Hierarch Severius

Protectorate Warcaster

Severius' voice has always resonated with sacred power, and he demonstrates a strength and surety that belies his age. Those who attend him can see and hear the power of unchecked divinity conveyed through his words and deeds. He has vowed to make it his life's work to unite the Menites of western Immoren, to spread the True Faith to all of humanity, and to usher in a new age by hammering the cathedrals of Morrow to rubble and erecting new temples to the Lawgiver.

Basic Info

Severius2
Missing Info
	COST {{{cacost}}} UNIT SIZE {{{casize}}} FA {{{cafa}}} Warcaster 0 BASE Small SPD 5 STR 5 MAT 4 RAT N/A M.A. N/A DEF 14 ARM 14 CMD N/A ESSENCE {{{essence}}} FOCUS 8 FURY N/A THRS N/A HP 16 F. Field N/A WJP +26 WBP {{{wbp}}} IHP {{{ihp}}} FA N/A UNIT SIZE N/A COST N/A N/A N/A N/A Warcaster 1 COST N/A N/A Understanding the Statblock

Abilities

• Warcaster - All warcasters come with a stack of standard special rules - most notably being awesome. Click here for a newbie-friendly recap, or click here for the full rules.
• Arcane Power - Once per activation, this model can cast a spell without spending focus points.
• Oracular Vision - Once per turn, when this model is directly hit by an attack, it can immediately spend 1 focus to not suffer a damage roll from the attack.
• Field Marshal [Oracular Vision] - Warbeasts/warjacks in this model's battlegroup gain Oracular Vision.

Weapons

• Staff of Authority - 2" reach, POW 8, P+S 13 melee weapon.
  • Damage Type: Magical
  • Admonisher - When an enemy model is directly hit by an attack with this weapon, the d3 nearest enemy models within 4˝ of the model hit suffer an unboostable POW 10 magical damage roll. These damage rolls are not considered to have been caused by an attack. Damage resulting from Admonisher is simultaneous.

Spells

• |-

|colspan=7 style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff;"| |colspan=1 style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;"| |- |style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff;" rowspan=1| Arcane Ward ! style="border-top: 1px solid #A8A8A8;"| 2

! 6

! -

! -

! Upkeep

! No

|style="border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-top: 1px solid #fff;"| |- |colspan=8 style="text-align:left; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-top: 1px solid #fff;"|Target friendly Faction model/unit gains +2 DEF and cannot be targeted by enemy spells. Models are not affected while out of formation.

• |-

|colspan=7 style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff;"| |colspan=1 style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;"| |- |style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff;" rowspan=1| Ashes to Ashes ! style="border-top: 1px solid #A8A8A8;"| 3

! 8

! (★)

! 10

! -

! Yes

|style="border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-top: 1px solid #fff;"| |- |colspan=8 style="text-align:left; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-top: 1px solid #fff;"|If target model is hit, the d3 nearest enemy models within 4" of it suffer a POW 10 fire damage roll. These additional damage rolls are not considered to have been caused by an attack. Ashes to Ashes damage rolls are simultaneous.

• |-

|colspan=7 style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff;"| |colspan=1 style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;"| |- |style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff;" rowspan=1| Awareness ! style="border-top: 1px solid #A8A8A8;"| 2

! SELF

! Control

! -

! Round

! No

|style="border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-top: 1px solid #fff;"| |- |colspan=8 style="text-align:left; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-top: 1px solid #fff;"|While in the spellcaster's control range, models in its battlegroup ignore cloud effects, forest terrain, and intervening models when determining LOS. Awareness lasts for one round.

• |-

|colspan=7 style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff;"| |colspan=1 style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;"| |- |style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff;" rowspan=1| Creator's Wrath ! style="border-top: 1px solid #A8A8A8;"| 2

! SELF

! -

! -

! Upkeep

! No

|style="border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-top: 1px solid #fff;"| |- |colspan=8 style="text-align:left; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-top: 1px solid #fff;"|The spellcaster gains an additional die on melee attack and melee damage rolls. When making a melee attack, the caster ignores spell effects that add to the target's DEF or ARM.

