Death Archon

Death Archon Mercenary, & Minion, Solo

Fluff

Spoilers only The only information released about this model is spoilers (so far).

Basic Info

Death Archon
Missing Info
	COST {{{cacost}}} UNIT SIZE {{{casize}}} FA {{{cafa}}} Warcaster 0 BASE Large SPD 6 STR 9 MAT 7 RAT 3 M.A. N/A DEF 14 ARM 17 CMD 10 ESSENCE {{{essence}}} FOCUS N/A FURY N/A THRS N/A HP 15 F. Field N/A WJP {{{wjp}}} WBP {{{wbp}}} IHP {{{ihp}}} FA 2 UNIT SIZE N/A COST 8 N/A N/A N/A Warcaster 1 COST N/A N/A Understanding the Statblock

Mercenary - This model will work for Crucible Guard, Cryx, Convergence, Cygnar, Infernals, Khador, Protectorate, or Retribution.

Minion - This model will work for Circle, Grymkin, Legion, Skorne, or Trollbloods.

Animosity [ other types of Archon ] - This model cannot be part of an army that includes other types of Archon models.

Abilities

• Flight
• Carnage Incarnate - This model begins the game with 1 corpse token. At any time during its activation, this model can spend corpse tokens to gain one of the following benefits for each token spent. Each effect lasts for one round. - Begins the game with one corpse token. Can spend one token per activation to gain one of the following abilities. They all last one round.
  • Annihilator - This model gains an additional die on melee attack and melee damage rolls against living models. When a living model is destroyed within 3" of this model, it never generates a soul token.
  • Mortal Fear - While in this model's command range, living enemy models suffer -2 to damage rolls.
  • Side Step - When this model hits an enemy model with an initial melee attack or a melee special attack, it can advance up to 2" after the attack is resolved.
• Divine Manifestation - This model is not a living model, cannot become knocked down, and never suffers Blind. Opponents cannot take control of this model.
• Necroharvester - When an enemy living or undead model is destroyed within 10" of this model, this model gains the destroyed model's corpse token. When a friendly living or undead Faction model is destroyed by a continuous effect, an enemy attack, or collateral damage from an enemy attack within 10" of this model, this model gains the destroyed model's corpse token. This model can have up to three corpse tokens at any time.
• Vendetta [ other types of Archon ] - This model gains an additional dice on attack and damage rolls vs other types of Archon models.

Weapons

Iron Reaper (x2)
		RNG				POW				P+S
		3				6				15
Blood Reaper - When this model makes an initial attack with this weapon, it makes one melee attack with this weapon against each model in its LOS that is in this weapon’s melee range. Blood Reaper attacks are simultaneous. Chain Attack: Death Chill - If this model hits the same model with both its initial attacks with this weapon, the model hit becomes stationary for one round.

Theme Forces

• Mercenary
  • Soldiers of Fortune - This model gains Mark Target in this theme.
  • Strange Bedfellows - This model gains Swift Vengeance in this theme.
  • The Talion Charter - This model gains Sacrificial Pawn [Sea Dog trooper] in this theme.

• Minions
  • The Blindwater Congregation
  • Will Work for Food

• Other Factions
  • Convergence players can use this model in the Strange Bedfellows theme. It becomes a "friendly Faction" model and gains Swift Vengeance in this theme.
  • A few themes allow you to take the full FA of Death Archons plus another Mercenary solo. However the Archon does not become a "friendly Faction" model. These themes are:
    • Crucible Guard - Prima Materia
    • Cryx - Scourge of the Broken Coast
    • Circle - Secret Masters
    • Legion - Oracles of Annihilation
    • Skorne - Disciples of Agony
  • Aside from that, Mercenary/Minion models can be hired by other Factions. Normally those Factions' themes will have a limit on how many models they can hire. Refer to #Other Theme Forces, below.

Thoughts on Death Archon

Death Archon in a nutshell

Death Archons are unlike other Archons in that they collect corpses and do not protect the souls of friendly models. Additionally, Death Archons have Animosity [other types of Archon] and Vendetta [other types of Archon], meaning they cannot be included in an army with non-Death Archons, and they are particularly good at destroying them.

