Cryx

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Cryx pic1.jpg

Cryx is a nation of undead necromancers and piratical raiders. Cryx armies are typically fast, numerous and lightly-armored. The poor quality of their troops is offset by the power of their warcasters, which rank among the strongest in the game. Cryx is mostly based around melee, soul-powered magic, returning models to play, debuffs, and corrosive attacks.

For backstory, refer to Lore - Cryx.

Cryx for Beginners

Lich Lord Asphyxious
Soul Trapper

Playstyle

Welcome to the service of Dragonfather Toruk. Here as a member of the Nightmare Empire, your army will typically (★) benefit from these strengths...

  • Good at melee
  • Fast troops
  • Good at ignoring terrain for movement purposes. Sometimes able to move through enemies, too.
  • Good at magic, especially debuffing the enemy models
  • Access to cheap and fast arc nodes to let you cast spells far and wide
  • Access to extremely cheap units, letting you field large swarm-style armies
  • Access to corrosive attacks
  • Recursion to bring back the dead
  • Some use of enemy souls.
  • Cheap, hard hitting heavy warjacks
  • The best inventory of light warjacks in the game.

Naturally these come with a cost. Your army will typically (★) suffer these weakness...

  • Poor shooting capabilities; Cryx are almost certain to lose in a firefight.
  • Poor stat lines on the troops. Less accurate, less durable, etc
  • Little access to buffs (Cryx normally debuffs the enemy instead)
  • No special orders (such as Shield Wall) available to the troops.
  • A smaller range of mercenaries available for hire.
  • Low durability compared to the sturdier factions like Khador or Skorne. You will lose most long battles.
  • Many lackluster heavy warjacks.

(★) Everything given above is typical only. It is entirely possible to build a Cryx army that is good at shooting, or slow and durable - there are just fewer ways to do it successfully than in other factions. However, for the most part, think close fast and smash everything quickly.

Aesthetic

Mortenebra, Numen of Necrogenesis

Cryx models are either eerie, mechanikal undead or evil pirates of various races, living or otherwise.

The warjacks are designed with a malicious, heavy metal aspect.

Everything is designed to exude malice. Hooks, blades, barbs and spikes abound.

Deathjack, the spikyest evilest robot

Starter Sets

Starter Set

    2016 Mk3 Battlegroup    

Contains 4 models. Bane Witch Agathia warcaster, Deathripper light warjack, Reaper heavy warjack, and a Slayer heavy warjack. Plus a bunch of peripheral stuff (see picture).

It is a good way to meet the defining traits of Cryx; high mobility, excessive use of Arc Nodes, de-buff stacking and movement shenanigans.

    2016 Two Player Battlebox    

Contains 14 Cryx models, plus a bunch of Cygnar models (that you can give or sell to a friend). It's the same models as the Mk3 Battlegroup Set, plus a unit of Bane Warriors.

This enters you into the realm of units, with all their extra rules. As the enemy will likely field units of their own, the Soul manipulation mechanism of Agathia will possibly see play too. Soul gathering is often present in Cryx, but will not come up in small games which are instead full of robots.

    2018 Theme Force Starter - Scourge of the Broken Coast    

(Also known as the Slaughter Fleet Raiders theme force box)

Contains 19 models. A unit of Bloodgorgers plus their character command attachment Jussika Bloodtongue, a unit of Scharde Dirge Seers, a unit of Black Ogrun Iron Mongers, Gerlak Slaughterborn character solo, and a Misery Cage solo.

This one is designed to be an add-on to one of the other starter sets, rather than be one all by itself - you'll note it doesn't include a warcaster or any warjacks. It is roughly 35 points.

Other good early purchases

The Mk3 battlebox described above is decent first buy, but not essential. Otherwise, newbie-friendly models include:

  • Warcasters:
    • Asphyxious1, Skarre1, and Deneghra1 are all relatively straightforward casters to learn with, and they're also good in the long run because they're each quite powerful.
    • Asphyxious3 and Terminus are also relatively straightforward, but tend to only have one style of army that they work with so they shoehorn you a bit more than the first three.
    • Avoid Coven and Scaverous until you're experienced, as they are the most un-straightforward.
  • Arc Nodes: There are four types to choose from, but you'll mostly use the the cheapest ones so get 2x Deathrippers (6 points). In some games you'll have a point left over, so it's worth owning 1x Nightwretch (7 points).
    • Note that arc nodes are sold in packs of two.
  • Light warjacks: Other than arc nodes, grab one or two Stalkers.
  • Heavy warjacks: Get Barathrum and Kharybidis. Then you'll probably want to wait and play a few games before getting any more heavy warjacks, especially if you already got the mk3 battlebox.


