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The Skorne Chronicles Vol. 39 – Skorne Updates

Even after the Exalted Host CID models, of which there were really only 4, PP did end up with a number of other models they were also tweaking as the CID Moved along. A number of these underwent changes from week to week, so I won’t go through all of them, I’m just going to comment on the look of the models at the time the CID finished, according to the final document. 
Let’s get to it! 

As I Mentioned earlier, I am only going to go over the final forms of the models that changed. For reference, those modesl are: 



Immortals
Extoller Advocate
Ancestral Guardian
Hakaar the Destroyer
Aptimus Marketh
Desert Hydra
Mammoth
Bronzeback Titan
Aradus Sentinal
Titan Cannoneer
Aradus Soldier
Tiberion
Despoiler
Cyclops Brute
Razor Worm

Units

Immortals and Extoller Advocate
There is only one unit in the Exalted Host. and it a 2 point top end and a single point bottom end reduction in price. While 9/15 is a realistic price for the unit, 8/13 more accurately reflects the desire of the theme because it allows for both the support staff that is being developed for the theme in all of the new models, and it allows for the correct amount of souls for the theme to function on a basic scale. There is a clear diminishment of power for the Exalted Host as the game goes on. Souls are created and used over the course of the game, but they are only replenished by the expenditure of souls. It’s a resource with a very finite limit, and it is nice to see the Immortals become cheaper in response. The exact same is true for the Extoller advocate, who was eating into the list. Overall, on a three-unit list, you’ve saved 9 points, which is enough for an Ancestral Guardian and an Immortal Vessel, or three Novititates and an Extoller soul ward, or any number of other things, It is a positive change.

Solos

Hakaar the Destroyed
Reduced by 1 point from 7 to 6. This isn’t really meaningful in any real way, because he is a veteran leader that will always be taken and he is going to be you’re first free model. It’s nice to see points costs drop, but often it doesn’t mean anything practical to lists. 

Ancestral Guardian
POW increased on the Halberd from 13 to 14. This is a nice change, as the imortals and Hakaar were both 13 as well, and it gives them something that seperates them out a bit. Additionally, with three souls and the Novititate, they’ll be hitting at POW 16, which is a really nice spot for a 5 point solo to be Swinging. 

Aptimus Marketh
The Good Aptimus got a bit of an overhaul, but more along the lines of an improvement with a cost. Things don’t always just get better. He received the Spirit Eye Gun, which is the same as all of the other Extollers and brings about uniformity with the rest. He also received Harmonious Exaltation, which is a great ability, to go along with his Spell Slave action. Reducing the Cost of spells, especially for some of the lower end fury casters are going to be especially freeing. Lastly, he lost Soul-Powered, which is fair because he has both a mile of text and received little impactful uses from it. A good overall change and I like that he now provides utility to more casters in the faction. 

Gargantua

Desert Hydra
In PP’s slow, plodding march to make Colossals and Gargantua worthwhile in the game, we’ve finally gotten to the Skorne Beasts. The Hydra received only a few changes, but they all work to make the model feel like its playable. First, it had its cost slashed by 5 points. Going from 39 to 35 is amazing.  It also had the Sprays changed to spray 8’s and bumped up to POW 14, which is an extremely solid bump in power for those guns. He did lose the concentrated spray in the process, but I think that is an amazingly solid tradeoff. 

Mammoth
This big boy, too, got a few changes that make him feel more compelling. A price drop for him to 35, as well, makes him more appealing in general. Pain Maddened, a new rule just for him, gives him +2 Speed for one round when damaged by an enemy attack. It feels fine, boosting his speed to 6 if he takes some injuries, and maybe making you think a bit more about what you want to do with him in response. Full Battery Fire is by far his best and coolest rule, Using all his normal d3+1 gunshots and turning it into a massive, ragdoll-inducing POW 20 explosion. The Siege Battery was also increased in range to 14, which stretches the area of the board he can affect a good bit, which makes sense given the investment you make when taking him. Lastly, and we all know why, his Tusks became range 3. With Pain Maddened, this increases his potential charing threat from 9 to 12, a significant bump. 

Heavy Warbeasts

Bronzeback Titan
The Bronzeback was honed this CID to an exciting model that I want to play again. His position in the faction seems solid. He gained 1 hp, which is adorable. His cost dropped a point to 17, which makes a world of difference. He gained back Hyper Aggressive, which is a really solid rule on a model like that that you want to get up into the enemy, and synergizes well with the change in his animus, granting him Unyielding. Beat Back didn’t go away, though, as he just has it innately. They are good changes that allow  the Bronzeback to feel like the angry, punishing face crusher that we have always known him to be.  

Aradus Soldier
This model gained Sturdy, and is no longer able to be pushed, which is neat. 

Aradus Sentinel
The sentinel went through a few changes, and came out the side only a little stranger than it went in. He lost the ranged AOE gun he had and replaced it with a Spray 10, which is pretty solid, at POW 14. He lost 2 points off his cost, pushing him down to 14, but it also cost him a fury, which is now 3. Overall, its a strange change, and I don’t know how to evaluate it without getting it on the board. He’d overshadowed the Canonneer, or been overshadowed himself, for so long, that I think this change makes a lot of sense. 

Titan Cannoneer
This guy changed just a little bit, moving from Fury 3 to 4, and from 17 points to 16. They are both solid changes, though the Fury difference only matters in those rare instances when she gets to combat. Still, good overall. Who doesn’t like buffs to their models? 

Character Heavies

Tiberion
My favorite character warbeast in the entire game was reduced in points to 19. From 22. I don’t think there are many character warbeasts or warjacks in the game worth more than 20 points, so this is a very nice reduction. 

Despoiler
The little, insane Rhinodon with no friends was tweaked only in points, dropping him from 19 to 17. He was also, though it isn’t a change to him specifically, is now included in the List Composition rules for Exalted Host, so he’ll likely see more play, and that is always a good thing with Character Beasts. 

Light Warbeasts

Cyclops Brute
The Brute Got a simple and needed Change. He went from Mat 5, the most miserable of MAT’s, to MAT 6. A simple and effective change to get this 8 point beast on the board more. 

Razor Worm
The modest Razor Worm was granted a modest boon, putting his melee range to 1″ instead of .5 I don’t know what prompted this, but I agree. it’s nice. 

Thoughts

Overall, I think its a solid set of changes. Nothing seems extremely over the top, but I could see where testing on the Mammoth, Hydra, and Sentinal are needed. I really hope that these changes can open up a few more builds in a number of different lists and that what we end up seeing here is just the beginning of a skorne revival, where everyone is getting their pants kicked off again by giant warbeasts

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