Difference between revisions of "Mercenaries"

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=== Warjacks & Monstrosities ===
 
=== Warjacks & Monstrosities ===
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{|
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* {{FH4|Human Warjacks}}
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|- valign="top"
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** <u>Light</u>
−
| width=33%|{{FH4|Light }}
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*** [[Buccaneer]]
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* <u>Human</u>
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*** [[Renegade]] - (Magnus only)
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** [[Buccaneer]]
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*** ''[[Scallywag]]'' - (Bonded with [[Shae]])
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** [[Renegade]] (Magnus only)
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*** [[Swashbuckler]]
−
** [[Swashbuckler]]
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*** [[Talon]]
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** [[Talon]]
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*** [[Vanguard]] - (Crucible Guard [[Maker's Mark]])
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** [[Vanguard]] ([[Maker's Mark]])
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** <u>Heavy</u>
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* <u>Cephalyx</u>
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*** [[Freebooter]]
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** None
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*** ''[[Gallant]]'' (Cygnar Partisan) - (Bonded with [[Blaize]])
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* <u>Rhulic</u>
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*** [[Mangler]]
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** [[Grundback Blaster]]
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*** [[Mariner]]
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** [[Grundback Gunner]]
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*** [[Mule]]
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*** [[Nomad]]
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*** ''[[Rocinante]]'' - (Bonded with [[Damiano]])
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*** [[Rover]]
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*** [[Swabber]]
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*** [[Toro]] - (Crucible Guard [[Maker's Mark]])
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** <u>Colossal</u>
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*** [[Blockader]]
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*** [[Galleon]]
  
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| width=33%|{{FH4|Heavy}}
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* {{FH4|Rhulic Warjacks}}
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* <u>Human</u>
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** <u>Light</u>
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** [[Freebooter]]
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*** [[Grundback Blaster]]
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** [[Mangler]]
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*** [[Grundback Gunner]]
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** [[Mariner]]
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** <u>Heavy</u>
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** [[Mule]]
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*** [[Ghordson Avalancher]]
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** [[Nomad]]
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*** [[Ghordson Basher]]
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** [[Rover]]
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*** [[Ghordson Driller]]
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** [[Swabber]]
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*** [[Wroughthammer Rockram]]
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** [[Toro]] ([[Maker's Mark]])
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** <u>Colossal</u>
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* <u>Cephalyx</u> ([[Monstrosity]])
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*** [[Ghordson Earthbreaker]]
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** [[Subduer]]
 
−
** [[Warden]]
 
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** [[Wrecker]]
 
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* <u>Rhulic</u>
 
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** [[Ghordson Avalancher]]
 
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** [[Ghordson Basher]]
 
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** [[Ghordson Driller]]
 
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** [[Wroughthammer Rockram]]
 
  
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| width=33%|{{FH4|Character}}
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* {{FH4|Cephalyx [[Monstrosity|Monstrosities]]}}
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* <u>Light</u>
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** <u>Heavy</u>  
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** [[Scallywag]] - (Bonded with [[Shae]])
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*** [[Subduer]]
−
* <u>Heavy</u>
+
*** [[Warden]]
−
** [[Gallant]] (Cygnar Partisan) - (Bonded with [[Blaize]])
+
*** [[Wrecker]]
−
** [[Rocinante]] - (Bonded with [[Damiano]])
 
−
 
 
−
{{FH4|Colossal }}
 
−
* <u>Human</u>
 
−
** [[Blockader]]
 
−
** [[Galleon]]
 
−
* <u>Cephalyx</u>
 
−
** None
 
−
* <u>Rhulic</u>
 
−
** [[Ghordson Earthbreaker]]
 
−
|}
 
  
 
=== Battle Engines===
 
=== Battle Engines===

Revision as of 19:54, 13 June 2019

Merc art1.jpg

Mercenaries are soldiers for hire that can be fielded in a variety of Faction armies (see also Who Works for Whom). Alternatively, you can field an army made up entirely of Mercenary models.

Mercenaries are an eclectic bunch from all walks of life; from the in-it-for-the-money Steelhead licensed companies, to the vendetta-focused Nyss Hunters. Some of the colorful characters you'll meet include murderers for hire, shambling undead, snake charming elves, and the list goes on.

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Tip !
New players often misunderstand how they can include Mercenary models in their army (especially Mercenary warjacks & Mercenary warcasters).

  • Mercenary units, solos, and battle engines can be included in any Faction listed on their card.
  • Mercenary warjacks can only be controlled by a Mercenary model.
    In a normal game, this means other Factions need to hire a 'Jack Marshal or Junior Warcaster.
  • A Mercenary warcaster can only be put in a non-Mercenary army if you're playing a 2+ caster game.
    If you're only playing with 1 caster, and that caster is a Mercenary warcaster, then by definition you're playing a Mercenary force.
  • There are many exceptions to the above rules, such as Partisan, Limited Employment, and Maker's Mark.

Alternatively you should simply become a Mercenary player, in which case your entire army must be Mercenary models (warcaster, warjacks, units, etc).

