Retribution of Scyrah

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The Retribution is an extremist paramilitary organization that grows increasingly influential in the secluded elvish nation of Ios. For reasons not fully understood, the Iosan gods are all dead or dying which is causing Iosan children to be born without souls, putting their race on the brink of extinction (as seems typical of elves in all fantasy worlds). The Retribution believes the cause of their dilemma is the use of magic by humans, and have decided the best solution is to kill every human arcanist. Given that the Iron Kingdoms are populated with thousands of humans with arcane ability of some degree, this is a hopeless task.

So far, the other nations are largely unaware or unconcerned with the Retribution's activities, so you might say they have been hugely unsuccessful in their stated purpose. In recent years the Skorne have mounted a large invasion onto Iosan lands and this has preoccupied the Retribution and the main Ios military. On the other hand, the conflict has resulted in much more of the military coming under the banner of the Retribution, vastly increasing their options.

For more backstory, refer to Lore - Retribution of Scyrah

Lord Ghyrrshyld, the Forgiven

Retribution of Scyrah for Beginners

Harpy

Aesthetic

Retribution has a much sleeker look than the other nations of the Iron Kingdoms as is typical of elves. There is no steam power. Rather a more arcane power source is used for their gear. The Iosans feature smooth looking quasi-futuristic weapons and armor that incorporate lots of sweeping curves and ostentatious decorations.

Gameplay

Garryth, Eye of Vengeance

The Retribution is characterized by high-quality self-sufficient units, combined-arms warjacks, and slightly weaker warcasters than other factions. They are geared more toward assassination-style gameplay than most factions (which reflects their background), but also bring a strong alpha-strike quality to the table. While they are unquestionably a top four ranged faction (only Cygnar, Crucible Guard and arguably Mercenaries shoot better), they are equally adept in melee. However, they have more elite, lower model count armies and are squishier than other factions as you would expect for Elves.

If lightning is Cygnar's thing and fire is the Protectorate's thing, Retribution's thing is force fields, force weaponry and tractor beams.

Continue reading about their gameplay style   [Show/Hide]

Warcasters
Retribution warcasters tend to be focused on support and geared towards a specific aspect of the faction (usually based on the house they belong to), though they often work well outside of their obvious niche. Additionally they tend to stick to the middle of the overall power curve of the game due to the faction's extremely potent infantry.

Casters like Ravyn, Eternal Light and Lord Arcanist Ossyan are geared heavily towards supporting Retribution's significant ranged options while Adeptis Rahn plays a strong positioning game and both Dawnlord Vyros and Vyros, Incissar of the Dawnguard heavily favor warjacks. Of special note is Issyria, Sibyl of Dawn, currently the only warcaster in the game with neither a weapon nor damage-dealing spell who instead lives off of a host of powerful support abilities that work well with almost any troops in the faction.

That's not to say Retribution warcasters can't get in to the mix; Vyros, Incissar of the Dawnguard has the best defensive stat line in the game on a fast cavalry model who starts off hitting hard and reaches the upper echelon of warcaster damage output when he hits full Synergy. Likewise Thyron, Sword of Truth has great defense against ranged attacks, allowing him to close with the enemy and engage his respectable melee weapon. Others like Kaelyssa, Night's Whisper and Garryth, Blade of Retribution prefer to hang back and support their armies with accurate gunfire.

Warjacks
Retribution's warjacks (called myrmidons in the fiction) are broadly divided into two types: Shyeel and Vyre.

  • House Shyeel jacks all sport Force Fields of various strength. Most of the time, enemy attacks have to take down this field first, and only thereafter can they start damaging the jack's grid. These jacks have a separate Generator system, which grants them their Field Dependent abilities. If the generator is crippled, most of these abilities are gone. A jack can spend 1 focus/turn to recharge its fields, and remove D3+1 damage points from it, unless the Generator is crippled. They have above-average SPD with average DEF and ARM and lower base damage output.
  • House Vyre jacks lack Force Fields, but are more heavily armoured, and have built-in special abilities on their guns and themselves. They have average SPD with average DEF and slightly above-average ARM paired with average damage output.
  • Every heavy jack (with the exception of Hemera) has two melee initials and a gun, giving Retribution battlegroups a level of flexibility not found in other factions.

The effect of this is that Retribution players have the options of taking the right warjack for the job and (in the case of heavies) always having access to a boostable magical ranged weapon. The downside of this is that Retribution heavy warjacks tend to come with a high points value.

