Theme - The Faithful Masses

99% of this website is about Mark 3 (mk3), which is the previous edition of the game (2016 to 2022). The reasons for this are explained here. 1% of the website is about Mark 4 (mk4), but only in regards to which mk3 models are useable in mk4 Prime and which are mk4 Unlimited. See Legacy Armies for more detail.
	Theme - The Faithful Masses Protectorate Theme Force Exemplar Interdiction - Guardians of the Temple - The Creator's Might - The Faithful Masses - Warriors of the Old Faith

Theme Force Deleted This mk3 Theme Force has no equivalent in mk4. You can build a similar army in Unlimited Protectorate (if/when the models in this theme get ported to mk4 rules)

The strength of the Protectorate of Menoth is not restricted to its foundries and garrisons, but is found in the hearts and souls of the numberless devotees to its faith. Every person who fears and serves the Creator of Man is another potential soldier to defend the theocracy. Pious citizen soldiers minimally trained as militia often go to battle accompanied by more elite lesser martial orders, such as the Paladins of the Order of the Wall and the Allegiants of the Order of the Fist, who consider their service a life’s calling. These forces are often joined by members of the ominous Reclaimant Order, who protect the bodies and spirits of the faithful masses as they fight in Menoth’s name.

Theme Rules

For the core rules on how Theme Forces work, see this article.

Theme Restrictions

An army made using the The Faithful Masses theme force can include only the following Protectorate models:

• Protectorate warcasters
• Non-character warjacks
• Avatar of Menoth
• Deliverer models/units
• Idrian models/units
• Paladin models/units
• Reclaimer models/units
• Vassal models/units
• Zealot models/units
• Choir of Menoth units
• Allegiant of the Order of the Fist solos
• Covenant solos
• Hierophant solos
• Initiate Tristan Durant
• Menite Archon solos
• Wrack solos
• Protectorate structures

• This army can also include one Mercenary solo and one Mercenary unit that will work for the Protectorate.
  • These models/units can be included even if they have the Partisan [Protectorate] rule.
  • Mercenary units can include non-Ranking Officer attachments

Full model list

The models allowed in The Faithful Masses are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2021.09   (Edit)

Warcasters

• All Protectorate warcasters

Warjacks

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

Structures

• Shrine of the Lawgiver

Units

• Choir of Menoth
• Deliverer Skyhammers
• Deliverer Sunburst Crew
• Holy Zealots
• Idrian Skirmishers (★)
• Initiates of the Order of the Wall

Solos

• Allegiant of the Order of the Fist
• Covenant1
• Champion of the Order of the Wall
• Deliverer Arms Master
• Durant1 - ("Junior" Warcaster)
• High Paladin Dartan Vilmon
• Hand of Silence
• Hierophant - (Warcaster Attachment)
• Paladin of the Order of the Wall
• Menite Archon (★)
• Reclaimer Gatekeeper - ('Jack Marshal)
• Vassal of Menoth
• Vassal Mechanik
• Wracks

Mercenaries

• Up to one solo
• Up to one unit

---

(★) Because Idrians and the Archon are specifically allowed in this theme, they don't use up your Mercenary slot.

Requisition Points

You can spend each Requisition Point on either:

• One Deliverer Weapon Crew unit
• One Protectorate CA
• Two Reclaimer Gatekeeper solos
• Two Vassal solos
• One other small- or medium-based Protectorate solo with a point cost of 5 or less

Theme Bonuses

• Protectorate heavy warjacks and colossals in this army gain Hand of Vengeance.

  Hand of Vengeance - When one or more friendly Faction warrior models are destroyed or RFP'd by enemy attacks while within 5" of this model, this model gains +2 to melee attack & damage rolls for one round.

Thoughts on The Faithful Masses

The Faithful Masses in a nutshell

Faithful Masses (FM for short), is themetically a mass of faithful citizen militia (Zealots, Idrians, Deliverers, etc), aided by the more devoted and trained options (Initiates, Paladins, Reclaimers, etc).

In practice most competitive FM lists focus primarily on the latter part of the theme, as the available solos are of absolutely stellar quality for the most part. Aliegants are excellent contesting pieces, able to hold down a flag almost indefinitely, the various Paladin solos have virtually perfect statlines both offensively and defensively. The theme also allows the taking of two Menite Archons per list, further cementing it's status as a "super friends" theme. The only units that realistically see tournament play are the Initiates and the ever-ubiquious Choir of Menoth.

