Latest revision as of 01:08, 17 March 2023

	Theme - Legions of Dawn Retribution Theme Force Defenders of Ios - Forges of War - Legions of Dawn - Shadows of the Retribution

Legacy ... sort of This mk3 Theme Force is somewhat similar to the mk4 Legacy Army. If you're planning on starting a mk4 Legions of Dawn army you may get some use out of this article, espcially the In a Nutshell, the Theme Weaknesses, and maybe even the List-Building Tips sections.

The proud Dawnguard soldiers of House Nyarr represent one of the greatest assets in the Retribution of Scyrah’s arsenal. These oath-sworn warriors boast martial traditions stretching back millennia and make up the elite soldiery of the Retribution. Bearing the most advanced weapons and armor of their Great Military House, they are implacable warriors devoted to House Nyarr and through it the Retribution’s cause.

Theme Rules

For the core rules on how Theme Forces work, see this article.

Theme Restrictions

An army made use the Legions of Dawn theme force can include only the following Retribution models:

• Retribution warcasters
• Non-character warjacks
• Hemera
• Imperatus
• Dawnguard models/units
• Arcanist Mechanik solos
• Fane Knight Guardian solos
• Ghost Sniper solos
• House Shyeel Artificer solos
• Lys Healer solos
• Soulless Voidtracer solos

• This army can also include one Mercenary solo and one Mercenary unit that will work for Retribution.
  • These models/units can be included even if they have the Partisan [Retribution] rule.
  • Mercenary units can have attachments

Full model list

Requisition Points

You can spend each Requisition Point on either:

• One Retribution CA
• Two Ghost Sniper solos
• Two Lys Healer solos
• One other small- or medium-based Retribution solo with a points cost of 5 or less

Theme Bonuses

1. Warjacks in this army can ignore friendly Dawnguard models when determining LOS. Warjacks in this army can advance through friendly Dawnguard models if they have enough movement to move completely past them.
2. While 'Jack Marshaled, warjacks in this army gain Flank [Dawnguard].

   Flank [ Dawnguard ] - When this model makes a melee attack against an enemy model in the melee range of a friendly Dawnguard model, this model gains +2 to attack rolls and gains an additional damage die.

Thoughts on this Theme Force

Legions of Dawn in a nutshell

A nice, combined-arms theme for your Dawnguards - mainly for Sentinels. The theme bonus gives a quasi-tactician for your warjacks, making navigation through your infantry screen less challenging - if you don't have a Scyir nearby. With the Oblivion theme force update and the introduction of Requisition points the theme gained quite a bit of flexibility and is capable of building both infantry or warjack-focused forces as well as a more mixed force. Generally you'll probably want at least one unit of infantry, but don't be afraid to go for more jacks in this theme.

The Flank theme benefit is a nice bonus but probably not worth building lists for. It's a nice bonus late-game but generally probably isn't worth giving up battlegroup jacks for.

With 3 Requisition points in a 75-point game it's easy to bring one or two Artificers for handing out Force barrier and double Ghost Snipers for 1 point is great for holding down flags.

Theme weaknesses

If anything the only weakness is just being SPD5 on your mainstay infantry.

List Building tips

• Scyir - He eases the movement issues with your cavalry and infantry around, and Righteous Vengeance can help you to deliver an angry jack into the face of the enemy. If you're taking more than one unit of infantry (or even sometimes if you do only have one unit) you take him for Tactician and to have a nice late-game hitter.

• The addition of Hemera to the list creates some interesting builds; Mark Target is huge for Invictors, Destors, and the Trident and can stack with Veteran Leader from Vyros2 and the Shooting Gallery on the Trident for RAT scores between 9 and 11 if you get everything lined up right.

• You can create some unexpected attack vectors if your opponent loses track of what can move or see through what. With all your movement tricks in play you're looking at:
  • Infantry that can see and move through each other thanks to the Scyir.
  • Warjacks that can see and move through infantry thanks to the theme benefit.
  • All Friendly models can see and move through the Trident.
  • Both Vyros1 and Vyros2 let their warjacks ignore clouds, forests, and models for LOS as well.

