Idrian Skirmishers

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.

Idrian Skirmishers Mercenary, & Protectorate Partisan, Idrian Unit Chieftain & Guide Command Attachment

Limbo This model has not (yet) been updated with Mk IV rules, as of 2022.12. Privateer Press have promised it will get updated ... eventually. You can view the Mk3 models that have been updated on this page. Note that the rest of this page is about the model's Mark III rules.

Masters of the unpredictable and lethal terrain of the Bloodstone Marches, most Idrian tribesmen converted to the Lawgiver but preserved their nomadic ways. They excel at stalking, ambush, and desert warfare and have turned these talents to the service of Menoth. With their ancient, curved blades and newly adopted rifles, these ruthless warriors cut down enemies for faith and coin across all nations of Immoren.

"Do not forget that Menoth was the first great hunter, tracking the spawn of the Devourer Wurm across the skies." - Retek Sabukhari, Idrian Guide

Basic Info

Idrian Skirmishers
Missing Info
	COST {{{cacost}}} UNIT SIZE {{{casize}}} FA {{{cafa}}} Warcaster 0 BASE Small SPD 6 STR 6 MAT 6 RAT 5 M.A. N/A DEF 13 ARM 12 CMD 7 ESSENCE {{{essence}}} FOCUS N/A FURY N/A THRS N/A HP 1 F. Field N/A WJP {{{wjp}}} WBP {{{wbp}}} IHP {{{ihp}}} FA 2 UNIT SIZE 6 or 10 +2CA COST 8 or 13 +4CA 1.4 pts each N/A N/A Warcaster 1 COST N/A N/A Understanding the Statblock

Mercenary - This unit will work for the Protectorate.

• Partisan [ Protectorate ] - When included in a Protectorate army, this model/unit is a Protectorate model/unit instead of a Mercenary model/unit.

Abilities

• Entire Unit
  • Advance Deployment
  • Combined Ranged Attack
  • Pathfinder

• Chieftain
  • The Chieftain has +1 MAT, RAT, CMD, and 5 hitpoints.
  • Officer
  • Go to Ground [ Minifeat ] - This model can use Go to Ground oncer per game at any time while in formation during its unit's activation. For one round or until they move, are placed, or are engaged, models in this unit that are currently in formation gain cover, do not suffer blast damage, and do not block LOS.
  • Tactics: Reposition [3"] - Models in this unit gain Reposition [3"]. (Reposition [3"] - At the end of an activation in which it did not run or fail a charge, a model with Reposition [3"] can advance up to 3", then its activation ends.)

• Guide
  • The Guide has 5 hitpoints.
  • Granted: Prey - While this model is in formation, models in its unit gain Prey. (Prey - After deployment but before the first player's turn, choose an enemy model/unit to be this model/unit's prey. A model with Prey gains +2 to attack and damage rolls against its prey. When the prey is destroyed or removed from play, choose another model/unit to be the prey.)

Weapons

• Leader, Grunts, & Guide
  • Military Rifle - 10" range, POW 11 gun.
  • Kopis - 0.5" range, P+S 10 melee weapon.
    • Brutal Charge - This model gains +2 to charge attack damage rolls with this weapon.

• Chieftain
  • Military Rifle - As above.
  • Kopis (x2) - As above, but double the fun.

Theme Forces

• Mercenary
  • The Irregulars
  • Operating Theater (only if controlled by a Cephalyx Dominator)

• Protectorate

As a Mercenary model, they can be taken in most of the Protectorate themes. However, this will use your "Up to one Mercenary unit" slot (most of the time).

• Exemplar Interdiction
• Guardians of the Temple
• The Creator's Might
• The Faithful Masses. They don't use your "Up to one Merc" slot in this theme.
• Warriors of the Old Faith

Thoughts on Idrian Skirmishers

Command Attachment

Idrian Skirmishers in a nutshell

Front line fighters with solid guns that can mix it up in melee and survive shooting long enough to get there. Choose your Prey target carefully or you won't get the most from them. Expensive, but worth their points, and they don't really need any help from your caster.

