Sylys Wyshnalyrr, the Seeker

Sylys Wyshnalyrr, the Seeker Mercenary, & Retribution Partisan, Seeker Character Solo - (Warcaster Attachment)

An Iosan scholar well versed in the arcane arts, Sylys Wyshnalyrr barters his talents to the armies of the Iron Kingdoms in exchange for access to their libraries and safe passage across their lands. Given Sylys’ attention, even the most puissant warcaster would find his own sorcerous ability strengthened, gaining an invaluable edge in battle.

Basic Info

Sylys Wyshnalyrr, the Seeker
Missing Info
	COST {{{cacost}}} UNIT SIZE {{{casize}}} FA {{{cafa}}} Warcaster 0 BASE Small SPD 6 STR {{{str}}} MAT 5 RAT N/A M.A. N/A DEF 13 ARM 13 CMD 5 ESSENCE {{{essence}}} FOCUS N/A FURY N/A THRS N/A HP 5 F. Field N/A WJP {{{wjp}}} WBP {{{wbp}}} IHP {{{ihp}}} FA C UNIT SIZE N/A COST 4 N/A N/A N/A Warcaster 1 COST N/A N/A Understanding the Statblock

• Mercenary - This model will work for Crucible Guard, Cygnar, Khador, Protectorate, or as Retribution.
• Partisan [ Retribution of Scyrah ] - When included in a Retribution of Scyrah army, this model/unit is a Retribution of Scyrah model/unit instead of a Mercenary model/unit.

Abilities

• Attached - Before the start of the game, attach this model/unit to a friendly warcaster/warlock for the rest of the game. Each warcaster/warlock can have only one model/unit attached to it.
• Arcane Assist - If its {{{1}}} is in this model's command range during your Control Phase, the {{{1}}} can upkeep one spell without spending {{{2}}}.
• Arcane Secrets (★ Action) - RNG CMD. Target this model's warcaster. If the warcaster is in range, it gains an additional die on magic attack rolls and magic damage rolls for the next spell it casts. Discard the lowest die in each roll. Arcane Secrets lasts for one turn.
• Spiritual Conduit - While its warcaster is in this model's command range, when the warcaster casts a spell and is the point of origin for the spell, the spell gains +2 RNG.

Weapons

• Staff of Seeking - 2" reach, P+S 7 melee attack
  • Damage Type: Magical

Theme Forces

• Mercenary
  • Llaelese Resistance
  • Soldiers of Fortune. Sylys Wyshnalyrr, the Seekers gain Mark Target in this theme.
  • The Irregulars

• Retribution
  • As a Mercenary, Sylys can go in every Retribution theme. However, he will use up your "Up to one Merc solo" slot (most of the time).
  • Defenders of Ios. He doesn't use up your Merc slot in this theme. Also, he gains Reposition [3] in this theme.
  • Forges of War. He doesn't use up your Merc slot in this theme.
  • Legions of Dawn
  • Shadows of the Retribution. He gains "optional" Take Down in this theme.

• Other Factions
  • Also, as a Merc solo, he can be taken in a bunch of Faction's theme forces. See #Other Theme Forces.

Thoughts on Sylys

Sylys in a nutshell

Sylys buffs your caster's spell output. Between providing extra range, better accuracy and damage, and the potential for more focus to throw into spells, if you're planning on casting offensive spells most turns you should seriously consider his inclusion. Walk him to near wherever you expect your warcaster to finish their turn, use Arcane Secrets, and you're done. He is generally not good enough to be taken for the free upkeep alone. Best used with spellslingers.

Combos & Synergies

Arcane Secrets applies to all damage rolls for the spell it triggers on: all hits for a Chain Lightning would get the extra dice, as would all models hit by either template from Chain Blast.

Combine Arcane Secrets with Puppet Master from Eilish Garrity for extra damage potential.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• He is squishy, and if engaged he can't effectively free himself from anything but the weakest models, so keep him as far back as possible, preferably with some cover or LOS-blocking terrain between him and enemy models.
• His points cost is not negligible, so if your caster won't be casting many offensive spells it may be worth considering other attachments in his place.
• There is a bit of a model placement puzzle to be aware of - you want Sylys to finish his move ...
  • within 5" of where your caster is (so you can use Arcane Secrets before activating the caster),
  • but also within 5" of where your caster will be (so you can use Arcane Assist next turn).
  • Also note that, since Arcane Secrets is a 'Target' ability, you have to be looking at your caster. So if you walk Sylys forwards to where your caster will be, you have to look back at the caster's current position, and this can expose Sylys' back arc. At best, with 180° vision, you'll be side-on to your enemy.

Tricks & Tips

Remember that Arcane Secrets triggers on the first spell your warcaster casts, not the first offensive spell. If you mess up and cast a buff on a friendly model as your first spell, you've wasted it.

Other

Trivia

The Seeker of Silence, Limited Edition Sculpt (Mini Crate)

• This model has a limited edition sculpt, released in 2019.04.
• Originally released in the Warmachine: Wrath expansion (2011)
• The almost vowelless name Sylys Wyshnalyrr has led to a few nicknames over time. The most common is "Wish nailer", followed by "Silly Wishnailer".
  • With the pin-up alternate released, you can expect some people to call her "Wish nail 'er"

Other Theme Forces

Khador (Edit) Armored Korps Jaws of the Wolf Legion of Steel Winter Guard Kommand	Cygnar (Edit) Gravediggers Heavy Metal Sons of the Tempest Storm Division
Crucible Guard (Edit) Magnum Opus

