Mercenaries
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.
Tip !
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.
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. Few are capable caster-killers.
Mercenaries play combined-arms armies that often outnumber the opposing force. After Crucible Guard and Cygnar, Mercenaries probably duke it out with Retribution for third strongest ranged faction. Most factions are better in melee, though unlike Crucible Guard and Cygnar, mercs are not weak in that department by any stretch.
Mercenaries do not feature fire, ice, lightning, force 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.
Conclusion
Given the sprawl, there is quite a bloat of models to collect in the Mercenary faction. 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. If you like variety, Mercenaries are your jam.
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.
This list was last updated: 2021.11 (Edit)
Warcasters
Warjacks
- Light
- Heavy
- Colossal
Battle Engines
Units
- Herne & Jonne
- Horgenhold Forge Guard
- Horgenhold Artillery Corps
- Hammerfall High Shield Gun Corps
- Ogrun Assault Corps
- Tactical Arcanist Corps
Solos
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.
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
- Anastasia di Bray
- Colbie Sterling, Captain of the BRI - ('Jack Marshal)
- Eilish Garrity, the Occultist
- Crosse1 - ("Junior Warcaster")
- Glyn Cormier, Illuminated One
- Gobber Tinker
- Gorman1
- Gorman2
- Harlan Versh, Illuminated One
- MacHorne2
- Major Harrison Gibbs
- Madelyn Corbeau - (Warcaster Attachment)
- Ragman
- Reinholdt, Gobber Speculator - (Warcaster Attachment)
- Rhupert Carvolo
- Rutger Shaw - ('Jack Marshal)
- Sergeant Nicolas Verendrye
- Sylys Wyshnalyrr - (Warcaster Attachment)
- Taryn di la Rovissi, Llaelese Gun Mage
- Menite Archon
- Morrowan Archon
- Thamarite Archon
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.)
- Arcane Tempest Gun Mages
- Field Mechaniks
- Long Gunner Infantry
- Rangers
- Silver Line Stormguard
- Storm Lances
- Stormblade Infantry
- Stormguard Infantry
- Stormsmith Grenadiers
- Stormsmith Storm Tower
- Sword Knights
- Tempest Blazers
- Trencher Cannon Crew
- Trencher Chain Gun Crew
- Trencher Commandos
- Trencher Express Team
- Trencher Infantry
- Trencher Long Gunners
- Trencher Mechaniks
Operating Theater
Important |
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.
This list was last updated: 2020.02 (Edit)
Warcasters
Monstrosities
Warjacks
- Cephalyx warcasters cannot take warjacks.
- Asphyxious4 can take warjacks.
- MacHorne1 plus a Cephalyx Dominator can take a warjack.
Solos
- Bloat Thrall
- Bloat Thrall Overseer Mobius
- Cephalyx Agitator
- Doctor Stygius
(Warcaster Attachment) - Machine Wraith
- Pistol Wraith
- Void Archon
Units
- Asphyxious4
("Junior Warcaster") - Cephalyx Mind Bender & Drudges
- Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges
- Cephalyx Overlords
- You can also include any non-Cephalyx Mercenary unit(s), as long as they are led by a Cephalyx Dominator
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.
This list was last updated: 2021.02 (Edit)
Warcasters
- All Mercenary warcasters, except the Cephalyx ones.
Warjacks
- All non-character Mercenary warjacks,
- Rocinante
- Other character warjacks can be taken, but only if they have a bond and they're in their bonded model's battlegroup.
Units
- Alexia1
- Dannon Blythe & Bull
- Herne & Jonne
- Steelhead Cannon Crew
- Steelhead Halberdiers
- Steelhead Heavy Cavalry
- Steelhead Mortar Crew
- Steelhead Riflemen
- Steelhead Volley Gun Crew
Solos
- Alexia2
- Alexia3
- Anastasia di Bray
- Boomhowler2
- Death Archon
- Dez1
- Dez2
- Eiryss1
- Gorman1
- Gorman2
- Madelyn Corbeau, Ordic Courtesan - (Warcaster Attachment)
- Ogrun Bokur
- Reinholdt, Gobber Speculator - (Warcaster Attachment)
- Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord
- Rutger Shaw, Professional Adventurer - ('Jack Marshal)
- Saxon Orrik
- Sergeant Nicolas Verendrye
- Sylys Wyshnalyrr, The Seeker - (Warcaster Attachment)
- Stannis Brocker
- Steelhead Arcanist
- Steelhead Gunner
- Steelhead Ironhead
- Taryn di la Rovissi, Llaelese Gun Mage
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.
