Ghordson Basher

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.

Ghordson Basher Mercenary Rhulic Heavy Warjack

Prime This model is available in one Prime Army, Rhul Guard. It can also be used in the Unlimited game mode. You can view the other Mk3 models that made it into a Legacy Army at this page. Note that the rest of this page is about the model's Mark III rules.

Like all Rhulic steamjacks, the Ghordson Basher was designed with utility and durability in mind, as its primary purpose is to haul heavy loads at construction and mining sites. These same characteristics also make it a versatile combat machine.

Basic Info

Ghordson Basher
Missing Info
	COST {{{cacost}}} UNIT SIZE {{{casize}}} FA {{{cafa}}} Warcaster 0 BASE Large SPD 5 STR 12 MAT 6 RAT N/A M.A. N/A DEF 10 ARM 20 CMD N/A ESSENCE {{{essence}}} FOCUS N/A FURY N/A THRS N/A HP 28 F. Field N/A WJP {{{wjp}}} WBP {{{wbp}}} IHP {{{ihp}}} FA U UNIT SIZE N/A COST 9 N/A N/A N/A Warcaster 1 COST N/A N/A Understanding the Statblock

Warjack - All warjacks share the same set of special rules. Most notably being big and stompy. Click here for a newbie-friendly recap, or click here for the full rules.

Rhulic Warjack - This warjack must be controlled by a Rhulic model.

Abilities

• Construct
• Sturdy - This model cannot be pushed.
• Flak Field - This model can use Flak Field once per turn at any time during its activation. When this model uses Flak Field, models B2B with it suffer an unboostable POW 12 blast damage roll and other models within 2" of it suffer an unboostable POW 6 blast damage roll. This model is not affected by Flak Field.
• Grand Slam - This model can make slam power attacks without spending focus or being forced. Models slammed by this model are moved an additional 2".
• Follow Up - When this model slams an enemy model, immediately after the slam is resolved this model can advance directly toward the slammed model, up to the distance the slammed model was moved.

Weapons

Battering Ram
		RNG				POW				P+S				LOCATION
		1				3				15				Head
Hard Head - This model can add this weapon's POW to its head-butt and slam power attack damage rolls.

Theme Forces

Within mercenaries, this warjack can be used in:

• Hammer Strike. Ghordson Bashers gain Reposition [3] in this theme.
• Soldiers of Fortune
• The Irregulars. If it's 'Jack Marshalled, it gains Flank [Warrior model] in this theme.

Outside of mercenaries, it can be taken by Thor Steinhammer in a few more themes.

Thoughts on Ghordson Basher

Ghordson Basher in a nutshell

The Ghordson Basher is a cheap slambot, smashing through the enemy and knocking them over while having a lot of armor for its cost.

Since it slams for free it can often function autonomously as long as it has movement boxes. Flak Field also gives it anti-infantry ability.

Combos & Synergies

• General Ossrum - Energizer and Bulldoze crank this guy to 11.
• Gorten Grundback can give you walls to slam things into, giving it +d6 damage on the slams. Strength of Granite gives you POW 19 slams or POW 16 tramples!
• Steelhead Ironheads can fix slam vectors and extend threat.
• Thor Steinhammer can be its jack marshal and make it a real threat with the Crush! order and Tune Up.

Drawbacks and Downsides

• Good hit on the charge, but if it is bogged down it is nowhere near as impressive.
• While fast for a Rhulic 'jack, it only has a mediocre 9" charge range or a 8.5" slam range.
• It is very easy to have it outrun its controllers.
• Easy to hit.
• Slams require a direct, unobstructed line to a target 3-8.5" away, which is hard to get without Energizer.

Tricks and Tips

• Look for lining it up and catching multiple people with the slam. Knocking down and damaging two models is always better than doing it to one.
• Don't forget the Headbutt! A basher can put out a POW 15 headbutt that will knock down enemies.
• They gain Reposition 3" in Hammer Strike, which can be used to put them in inconvenient spots after they get done attacking, and also allows them to trample and Reposition 11" in a turn instead of running 8".
• Unstoppable Force from Ossrum can allow the Basher to slam models that are within 3" but over 1" away - just make sure you have covered 3" after pushing the enemy!

Other

Trivia

Released in Warmachine: Superiority (2006)

Who can control this warjack

To include this mercenary warjack in your army, it must be controlled by one of the following Rhulic warcasters or marshals. Thus, to include this jack you first need to find a controller that works for your army.