Theme Weaknesses

Battlegroup Balance

The theme encourages you to take chaff units that will die **en masse** around your warjacks to increase their efficiency. Since only heavy warjacks receive the benefit, there's a good chance that they can be left behind by your faster infantry.

"Victim Stat" Troops

The infantry unit options in The Faithful Masses are very low ARM and might have problems in melee. Bring Paladin solos and warjacks for ARM cracking, or a Mercenary unit like Horgenhold Forge Guard.

Expensive models ($)

Many models in this theme date way back to the start of Warmachine in 2003, and are still only available as metal models. They have quite a high dollars-to-points ratio making this an expensive theme to collect.

List Building Tips

List building starts with three units of Initiates as requisition choices and either a min, or max unit of choir depending on how many jacks your brought along. After that you fill the list with solos and jacks.

The whole slew of Paladins is available in theme and they are one of its main selling points.

• Paladin of the Order of the Wall are your tough to remove contesting solos, that are made better by the presence of their brothers.
• High Paladin Dartan Vilmon provides your caster with a shield guard, gives you a solo to score flags, and give other Paladins in your army Righteous Vengeance, effectively doubling their number of attacks per turn or giving them a threat extension.
• Champion of the Order of the Wall are one of the toughest solos in the faction, if not the game. They are flexible, being able to hold the line, contest, or jam, given their speed. Popularly combined with the Harbinger of Menoth due to Matyrdom. They also grant Paladins Girded, which means High Paladin Dartan Vilmon can stand next to your caster to make them blast immune, while also being a durable Shield Guard.
• Initiates of the Order of the Wall are a solid anvil for the list and provide excellent protection against shooting and control effects while in a triangle.
• The Allegiant of the Order of the Fist are cheap solos with 2 Weapon Master attacks and can reach incredibly high DEF with Shifting Sands. Very little can tilt an opponent like them sending in warjack/warbeast to get rid of one, boosting an attack, missing, and having the monk walk away.
• The Avatar of Menoth can find a home here, as many of the casters that normally want to run infantry don't have the focus to spare for many Warjacks and the Avatar makes his own. Hand of Vengeance can give him a caster-independent buff to both MAT and damage, and with a Vassal to top him off and the Choir to sing Hymn of Battle, there is very little he will not be able to kill in an activation.
• Sanctifier Warjacks are able to reach POW 20 with Hand of Vengeance and the Choir, and enough infantry will be dying that your caster will rarely have to fuel them. The Sanctifier's Exorcist aura also gives the non-magical weapons of the Faithful Masses game against Incorporeal models and lists like the Ghost Fleet.
• If you're looking for cheap warjacks to fill your warcasters WJP, the Crusader is a great choice. It's an inexpensive heavy that turns into a MAT 8 POW 20 beatstick independent of Choir or warcaster buffs - there's very little in any other faction that can compare to that kind of cost-efficiency.
• The Menite Archon is a durable, powerful beatstick solo who benefits greatly from warrior models dying around it and is able to act independently from the warcaster. With proper placement, Ashen Veil can benefit other models, bringing their DEF up to respectable numbers. Additionally, it has one of the few sources of Grievous Wounds in-faction, making it invaluable to putting down Tough troops or stopping warbeasts from healing.
• Holy Zealots and Deliverer Sunburst Crews are great choices for Malekus in this theme, because they are all about fire damage.

Mercenary options

• Idrian Skirmishers are partisans and are probably the best 10 man unit you will find in this theme. They are by no means bad, but most lists can do with out them. Especially as the faction lacks the ways to crank them up to insane levels of output like Mercenaries can do.
• Rhupert - A pure support solo that grants models Tough, Concealment or Pathfinder.

Starting a 25 point Brawl list

In 2020.11 Phillip Melvin, one of the LOS authors, put together this list for the Brawlmachine format. It was then updated for the 2021.10 errata. He even wrote about it's playstyle and expanding it beyond 25 points, which you can read here.

Malekus, the Burning Truth: [+30 WJP]

• Hierophant: [2 pts]
• Eye of Truth: [17 pts]
• Vanquisher: [13 pts]

Menite Archon: [9 pts]

Vassal Mechanik: [1 pt]

Holy Zealots (Min unit): [7 pts]

• Command Attachment: [2 pts]

Deliverer Sunburst Crew: [Free] (4 pts)

Choir of Menoth (Min unit): [4 pts]

Similarly, in 2011.11, Jaden Iwassa, another of the LOS authors put together this list and wrote an article that you can read here.