Starting your own Mercenary force

(Note to editors: Keep it brief. There's too much to cover and too much detail creates a wall of text before the unit entries.)

Introduction

Most factions represent a group owing allegiance to a particular homeland, organization, ruler, or species. Mercenary models are mostly in it for the money. Some pursue their own specific agenda but all mercs are out to make a lot of cash... except Cephalyx. It's a hard faction to sum up.

When building a pure Mercenary army, most mercenary models can be fielded alongside each other, and together they represent a mercenary force in the employ of any given client. There are some theme restrictions, battlegroup restrictions, and animosities that limit who can be fielded together, but for the most part anything goes. For instance although Rhulic troops will work for a Human warcaster and vice versa, no one will work for the Cephalyx (unless they've been enslaved).

Aesthetic

If there is one overarching "feel" to Mercenaries, it is that most of it is second-rate and cobbled together. The warjacks are mostly decommissioned military warjacks or repurposed laborjacks. Mercenaries boast no warjacks that shoot like Cygnaran Defenders or hit like Khadoran Juggernauts. Instead, they rely on cheap mainstays like the Mariner and the Nomad to get the job done on a budget.

Playstyle

Mercenaries have two great strengths compared to the other factions. They have the best selection of solos in the game and a bevy of cheap but effective warjack and unit options. Many Mercenary solos and units hand out abilities that can solve problems that the mercenary casters cannot, such as stealth removal, magic weapon or pathfinder.

Mercenary warcasters tend to be low focus (usually 6), support-oriented, and most have unusual and very powerful feats. None are really stellar assassins.

The faction is similar in play style to the Retribution, but with cheaper, less-effective stuff, and less aptitude for assassination.

Mercenaries do not feature fire, ice, lightning or corrosion themes like the other Warmachine factions, but they do have the most blast weapons of any faction by a wide margin.

Starter Sets

No mercenary starter set exists or likely ever will.

Worthwhile early purchases

Mercenaries have so much variety and sprawl that new players should pick their favorite caster and build around them. Most casters can play a good army in the Irregulars theme before you branch into the more restrictive themes.

If your caster is human, either 2-3 Nomad kits with magnetized arms, or 2-3 Privateer heavies should compose your battle group. All mercenary human warjacks have either been through CID or been deemed good enough not to need changes so there is no "best" warjack.

If your caster is Rhulic, get 2-3 Drillers and 4-6 Gunners and buy Blaster bits from the parts store and your battle group is set for a long time. Rhulic models have not been through CID and there are a lot of weak choices in the inventory.

If your caster is Cephalyx, 3 heavy kits can be purchase and magnetized.

Staple units are Kayazy Eliminators, Steelhead Halberdiers, Press Gangers, Forge Guard, Aiyana and Holt and some of the artillery pieces.

Staple solos are Eiryss1, Anastasia, Ragman, Gorman and Rhupert, though most are pretty good.

Starting a Theme Force

The Talion Charter, Soldiers of Fortune, and Hammer Strike themes are all good - and most of their models fold into The Irregulars so which of these four themes to start with depends on your own preferences in terms of aesthetics and playstyle. The Cephalyx theme is generally not recommended for beginners because it doesn't play so well with the others, and Llaelese Resistance lists tend to be much more caster specific than the others. Kingmaker's is a variant Soldiers of Fortune list with more limited caster choices.

Starting as a second faction

Mercenaries are commonly played as a second faction due to their overlap with other factions. The Llaelese Resistance and Flame in the Darkness themes are staples for this sort of crossover, with Khador's Kayazy and the Protectorate's Idrian Skirmishers commonly being seen in Irregulars lists.

Conclusion

Merc art5.jpg

Given the sprawl, there is quite a bloat of models to collect in the Mercenary "faction" if you want to 'catch them all'. Also you can mix-and-match so many different permutations of models/units and it is perfectly fine to field an army with Humans, Trollbloods, Dwarves, Undead, Gatormen, Ogrun, Farrow, Iosans and Nyss. You can do almost anything. On top of all these options, a mercenary player has access to every unit from three different factions in the Llaelese Resistance theme force, making the options nearly endless.


LOS logo.jpg

Line of Sight article : Mercenary List Pairings Part 1 and Part 2
Authored by Charles Soong, one of the best Mercenary players out there, these articles go over how to choose which two Merc lists to take to a tournament. Written in 2018.07. Slightly out of date but still helpful.

Theme Forces

Flame in the Darkness

This theme represents the Thamarite and Morrowan forces putting aside their ideological differences and teaming up to fight off the Infernal invasion. It is shared with Cygnar and Khador and grants access to their warjacks, though it is not a 'jack theme. If you like angels and holy warriors but don't like Menoth, this is your jam.

