Guardian

The battle was long and hard and many brothers had been lost to the hail of bullets. The walls had been breached and the few survivors, many already wounded, were now huddled in the ruins of the great hall. It seems the day was lost. And then a shadow looms above them. There fluttering in the wind the menofix, a symbol of Menoth's will. Perhaps the tide of battle had turned.

Basic Info

Abilities

• Template:Construct
• Template:Arc Node
• Template:Set Defense

Weapons

Open Fist
File:Sword icon.jpg		RNG				POW				P+S
		1				3				14
Template:Open Fist
Flame Pike
File:Sword icon.jpg		RNG				POW				P+S
		2				7				18
Template:Critical Pitch Template:Powerful Charge

Theme Forces

• Protectorate
  • Template:Exemplar Interdiction. It gains Blessed melee weapons in this theme.
  • Template:Guardians of the Temple
  • Template:The Creator's Might
  • Template:The Faithful Masses. It gains Hand of Vengeance in this theme.
  • Template:Warriors of the Old Faith

• Other Factions
  • Infernal players can use it in the Template:Hearts of Darkness theme, but only if Feora is leading the army. It gains Accumulator [Soulless] in this theme.
  • Khador players can use it in the Warriors of the Old Faith theme.

Thoughts on Guardian

Guardian in a nutshell

The Guardian is the offspring of the basic Protectorate arc node the Revenger and the no frills Crusader. Buy a Crusader and get the polearm and arc node from the Revenger at half price - with the Flame Pike being longer than and hitting as hard as the inferno mace. Or buy a shield-less Revenger and have it upgraded to the Crusader's chassis, toughness, and hitting power at half the price of a Crusader. Of course without the mobility of the Revenger it is much better suited to throw army buffs than it is attack spells at the enemy's back line.

Combos & Synergies

• Vassal of Menoth and Choir of Menoth - does this really need explaining?
• Anyone who wants to cast spells.
• Durst - set defence and bulwark combo well together and righteous vengeance is best on a hard hitting model with reach. Arcing boundless Charge is useful but that’s probably all the node will get used for given Durst’s average focus stat.
• Feora4 - She very much wants an arc node or two to fling Scorns early. With Hellwrought and Set Defense you can get the guardian somewhere inconvenient, fling your spells and the guardian might live to tell the tale at ARM 21 and DEF 12 against charges and even get to move 3" on your next turn if not engaged or unjam with the Hellwrought attack.
• Kreoss2 - Giving the Guardian Counter Charge is very potent with it MAT 7, P+S 18, 2" reach spear, especially so thanks to Powerful Charge and Critical Pitch. The Arc Node means he can actually cast Chasten or Cleansing Fire safely.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• If it isn't engaged with an enemy it can't use its combat potential. If it is it can't arc spells. That's why you get such a discount. (Of course then you just spend the focus on the Guardian).
• It's a SPD 4 arc node. It's not great at getting up there to arc offensive spells, although it's fine for buffing your own troops.
• It’s 3 points more expensive than a Crusader for an arc node, more accuracy, 1 inch extra reach and set defence. It’s probably slightly over costed if you are not using all of this.

Tips & Tricks

• If the guardian kills what's engaging it the arc node can still be used.
• Arc spells through it before it goes to open it's charge lanes or to select targets for it. Immolation or Ashes to Ashes can wipe out a defensive line between it and an enemy heavy. Brand of Heresy through it to the target that you want it to kill.
• The Guardian can take buffs by casting them through itself, onto itself - Boundless Charge for example. This allows it to operate a bit further from the main force.

Other

Trivia

Released in Warmachine: Escalation (2004)