Template:Cygbox This model is playable only in an Unlimited format.

As Cygnar's most talented and audacious gun mage, Captain Allister Caine reluctantly accepted his promotion; he considers the rank more of a burden than an honor. He is sent forth to conduct precision attacks along Cygnar's war-torn borders. Despite his intolerance of authority, this master of the Spellstorm pistols has become an irreplaceable weapon in the arsenal of Cygnar's Scout General, for he is equally deadly to enemies within the nation. His deeds are known to few, but his actions may change the course of history.

Basic Info

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Warcaster abilities:

Focus Manipulation

Battlegroup Controller

Power Field

Spellcaster

Independent Model

Leader

Feat : Overkill

After resolving each ranged attack that hits an enemy model, Caine gains a cumulative +1 to his Spellstorm Pistol attack damage rolls. Overkill expires at the end of Caine's activation.

Abilities

Weapons

Spellstorm Pistol (x2)

File:Gun icon.jpg	RNG	ROF	AOE	POW
File:Gun icon.jpg	12	1	Template:-	12
Template:Magical Damage Template:Reload Template:Empowered Shot Template:Black Penny Template:Grievous Wounds Template:Trick Shot

Spells

{{Category: Template:Bullet Dodger Template:Fire for Effect Template:Gate Crasher Template:Heightened Reflexes }}[[Category: Template:Bullet Dodger Template:Fire for Effect Template:Gate Crasher Template:Heightened Reflexes ]]

Theme Forces

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Template:Sons of the Tempest. In this theme this model gains Pistoleer. Also he can upkeep spells for free on Gun Mage models (including himself).
Template:Storm Division. In this theme this model gains Immunity: Electricity.

Thoughts on Caine2

Caine2 in a nutshell

"And then Caine got line of sight on the enemy warcaster. The End."

More games have probably ended this way than any other in the history of Warmachine. Caine is very possibly the best ranged assassin in the game. He's also one of the two biggest super-solos in the game alongside The Butcher Unleashed of Khador. Caine was the subject of complaints early in MK3 when players believed he too trivially removed infantry with his near endless Trick Shots and Grievous Wounds. Thus Caine2 was one of three models along with Lanyssa Ryssyl and Alten Ashley to receive nerfs at the behest of the community, which ultimately led to the creation of the CID process. Until Privateer Press decides to improve him, he's stuck buying shot types with focus points of which he does not have many. Caine is still the bane of infantry even if they have Tough. With a Reload from Reinholdt he can destroy a minimum unit of infantry and still have focus to spare to use Gate Crasher to jump back to safety. Once the enemy warcaster is vulnerable, he'll usually pops his feat and dedicates all of his ranged attacks to assassinate them.

Feat Thoughts

You generally want to hold onto the feat until you can assassinate the enemy Warcaster/Warlock. While Caine2 can destroy warjacks and even seriously damage Colossals, that is not always the best way to use him unless you have the scenario game locked down and you just want some free army points to help with tie breakers.

Spell Thoughts

Bullet Dodger - Bullet dodger provides a defense bonus to a single model. This makes it most useful to a high value, high defense model. Possible choices include a Minuteman, Lieutenant Allison Jakes who can further boost her own defense through her sidekick spell, Major Katherine Laddermore, or Caine2 himself. Gallant also makes an excellent choice for this spell, boosting his defense to absurd levels for a heavy warjack.
Fire for Effect - This spell is best used on single shot models that don't normally have access to boosting. The Gun Mage Captain Adept can benefit by being able to roll 3D6 to hit to ensure that you can flare a target for Caine's assassination. Another decent target is 'jack marshaled Warjack because they often lack focus to boost damage. Popular choices include the Avenger when marshalled to Gun Mages - remember that all of the damage rolls in the AoE are boosted.
Gate Crasher - This spell is best used to let Caine harass an enemy with his pistols before escaping back behind his own lines. It can also be used to commit to an assassination run behind enemy lines. Because of the focus cost reducing his overall damage output, this should only be used if the enemy warcaster is an easy target.
Heightened Reflexes - Tough units like Trenchers become very durable when they don't become knocked down after making a tough roll, making them a superb tar pit unit. Caine can also use this on himself to protect from losing his superb defense.

Drawbacks & Downsides

He cannot deal properly with heavy armour outside of his feat (which is not what it's meant for), and usually doesn't have the focus to support his army.
He has negligible armor so blast damage and Continuous Fire are valid dangers for him as well as means to lower his defense including knockdown or stationary in the absence of Heightened Reflexes.
He'd like both Bullet Dodger and Heightened Reflexes on himself to stay alive until his assassination run, which he can't do.
He's a 6 Focus caster with three upkeeps and want to spend focus to shot more/better, leaving him focus starved and makes him vulnerable to upkeep hates like Purification.