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
- Alexia1
- Boomhowler1
- Croe's Cutthroats
- Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters
- Dannon Blythe & Bull
- Herne & Jonne
- Idrian Skirmishers
- Kayazy Assassins
- Kayazy Eliminators
- Lady Aiyana & Master Holt
- Lynus Wesselbaum & Edrea Lloryrr
- MacHorne1 ('Jack Marshal)
- Precursor Knights
- The Commodore Cannon & Crew (★)
- The Devil's Shadow Mutineers
(★) The Commodore Cannon can only be included if your warcaster is a Privateer.
Solos
- Alexia2
- Alexia3
- Alten Ashley
- Anastasia di Bray
- Balthazar Bamfist
- Black Bella1
- Black Bella2
- Bloody Bradigan
- Boomhowler2
- Boomhowler3
- Bosun Grogspar
- Brun Cragback & Lug (Lesser Warlock & Companion Warbeast)
- Captain Crawtooth
- Colbie Sterling, Captain of the BRI - ('Jack Marshal)
- Crosse1 ("Junior Warcaster")
- Dahlia Hallyr & Skarath (Lesser Warlock & Companion Warbeast)
- Dez1
- Dez2
- Dirty Meg ('Jack Marshal)
- Doc Killingsworth
- Eilish1
- Eiryss1
- Eiryss2
-
Eiryss3 - Eiryss4
- First Mate Hawk
- Flubbin
- Flugwug the Filcher
- Glyn Cormier, Illuminated One
- Gobber Tinker
- Grand Master Gabriel Throne
- Gorman1
- Gorman2
- Gubbin1
- Gubbin2
- Gudrun1
- Gudrun2
- Harlan Versh, Illuminated One
- Harlowe Holdemhigh
- Hermit of Henge Hold
- Hutchuk, Ogrun Bounty Hunter
- J.A.I.M.s
- Kell Bailoch
- Lanyssa Ryssyl, Nyss Sorceress
- Lord Rockbottom
- MacHorne2 ('Jack Marshal)
- Madelyn Corbeau, Ordic Courtesan - (Warcaster Attachment)
- Major Harrison Gibbs
- Master Gunner Dougal MacNaile
- Orin1
- Ragman
- Raluk Moorclaw, the Ironmonger ('Jack Marshal)
- Reinholdt, Gobber Speculator (Warcaster Attachment)
- Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord
- Rorsh & Brine (Lesser Warlock & Companion Warbeast)
- Rutger Shaw, Professional Adventurer ('Jack Marshal)
- Savio Montero Acosta
- Saxon Orrik
- Scythe
- Sergeant Nicholas Verendrye
- Stannis Brocker
- Sylys Wishnalyrr (Warcaster Attachment)
- Taryn Di La Rovissi, Llaelese Gun Mage
- Thor Steinhammer ('Jack Marshal)
- Underboss Vizkova
- Viktor Pendrake
- Weird Wendell, Gremlin Wrangler
- Widget, Tinker Extraordinaire
- Wrong Eye & Snapjaw (Lesser Warlock & Companion Warbeast)
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.
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
- Croe's Cutthroats
- Boomhowler1
- Long Gunners (★)
- Rangers (★)
- Steelhead Cannon Crew
- Steelhead Halberdiers
- Steelhead Heavy Cavalry
- Steelhead Mortar Crew
- Steelhead Riflemen
- Steelhead Volley Gun Crew
- Trencher Long Gunners (★)
- Trencher Infantry (★)
Solos
- Boomhowler2
- Boomhowler3
- Dirty Meg
('Jack Marshal) - Kell Bailoch
- Madelyn Corbeau
(Warcaster Attachment) - Orin Midwinter
- Raluk Moorclaw
('Jack Marshal) - Sergeant Nicolas Verendrye
- Stannis Brocker
- Steelhead Arcanist
- Steelhead Gunner
- Steelhead Ironhead
(★) 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.