The light warjacks tend to be specialized to a role and thus don't suffer from the same point jump that the heavies do when compared to their counterparts in other factions. The Griffon is notable for it's high SPD, good ARM, and solid damage output, while the Harpy and Siren both carry a potent mix of ranged and melee capabilities.

Units

They have the Houseguard units with lighter armour, and the Dawnguard units, with better protection, stronger offensive capabilities, but higher price. Mage Hunter units are your elusive troops, characterised by solid manoeuvrability, high DEF, low ARM, and usually the Stealth special rule. Units with abilities to move the enemy around the battlefield can also be found in abundance in the Retribution's arsenal; mostly among the House Shyeel units.

Starter Sets

Starter Set
Hyperion

The MK3 Battle Box for the Retribution consists of Magister Helynna, and a Griffon, Chimera, and Manticore as the battlegroup. See individual model entries for further information.

The MK2 Battle Box contained Kaelyssa, Night's Whisper, Griffon, Chimera, and Manticore. Due to re-balancing on edition change this is no longer a valid caster choice for official Journeyman Leagues, so ensure that if purchasing for one you buy the new version.

Other good early purchases

As of 2020.04 most veteran Retribution players agree that you should put pretty much the same group of models in every army list, regardless of caster.

That group of models is:

(Edit this list)

The reason why they form the core of Retribution is:

Dawnguard Trident

Speed, armour and lots of guns all at the cost of a premium Warjack. It’s very difficult not to want to take two if you are not running a Battlegroup caster.

Arcantrik Force Generator

Synergises well with anything that sports a hefty gun, which includes many of the models on this core list.

Harpy

Generally regarded as one of the strongest lights in the game, due to its utilitarian ranged and melee presence and reasonable price tag.

House Vyre Electromancers

While an unorthodox Retribution unit, they benefit nicely from boosts to their range and having huge bases to hide behind.

Arcanist Mechanik

Currently he can enter into all of the theme forces, and offers near-unparalleled warjack support. For a mere 2 points apiece it is often worth buying three straight away (max FA).

Ghost Sniper

2 Ghost Snipers form 1 Req point, they feature in 2 themes and they are excellent solo hunters with vs little nuisance. Given how cheap they are even not as a Requisition option you can usually fit one in to a list.

Eiryss1

The most expensive small-based solo (points wise) Retribution has. Her Disruptor Bolt attack can be game winning, crippling enemy warcasters and warlocks. Alternatively Eiryss2 focuses on stripping off enemy support spells from vital units.

Scythe

like a gun platform on legs Scythe has multi-fire and murders infantry, She is also a mercenary so so can fit in any theme but will take a Merc slot in most.

Hermit

Along with Scythe, Sylas, and Eiryss this is another Mercenary who becomes friendly faction in a Retribution force, so can slot into a lot of lists and themes easily.
LOS logo.jpg

Line of Sight article : Brawlmachine List Building - Retribution
In 2021.05 Phillip Melvin, one of the LOS authors, wrote an excellent article for how to start Retribution. It is based on the newbie-friendly Brawlmachine format (25 point limit).
The article contains a different list for each Retribution theme, and advice on how to expand those lists beyond 25 points.

Starting a Theme Force

Mage Hunter Strike Force
Daemon

Players can use the Theme Force rules to construct their army list once the game size reaches 25 points. Themes restrict which models from your Faction you have access to, with different models being "locked" into different themes. In return, playing a theme force gives you multiple benefits in return. Also, models in a theme force normally have natural synergies with each other - synergies they can't use if they're paired with models from outside the theme.

Themes are considered the default way to play Warmachine and Hordes (although technically they're optional).

Regardless of whether you're starting at 25 points or lower, as a new player you have two options:

  1. Ignore themes to begin with, buy a couple of things you like the look of, and later on figure out if they work together in the same theme.
    With this approach you run the risk of buying models from a hodge podge of different themes. At some point you'll end up choosing one theme to use and expand, and shelving your models that don't fit the theme.
  2. Figure out which theme contains models you like the look of, and limit yourself to just buying models from that theme.
    This approach has the benefit of not shelving any of your purchases and you're more likely to have models that have natural synergies with each other (even if you buy things completely at random).