After that, what you should buy first really depends on which theme force you like the look of. You'll want to get a unit or two and some solos. For each theme I recommend (as of 2020.06):


Each theme force allows you to take up to one Mercenary unit and one Mercenary solo (called the Merc slot). Some Mercenaries are Partisans and if you choose one of those, sometimes they don't use up the Merc slot (it depends on the theme).
For Cryx, the popular mercenaries are (as of 2021.05):
LOS logo.jpg

Line of Sight article : Brawlmachine List Building - Cryx
In 2020.09 Phillip Melvin, one of the LOS authors, wrote an excellent article for how to start Cryx. It is based on the newbie-friendly Brawlmachine format (25 point limit).
The article contains a different list for each Cryx theme, and advice on how to expand those lists beyond 25 points.

Starting a Theme Force

Goreshade, Lord of Ruin

Players can use the Theme Force rules to construct their army list once the game size reaches 25 points. Themes restrict which models from your Faction you have access to, with different models being "locked" into different themes. In return, playing a theme force gives you multiple benefits in return. Also, models in a theme force normally have natural synergies with each other - synergies they can't use if they're paired with models from outside the theme.

Themes are considered the default way to play Warmachine and Hordes (although technically they're optional).

Regardless of whether you're starting at 25 points or lower, as a new player you have two options:

  1. Ignore themes to begin with, buy a couple of things you like the look of, and later on figure out if they work together in the same theme.
    With this approach you run the risk of buying models from a hodge podge of different themes. At some point you'll end up choosing one theme to use and expand, and shelving your models that don't fit the theme.
  2. Figure out which theme contains models you like the look of, and limit yourself to just buying models from that theme.
    This approach has the benefit of not shelving any of your purchases and you're more likely to have models that have natural synergies with each other (even if you buy things completely at random).

If you can't decide on a theme yet, pick up a few of these models. They all fit into at least two themes and they are good purchases in the long run. But don't buy everything on this list! You'll end up with too much support troops and not enough combat troops.

  • 3 themes
    • Black Ogrun Iron Mongers - A unit of mechanics. Useful models to own.
    • Machine Wraith - A cheap solo, great for controlling scenarios and occasionally taking over enemy warjacks. Great model to own 1 or 2 (or even 3!) of.
  • 2 themes
    • Aiakos1 - A solo that can control warjacks, and is pretty good at melee. Great model to own. He likes combat warjacks.
    • Misery Cage - Cheap solo that gives your warcaster extra focus. Good to own 1 of them.
    • Necrotech - Cheap mechanic solo. Good to own 1, maybe 2, if you're leaning towards the undead side of Cryx.
    • Pistol Wraith - Ranged combat solo. Great as a flanking piece. Useful to own if you are leaning towards the undead, but they're often out-classed by their character versions ...
    • ... Hellslinger Phantom & Ol' Grim - One is a character Pistol Wraith, the other a character Rifle Wraith. They are excellent and if you like the sound of Pistol Wraiths, you'll like them even more.
    • Warwitch Siren - Support solo that comes with a suite of different abilities useful in many situations. Good to own at least 1.

Theme Forces

Black Industries

Cryx’s necrofactoriums churn out a seemingly endless supply of bonejacks and helljacks to wreak havoc on the Dragonfather’s enemies. These black-iron creations fall upon their prey like a pack of hungry beasts indulging in wanton slaughter. Attending the warjacks are a small army of necrotechs, ironmongers, and other specialists who keep the machines operating at peak ferocity.

Black Industries has two aspects: warjacks (and lots of them) and thralls (the cheap and disposable undead cannon fodder of Cryx). If you want to play with a lot of warjacks, or a lot of steampunk zombies, then this is the theme for you.

The models allowed in Black Industries are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2020.12   (Edit)

Warcasters

  • All Cryx warcasters

Warjacks

  • All non-character Cryx warjacks
  • All character Cryx warjacks

Battle Engines

Units

Solos

Mercenaries

  • Up to one solo
  • Up to one unit
(★) Because these Partisans are specifically allowed in this theme, they don't use up your "Up to one Mercenary" slot.

Here's some examples of the model aesthetic for this theme

  • Hellslinger.jpg
  • The-withershadow-combine.png
  • 34121 Soulhunters WEB.jpg
  • Slayer WEB.jpg
  • Harrower.jpg

Dark Host

Torn from the horrors of the void and given new forms in the bodies of the dead, banes are dark, sinister warriors in the service of Cryx. Far from mindless, they possess a military cunning mixed with an utter malevolence to life. Supported by potent necromancers, armies of horrifying banes beset the enemy like a tide of darkness and death.

Dark Host is all about Banes, the elite undead of Cryx.

The models allowed in Dark Host are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2019.11   (Edit)

Warcasters

  • All Cryx warcasters

Warjacks

  • All non-character Cryx warjacks
  • Character warjacks can be taken, but only if they have a bond and they're in their bonded model's battlegroup.

Units

Solos

Battle Engines

Mercenaries

(★) Void Archons don't count against your "Up to one Mercenary" slot

Here's some examples of the model aesthetic for this theme

  • Bane Warriors.jpg
  • Bane Warrior CA.png
  • 34080 WraithEngineWEB.jpg
  • Bane Riders.jpg
  • 34042 BaneLordTartarus WEB.jpg

Scourge of the Broken Coast

Borne on a black tide to bring death and suffering to the mainland, the pirates of Cryx instill terror in the hearts of those who live on the Broken Coast. Comprised of swift Satyxis and merciless Black Ogrun, raiding parties join Cryx's warcasters and their battlegroups in executing their bloody assaults.