This list was last updated: 2021.02 (Edit)
Warcasters
- Captain Bartolo Montador
- Captain Phinneus Shae
- Captain Rahera, Terror of the Wailing Sea
- Fiona the Black
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
- Black Bella1
- Black Bella2
- Bloody Bradigan
- Bosun Grogspar
- Captain Crawtooth
- Death Archon
- Dirty Meg
('Jack Marshal) - Doc Killingsworth
- First Mate Hawk
- Lord Rockbottom
- Master Gunner Dougal MacNaile
- Powder Monkey
- Swamp Gobber River Raiders
Units
- Press Gangers
- Sea Dog Crew
- Sea Dog Deck Gun
- Lady Aiyana & Master Holt
- Scharde Dirge Seers (★)
- Scharde Pirates (★)
- The Commodore Cannon & Crew
- The Devil's Shadow Mutineers
Mercenary Models
Unreleased Models
Last Updated: 2019.05
- Captain Rahera, Terror of the Wailing Sea
- Blockader
- Swashbuckler
- Theme - Flame in the Darkness
- Hermit of Henge Hold
- RiotQuest
- Dez
- Balthazar Bamfist
- Eiryss, Fortune Hunter of Ios (Eiryss4, Retribution partisan)
- Gubbin
- Black Bella, Duchess of Dread
- Boomhowler, Solo Artist (Boomhowler2)
- Harlowe Holdemhigh
- Gorman the Mad (Gorman2, presumably also Partisan Crucible Guard)
- Widget, Tinker Extraordinaire
- Archons (Merc/Minion super solos)
- The Order of Illumination (new Morrow/Thamar stuff)
- Alexia, The Undying (Alexia3)
- Grand Master Gabriel Throne (Cygnar Partisan)
- Thamarite Advocate
- Order of Illumination Resolutes (Cygnar Partisan)
- Order of Illumination Vigilants (Cygnar Partisan)
- Glyn Cormier, Illuminated One (Cygnar Partisan)
- Legion of Lost Souls (Cygnar Partisan)
- Morrowan Battle Priest (Cygnar Partisan)
Warcasters
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Warjacks & Monstrosities
- Human Warjacks
- Light
- Buccaneer
- Renegade - (Magnus only)
- Scallywag - (Bonded with Shae)
- Swashbuckler
- Talon
- Vanguard - (Crucible Guard Maker's Mark)
- Heavy
- Colossal
- Light
- Rhulic Warjacks
- Cephalyx Monstrosities
Battle Engines
Units
- Alexia1: Alexia Ciannor & The Risen
- Alexia2 & 3: Refer to Solos
- Captain Sam MacHorne & The Devil Dogs - (Jack Marshal)
- Cephalyx Mind Bender & Drudges
- Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges - (Cryx Partisan)
- Cephalyx Overlords - (Cryx Partisan)
- Croe's Cutthroats - (Infernal Partisan)
- Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters - (Retribution Partisan)
- Dannon Blythe & Bull
- Greygore Boomhowler & Co.
- Hammerfall High Shield Gun Corps
- CA - Officer and Standard Bearer
- Herne & Jonne
- Horgenhold Artillery Corps
- Horgenhold Forge Guard
- Idrian Skirmishers - (Protectorate Partisan)
- CA - Chieftain & Guide
- Kayazy Assassins - (Khador Partisan)
- CA - Underboss
- Kayazy Eliminators - (Khador Partisan)
- Lady Aiyana & Master Holt
- Legion of Lost Souls - (Cygnar Partisan)
- Lynus Wesselbaum & Edrea Lloryrr
- Ogrun Assault Corps
- Order of Illumination Resolutes - (Cygnar Partisan)
- Order of Illumination Vigilants - (Cygnar Partisan)
- Precursor Knights - (Cygnar Partisan)
- CA - Officer & Standard
- Press Gangers
- Sea Dog Crew
- CA - Mr. Walls
- WA - Rifleman
- Sea Dog Deck Gun
- Steelhead Cannon Crew
- Steelhead Halberdiers
- Steelhead Heavy Cavalry
- Steelhead Mortar Crew
- Steelhead Riflemen
- Steelhead Volley Gun Crew
- Tactical Arcanist Corps
- The Commodore Cannon & Crew
- The Devil's Shadow Mutineers
- Thorn Gun Mages
Special Attachments
- Ranking Officer: Cephalyx Dominator (CA for any small- or medium-base unit, makes them Cephalyx)