Combos & Synergies

Protectorate Combos

• Covenant1 - No Knockdown can be pretty good on them, especially if they revived Tough from Rhupert before. Flames of Wrath means they can spread fire quite effectively, which is great for caster like Feora2 or Malekus.
  • Malekus's feat powers up Cont. Fire damage rolls and Ashen Veil puts them at a decent DEF level when not using Go to Ground. Ignite makes them quite competent in melee.
• Severius0 - +1/+1 is great on pretty much anything, but even better on 12 guys with rifles and Prey.
• The High Reclaimer - There are worse targets for Hand of Fate and he can revive the CAs. They also make for decent SacPawn targets.
• Testament of Menoth - Cloak of Ash is a great defensive buff for them, he can collect their souls and bring them back with Raise the Dead.
• Sanctifier, Shrine of the Lawgiver, Hand of Silence - They are a great source of souls for these models.
• Severius2 - Eye of Menoth is a great buff for their offences and Defender's Ward puts them at DEF 15, which makes them way more survivable.
• Casters with Death March are also great for them, as they very much appreciate this spell. That is Reznik2 and Feora4.
• Kreoss1 - Pop the feat to knock everything down, then commence the shooting! Defender's Ward makes them way more survivable.
• Vindictus - Defender's Ward again and True Path makes them very fast.
• The Reckoner has Flare to help them hit.

Mercenary combos

• Lieutenant Crosse, Resistance Fighter can give them Run & Gun and Stealth on feat turn and they can be the best Life Bound Life Bound targets in Irregulars.
• Fiona the Black can protect the CAs with Roth's Mercy and Curse of Veils make their guns much more threatening.
• Snipe goes great with Reposition 3", so think Ossrum or Magnus1.
• Gorten - Solid Ground is an awesome spell for squishy infantry with decent DEF, as is placing Rock Walls in front of them.
• Captain Damiano and the Skirmishers synergise quite well. He has Deadeye to make them significantly more accurate with their guns, which in turn makes them great triggers for Road to War. His Feat and Death March make them quite a threat in melee, charging at P+S 17 against their Prey. Finally, Sure Foot is also really great on them because it makes them that much more survivable with DEF 15, immunity to blasts and knock down.
• Gabriel Throne or Rhupert Carvolo are able to make them Tough, which is quite a boon to their survivability, especially if Damiano or Gorten have them immunity to knock down, too. Stir the Blood or Dirge of Mists are also useful for them.
• Nemo4 offers them some recursion. As a big unit they are also great fuel for Alexia1 and Alexia2, so you can double up on the recursion.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• Incoming fire has right of way and Idrians have low defensive stats.
• If the enemy can remove the Chieftain and Guide that seriously weakens the unit. Watch out for spot removal.
• Don't prey a unit or the enemy will hide the last member
• In Irregulars the compete with Croe's Cutthroats and Nyss Hunters for the same role as combined arms, 10 man, single-wound infantry. Both of their competitors are cheaper than they are as they have their "CA" integrated into the base unit.

Tricks & Tips

• Keep the Chieftain and Guide right at the back (normally with the guide being about 6" behind the chieftain). If the enemy gets the chance to take them out, the guide in particular, they will do so crippling the unit.

Other

Trivia

Unit & CA were both released in Warmachine: Legends (2008)

Rules Clarifications

Rules Clarification : Powerful Charge  and/or Brutal Charge     (Edit) If you declare a charge but move less than 3", then the attack doesn't count as a "Charge Attack" and you won't get the bonus.