• |-

|colspan=7 style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff;"| |colspan=1 style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;"| |- |style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff;" rowspan=1| Hex Blast ! style="border-top: 1px solid #A8A8A8;"| 3

! 10

! 3

! 13

! -

! Yes

|style="border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-top: 1px solid #fff;"| |- |colspan=8 style="text-align:left; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-top: 1px solid #fff;"|Enemy upkeep spells and animi on the model/unit directly hit by Hex Blast immediately expire.

• |-

|colspan=7 style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff;"| |colspan=1 style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;"| |- |style="text-align:left; font-size:110%; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff;" rowspan=1| Rebuke ! style="border-top: 1px solid #A8A8A8;"| 2

! 10

! -

! -

! Upkeep

! Yes

|style="border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-top: 1px solid #fff;"| |- |colspan=8 style="text-align:left; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; border-right: 1px solid #fff; border-left: 1px solid #fff; border-top: 1px solid #fff;"|Target model/unit cannot give orders, receive orders, or make power attacks or special attacks.

Feat : Fires of Communion

Choose d3+2 enemy non-warcaster/warlock models in Severius' CTRL range. They take a POW 12 magic damage roll and if they become boxed, centre a 4" AOE on it then RFP them.

The AOE remains in play for one round as a hazardous cloud. Enemy models that walk around in it suffer a POW 12 fire damage roll and continuous fire.

Thoughts on Severius2

Severius2 in a nutshell

The epic version of Severius is a support warcaster who does useful things to protect his battlegroup - and ranged warjacks who can take advantage of Awareness to shoot enemies who thought they were safe. As a rule between his feat and the ability to cast Ashes to Ashes three times in a round he's an offensive spellslinger who can thresh infantry while providing some battlegroup support.

Feat thoughts

His feat burns hard to reach infantry, and is very useful to take out units that are reliant on their leaders (like the Stormblades due to their Electrical Arc rule, or the Revenant Crew and their recursion mechanic). Beside the pinpoint removal of unit leaders and solos, this one is also a hard counter against armies which rely on stealth, and even more, smoke cover or likewise methods to stay alive, since Sevvy doesn't need LOS to choose the models. Especially useful against Haley3's Gravediggers, the Llaelese Resistance, an infantry-heavy Jarl list, or against casters with Wind Wall or Freezing Mist.

Mind the wording:

• it is not targeting and the damage roll isn't coming from an attack, bypassing a whole lot of restrictions and mechanisms like Vengeance or Battle Driven
• the AoE placement happens upon boxing the model, so Tough, Self Sacrifice, and other abilities happening the Disabled step may still take away your chance to put down a flaming AoE

Against Battlegroup-heavy lists this feat is less appealing, since heavy beasts and jacks will rarely be afraid of your attacks. However, you can still dent a few light beasts and jacks with a boosted POW12. You can also catch important support solos and units (Shepherds, Choir of Menoth members, Beast Handlers, repair crews, etc.) in your feat zone, forcing them to keep the distance from your caster, and often causing them to lag behind the jacks/beasts they're supposed to escort.

Spell thoughts

• Rebuke: Beside the self evident benefits (blunt charges, or stop slams, head-butts for assassinations, and tricks with trample+reposition), do not forget about the orders. Losing "Press Forward" will bereft enemy units of run and charge (and thus, Assault). Also nullifies other orders, like "Cautious Advance", or "Shield Wall".
• Ashes to Ashes - Menoth's answer to Cygnar's Chain Lightning, it fills the same role - chaff infantry killing. Don't be afraid to cast it onto your own - preferably fire immune - jacks to kill jamming models.
• Arcane Ward - Best targets are either slow, sturdy units, like Exemplar Bastions ( who now resist SPD debuff spells, and are a whooping DEF15 against charges) or evasive units, like Daughters of the Flame or Flame Bringers, who are nigh unassailable in melee under this spell.
• Creator's Wrath - Yeah, it sounds cool for an old man to be technically MAT7 Weapon Master with a Blessed staff, but if you're using this, you probably just survived a melee assassination.
• Hex Blast - Beside the raw damage (which is also not bad), the main feature of this spell is the upkeep/animus removal. If in dire need, feel free to shoot your own troops into the back to get rid of a Parasite or Crippling Grasp.
• Awareness - Pretty great against walls of clouds, from Trenchers, or from Jarl's feat, and also lessening the threat from Wurmwood's forest-generating feat. Ranged jacks like the Vanquisher are all happy about it, as terrain in SR2017 scenarios is in abundance. Melee jacks however are not profiting too much, since Sevvy2 lacks any kind of buff to help their movement through rough terrain.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• Severius has some of the worst defensive stats in the game.
• His feat is not that useful against battlegroup-heavy lists
• No mobility, ARM, or damage buff for his army
• Any focus you save for Oracular Vision is focus you spared from elsewhere.

