high ARM for his weight class, which can be leveraged with several of Legion's warlocks, and some need it more than others.

• Absylonia2 - she is midline caster that need to play forward to trigger Alpha Hunter and keep up with her beasts. Safeguard, Guard Dog and Shield guard can save her from assassination while she can up Protector melee output.
• Fyanna - no knockdown works nicely with her feat, Guard Dog gives her +5 DEF on that turn, and Shield Guard helps protect her from any shots that do make it through her high DEF. Fury allows Protector hit like true Combat Light - P+S 15 is decent for 9 point beast.
• Saeryn1 makes a Protector far harder to kill than its points would suggest thanks to its high ARM (for a light), and offers insanely high DEF in melee. On the flip-side, since her DEF is hard to come around both at range an in melee, enemies will try to do everything to knock her down.
• Thagrosh1 can really brick up with a Protector between Death Shroud, Spiny Growth from a Carnivean, and DEF 16 from Guard Dog. Safeguard can be helpful in preventing a pop-and-drop assassination if Thagrosh is near the front lines.
• Thagrosh2 - Will a warlock on large base be shot? Of course he will. Of all our warlocks, he probably most wants help against shots from quality guns. Like his previous incarnation, Guard Dog and Safeguard can help him play forward with less risk of being assassinated.
• Rhyas1 accompanied by a Protector dug into melee can get miles and miles of work out of Guard Dog, jacking her DEF up to really silly levels. Bear in mind if your opponent can knock her down, it's still basically game over, so Safeguard can be an important tool for keeping her alive.
  • If you don't need Safeguard, Dodge from Zuriel or a Harrier are highly likely to trigger Dodge with Guard Dog active, which can shut down the would-be assassin's attempts immediately.
• Lylyth3 can benefit from a Protector in order to catch magical shots that pierce her Wind Wall. Don't count on him against armies with lots of magical guns though. The Protector also struggles to keep up with Lylyth, a job better suited to a model like The Wastelander.
• Kryssa has very limited defensive tech, save for Set Defence, and putting Ashen Veil on herself. She might want a Protector more than usual.
• Vayl1 is squishy caster that sometimes need to be uncomfortably close to opponent. Guard Dog, Shield Guard, Safeguard in combination with Dark Sentinel can stop assassination run short in tracks. Try to position Protector so that it can block LoS to Vayl with Dark Sentinel move (if assailant have 2" meelee range it's possible on maximum range), while attack part can remove trooper or solo. On the other hand, Protector benefits from Incite, Leash and her Feat. Especially Incite can help him in late game to make up some of his points in meelee. More often than not Protector will be one of the last beasts alive because of pkaying close to caster while being less threatening piece.
• Currently, the Protector is allowed in all the themes. However, you get the most out of it in Children of the Dragon, the dedicated Nephilim theme, where it gets Unyielding.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• Expensive and heavily contested by Minion choices:
  • If you only need a Shield Guard in your list, you can get an Ogrun Bokur for half price. Though he is no match in terms of HP, he has the same ARM against frontal attacks due to his Shield.
  • The Wastelander has a pseudo shield guard that punishes enemies who can’t hit him all at a 3 point reduction.
  • Farrow Valkyries for the same cost can intercept 3 shots a turn and have better melee punch, as well as higher DEF (though one less ARM).
• Not much offensive threat.
• Durable for a light, but can still crumble under pressure.
• Low mobility, no flight or pathfinder.
  • If you want to use Guard Dog you might also want Safeguard up on the Protector so the enemy can't cancel it trivially by knocking the beast down first. You can't do it while running but sometimes it's the only way to keep up with a speedy caster.
• Guard Dog doesn’t work on a Blight Archon, Thagrosh0 or the Beast Mistress they'rr Battlegroup controllers not warlocks

Tips & Tricks

• Guard Dog grants a warlock Parry, and works at a range of 3". With a warlock with Flight, if you position the Protector carefully, you can maintain Guard Dog (and Parry from it) while flying over a line of enemy models to reach a key target behind them without taking free strikes. This is especially nice with Abyslonia2 since she can also Reposition back afterwards, again enjoying Parry during the movement.
• Since it will rarely use Fury for anything but running, it will almost always remain available for transferring damage.
• Safeguard won't counter pushes, and the Protector (or your warlock) can still be slammed away if the slam distance is more than 3. Watch for that if you want to keep the beast within shield guard/Guard Dog range.
• Safeguard reduces the distance of all the effects that would slam you (spells, weapon effects, etc), not just power attack slams.

Other

Trivia

Released in Hordes: Metamorphosis (2009)