Thyra1: [+29 WJP]

• Blood of Martyrs: [16 pts]
• Indictor: [14 pts]
• Hierophant: [3 pts]

Menite Archon: [8 pts]

Allegiant of the Order of the Fist: [3 pts]

High Paladin Dartan Vilmon: [6 pts]

Initiates of the Wall: [Free] (7 pts)

Choir of Menoth (Min unit): [4 pts]

Total RRP: USD $240 (based on PP's online store prices 2021.05)

Note - This list/article was written before the 2021.10 Errata and therefore may have incorrect point values

For more Brawlmachine list ideas, see Category: Brawl List

Caster Thoughts

High Exemplar Cyrenia

Although she was designed for Exemplars, but Faithful Masses is her true home. Rock Wall combined with the one granted from the theme allows you a great deal of terrain control, and Alliegants with cover are painful to remove and every model in her army benefits from Dash, Positive Charge, and her feat. The Avatar is of special note here, as Hand of Vengenace, Positive Charge, Rock Wall and Inviolable Resolve make t an absurdly powerful model.

Anson Durst, Rock of the Faith

He works well due to Hand of Vengeance giving his warjacks the offensive buff he lacks. Paladins also benefit greatly from Deceleration.

The Harbinger of Menoth

This is her favorite theme due to access to Paladins and Allegiants of the Fist, making them even more obnoxious to remove. The Menite Archon can't be Martyred, but benefits greatly from Awe and Crusader's Call. The Initiates of the Order of the Wall should be taken at max FA, due to being hard to dislodge with Martyrdom and shoring up her personal weakness against shooting.

Servath Reznik, Wrath of Ages

He loves gun-heavy Faithful Masses lists due to Spellpiercer negating buffs and allowing them to hit Incorporeal models. He likes Hand of Vengeance on warjacks, and when combined with Boundless Charge and Curse makes them accurate, hard-hitting missiles.

Grand Scrutator Severius

He makes models in Faithful Masses sing (although he does that for everything). Eye of Menoth is great for every model, Vision on your solos (Paladins and Allegiance) make them incredibly annoying to remove, and he loves having a wall to protect his old man self. Hand of Vengeance, Eye of Menoth, and the Choir can make a Crusader MAT 9 POW 23, easily handling anything short of a Colossal.

Thyra, Flame of Sorrow

She works great with Zealots, Idrians and Paladins; the additional non-linear movement provided by her feat combined with Righteous Vengeance makes your knights slippery and agile. Occultation goes a long way toward keeping your squishier infantry safe from shooting.

Vice Scrutator Vindictus

He can run a mean double-Zealot force, giving one unit Defender's Ward to tarpit enemy models and the other unit Penitence to kill off enemy single-wound infantry. True Path speeds any infantry up, and his feat protects infantry, perfect for an infantry-heavy force. Hand of Vengeance provides a damage buff that he does not bring himself.

Malekus the Burning Truth

He loves all things fire related, and Zealots, double Menite Archons and Deliverer Sunburst Crews are perfect for that. CTRL-wide Ashen Veil is also very strong on high DEf models such as Alliegants. Scourge is very powerful in a theme full of Weapon Master solos.

Feora, the Conquering Flame

She is at home in any theme that has the Living Covenant in it and Incite, Hand of Vengeance and Choir make for a +6 damage swing for her jacks (+8 on the melee attacks of her Red Line target). Paladins can keep her safe with Shiled Guards, which she loves.

Other

Trivia

Released in the Xmas CID (2017.01)

Other Protectorate models

• Category:The Faithful Masses

Rules Clarifications

Rules Clarification : Hand of Vengeance - None yet. (Edit)