Starting a 25 point Brawl list

In 2021.05 Phillip Melvin, one of the LOS authors, put together this list for the Brawlmachine format. It was then updated for the 2021.10 errata. He even wrote about it's playstyle and expanding it beyond 25 points, which you can read here.

Vyros2: [+27 WJP]

• Imperatus: [19 pts]
• Griffon: [8 pts]
• Siren: [8 pts]

Dawnguard Sentinel Scyir: [Free] (4 pts)

House Shyeel Artificer: [3 pts]

Arcanist Mechanik: [2 pts]

Dawnguard Sentinels (Min unit): [9 pts]

• Command Attachment: [3 pts]

For more Brawlmachine list ideas, see Category: Brawl List

Casters of Note

• Magister Helynna - Deceleration is all that takes to deliver your Sentinels or Destors to the enemy, and you can add an additional layer of protection with your feat.
• Issyria, Sibyl of Dawn - great movement boost with Crusader's Call, another ARM boost, and anti-shooting tech with Blinding Light. Her feat ensures you some protection from bad dice rolls.
• Vyros1 and Vyros2 - yet 2 more casters with ARM boosters, with great spells for their battlegroup too. The prime incarnation's feat allows warjacks to run in and unjam your frontlines from all but the toughest models, while the epic incarnation's veteran bonus will make your hits all the more deadlier (goes for the ones you deliver under Vengeance too).
• Kaelyssa - it's a lot easier to deliver sentinels when they have stealth and can't be charged for one turn on the approach, and Banishing Ward to prevent one unit being debuffed is nice too.
• Lord Ghyrrshyld, the Forgiven - He can take Sentinels to ARM23 under Dauntless Resolve and Minifeat, he can give them Ghost Walk to clear rough terrain out of deployment, he has a DEF fixer nuke for removing high threat solos, he can run a pretty good gunline with Tridents and Invictors because of his ARM debuff, and he can protect against shooting with cloudwalls. His Field Marshal helps keep debuffs off of your units. His Feat makes attacking Sentinels with anything that isn't ranged or Immune to Cold an absolute trap, usually forcing your opponents to just back off for a turn. In short he does an incredible amount for this theme, only limited by how much Focus he has.

Other

Trivia

Released 2017.09

Other Retribution themes/models

• Category: Legions of Dawn

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

The third benefit functions a lot like Tactician, so I've included it's rules clarifications