Scourge of the Broken Coast is about the living warriors of Cryx. You have the Satyxis, who are the vicious lady pirates with a dollop of blood sacrifice magic thrown in. Then there are Blighted Trollkin, the literally bloodthirsty trolls. There are Black Ogrun who have multiple hitpoints and prefer ranged weapons. Lastly are the various "normal" humans such as the Scharde pirates and the Warwitch Sirens.

The models allowed in Scourge of the Broken Coast are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2021.02   (Edit)

Warcasters

  • All Cryx warcasters

Warjacks

  • All non-character Cryx warjacks
  • Barathrum
  • Kharybdis
  • Other character warjacks can be taken, but only if they have a bond and they're in their bonded model's battlegroup.

Units

Solos

Mercenaries

  • Up to one solo
  • Up to one unit
(★) Because these models are specifically allowed in this theme, they don't use up your "Up to one Mercenary" slot.

Here's some examples of the model aesthetic for this theme

  • Axiara Wraithblade.jpg
  • Black Ogrun Smog Belchers.jpg
  • Satyxis Gunslingers.jpg
  • Scharde Dirge Seers.jpg
  • Gerlak.jpg

The Ghost Fleet

The cursed pirates of the Ghost Fleet are locked in undeath. Nothing can destroy the revenants bound to Captain Rengrave so long as the blighted fires of the black ship Atramentous still burn, and the ghostly crews of countless wraith ships cannot be touched by the mundane weapons of men. The undead armada terrorizes coastal towns and port cities and preys upon the vessels of every nation that dares sail the waters of the Meredius. The Ghost Fleet is responsible not only for harassing targets, but also for distracting the mainlanders so that the Nightmare Empire might conduct its more sensitive operations in relative secrecy.

The Ghost Fleet is all about zombie pirates and ghost pirates. It is very recursive (lots of zombies regenerate every turn).

The models allowed in The Ghost Fleet are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2017.09   (Edit)

Warcasters

  • All Cryx warcasters

Warjacks

  • All non-character Cryx warjacks
  • Barathrum
  • Other character warjacks can be taken, but only if they have a bond and they're in their bonded model's battlegroup.

Battle Engines

Solos

Units

Mercenaries

  • Up to one solo
  • Up to one unit

Here's some examples of the model aesthetic for this theme

  • Agrimony.jpg
  • Blackbanes.jpg
  • Revenant Cannon.jpg
  • Revenant Crew.jpg
  • Misery Cage.jpg

Models

Warcasters

Agathia1 Bane Witch Agathia
Aiakos1 Refer to Cryx solos, below
Aiakos2 Captain Aiakos
Asphyxious1 Iron Lich Asphyxious
Asphyxious2 Lich Lord Asphyxious
Asphyxious3 Asphyxious the Hellbringer & Vociferon
Asphyxious4 Refer to Cryx units, below
Coven1 Witch Coven of Garlghast & the Egregore
Deathjack1 Refer to Cryx warjacks, below
Deathjack2 Karchev & Deathjack, Malignant Fusion
Deneghra0 Refer to Cryx solos, below
Deneghra1 Warwitch Deneghra
Deneghra2 Wraith Witch Deneghra
Deneghra3 Deneghra, the Soul Weaver
Goreshade1 Goreshade the Bastard & Deathwalker
Goreshade2 Goreshade the Cursed
Goreshade3 Goreshade, Lord of Ruin
Goreshade4 Refer to Retribution warcasters
Jezraell -1
(aka Haley -1) 		Warwitch Jezraell (Not tournament legal)
Mortenebra1 Master Necrotech Mortenebra & Deryliss
Mortenebra2 Mortenebra, Numen of Necrogenesis
Rahera1 Captain Rahera, Terror of the Wailing Sea (Partisan)
Scaverous1 Lord Exhumator Scaverous
Skarre1 Pirate Queen Skarre
Skarre2 Skarre, Queen of the Broken Coast
Skarre3 Skarre, Admiral of the Black Fleet
Sturgis1 Refer to Cygnar warcasters
Sturgis2 Sturgis the Corrupted
Terminus1 Lich Lord Terminus
Venethrax1 Lich Lord Venethrax
Cryx pic2.jpg
Desecrator
Stalker

Warjacks

Wraith Engine
Black Ogrun Smog Belchers

Battle Engines

Units

(Asphyxious1 to 3 are warcasters, above)

Solos

Bloat Thrall

Mercenaries that work for Cryx

Refer to Who works for Whom and/or Category: Cryx Mercenary

Designer's Notes 2016

Just before the launch of the mk3 ruleset, the game developers did a series of Insider articles about what they saw as each Faction's "Core Identity". Although it's a little dated now, it is still an interesting insight to how they view Cryx 2016.04 Cryx Preview.

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