Hammer Strike

Rhul is a nation of Dwarves and Ogrun, located in an impregnable mountainous region between Khador, Llael and Ios. Primarily a trade empire, Rhul has a military on par with any of the Iron Kingdoms, and they defend their own borders meticulously, but only involve themselves in the conflicts of the other nations to keep the trade lanes open and provide combat experience to its troops. On the tabletop, Rhul plays to all the standard tropes of dwarves: slow, sturdy, well-trained, and well-equipped.

Llaelese Resistance

A guerilla force made up of Llaelese patriots engaged in a desperate struggle to restore Khadoran-occupied Llael as a free and independent nation. Most importantly, it grants you access to any 2 units from any one of Cygnar, Protectorate or Crucible Guard, which is super exciting.

Merc art3.jpg
The models allowed in Llaelese Resistance are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2022.04   (Edit)

Warcasters

Warjacks

  • All non-character Mercenary warjacks
  • Character warjacks can be taken, but only if they have a bond and they're in their bonded model's battlegroup.

Solos

Mercenary Units

Non-Mercenary Units
You can also include up to two non-character units from one of Cygnar, the Protectorate, or the Crucible Guard. (Note: The two units have to be from the same Faction.)

Operating Theater

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Important
Unlike other Mercenary models, Cephalyx may only be played in this theme force. They cannot even be played in an out-of-theme list.

Merc art2.jpg

Cephalyx are a reclusive and pitiless race of psychically powerful creatures that live underground. They capture and experiment upon live creatures, turning them into lobotomized brutes to wage their wars for them. On the tabletop, they play as a swarm of expendable infantry interspersed with hulking Monstrosities and backed by powerful psychic overlords.

The models allowed in Operating Theater are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2020.02   (Edit)

Warcasters

Monstrosities

Warjacks

Solos

Units

Soldiers of Fortune

Soldiers of Fortune is the Steelhead theme force, with a few free agents tagging along. It places a heavy emphasis on combined-arms and features some of the best artillery in the game.

The Irregulars

The "default" Mercenary theme force, this theme allows (almost) any Mercenary model, and gives bonuses to jack marshals. If you want to field lots of mercenary warjacks, you probably play this theme. However, the main point is you can field almost anything except Cephalyx and most non-character solos.

The models allowed in Irregulars are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2020.12   (Edit)

Warcasters

  • All Mercenary warcasters, except the Cephalyx ones.

Warjacks

  • All non-character Mercenary warjacks,
  • Character warjacks can be taken, but only if they have a bond and they're in their bonded model's battlegroup.

Battle Engines

Units

(★) The Commodore Cannon can only be included if your warcaster is a Privateer.

Solos

The Kingmaker's Army

Cygnaran rebels and hired sellswords led by Magnus in his ultimately successful effort to install a new king of Cygnar. Very similar to Soldiers of Fortune, but with a few Cygnaran units thrown in.

The models allowed in The Kingmaker's Army are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2021.11   (Edit)

Warcasters

Warjacks

  • Non-character Mercenary warjacks (only the "Human" ones)
  • Character warjacks can be taken, but only if they're in their bonded model's battlegroup.

Units

Solos

(★) These models are normally Cygnar models, but become Mercenary models when taken in this theme.

The Talion Charter

The Charter is a group of pirates and privateers who also happen to sell their services as armies for hire. It is named after Captain Shae's ship. The only non-privateer models allowed are warjacks. Cryx Scharde units may be taken as privateers in this theme.

The models allowed in The Talion Charter are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2021.02   (Edit)

Warcasters

Warjacks

  • All non-character warjacks (human only, not the Rhulic ones)
  • Scallywag
  • Other character warjacks can be taken, but only if they have a bond and they're in their bonded model's battlegroup.

Solos

Units


(★) indicates Scharde models which are normally Cryx.

Mercenary Models

Merc art4.png

Unreleased Models

Last Updated: 2019.05

Warcasters

Human
Ashlynn1 Ashlynn d'Elyse
Blaize1 Constance Blaize, Knight of the Prophet (Cygnar Partisan)
Caine1 & 2 Refer to Cygnar warcasters
Caine3 Caine's Hellslingers (Cygnar Partisan)
Crosse1 Refer to solos, below
Crosse2 Lieutenant Gastone Crosse
Damiano1 Captain Damiano
Fiona1 Fiona the Black
Macbain1 Drake MacBain
Magnus1 Magnus the Traitor
Magnus2 Magnus the Warlord
Montador1 Captain Bartolo Montador
Rehera1 Captain Rahera, Terror of the Wailing Sea (Cryx Partisan)
Shae1 Captain Phinneus Shae
Stryker -1 Steelhead Captain Stryker (Not tournament legal)
     
Cephalyx
Cyphon1 Cognifex Cyphon
Thexus1 Exulon Thexus

 

Rhulic
Durgen1 Durgen Madhammer
Gorten1 Gorten Grundback
Ossrum1 General Ossrum

Warjacks & Monstrosities

Battle Engines

Units

Special Attachments

Solos


Mercenary Minion models

These models are both Mercenary models and Minion models, making them perfect for a player that wants to expand their collection from one to the other.

-NOTE- This list is badly out of date.

Solos

Units

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