Swashbuckler

The Swashbuckler takes unique advantage of the adroitness of its underlying chassis, built expressly for the purpose of navigating a ship’s deck even when tossed by winds at sea. Engines East employed a cortex custom-built to augment capability in melee as well as superlative situational awareness. Privateers enjoy them in particular for their usefulness during boarding operations, either on the offense or defense. Firing a short-ranged cannon in one hand and wielding a cutlass in the other, the Swashbuckler is aptly named: it walks with a similar swagger to its human counterpart.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Amphibious
• Template:Assault
• Template:Construct
• Template:Defensive Strike
• Template:Dodge
• Template:Duelist

Weapons

Cutlass
File:Sword icon.jpg		RNG				POW				P+S				LOCATION
		1				5				13				Right
Clamp
File:Sword icon.jpg		RNG				POW				P+S				LOCATION
		0.5				3				11				Left
Template:Open Fist
Clamp Cannon
File:Gun icon.jpg		RNG			ROF			AOE			POW			LOCATION
		6"			1			Template:-			12			Left

Theme Forces

• Mercenaries
  • Template:Flame in the Darkness
  • Template:Llaelese Resistance
  • Template:Operating Theatre
  • Template:Soldiers of Fortune
  • Template:Strange Bedfellows
  • Template:The Irregulars. If it is 'jack marshalled in this theme, it gains Flank [Warrior]
  • Template:The Kingmaker's Army
  • Template:The Talion Charter

• Other Factions
  • Convergence players can use this warjack in the Template:Strange Bedfellows theme, or by putting it in Aurora2's, Asphyxious4's, or Nemo4's battlegroup in various themes.
  • Cryx players can use this warjack by putting it in Asphyxious4's battlegroup in various themes.
  • Cygnar players can use this warjack in the Template:Flame in the Darkness theme, or by putting it in Nemo4's battlegroup in various themes.
  • Infernal players can take this model in the Template:Hearts of Darkness theme, but only if Crosse2 is leading the army. This model gains Accumulator [Soulless] in this theme.
  • Khador players can use this warjack in the Template:Flame in the Darkness theme.
  • Aside from that, Mercenary warjacks can be taken in a plethora of Faction's themes via by putting it under the control of a Mercenary 'Jack Marshal or Mercenary "Junior Warcaster" (see #Who can take this warjack?). However the "Faction Type" of the warjack doesn't change when you do it this way.

Thoughts on the Swashbuckler

Swashbuckler in a nutshell

The Swashbuckler is designed to be tough to kill for 8 points. With Defensive Strike, Duelist and Dodge, it can pose some troubles for your opponent in melee. What it does not do is kill things very well so mostly you take it as a contesting piece because POW 13, MAT 6 and RAT 5 cannot reliably do work without lots of help. Also don't let it get shot.

Combos & Synergies

• Ashlynn1 can keep it on its feet with her Chosen Ground upkeep. This will allow her to run one into a contesting position while under her feat, rendering the Swashbuckler just about impossible to remove as it will be DEF 15 against melee attacks.
• Fiona can perform a similar trick on her feat turn but her Swashbuckler can be knocked down.
• Magnus2 can put Bullet Dodger on it making it 17/18 against melee attacks thanks to Unyielding.
• Aurora2 has Arcane Propulsion increasing its Def and Spd as well as giving flight. Combine this with her dual attack for models with flight ability and you can put out 4 attacks on the charge all at an ok POW. Combine this with hand of destruction and her feat and you have a great assassin model.
• Jakes1 can bring it as a cheap target for Sidekick in Flame in the Darkness, and she has focus to hand off that your warcaster does not.
• The Morrowan Archon's Blinding Radiance ability cranks up the DEF even higher when close by.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• With MAT 6, RAT 5 and lowish POW on all the weapons, it needs a whole bunch of focus to have an activation that gets work done. The game is all about getting work done quickly and efficiently and this jack does not.
• It has no defense against ranged attacks.
• Knockdown or similar effects remove its defensive tech.
• Once it loses its Movement grid, it's done for.
• a Freebooter is 1 point more expensive and can deal a lot more damage as well as charge further and survive slightly more damage. The Swashbuckler needs a caster than can leverage its defence to compete with this.
• The Talon is 2 points cheaper and with it's shield it can survive a lot more.
• Defensive Strike is easily got around by anything with reach.

Tricks & Tips

• in Flames cast Sidekick on the Swashbuckler with Jakes1, run it into the opposing zone to contest and feat with Fiona to ensure it doesn't die.

Other

Trivia

• Released in the Talion expansion (2019.06)
• In the lore it has the same chassis as the Buccaneer & Scallywag. Each is sold as a separate kit, sharing the same torso & legs.