Tricks & Tips

Caine can use his Trick Shot attack type to clear a crucial support model (like mechanics, Gorman, or Choir of Menoth member) away from a heavy warjack or warbeast. He can also be used to unjam an important model using his Black Penny attack type. Since they now require focus, consider, whether an extra shot is more worthy for the focus you would spend on the Empowered Shot.
Low to mid-ARM enemy casters can be fair game for Trick Shot. If the enemy Warcaster/Warlock is trying to hide behind a lower DEF model, you can put a few damage point into them by bouncing a POW10 shot on to them from the low DEF model. As above, measure the return on investment for your focus.
There are a few things that can throw a monkey wrench into Caine's assassination run:
- 1.) A variety of feats, spells and special rules that prevent you from spending focus
- 2.) Anything that limits or denies your ranged attacks, such as the Witch Coven of Garlghast & the Egregore's feat.
- 3.) Caine usually relies on Gate Crasher to disengage from unwanted engagements - watch out for spells, like Lamentation, and animi, like Arcane Suppression, which increase the spell's cost.
In Sons of the Tempest, the opportunity for the free Bullet Dodger or Heightened Reflexes (whichever suits the situation you face) allows for more bullets to be fired at the enemy. This solves having to choose between killing things real good on Feat turn...and surviving.

List Building Advice

File:Ace WEB.jpg

Ace is Caine's pet warjack that he can take in any theme.

Strategy

As mentioned above, Caine2 wants to win by personally assassinating the enemy caster. The goals are: get in range, get clear LOS. If necessary, strip the defensive tech off the enemy caster (i.e., dispel their defensive spells, kill Shield Guards, etc). Everything you add to his army should be supporting those goals. Caine's army often ends up looking like a bevy of solos to support the above point. Reinholdt for an extra shot, Eiryss1 to strip enemy Focus or Fury, Rhupert to handout pathfinder to Caine, the list goes on and on in order to empower Caine to do his job.

Theme Thoughts

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Rangers- With mark target, they can increase Caine's accuracy although he has a naturally high RAT.
Trencher Infantry- Caine likes a smoke wall to hide behind and they are self supporting, which is imperative, because he does not have much support to give. Thanks to True Sight, you have to worry less about activation order, as he can shoot through smoke AOEs.
Trencher Blockhouse - The Trencher Blockhouse provides you with a trench network that can boost his DEF to sky-high levels and make him immune to blast damage. With Hightened Reflexes he is also immune to knockdown and stationary, so he should be very safe from enemy shooting in particular. The Blockhouse is also an excellent target for Fire for Effect and can knock enemies down, helping Caine ultimately hit with ease. Finally, if needed, it’s a big base that Caine can potentially hide behind.

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Arcane Tempest Gun Mages- In a list dedicated to assassination, these chaps' Thunderbolt shots help clear LOS to the enemy Warcaster/Warlock. Their UA also assists them by ignoring cloud effects and Stealth for a turn which can make or break an assassination run.
Gun Mage Captain Adept- Provides accuracy with flar and Veteran Leader, takes away stealth for other units with flare, removes LOS blockers with shadow fire, and has a 14" boostable gun. This guys is great for taking out pesky solos when Caine has bigger fish to fry. Don't leave home without him.
- A good choice for Fire for Effect to improve your odds of applying that Flare.
  - That's a Fire for Effect with no upkeep cost if played in Sons of the Tempest.
Lieutenant Bastian Falk- Can make Caine's feat so much sweeter with +2 to damage rolls.
- You can give your opponent real headaches by applying Bullet Dodger to him and see if they're willing to trigger Reciprocate. This gets even better if he's benefiting from Prowl and the opponent has to get even closer while also being even less likely to hit.
  - This also doesn't tax Caine's limited resources in Sons of the Tempest.
Gaining Pistoleer can make his feat in melee really quite terrifying - Caine doesn't like to boost damage, so that additional dice can swing the numbers into a favourable assassination.
Rangers improve his accuracy even more.

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Storm Lances- As good as ever, they provide a good counter punch.

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Caine likes these Cygnar solos, which can be taken in multiple themes

Captain Arlan Strangewayes- Can help fuel warjacks that Caine can't.
Squire- The only thing Caine really wants from him is the focus, which is effectively what Reinholdt gives him for less.
- Although it should be pointed out that you can have the Squire for free in your average theme list. A free model at least mitigates a little of the support bloat that Caine tends to bring with him.
Journeyman Warcaster- Caine has no way of improving the survivability of his army, which arcane shield provides. You can always give her the Sentinel to shield guard for Caine.

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Reinholdt, Gobber Speculator- Able to give Caine an extra shot, and can take away stealth for the rest of the army to shoot with. Many see him as an auto include.
Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord- offers Caine Pathfinder to ensure he isn’t getting bogged down from terrain and even Tough when coupled with Heightened Reflexes can provide some unexpected survivability.

Battlegroup

Although Caine doesn't have a lot of focus to give them, a couple of jacks run well with him. Special mention to Ace, who has a bond with Caine so can always accompany him regardless of theme.

Centurion- Perfect as a zone holder thanks to polarity shield, he provides a great anvil to pivot around. Having a durable Shield Guard can help keep Caine alive.
Ace- Caine's pet warjack that he can take in any theme.
- With its Shadow Fire, LOS blocking models will rarely be an issue. It is also another trick shot that Caine doesn't have to pay for, and it is usually satisfied with the Power-Up focus.
Hunter- Helps break armor that Caine struggles with and rarely wants any more than his power-up focus.
Sentinel- You'll be grateful for this guy's shield guard when a high POW shot gets through Caine's high DEF.
Defender- He can shoot and he is good in melee. The power-up focus is usually enough to get by.
Avenger- Great for knocking down LOS blocking enemies to get at the enemy Warcaster/Warlock.