- Weapon Attachment: Morrowan Battle Priest (any Morrowan unit)
Solos
- Alexia1: Refer to Units
- Alexia2: Alexia, Mistress of the Witchfire
- Alexia3: Alexia, The Undying
- Alten Ashley
- Anastasia di Bray
- Balthazar Bamfist
- Bloody Bradigan
- Bosun Grogspar
- Brun Cragback & Lug - (Lesser Warlock & Companion Warbeast)
- Cephalyx Agitator
- Colbie Sterling, Captain of the BRI - ('Jack Marshal)
- Crosse1: Gastone Crosse - ("Junior Warcaster")
- Crosse2: Refer to Warcasters
- Dahlia Hallyr & Skarath - (Lesser Warlock & Companion Warbeast)
- Dez
- Dirty Meg - ('Jack Marshal)
- Doc Killingsworth
- Eilish Garrity, the Occultist - (Infernal Partisan)
- Eiryss1: Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios - (Retribution Partisan)
- Eiryss2: Eiryss, Angel of Retribution - (Retribution Partisan)
- Eiryss3: Refer to Retribution units
- Eiryss4: Eiryss, Fortune Hunter of Ios - (Retribution Partisan)
- First Mate Hawk
- Glyn Cormier, Illuminated One - (Cygnar Partisan)
- Grand Master Gabriel Throne - (Cygnar Partisan)
- Gobber Tinker
- Gorman di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist - (Crucible Guard Partisan)
- Gubbin
- Gudrun the Wanderer
- Harlan Versh, Illuminated One - (Cygnar Partisan)
- Hermit of Henge Hold - (Retribution & Infernal Partisan)
- Hutchuk, Ogrun Bounty Hunter - (Crucible Guard Partisan)
- J.A.I.M.s - (Convergence Partisan)
- Kell Bailoch
- Lanyssa Ryssyl, Nyss Sorceress - (Retribution Partisan)
- Lord Rockbottom
- Madelyn Corbeau, Ordic Courtesan - (Warcaster Attachment)
- Major Harrison Gibbs - (Cygnar Partisan)
- Master Gunner Dougal MacNaile
- Menite Archon - (Protectorate Partisan)
- Morrowan Archon
- Ogrun Bokur
- Orin Midwinter, Rogue Inquisitor (Infernal Partisan)
- Powder Monkey
- Ragman
- Raluk Moorclaw, the Ironmonger - ('Jack Marshal)
- Reinholdt, Gobber Speculator - (Warcaster Attachment)
- Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord
- Rorsh & Brine - (Lesser Warlock & Companion Warbeast)
- Rutger Shaw, Professional Adventurer - ('Jack Marshal)
- Savio Montero Acosta
- Saxon Orrik - (Infernal Partisan)
- Sergeant Nicholas Verendrye
- Stannis Brocker
- Steelhead Arcanist
- Steelhead Ironhead
- Steelhead Gunner
- Swamp Gobber River Raider
- Sylys Wishnalyrr - (Warcaster Attachment, Retribution Partisan)
- Taryn Di La Rovissi, Llaelese Gun Mage
- Thamarite Advocate
- Thamarite Archon
- Thor Steinhammer - ('Jack Marshal)
- Viktor Pendrake - (Cygnar Partisan)
- Void Archon
- Wrong Eye & Snapjaw - (Lesser Warlock & Companion Warbeast)
Other
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
- Alten Ashley
- Brun Cragback & Lug - (Lesser Warlock)
- Dahlia Hallyr & Skarath - (Lesser Warlock)
- Eilish Garrity, the Occultist
- Gobber Tinker
- Gudrun the Wanderer
- Hermit of Henge Hold
- Hutchuk, Ogrun Bounty Hunter
- J.A.I.M.s
- Lanyssa Ryssyl, Nyss Sorceress
- Ogrun Bokur
- Orin Midwinter, Rogue Inquisitor
- Raluk Moorclaw, the Ironmonger - ('Jack Marshal)
- Rorsh & Brine - (Lesser Warlock)
- Saxon Orrik
- Swamp Gobber River Raider
- Thamarite Advocate
- Viktor Pendrake
- Void Archon
- Wrongeye & Snapjaw - (Lesser Warlock)
Units
- Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters
- Dannon Blythe & Bull
- Greygore Boomhowler & Co.
- Lynus Wesselbaum & Edrea Lloryrr
Official Short Stories
- The Toll by Doug Seacat 2019.06, starring Eilish Garrity and set in the time between the events of the Black Crowns novel and his incarnation as Eilish the Occultist.