Other Faction models

Retribution Index       (Edit)
Battlegroup & Similar
Warcasters	Elara2 - Falcir1 - Garryth1 - Garryth2 - Goreshade4 - Helynna1 - Issyria1 - Kaelyssa1 - Ossyan1 - Rahn1 - Ravyn1 - Thyron1 - Vyros1 - Vyros2
Warcaster attachments	Fane Knight Guardian (Retribution) - Sylys Wyshnalyrr (Retribution) - Madelyn Corbeau (Mercenary)
Other Warjack Controllers	Elara1 (BGC) - Sentinel Scyir ('Jack Marshal) - Artificer ('Jack Marshal)
Light Warjacks	Aspis - Chimera - Gorgon - Griffon - Harpy - Siren Moros
Heavy Warjacks	Aeternae - Banshee - Daemon - Discordia - Hemera - Hydra - Hypnos - Imperatus - Manticore - Phoenix - Sphinx
Colossal	Hyperion - Helios
Units, Solos, & Battle Engines
Units	Cyelna & Nyss Hunters - D Destors - D Invictors - D Sentinels - Heavy Rifle Team - H Halberdiers - H Riflemen - HE Swordsmen - HE Wardens - HS Arcanists - HS Battle Mages - HV Electromancers - MH Infiltrators - MH Strike Force - Ryssovass Defenders - Spears of Scyrah - Stormfall Archers Special: Eiryss3 (CA) - Soulless Escort (WA)
Solos	Aelyth Vyr - Arcanist Mechanik - D Destor Thane - D Sentinel Scyir - Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios (1) - Eiryss, Angel of Retribution (2) - Eiryss, Fortune Hunter of Ios (4) - Elara, Tyro of the Third Chamber (1) - Fane Knight Guardian - Fane Knight Skeryth Issyen - Ghost Sniper - Hermit of Henge Hold - HE Warden Executioner - HS Artificer - HS Magister - Houseguard Thane - Lanyssa Ryssyl, Nyss Sorceress Lys Healer - MH Assassin - Narn, Mage Hunter of Ios - Nayl - Priest of Nyssor - Scythe - Soulless Voidtracer
Battle Engines	Arcantrik Force Generator - Dawnguard Trident
Theme Forces
Defenders of Ios - Forges of War - Legions of Dawn - Shadows of the Retribution
Mercenaries
Refer to Category: Retribution of Scyrah Mercenary
This index was last updated: 2021.04

Rules Clarifications

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:  : Partisan      (Edit) (Click Expand to read)

Which Faction am I? Partisans are Mercenary (or Minion) models unless they're taken in their "Home" Faction. For example, a Mercenary model that is Partisan [Cygnar]: When used in most armies it is "friendly Faction" only to other Mercenary models. When used in a Cygnar army it is "friendly Faction" to Cygnar models ... and stops being "friendly Faction" to any other Mercenaries in that Cygnar army. In a multi-caster game, Partisans count as the main army's Faction and not as a Mercenary models (if playing a Faction other than Mercaneries). (Infernal Ruling) Attachments If a Partisan unit can get a special attachment from their Partisan Faction (for instance a Soulless Escort or Trollkin Sorcerer) then they can only get that attachment when they're in the Partisan Faction. They can't take it when working as a regular Mercenary. (Locked thread) When taken in their Partisan Faction, they can't have a Ranking Officer attached. Partisan warcasters If you have a Partisan caster, you must choose whether your army is a Mercenary force or a [Partisan Faction] force. What warjacks the caster can take are then limited by your choice. Partisan casters can be taken in [Partisan Faction] theme forces. Refer to the main rulebook. Partisan casters can be fielded in multiple-caster games. (Locked thread) See also the Category: Partisan for what happens if you mix and match Partisan casters and Merc casters in multi-caster games. Partisans & Theme Forces (Edit) Partisans are Mercenary/Minion models, so there are two ways you can add them to a theme force: Freely: If the Partisan is on the list of allowed models, then you can take as many as you want plus another Mercenary unit/solo. (Infernal Ruling) They can be explicitly allowed (for example Jaws of the Wolf allows "Kayazy models/units" so Partisan Kayayz can be used freely). They can be implicitly allowed (for example Scourge of the Broken Coast allows "living Cryx models/units" and Partisan Cephalyx fit that criteria, so they can be used freely). (Infernal Ruling) Limited: If the Partisan isn't on the list of allowed models, it does use up your "Up to one Mercenary/Minion" slot, so you can only have the one. Whether you used option 1 or 2 above, once they're in your theme force they count as a Faction model and so: They can be taken as a Requistion Option (if they fit the Requistion description). For example Lanyssa can be taken as a free solo in the Legion of Dawn theme. (Infernal Ruling) They will get any theme benefit that they fit the description for. For example Storm Division gives all Cygnar models Immunity Electricity, so Partisan Mercs in that theme get immunity too. For example Nemo4's Mechaniks get Reposition [3] in Heavy Metal. (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Attached      (Edit) Attached models are not (normally) part of the warcaster's/warlock's battlegroup. (Infernal Ruling) (You need the Companion rule to become part of the battlegroup). Thus, attachments are not affected by battlegroup-only effects such as Energizer (unless they're a Companion).

Rules Clarification : Arcane Assist and/or Arcane Support     (Edit) Arcane Assist: The caster needs to be in the support model's CMD range. Arcane Support: The support model needs to be in the caster's CTRL range.

Rules Clarification : Arcane Secrets      (Edit) Arcane Secrets applies to the first spell your caster casts. So if you first cast a friendly buff (that doesn't have an attack/damage roll) then you'll completely waste Arcane Secrets. Discard Die (Edit) If you're discarding lowest or highest, you have to discard even if you want it for a critical hit. For instance: if you discard "the lowest die", need 6+ to hit, and roll a 3, 3, and a 4 ... then you must discard one of the 3s, and you'll end up with a non-critical hit with the 3 + 4.

Rules Clarification : Spiritual Conduit - None yet. (Edit)