The Death Archon can utilize corpses it collects to increase its own damage output, mobility, or to reduce the damage of enemy models near it. In combat, the Death Archon reaps entire swathes of enemy models with a pair of Range 3 Iron Reaper melee attacks, both of which have the Blood Reaper ability that allows them to hit every model in their melee range with each attack. This is all topped off by its Chain Attack: Death Chill, which means anything that survives the two swings of its Reapers will find itself stationary and waiting for death.

Combos & Synergies - Main themes

    General    

• The Spirit Cauldron, the Well of Orboros, the Death Knell, all have abilities that can fuel the Death Archon with corpses.
• Most ARM skew lists with enough corpses to fuel it will appreciate a Death Archon for Mortal Fear.
  • Azazello might like him in Will Work for Food in lower point levels for this reason. As will most warjack or warbeast heavy lists, multi wound infantry lists such as Devourer's Host or Armored Korps, cavalry based lists such as Soldiers of Fortune or Dark Host.
  • Thagrosh1 or Agathia can double stack their Death Shroud with his Mortal Fear for extra beefiness.

    Strange Bedfellows    

• The Death Archon gains Swift Vengeance in this theme. This is an absolutely insanely strong rule for the Death Archon, giving it additional threat range and the potential to pick up corpses before activating.
• Additionally this is the only theme playable outside of Mercs or Minions in which the Death Archon can benefit from friendly faction effects.
• Aurora2 does quite a lot for flying models, protection from shooting is probably the most important thing.
• Convergence have affordable access to soul management with the Enigma Foundry, and prefer Archons for their output.
• The Death Archon's direct competitor in this theme is the Void Archon. Both are flying balls of death, but in terms of sheer output the Death Archon is usually going to win.

    Talion Charter    

• In the Talion Charter theme it gets Sacrificial Pawn [Sea Dog], keeping it safe and fueling it with corpses when struck. Add in Shae's feat and Storm Rager and you get yourself one scary, scary avatar of death.
• Bart loves infantry clearing for his Battlegroup and Batten Down the Hatches plus Mortal Fear makes for a beefy battlegroup.

    Soldiers of Fortune    

• Soul Collectors so you can double up on the token collection mechanics. Mostly that is Crosse2 and Alexia2, both of which can play with an Archon in Soldiers of Fortune. Crosse can also create a +5 ARM skew on a unit of Steelhead Heavy Cavalry and give the archon a turn of Ghostly plus Stealth. Just keep in mind Annihilator prevents soul collection, so table placement may be finicky.
• Damiano has a feat that gives it +3 STR and ARM, similar to Azazello in Minions. Naturally this is great on this model.
• Magnus2 loves some infantry clearing for his battle group, Bullet Dodger makes it better defensively and Mortal Fear + Field Marshal: Unyielding make for a very beefy battlegroup.

Combos & Synergies - Merc/Minion solo slot

    Khador    

• Man-o-War Demolition Corps - They love stationary models which they can Shatter. Mortal Fear is also great with high-ARM multi would models and they appreciate models who can clear chaff.

    Grymkin    

• Grymkin is likely to be a natural home for the Death Archon. The Death Knell can channel corpses directly to the Archon, in Dark Menagerie he starts with an extra corpse, and he can benefit from the free friendly corpses produced by a Malady Man & Mad Caps.
  • Additionally, several Grymkin warlocks have buffs/debuffs which can affect Minion models included in the army. the King of Nothing's entire suite, the Wanderer's Star-Crossed, and Zevanna Agha's full range of debuffs. the Heretic & the Dreamer stand out as having almost nothing that work with the Death Archon.
  • Dread Rots are one of the most cost effective sources of corpses for the Death Archon, especially when you consider that they can funnel corpses from enemies slain.
  • Grave Ghouls pair really nicely with the Death Archon. Both are fueled by the same corpses, and both want to get stuck in deep into the enemy lines.
  • The biggest downside is how the Death Archon competes with the higher utility Defiled Archon.