Tricks & Tips

• Remember, Hex Blast-ing one of your own guys strips enemy upkeep from the whole unit.
• Rebuke as a free spell can be better than Ashes to Ashes or Hex Blast.

List Building Advice

Strategy

His main method of winning is simple attrition; he burns infantry and then turns things into a brawl, with the Choir of Menoth giving the protectorate an advantage in attrition (while if facing Protectorate he just burns their Choir). Awareness shuts down shenanigans, once again letting him turn the fight into a brawl.

Theme Thoughts

The best theme to run him in is probably Creator's Might, because his battlegroup spells and abilities lend towards a larger battlegroup. Also, this theme force rewards you by giving you free support models for taking warjacks.

Alternatively, he can run a pretty good Exemplar Interdiction force because the Blessed bonus it gives to his warjacks will let them ignore Defense and Armor buffs to their targets as well as pretty much all line of sight rules.

• The Errant Officer's Mark Target ability will add accuracy to Severius' ranged battlegroup.

Battlegroup

He normally runs a fairly large battlegroup to take advantage of Oracluar Vision, and an arc node or two - a Revenger, his personal Revenger Blessing of Vengeance, or a Guardian.

• Combine Awareness with the Redeemer's Skyhammer to ruin your opponent's day... They were already getting their infantry zapped before, but you can add quite a few AoEs right into the heart of the enemy to finish them off.

Other

Trivia

Originally released in Warmachine: Legends (2008)

Video Battle Reports

• Advanced Maneuvers, 2018.04 75 points vs Rask
• Advanced Maneuvers, 2018.04 75 points vs Issyria
• See also Category: Video Battle Reports for more casters with videos.

Rules Clarifications

Rules Clarification : Feat Hazardous Clouds (Edit) A hazard, by definition, is a terrain effect. If a template is both a cloud and a hazard it will not block sprays as per the errata (2017.09) to spray attacks. (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification:  : Magical Damage      (Edit) (Click Expand to read)

* The "Damage Type: Magical" is not inherited by "secondary" damage from a weapon. That is, stuff like arcs (Electro Leap) or hazards (Scather). (Infernal Ruling) All spells have "Damage Type: Magical" (refer errata). This is inherited by "immediate" secondary damage (such as Eruption of Spines). (Infernal Ruling) and might be inherited by "lingering" secondary damage (see below). If a spell leaves a template in play that does damage to models that walk around in it, then: if it is not described as a hazard it will do magical damage to models that walk around in it. (Example: Razor Wall) if it is a hazard then it will not do magical damage to models that walk around in it. Instead, it does whatever damage type is specified by the spell description. (Example: Breath of Corruption). (Infernal Ruling) If a weapon/spell includes Magic Damage and another kind of elemental damage it will still damage Incorporeal models. Incorporeal models are not affected by the rule "if an attack does multiple types of damage and a model is immune to at least one it is immune to the entire attack." The phrase "immune to non-magical damage" should be interpreted as "immune to damage that doesn't include Damage Type: Magical" (not interpreted as "has immunity to Corrosion and Electricity and Cold and etc.")