Rules Clarification : Tactician and/or Operations Command     (Edit) Applying the LOS and Movement bonuses work like mirror opposites: LOS: The models you draw LOS through do not need to be in the Tactician bubble. The model drawing LOS does need to be in the Tactician bubble. Movement: The models you move through do need to be in the bubble. The model moving does not. The "can ignore for LOS" is not optional. You cannot opt to "turn off" your ability to see through models, in the hope of getting a free strike or some such. (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Flank      (Edit) You can gain the Flank bonus vs knocked down/stationary models (refer to the latest Errata). Melee range is measured from your front arc so you cannot trigger Flank on models in your back arc. The target enemy doesn't need to be in the Flanker's LOS, just their melee range. Most of the time if something is in your melee range then it is so close it's in your LOS too, and the difference is meaningless. But if you have 2" reach and you're jammed up in B2B with a bunch of closely-spaced enemies, you'll find your LOS is blocked. In this case, you might be able to trigger Flank on an enemy model that is "hiding" behind that front row of jammers, even though you don't have LOS to it. Flank is not tied to a specific weapon, so Mount attacks and Power Attacks can benefit as well. If you have two sources of Flank they are still giving you the bonus from the Flank rule so do not stack. (Infernal Ruling) If the target moves in/out of the Flanker's melee range between the attack roll and the damage roll (for instance if you throw it) then you need to reassess whether you get the Flank bonus for the damage roll. (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification: Theme Forces     (Edit) Themes that change a model's Faction   [Show/Hide] Many themes swap which Faction a model counts as. They're slightly inconsistent with how exactly this is worded. Despite this inconsistency - whenever a model is considered a different faction to normal, it will not be its original faction. (Infernal Ruling) For instance Lukas stops being a Crucible Guard model when taken in an Infernal army, and as a consequence he cannot take Toros or Vanguards in Infernals. (Infernal Ruling) Rerolling the starting roll   [Show/Hide] You cannot use the theme benefit to reroll if it is a draw. Instead both players reroll until there is a loser, and then the loser can use their reroll benefit (if they have it). (Infernal Ruling) If both players have a reroll, first the original loser uses their reroll. If the original loser still loses, fine. If the original loser now wins, the other player can use their reroll. If it is now a draw, both players reroll until there is a loser. Then the player that hasn't used their theme benefit reroll can still use it, if they want. Warjacks/Warbeasts with bonds   [Show/Hide] A warjack/warbeast with a bond can always be included in a theme force, whether or not they're in the list of allowed models, but only if they're controlled by that bonded model. This applies even if that bonded model isn't a full warcaster/warlock (changed as of 2018.06). Including Mercenaries   [Show/Hide] Number of Mercenaries If your "up to one Merc" ... ... can take warbeasts/warjacks, then you can add warbeast(s)/warjack(s) (without exceeding your "up to one" allowance) ... comes with a Companion model, then you'll get that Companion (without exceeding your "up to one" allowance) There is a bug in Warroom that allows you to not only take one Merc solo/unit, but the entire FA of that Merc solo/unit. It's a bug. Mercenaries and Ranking Officers Adding a Ranking Officer to a Merc unit doesn't increase the number of Merc units you can take. Other See also the section on Partisans Including Partisan Mercenaries   [Show/Hide] 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) Requisition Points   [Show/Hide] You can choose the same Requisition option as many times as you like, as long as it doesn't put you over a FA limit. You can't mix and match models from different options. Say one option allows 3 Machine Wraiths and another allows 3 Necrotechs. You can't use your Requisition Point to get 2 Wraiths and 1 Necrotech. If you have an option that allows one other solo, you can't use it to get something already on the list. For instance, Ghost Fleet allows 3 Misery Cages (which are FA 4) for one Requistion Point, and it allows 1 other solo. That "other solo" can't be a 4th Cage. If your theme allows "3 weapon attachments" as a Requistion Option, you can spread them into different units. (Locked Thread) Models with the Man-Sized rule count as small-based models for the purposes of being a Requistion Option. (Locked Thread) Free models and Specialists (ADR)    [Show/Hide] If your theme only allows one merc solo, you can't have one in your main list and a different one in your specialists. Unit Attachments   [Show/Hide] If a unit is allowed in a theme, any-and-all of its attachments are allowed too. Exception: Ranking Officers are not allowed unless explicitily mentioned. If the theme force gives a benefit to a specific unit, any-and-all attachments to that unit will benefit too. Even if it is a "generic" attachment like the Void Leech. (Infernal Ruling) For example, a Trollkin Sorcerer will gain Serenity if its attached to a Dhunian Knot unit in a Power of Dhunia theme force. If your theme allows "3 weapon attachments" as a Requistion Option, you can spread them into different units. (Locked Thread) A non-character unit with a character attachment (i.e. Captain Karli) still counts as a non-character unit. (Infernal Ruling) When to apply theme