Swamp Troll

Throughout western Immoren the voracious swamp troll lurks in eerie bogs and marshes, waiting for prey to wander within range of its enormous, sticky tongue. At the critical moment it leaps forward, flicking its tongue with deadly accuracy and alarming strength to capture its victim and drag the meal into its voluminous gullet.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Amphibious
• Template:Pathfinder
• Template:Dual Attack
• Template:Impervious Flesh
• Template:Regeneration
• Template:Snacking

Weapons

• Tongue Lash -8" range, POW 10 ranged attack
  • Template:Critical Consume
  • Template:Pull
• Claw (x2) - 0.5" reach, P+S 12 melee attacks
  • Template:Open Fist

Animus

{{Category: Template:Swarm }}[[Category: Template:Swarm ]]

Theme Forces

• Trollblood
  • Template:Band of Heroes
  • Template:Kriel Company
  • Template:Power of Dhunia. In this theme, when this warbeast casts its own animus the COST is reduced by 1 (to a minimum of 0).
  • Template:Storm of the North
  • Template:Vengeance of Dhunia

• Other Factions
  • Minion players can also use this warbeast in the Vengeance of Dhunia theme.
  • Underchief Mire, a Minion Lesser Warlock solo, can take this warbeast (and it becomes a Minion Gatorman warbeast when he does). This lets it into Template:Blindwater, Template:Will Work For Food, and a couple of dozen non-Minion themes (if someone takes Mire as thier Minion solo option).

Thoughts on Swamp Troll

Swamp Troll in a nutshell

The Swamp Troll is a warbeast that specializes in hunting enemy lights or solos. It sees them, grabs them with its tongue, drags them back to your lines, and there you get to pulp them safely. Or on a crit, RFP that unlucky small-based support/combat solo. Infantry models also struggle to fight it as denying damage dice is most potent on those who can’t boost.

While not exceptional at either range or in melee it does come with Dual Attack so at least you get a good volume of attacks and some utility.

Combos & Synergies

Warlocks

• Jarl Skuld - With swift hunter, providing you do not crit you can move 2 then continue to make melee attacks thanks to Dual attack.
• Gunnbjorn1 - Bank Shot really helps him mess up infantry formations, Guided Fire also helps with getting a crit off.
• Ragnor - His feat stacks with Impervious Flesh - 0 damage dice means nothing under power 17 will hurt him. Steady,cover and Weight of Stone are not essential buffs but neither should be sniffed at.
• Calandra and Madrak1 - both make it harder to hit which combos well with swarm. But of the 2 Calandra is the only one with the fury to spare comfortably.

Non-Warlocks

• Krielstone - always useful and if you use the Swamp Troll as a speed bump it only gets harder to dislodge.
• Dhunian Knot - the Swamp Troll needs to hit with its tongue if he can’t charge, making sure this happens with a re-roll is important.
• Pyg Lookouts - Mark Target is universally good for any model with a gun, just don't block your drag lane.
• Madrak0 although encouraged to take an axer or impaler having bracer and a drag gun are useful (so Madrak can use his weapon effect on whatever model you deliver to him)

Themes

• Power of Dhunia - Swarm isn't an awful Animus but it is expensive. Casting it for 1 makes it worthwhile more often.
• Kriel Company - Mark Target makes a so-so ranged attack almost reliable.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• Why do you need a specialist in hunting lights anyway? Lights lose in brawls to both infantry and heavies.
• Its gun is worse than most of its rivals against both infantry and heavies.
• It doesn't hit hard.
• cheap shield guards can really mess with its plans as it won’t earn back its points while putting itself in danger if its 8 from a target. Likewise it can’t really hurt or pull large based shield guards.

Tricks & Tips

• Always boost the ranged attack when fighting warrior models. The increased chance to crit is especially well worth it if you happen to eat a Tough multi-wound model without even having to roll for damage. Bonus points if you can eat the Hermit of Hengehold and totally negate ancient shroud & Mad Visions.
• Most warcasters/warlocks are small or medium-based models that a Swamp Troll can Pull with its ranged attack, shrinking the distance between the enemy leader and your more powerful damage-dealing models.
• Dual attack does not specify an order; charge and kill something for extra threat range before tonguing something else into melee.
• Dual Attack+Power Attack shenanigans: The only Trollbloods model that can throw a multi-wound model to hit another enemy, then ranged attack to pull that same multi-wound model back in for more melee attacks. Interesting applications against Shield Walls or other B2B enemy considerations.
• When you use him right he can really mess up your enemies plans. Use him with an Axer or a Mauler close by. Shoot a unit model and drag the poor bastard towards you and finish him with a melee attack. With Gunnies (Kill Shot) you can get another free ranged attack and drag another poor bastard towards you for another melee model to kill. This leaves a nice hole in their front line. He's really effective with Gunny.
• Use him on those faster small and medium models that think they are cute and can move fast.

Other

Trivia

Released in Forces of Hordes: Trollbloods (2010)