Rules Clarification : Admonisher      (Edit) You cannot shoot a friendly model in the back to trigger this ability. This ability was errata'd to be unboostable (2017.06). Not considered an attack & "Non-attack damage roll" (Edit)   [Show/Hide] There are two ways you can get these "non-attack" damage rolls. Type 1 - A secondary damage roll that is not considered to be an attack. Some attacks create a second damage roll that is explicitly "not considered an attack" (such as Electro Leap). (Note that although the secondary damage roll is not an attack, the original attack certainly is and will trigger stuff normally. These clarifications don't apply to the original attack.) Type 2 - A damage roll that's not from an attack. Some special abilities & special actions tell you to make a damage roll without mentioning whether it is considered an attack or not (such as Vent Steam and Flak Field). When it comes to other abilities that trigger on damage (such as Vengeance) both types function the same way. For brevity we'll refer to both as "Pure Damage". Pure damage is not an attack, so doesn't trigger stuff like Vengeance. Pure damage is not an attack, so doesn't benefit from stuff that affects 'attack damage rolls' (such as Bethayne1's feat). (Infernal Ruling) Pure damage (normally) doesn't actually hit the model(s) it damages, so doesn't trigger stuff like Shock Field. (A few of them do specify they hit, though, like Warhead.) Pure damage is not from an attack, but it is (normally) damage from the original model. This has two implications: It's not an attack from a weapon so: it won't gain damage buffs from the weapon (such as Poison). it won't gain any Damage Types from the weapon. (Infernal Ruling) It is a damage roll from a model so: it can be boosted. (Infernal Rulings) ... unless the rule specifically says it can't, like a Scrap Thrall explosion or Lightning Generator. it will gain benefits that worded "this model gains ... on damage rolls" (such as Prey). (Infernal Ruling) warbeasts with a Crippled Body will roll one less die. (Infernal Ruling) Exception: Some damage is not from an attack and not from a model (for example, Collateral damage). In this case, you should reverse the stuff listed under #2 above.

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

General Damage from a feat is neither an attack nor Damage Type: Magical (unless the feat says it is). FOCUS (uppercase) is the stat printed on the warcaster's card. Focus (lowercase) refers to focus points a model currently has. Your CTRL area is double your FOCUS stat, not double your focus points. (Infernal Ruling) Casting spells or using feats is an anytime ability with the added restriction that you can't use them on the same turn you run even before you run. See also the clarifications on Any Time abilities (below). Some warcasters are also Battle Engines and thus follow all the Battle Engine special rules. There is no particular interaction between the Battle Engine rules and the Warcaster rules. Work out all damage modifiers (such as Decapitation doubling the damage that exceeds ARM) before reducing it with the Power Field. (Infernal Ruling) 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) Warcaster/Warlock Cavalry ( Edit ) Warcasters/Warlocks can't cast spells or use their feat while resolving Impact Attacks. Because Impact Attacks occur during movement - you can use spells or feat before moving, or after moving, but not during movement. Exception: If your Impact target(s) include your charge target, then your movement has ended (refer rulebook, last paragraph of 'Impact Attacks') and thus you're fine to use "any time" abilities before starting the Impact attacks. Rules Clarification:  : Warcaster Unit or Warlock Unit     (Edit) (Click Expand to read) This summary is specific to Warcaster/Warlock units. You may also want to check the Warcaster and Warlock pages respectively, for the "regular" rules clarifications. All models in the unit count as part of the battlegroup. So, for instance, Butcher3's argus can be moved via his Energizer spell. Warcaster units can have attachments. They can even attach units (such as the WSC). (Infernal Ruling) The non-caster models are trooper models but are not normally Grunt models. Therefore they're not normally eligible for stuff like Revive. If any member of the unit start to do their reposition movement, the warcaster or warlock in the unit would no longer be able to feat.(Infernal Ruling) Press Forward Order vs Spells cast at Any Time (Edit) You must issue orders before anything else. If you issue a Press Forward order, you must run or charge. If you cast spells before moving, you can't run so you must charge. If you cast spells before moving, then start the spellcaster's Normal Movement but have no valid charge targets, you are in a situation where you must charge but cannot charge. In this situation the spellcaster must either: forfeit their Combat Action, use their Normal Movement to make a full advance, then their activation ends. (Note that you cannot cast more spells after the full advance). forfeit their Normal Movement, then their activation ends. (Infernal Ruling) Steamroller 2018 The non-caster models can contest scenario zones & flags. The caster model cannot contest. The caster model can control zones and flags by itself, but: to control a zone, the entire unit remaining in play needs to be in formation. to control a flag, the entire unit remaining in play must be within 4" of the flag. Units Buying Attacks (Edit) If you make attacks with model [A], then start making attacks with model [B], you cannot 'go back' and buy more attacks with [A]. Because: A model can only buy additional attacks during its Combat Action. A model in a unit must complete its Combat Action before the next model starts theirs (with some exceptions, like CMA). Rules Clarification : Unit of Warcasters or Warlocks     (Edit) Even though they're warcasters, if they're out of formation they suffer the normal penalties (can't make attacks, actions, spells, etc). They can't upkeep each other's spells. They can only dominate one SteamRoller scenario element at a time. Each warlock/warcaster can have different upkeeps on them if those upkeeps are "target SELF" or "target model". If you cast an upkeep that is "target model/unit", that is the only upkeep any of them can have. Units Buying Attacks (Edit) If you make attacks with model [A], then start making attacks with model [B], you cannot 'go back' and buy more attacks with [A]. Because: A model can only buy additional attacks during its Combat Action. A model in a unit must complete its Combat Action before the next model starts theirs (with some exceptions, like CMA). The Legion Twins Rhyas cannot dominate a zone while out of formation. Rhyas can use the feat while out of formation. Haley3 Only Haley Prime is an 'actual' warcaster model, and as such she is the only one that can dominate a scenario element. The echoes can Control/Contest scenarios like a normal unit. Haley Prime can dominate an element even if the echoes are out of formation.