benefits   [Show/Hide] With reference to special abilities that themes give to models, Ranking Officers, adding new models, and/or taking control of models: Theme force benefits are applied when you construct your list or put a new model into play. A model already in play will not lose or gain any theme benefits mid-game based on any changes of faction status or otherwise. (Infernal Ruling) However, if the theme gives a benefit to models "at the beginning of the game" (such as Devourer's Host letting models begin the game with 1 corpse token) then this benefit does not apply to new models that are put into play mid-game. (Locked Thread) Example 1: Sons of the Tempest says "ATGM units in this army gain Pistoleer". If your opponent takes control of one of them, it keeps Pistoleer while under their control even though it's currently not "in the army". Example 2: Storm Division gives Immunity:Electricity to "Cygnar models in the army." If you include a Mercenary unit with a Ranking Officer, they will get the theme benefit and also keep it even after the Ranking Officer dies. Example 3: Stange Bedfellows gives solos Swift Vengeance. If Nemo4 creates a new solo mid-game, that solo will have Swift Vengeance. See also these Theme-Specific Rulings   [Show/Hide] Rules Clarification : Black Industries      (Edit) The entry which allows "Cephalyx models/units" only applies to Partisan Cephalyx. That's because the theme's rules start off with "this army can only include the following Cryx models"​. Partisan Cephalyx are the only ones that fill that condition. The Cephalyx Agitator also works for Cryx and can go in Black Industries but, because it is not a Partisan, it will use up your Mercenary solo slot. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : The Creator's Might      (Edit) ​Elias Gade is allowed in Creator's Might. (Infernal Ruling) You can spend the "Two Vassal solos" requistion option on one Vassal Mechanik and one Vassal of Menoth. Warroom has a bug and tells you that you can't. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : Flame in the Darkness      (Edit) You can take any number of Mercenary jacks. You can also select two additional jacks from Khador and Cygnar in any combination you like. Character warjacks with a bond don't count against this limit of 2. (Infernal Ruling) There is a bug in Warroom that allows you to take two Cygnar and two Khador jacks. Morrowan Battle Priest: If your warcaster is a Cygnar model that makes every unit you take a Cygnar unit, and Battle Priests can be attached to any unit. Warroom has a known bug where it doesn't allow this interaction. If your warcaster is a Mercenary or Khador model, though, the only units the Battle Priest can attach to are the Morrow ones. If you attach the Battle Priest to The Devil's Shadows Mutineers then it can be returned via Blood Bound. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : Llaelese Resistance      (Edit) It is 2 Cruicible or 2 Cygnar or 2 Menoth. You can't take more than 2, and you can't mix and match from multiple Factions. (Infernal Ruling) You can have a non-character unit with a character attachment (i.e. Captain Karli). (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : The Talion Charter      (Edit) The 3rd benefit is "Sac Pawn [Sea Dog trooper]", not just any Sea Dog. (Infernal ruling) Rules Clarification : The Bones of Orboros      (Edit) Una1 cannot be taken in this theme (yet) due to the conflict between the theme's "Only Construct warbeasts allowed" and Una1's "Must take warbeasts with flight". There are no construct warbeasts with flight (yet). But if/when there is, then Una1 can be taken in this theme. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : The Devourer's Host      (Edit) Bradigus1 is not legal in this theme. The theme only allows living warbeasts, his rules only allow construct warbeasts, and you can't just 'skip' his battlegroup - you have to spend your warbeast points. If you create a new model mid-game (ie with the Well of Orboros and that model can have corpse tokens, that model does not enter play with a corpse. Because it's not the beginning of the game. (Locked thread) Rules Clarification : The Wild Hunt      (Edit) The animus benefit doesn't apply to enemy warbeasts. (Infernal Ruling) The animus benefit doesn't stack with the Druid Wilder's Herding ability. (Infernal Ruling) When it comes to other things that alter COST (such as Lamentation), follow basic maths: Double/halve first, then add/subtract. Rules Clarification : Oracles of Annihilation      (Edit) Kallus1's feat doesn't stack with the Minion bonus rule in Oracles of Annihilation, because one triggers at disabled and the other at destroyed. (Locked Thread) Rules Clarification : The Exalted      (Edit) If a Construct model loses the Construct advantage mid-game, it keeps the theme benefit anyway. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : Band of Heroes      (Edit) Boomhowler2 uses up your Minion slot. His Fell Calls ability is not enough to make him a "Fell Caller model/unit". (Infernal Ruling) Boomhowler3 does not use up your minion slot on account of having the Champion keyword. Rules Clarification : The Blindwater Congregation      (Edit) Void Leeches attached to a Gatorman Posse will gain Snacking, but they won't gain extra hitpoints. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : Magnum Opus      (Edit) If Mosby is attached to a Mercenary weapon crew unit, they would gain 3" reposition and would not lose it if Mosby is no longer in the unit. (Infernal Ruling) Rules Clarification : Hearts of Darkness      (Edit) Lukas can't take Maker Marked warjacks in Hearts of Darkness. (Infernal Ruling)