    Crucible Guard    

• The Death Archon can be taken twice over in Prima Materia, a theme that is lacking for melee hitting power that is independent of the battlegroup.
• The Death Archon has to compete with both the Morrowan Archon & Thamarite Archon. The Morrowan is one of Crucible Guard's natural choices, which makes the Death Archon a difficult sell in Magnum Opus.
• Crucible Guard are generally a debuff faction, Prima Materia especially so. This means the lack of friendly faction is less significant of a downside.

    Skorne    

• Skorne didn't have great access to Archons before, only getting the Void Archon. However the Void fills holes better for Skorne, especially in Disciples of Agony, as Skorne is already a fairly melee-centric faction.
• Most Skorne buffs relate to specific model types. Disciples of Agony is primarily a warbeast theme, and offers little benefit for the Death Archon outside of being able to take two.
• Skorne does bring a plethora of corpses in their non-Exalted lists, the only use for which they have is a handful of other Minion models.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• Can't use other Archons. This is a bigger downside for some themes more than others, notably those with friendly access to other Archons.
  • Grymkin has to give up the extreme utility of the Defiled Archon
  • Convergence loses out on the flying threat-ball that is the Void Archon
  • Minions has to choose between fury management & troop support with the Dhunian Archon
  • Perhaps the worst part of being unable to include other archons however is the Death Archon's lack of interaction with souls. It will be difficult to justify including a Death Archon in both sides of a Steamroller pair, once one considers how important souls are as a resource for many top tier lists.
• Constructs don't generate corpses. This is significant both with your enemies army composition and your own, most notably in Strange Bedfellows.
  • They still generate souls often, thanks to the presence of the Soul Vessel rule throughout Convergence. This will most often work against you however, as one of the functions of a normal Archon is to control the flow of souls across the battlefield.
• Blood Reaper is not optional. With a 3" reach on a large base, you probably don't want him getting into combat anywhere near your own troops.
• No access to "friendly Faction buffs" outside of Mercs, Minions, and Strange Bedfellows.

Tricks & Tips

• Many models have soul protection, but next to nothing has corpse protection, meaning it should get its fill of dead bodies unless you play against a construct heavy army.
• Annihilator also shuts down soul generation for your own soul collectors if their targets (both enemy and friendly) are within 3" of the Archon when it uses this ability, keep this in mind when you plan out your turn.

Other

Trivia

• Sculpted by Doug Hamilton
• Spoilers 2020.07

Other Theme Forces

Warmachine Factions   [Show/Hide]

Cryx (Edit)

• Black Industries
• Dark Host
• The Ghost Fleet
• Scourge of the Broken Coast

Cygnar (Edit)

• Gravediggers
• Heavy Metal
• Sons of the Tempest
• Storm Division

Khador (Edit)

• Armored Korps
• Jaws of the Wolf
• Legion of Steel
• Winter Guard Kommand

Protectorate of Menoth (Edit)

• The Creator's Might
• Exemplar Interdiction
• The Faithful Masses
• Guardians of the Temple

Retribution of Scyrah (Edit)

• Defenders of Ios
• Forges of War
• Legions of Dawn
• Shadows of the Retribution

Crucible Guard (Edit)

• Magnum Opus

Convergence of Cyriss (Edit)

• Clockwork Legions
• Destruction Initiative
• Strange Bedfellows

Hordes Factions   [Show/Hide]

Circle Orboros (Edit)

• Secret Masters. This theme doesn't have a limit on how many Minion solos you can take. Also, you can spend Requistion Points on Minion solos.
• The Bones of Orboros
• The Devourer's Host
• The Wild Hunt

Legion of Everblight (Edit)

• Ravens of War
• Children of the Dragon
• Oracles of Annihilation. In this theme (1) There is no limit on the number of Minion solos you can take, (2) Minions become Blighted models, and (3) enemy models that end their activation within 2" of a Blighted model in this theme suffer continuous corrosion.
• Primal Terrors

Skorne (Edit)

• Disciples of Agony. There is no limit to the number of Minion solos you can take in this theme.
• The Exalted
• Masters of War
• Winds of Death

Trollbloods (Edit)

• Band of Heroes
• Kriel Company
• Power of Dhunia
• Storm of the North

Grymkin (Edit)

• Bump in the Night
• Dark Menagerie

Rules Clarifications

Note to self: I need to update this rules section after the rules are finalised - juckto.