Theme Forces

Arcantrik Force Generator
House Vyre Electromancers

Defenders of Ios

This is an infantry theme force, formed around the Houseguard, complemented by troops from other houses and the Nyss exiles.

The models allowed in Defenders of Ios are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2021.10   (Edit)

Warcasters

  • All Retribution warcasters

Warjacks

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

Battle Engines

Units

Solos

Mercenaries

  • Up to one Mercenary unit
  • Up to one Mercenary solo
(★) Because these models are specifically allowed in this theme, they don't use up your Mercenary slot.

Here's some examples of the model aesthetic for this theme

  • HeavyRifleTeam.jpg
  • StormfallArchers.jpg
  • HouseguardHalberdiers.jpg
  • Lys Healer.jpg
  • Retribution Hypnos.jpg

Forges of War

This is Retribution's warjack-centric theme. If you want stompy elf robots, look here (it does only allow House Shyeel's warjacks, however).

The models allowed in Forges of War are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2021.11   (Edit)

Warcasters

  • Retribution warcasters

Warjacks

  • Non-character warjacks:
  • Discordia
  • Other character warjacks can be taken, but only if they have a bond and they're in their bonded model's battlegroup.

Battle Engines

Units

Solos

Mercenaries

  • Up to one unit
  • Up to one solo
(★) Because Sylys is specifically allowed in this theme, he doesn't use up your Mercenary slot.

Here's some examples of the model aesthetic for this theme

  • Retribution Discordia.jpg
  • Retribution Phoenix.jpg
  • HouseShyeelArtificer.jpg
  • House Shyeel Arcanists.jpg
  • Helios.jpg

Legion of Dawn

Another infantry theme force, this time focusing on the more elite Dawnguard troops.

The models allowed in Legions of Dawn are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2019.07   (Edit)

Warcasters

  • All Retribution warcasters

Warjacks

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

Units

Solos

Mercenaries

  • Up to one unit
  • Up to one solo

Here's some examples of the model aesthetic for this theme

  • Retribution Imperatus.jpg
  • Sentinels1.jpg
  • Dawnguard Trident.jpg
  • Vyros2.jpg
  • DawnguardSycir.jpg

Shadows of the Retribution

This is the ninja theme! Lots of stealthy skirmish infantry with good DEF and maneuverability, but poor ARM and hitpoints.

The models allowed in Shadows of the Retribution are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2019.08   (Edit)

Warcasters

  • All Retribution warcasters

Warjacks

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

Units

Solos

Mercenaries

(★) Because she is in the list of allowed models, Eiryss doesn't use up a Merc slot. Similar for the Void Archon (even though it's not a Partisan)

Here's some examples of the model aesthetic for this theme

  • Retribution Moros.jpg
  • Retribution Eyriss3.jpg
  • Garryth1.jpg
  • MageHunterAssassin.jpg
  • Spears-of-Scyrah.jpg

List of Models

Warcasters

Elara1 Refer to Retribution solos, below
Elara2 Elara, Death's Shadow
Falcir1 Falcir, the Merciless
Garryth1 Garryth, Blade of Retribution
Garryth2 Garryth, Eye of Vengeance
Goreshade -1 Lord Ghyrrshyld of House Vyre (Not tournament legal)
Goreshade1 to 3 Refer to Cryx warcasters
Goreshade4 Lord Ghyrrshyld, the Forgiven
Helynna1 Magister Helynna
Issyria1 Issyria, Sibyl of Dawn
Kaelyssa1 Kaelyssa, Night's Whisper
Ossyan1 Lord Arcanist Ossyan
Rahn1 Adeptis Rahn
Ravyn1 Ravyn, Eternal Light
Thyron1 Thyron, Sword of Truth
Vyros1 Dawnlord Vyros
Vyros2 Vyros, Incissar of the Dawnguard
Adeptis Rahn
Dawnguard Sentinels

House Shyeel Warjacks

House Vyre Warjacks

Battle Engines

Units

Solos

Retribution includes a large number of Partisan solos, including most elvish Mercenaries & Minions

Mercenaries that work for the Retribution

Eiryss, Angel of Retribution

Refer to Who works for Whom and/or Category: Retribution of Scyrah Mercenary

Designer's Notes 2016

Just before the launch of the mk3 ruleset, the game developers did a series of Insider articles about what they saw as each Faction's "Core Identity". Although it's a little dated now, it is still an interesting insight to how they view Retribution 2016.05 Retribution Preview.

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