Rules Clarification: Theme Forces     (Edit) Themes that change a model's Faction   [Show/Hide] Many themes swap which Faction a model counts as. They're slightly inconsistent with how exactly this is worded. Despite this inconsistency - whenever a model is considered a different faction to normal, it will not be its original faction. (Infernal Ruling) For instance Lukas stops being a Crucible Guard model when taken in an Infernal army, and as a consequence he cannot take Toros or Vanguards in Infernals. (Infernal Ruling) Rerolling the starting roll   [Show/Hide] You cannot use the theme benefit to reroll if it is a draw. Instead both players reroll until there is a loser, and then the loser can use their reroll benefit (if they have it). (Infernal Ruling) If both players have a reroll, first the original loser uses their reroll. If the original loser still loses, fine. If the original loser now wins, the other player can use their reroll. If it is now a draw, both players reroll until there is a loser. Then the player that hasn't used their theme benefit reroll can still use it, if they want. Warjacks/Warbeasts with bonds   [Show/Hide] A warjack/warbeast with a bond can always be included in a theme force, whether or not they're in the list of allowed models, but only if they're controlled by that bonded model. This applies even if that bonded model isn't a full warcaster/warlock (changed as of 2018.06). Including Mercenaries   [Show/Hide] Number of Mercenaries If your "up to one Merc" ... ... can take warbeasts/warjacks, then you can add warbeast(s)/warjack(s) (without exceeding your "up to one" allowance) ... comes with a Companion model, then you'll get that Companion (without exceeding your "up to one" allowance) There is a bug in Warroom that allows you to not only take one Merc solo/unit, but the entire FA of that Merc solo/unit. It's a bug. Mercenaries and Ranking Officers Adding a Ranking Officer to a Merc unit doesn't increase the number of Merc units you can take. Other See also the section on Partisans Including Partisan Mercenaries   [Show/Hide] Partisans & Theme Forces (Edit) Partisans are Mercenary/Minion models, so there are two ways you can add them to a theme force: Freely: If the Partisan is on the list of allowed models, then you can take as many as you want plus another Mercenary unit/solo. (Infernal Ruling) They can be explicitly allowed (for example Jaws of the Wolf allows "Kayazy models/units" so Partisan Kayayz can be used freely). They can be implicitly allowed (for example Scourge of the Broken Coast allows "living Cryx models/units" and Partisan Cephalyx fit that criteria, so they can be used freely). (Infernal Ruling) Limited: If the Partisan isn't on the list of allowed models, it does use up your "Up to one Mercenary/Minion" slot, so you can only have the one. Whether you used option 1 or 2 above, once they're in your theme force they count as a Faction model and so: They can be taken as a Requistion Option (if they fit the Requistion description). For example Lanyssa can be taken as a free solo in the Legion of Dawn theme. (Infernal Ruling) They will get any theme benefit that they fit the description for. For example Storm Division gives all Cygnar models Immunity Electricity, so Partisan Mercs in that theme get immunity too. For example Nemo4's Mechaniks get Reposition [3] in Heavy Metal. (Infernal Ruling) Requisition Points   [Show/Hide] You can choose the same Requisition option as many times as you like, as long as it doesn't put you over a FA limit. You can't mix and match models from different options. Say one option allows 3 Machine Wraiths and another allows 3 Necrotechs. You can't use your Requisition Point to get 2 Wraiths and 1 Necrotech. If you have an option that allows one other solo, you can't use it to get something already on the list. For instance, Ghost Fleet allows 3 Misery Cages (which are FA 4) for one Requistion Point, and it allows 1 other solo. That "other solo" can't be a 4th Cage. If your theme allows "3 weapon attachments" as a Requistion Option, you can spread them into different units. (Locked Thread) Models with the Man-Sized rule count as small-based models for the purposes of being a Requistion Option. (Locked Thread) Free models and Specialists (ADR)    [Show/Hide] If your theme only allows one merc solo, you can't have one in your main list and a different one in your specialists. Unit Attachments   [Show/Hide] If a unit is allowed in a theme, any-and-all of its attachments are allowed too. Exception: Ranking Officers are not allowed unless explicitily mentioned. If the theme force gives a benefit to a specific unit, any-and-all attachments to that unit will benefit too. Even if it is a "generic" attachment like the Void Leech. (Infernal Ruling) For example, a Trollkin Sorcerer will gain Serenity if its attached to a Dhunian Knot unit in a Power of Dhunia theme force. If your theme allows "3 weapon attachments" as a Requistion Option, you can spread them into different units. (Locked Thread) A non-character unit with a character attachment (i.e. Captain Karli) still counts as a non-character unit. (Infernal Ruling) When to apply theme benefits   [Show/Hide] With reference to special abilities that themes give to models, Ranking Officers, adding new models, and/or taking control of models: Theme force benefits are applied when you construct your list or put a new model into play. A model already