Rhulic 'Jack Controllers (Edit)
Warcaster	Durgen Madhammer - General Ossrum - Gorten Grundback
'Jack Marshal Cannot take Colossals	Thor Steinhammer

Rules Clarifications

Rules Clarification : Hard Head      (Edit) You can add the POW even if the weapon system is crippled. Hard Head doesn't get applied to collateral damage, because that is a separate type of roll. Refer page 45 of the mini rulebook.

Rules Clarification : Rhulic Warjack - None yet. (Edit)

Rules Clarification : Warjack      (Edit) The Cortex/Induction core rule means a warjack cannot have more than 3 focus at any time (maybe 4 if they're really special). Many abilities give out focus and don't state an upper limit (such as Convection and Empower). Despite not stating an upper limit, they are always "hard-limited" by the core rule. A warjack can have more than 3 focus during a turn, though. For instance, a knocked down warjack can Power Up and be Allocated 2 focus, then spend 1 to shake knockdown, then another model could Empower it back up to 3. Warjacks cannot spend focus outside of their activation. For instance, they can't boost free strikes or trigger Powerful Attack on Broadsides. (Infernal Ruling) Inert warjacks Abilities that say they cannot be used if the model is stationary (such as Shield Guard) cannot be used while a warjack is inert, either. Refer "Warcaster Destruction", page 59 of the core rulebook.

Rules Clarification : Construct - None yet. (Edit)
Rules Clarification : Sturdy - None yet. (Edit)
Rules Clarification : Grand Slam - None yet. (Edit)

Rules Clarification : Follow Up      (Edit) If the target is killed by the slam damage, Follow Up cannot trigger because there is no model left on the table for you to move towards. (Infernal Ruling) If you slam your target through smaller-based models, then you can only advance as far as those models - you can't walk through them. You can use Follow Up on any kind of slam, not just on a Power Attack Slam. You can use Follow Up on a slam caused by a ranged weapon. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification:  : Slam      (Edit) (Click Expand to read)   General If you slam someone via a Power Attack the distance they move depends on relative base sizes. If you slam someone via a weapon or spell, the distance they move will be as per that weapon's/spell's rules text. Sometimes it doesn't depend on base size. Obstacles stop slams, but they don't stop throws. Obstructions stop both. If three models are B2B and in a triangle formation, and you slam one toward the other two, it will contact both those two models simultaneously. (Infernal Ruling) You can add model special rules (such as Gang) to the damage roll. Power Attack Slam You don't add any special rules on your model, unless it specifically refers to Power Attack Slam (such as Hard Head) You can use an "any time" ability after resolving the slam movement but before the slam attack roll. (Infernal Ruling) The range of a Power Attack Slam is irrespective of your weapon range: A Power Attack Slam made by a colossal or gargantuan has a 2˝ melee range. A Power Attack Slam made by any other model has a 0.5˝ melee range. You can boost the damage roll. Weapon Slam (ie Smite) You use the weapon's full P+S, not the attacker's base STR. You can add weapon special rules (such as Weapon Master) to the damage roll. You can boost the damage roll (and if you charged, it is auto-boosted). Dual Attack & Slam/Trample ( Edit ) Power Attack Slam and Trample combine your Normal Movement and Combat Action, and how this works with Dual Attack is: Slam: You must resolve the movement, the attack, and moving the slammed model. Only then can you make initial ranged attacks. Trample: You must resolve the movement, the attacks, and the free strikes. Only then can you make initial ranged attacks. (Infernal Ruling) Incorporeal vs Slammed/Thrown models ( Edit ) Incorporeal models cannot be moved by someone trying to slam them. Slammed models can move through Incorporeal models. If they have enough movement to get past them, no dramas. If they land on them, you move the Incorporeal model out of the way as per the Rule of Least Disturbance. If the Incorporeal model cannot be moved (i.e. it's a flag) then you move the slammed model out of the way, also by the rule of Least Disturbance. For the purposes of Collateral Damage, only the model(s) you contacted before you applied the rule of Least Disturbance count as contacted. The same logic applies to Throws. Collateral Damage Collateral damage cannot be boosted and is not considered damage from an attack or model. Refer page 33 of the 2021.08 version of the rules pdf. As a result: It doesn't trigger stuff that relies on being hit by an enemy (such as Shock Field) or damaged by an enemy (such as Vengeance). It doesn't get bonus damage from stuff that adds to a model's damage roll (such as Signs & Portents or Prey). It doesn't matter if the attacker has crippled weapon systems or aspects.