Rules Clarification : Arcane Power - None yet. (Edit)

Rules Clarification : Oracular Vision      (Edit) Effects that trigger on a Hit (such as Pull) will still trigger. Effects that trigger on Damage (such as Drag) will not.

Rules Clarification : Field Marshal      (Edit) Field marshal only grants the ability to warjacks/warbeasts in the battlegroup, so (normally) the caster does not have the Field Marshal ability. However if it is listed on the caster's card separately, such as on Magnus2, then they do have it. (Closed thread)

Rules Clarification : Fire      (Edit) If you deploy in fire hazard terrain (Burning Earth), then you get set on fire before the game starts. Deploying a model in a hazard counts as being "put into play" in the hazard. Being put into play counts as "entering". When you enter a hazard, you trigger the hazard. Moving into "Shallow water" standard terrain does not cause continuous fire to expire. It's magic fire. You can always use non-standard terrain if you agree with your opponent before the game starts, however. A weapon can inflict continuous fire without itself being a fire damage weapon (for example, the Helios's fists). In this case, the attack can hurt models with Immunity:Fire it just won't apply the continuous effect. In terms of which player's clock is running down during the Maintenance Phase: The active player will roll for expiration of all the continuous effects. Then the inactive player will roll for all the damages of the continuous effects. (Judge Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Arcane Ward - None yet. (Edit)

Rules Clarification : Ashes to Ashes      (Edit) The original attack is not fire damage. Spells that "arc" (Edit) For spells that cause damage to "leap" or "arc" to adjacent models (Chain Lightning, Eruption of Spines, Ashes to Ashes, etc) ... The damage is from a spell, so it is magical damage. (Infernal Ruling) Steamroller flags are models, and so are eligible to be leaped to/from (although they won't be damaged by the spell). (Infernal Ruling) Check whether your spell specifies "enemy model" or just "model", because as of Steamroller 2017 flags are not enemy or friendly.

Rules Clarification : Awareness and/or Bird's Eye     (Edit) You only ignore clouds, forests, and models for LOS purposes. So, for instance, if you attack a model standing in a forest then it will still get concealment.

Rules Clarification : Blessed and/or Creator's Wrath     (Edit) Blessed ignores spell buffs even if they're not directly on the target. (For example, Haley3's Temporal Distortion spell is cast on Haley and gives a DEF buff to everyone within 5". Blessed ignores it on everyone, not just on Haley.) (Locked thread) You only ignore the DEF/ARM buff if the spell directly adds to the stat (for example Arcane Shield gives +3 ARM). Whereas a spell which grants an ability, and the ability gives a DEF/ARM buff, would not be ignored by Blessed (for example Cloak of Ash gives a model concealment, and concealment gives +2 DEF). (Infernal Ruling) If a spell buffs DEF/ARM and [something else] then you ignore the buff but not the [something else]. (For example, the spell Death Ward grants +2 ARM and the defender chooses which column suffers damage. You would ignore the ARM bonus, but the defender still picks the column.) This ability only ignores buffs from spells, not buffs from feats (such as Stryker1's Invincibility +5 ARM) or abilities (such as Protective Aura's +2 ARM).

Rules Clarification : Hex Blast      (Edit) If you miss and deviate onto a different target, no upkeeps or animi expire. You need a direct hit. Anti-Upkeep vs a unit (Edit) If an upkeep is on a unit, then all you need to do is make it expire off any member of the unit and the spell will expire from the entire unit. It doesn't matter if the target is in formation or not. (Locked thread) However, if an upkeep is on a single model within a unit (such as Scything Touch) then you need to dispel it off that particular model to make it dispel. (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Rebuke - None yet. (Edit)