in play will not lose or gain any theme benefits mid-game based on any changes of faction status or otherwise. (Infernal Ruling) However, if the theme gives a benefit to models "at the beginning of the game" (such as Devourer's Host letting models begin the game with 1 corpse token) then this benefit does not apply to new models that are put into play mid-game. (Locked Thread) Example 1: Sons of the Tempest says "ATGM units in this army gain Pistoleer". If your opponent takes control of one of them, it keeps Pistoleer while under their control even though it's currently not "in the army". Example 2: Storm Division gives Immunity:Electricity to "Cygnar models in the army." If you include a Mercenary unit with a Ranking Officer, they will get the theme benefit and also keep it even after the Ranking Officer dies. Example 3: Stange Bedfellows gives solos Swift Vengeance. If Nemo4 creates a new solo mid-game, that solo will have Swift Vengeance. See also these Theme-Specific Rulings   [Show/Hide] Rules Clarification : Black Industries      (Edit) The entry which allows "Cephalyx models/units" only applies to Partisan Cephalyx. That's because the theme's rules start off with "this army can only include the following Cryx models"​. Partisan Cephalyx are the only ones that fill that condition. The Cephalyx Agitator also works for Cryx and can go in Black Industries but, because it is not a Partisan, it will use up your Mercenary solo slot. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : The Creator's Might      (Edit) ​Elias Gade is allowed in Creator's Might. (Infernal Ruling) You can spend the "Two Vassal solos" requistion option on one Vassal Mechanik and one Vassal of Menoth. Warroom has a bug and tells you that you can't. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : Flame in the Darkness      (Edit) You can take any number of Mercenary jacks. You can also select two additional jacks from Khador and Cygnar in any combination you like. Character warjacks with a bond don't count against this limit of 2. (Infernal Ruling) There is a bug in Warroom that allows you to take two Cygnar and two Khador jacks. Morrowan Battle Priest: If your warcaster is a Cygnar model that makes every unit you take a Cygnar unit, and Battle Priests can be attached to any unit. Warroom has a known bug where it doesn't allow this interaction. If your warcaster is a Mercenary or Khador model, though, the only units the Battle Priest can attach to are the Morrow ones. If you attach the Battle Priest to The Devil's Shadows Mutineers then it can be returned via Blood Bound. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : Llaelese Resistance      (Edit) It is 2 Cruicible or 2 Cygnar or 2 Menoth. You can't take more than 2, and you can't mix and match from multiple Factions. (Infernal Ruling) You can have a non-character unit with a character attachment (i.e. Captain Karli). (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : The Talion Charter      (Edit) The 3rd benefit is "Sac Pawn [Sea Dog trooper]", not just any Sea Dog. (Infernal ruling) Rules Clarification : The Bones of Orboros      (Edit) Una1 cannot be taken in this theme (yet) due to the conflict between the theme's "Only Construct warbeasts allowed" and Una1's "Must take warbeasts with flight". There are no construct warbeasts with flight (yet). But if/when there is, then Una1 can be taken in this theme. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : The Devourer's Host      (Edit) Bradigus1 is not legal in this theme. The theme only allows living warbeasts, his rules only allow construct warbeasts, and you can't just 'skip' his battlegroup - you have to spend your warbeast points. If you create a new model mid-game (ie with the Well of Orboros and that model can have corpse tokens, that model does not enter play with a corpse. Because it's not the beginning of the game. (Locked thread) Rules Clarification : The Wild Hunt      (Edit) The animus benefit doesn't apply to enemy warbeasts. (Infernal Ruling) The animus benefit doesn't stack with the Druid Wilder's Herding ability. (Infernal Ruling) When it comes to other things that alter COST (such as Lamentation), follow basic maths: Double/halve first, then add/subtract. Rules Clarification : Oracles of Annihilation      (Edit) Kallus1's feat doesn't stack with the Minion bonus rule in Oracles of Annihilation, because one triggers at disabled and the other at destroyed. (Locked Thread) Rules Clarification : The Exalted      (Edit) If a Construct model loses the Construct advantage mid-game, it keeps the theme benefit anyway. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : Band of Heroes      (Edit) Boomhowler2 uses up your Minion slot. His Fell Calls ability is not enough to make him a "Fell Caller model/unit". (Infernal Ruling) Boomhowler3 does not use up your minion slot on account of having the Champion keyword. Rules Clarification : The Blindwater Congregation      (Edit) Void Leeches attached to a Gatorman Posse will gain Snacking, but they won't gain extra hitpoints. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : Magnum Opus      (Edit) If Mosby is attached to a Mercenary weapon crew unit, they would gain 3" reposition and would not lose it if Mosby is no longer in the unit. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : Hearts of Darkness      (Edit) Lukas can't take Maker Marked warjacks in Hearts of Darkness. (Infernal Ruling)