Rules Clarification:  : Partisan      (Edit) (Click Expand to read)

Which Faction am I? Partisans are Mercenary (or Minion) models unless they're taken in their "Home" Faction. For example, a Mercenary model that is Partisan [Cygnar]: When used in most armies it is "friendly Faction" only to other Mercenary models. When used in a Cygnar army it is "friendly Faction" to Cygnar models ... and stops being "friendly Faction" to any other Mercenaries in that Cygnar army. In a multi-caster game, Partisans count as the main army's Faction and not as a Mercenary models (if playing a Faction other than Mercaneries). (Infernal Ruling) Attachments If a Partisan unit can get a special attachment from their Partisan Faction (for instance a Soulless Escort or Trollkin Sorcerer) then they can only get that attachment when they're in the Partisan Faction. They can't take it when working as a regular Mercenary. (Locked thread) When taken in their Partisan Faction, they can't have a Ranking Officer attached. Partisan warcasters If you have a Partisan caster, you must choose whether your army is a Mercenary force or a [Partisan Faction] force. What warjacks the caster can take are then limited by your choice. Partisan casters can be taken in [Partisan Faction] theme forces. Refer to the main rulebook. Partisan casters can be fielded in multiple-caster games. (Locked thread) See also the Category: Partisan for what happens if you mix and match Partisan casters and Merc casters in multi-caster games. 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)

Rules Clarification : Advance Deployment      (Edit) Sometimes you can attach a WA or CA that doesn't have AD to a unit that does have AD. If you do, the attachment effectively gains AD and they can all advance deploy together. (Locked Thread)

Rules Clarification : Combined Ranged Attack      (Edit) CRA cannot target models in melee ... unless the target is a huge-based model or the attacker has War-Tempered. If you give the attack-leader a buff to their attack (such as Guidance) then that buff applies to the combined attack (even though the other participants don't have the buff). (Locked thread) Assault & CRA (Edit) You cannot mix Combined Range Attacks with Assault shots, as CRA works during your combat action and Assault shots occur before it. (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Pathfinder      (Edit) Pathfinder (Edit) - Pathfinder does not apply to involuntary movement (pushes & slams). (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Officer      (Edit) Even if they're not on the Officer's card, an Officer can give (and benefit from) any non-standard orders that are on the unit's card (such as Shield Wall). Refer main rulebook. A Ranking Officer can't do this, though. When the Officer dies, the Leader model becomes the new Unit Commander (you don't get to choose). But if your unit doesn't include a Leader model, then you do get to choose any of the remaining models to be the new Unit Commander. You don't swap the model, but it may be worth putting a token down so you can tell that grunt apart.

Rules Clarification : Go to Ground      (Edit) Other than being an "Any Time" ability and having a 1-round duration, Go to Ground is identical to Dig In, so I've put those rules clarifications below. Restrictions on "Any Time" abilities     (Edit)         [Show/Hide] "Any Time" abilities can be used at any time during a model/unit's activation, except: Before any compulsory forfeiture of movement/action. See step 2 of the activation sequence, appendix A. After the model with the "Any Time" ability has had their activation end "prematurely". By this I mean you resolved something which includes the phrase "its activation ends". Examples include: Running, failing a charge, or failing a slam. Abilities that include "then its activation ends" (such as Reposition and Teleport). In between declaring your charge target and making your charge movement. (Infernal Ruling) In between completing your charge movement and determining whether it was a successful charge. (Infernal Ruling) When you're in the middle of moving. (Note: Impact Attacks count as being in the middle of movement). When you're in the middle of an attack. Which also includes effects that occur "after the attack is resolved". (Although the attack is "resolved" at Step 11, in terms of using an "Any Time" ability the attack is not "finished" until after Step 14. Refer to the first paragraph of Apdx A.) Your opponent interrupted your activation to trigger one of their own abilities (such as Countercharge). Warcasters/warlocks/etc can normally cast a spell or use their feat "At any time". However, there is a core rule saying they cannot do so on the same activation that they run. So, they are subject to all the same restrictions listed above, plus they can't cast/feat before running. Units: See below. In general you can use "Any Time" abilities while you're knocked down or stationary (except Spells and Feats which specify you can't). If you have a gun with a random ROF, you can use an "Any Time" ability inbetween rolling the number of shots and actually making the first attack. (Infernal Ruling) Units with "Any Time" abilities You cannot use an "Any Time" ability before issuing/receiving orders. See step 1 and 2 of the activation sequence, appendix A. A model in a unit can't use an "Any Time" ability after they run (Infernal Ruling) or fail a charge. Because that makes that specific model's activation to end even though the unit's activation is still ongoing, and you can't use abilities on models that are not active. You can use an "Any Time" ability before running, however. A model in a unit can't use an "Any Time" ability after anyone in the unit has begun a Reposition move. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : Dig In and/or Foxhole Buddy     (Edit) Unlike nearly every ability in the game, Dig In doesn't have a "expires after one turn/round" clause. Thus you could spend your action on turn 1 to Dig In and (assuming you don't move or get engaged) stay Dug In on turn 2 and use your action to make ranged attacks. Being pushed counts as moving. (Locked thread) If a model with Dig In is added to play or returned to play, it does not count as "starting the game". It can't be put into play already Dug In. (Infernal Ruling) You can use Dig In while you're in someone's back arc. You are engaging, but not engaged.

Rules Clarification : Tactics vs Granted     (Edit) Granted = The unit loses the ability as soon as the model that grants it is taken off the table. (think "G for Goes away") Tactics = The unit keeps the ability for the entire game, regardless of who dies. (think "Tac-Tick = K for Keeps")   Granted [ Vengeance ] If the model granting Vengeance dies, the unit will not get any Vengeance attacks. It is "If you have Vengeance, and you were damaged last turn, you get a move+attack." It is not "If you get damaged, you get Vengeance next turn." If you lose Vengeance halfway through resolving Vengeance, then you stop resolving Vengeance immediately. (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Reposition      (Edit) Models out of formation cannot move via Reposition. Refer to the "Out of Formation" rules in the core rulebook. End of Activation (Edit) You cannot resolve two end-of-activation movement effects (refer to "End of Activation Movement" in the core rulebook). For EOA stuff that doesn't involve movement, though, it gets a bit more murky: Some EOA abilities explicitly state your activation ends as part of resolving the ability (like Reposition), and some don't (like Refuge). Whether it is explicit it or not, by definition an EOA ability is the last thing you can do for that activation. For instance, if you resolve Refuge and then continue your activation to cast more spells, then you have not used Refuge at the end of your activation. You cannot do an "at any time" ability during or after triggering an EOA ability; you cannot cast spells, purchase additional attacks, use a mini-feat, etc. If you start resolving an EOA movement (such as Reposition) then you cannot trigger abilities that occur "at any time" (such as Go To Ground). Because you can't trigger it while resolving the EOA movement, and after the EOA movement your activation has ended. (Infernal Ruling) For units: if any model in the unit starts resolving the unit's EOA movement, then no model in the unit can trigger an any-time ability. (Infernal Ruling) See also the training article: LPG - End of Activation.

Rules Clarification : Tactics vs Granted     (Edit) Granted = The unit loses the ability as soon as the model that grants it is taken off the table. (think "G for Goes away") Tactics = The unit keeps the ability for the entire game, regardless of who dies. (think "Tac-Tick = K for Keeps")   Granted [ Vengeance ] If the model granting Vengeance dies, the unit will not get any Vengeance attacks. It is "If you have Vengeance, and you were damaged last turn, you get a move+attack." It is not "If you get damaged, you get Vengeance next turn." If you lose Vengeance halfway through resolving Vengeance, then you stop resolving Vengeance immediately. (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Prey      (Edit) When you declare your Prey target, it has to be used on a model that is currently on the table. You can't use it on models that are in Ambush, Burrow, etc. (Infernal Ruling) If you have both Prey and Ambush, then you declare your Prey target at the normal time (even though the Prey-er isn't currently on the table). (Infernal Ruling) Prey bonuses apply to "non-attack" damage, such as Electro Leap. (Infernal Ruling) If you hit your Prey target, but your attack is "shifted" to a non-Prey model (via Shield Guard etc) then you don't get the damage bonus vs the new target. If a model with Prey can return to play, then: If the Prey target is still alive when the Prey-er returns, then it stays as your Prey target. If the Prey target died while the Prey-er was off the table, you get to pick a new Prey target when you return to play. This is based on a MK II ruling.

Note to Editors To edit the CA's tagged abilities, Click here