Hordes: Kriel Warriors, Come out and Play!

So yes Kriel Warriors themselves aren’t new, but given the points to $$$ ratio, most Troll players passed on these guys when it was time to pick a unit. Now that plastic has reduced the cost of owning them significantly, you may find yourself asking: “what do Kriel Warriors offer that other units lack?”

Kriel Warriors are ultimately a tarpit unit, although they are one that can be quite adept at dicing up other infantry. Tough and ARM 15 are the biggest contributors to their survivability. They can also get moving pretty fast with the +2 movement from their Swift Foot prayer. While not a DEF buff in itself, it can help them close the distance to enemy ranged units intent on shooting them down.  And don’t discount their medium base. It will prevent them from being trampled by killing machines bent on assassinating your warlock. While the unit lacks reach, and is limited to a single attack, they have the Fervor prayer to bump their mat up to a respectable 7. This allows them to reliably hit models up to DEF 14. And for anything higher they have Combined Melee Attack. So they can kinda crack armored targets in a pinch too.

This all adds up to a cheap unit (they’ll run you 4/6) that can do it’s job without all the costly support models that can bog down troll players. I think this is the biggest thing they have going for them compared to Fenns and Burrowers. Burrowers can be amazing, but outside of a Madrak 1 list pretty much require you to take a Fell Caller – and maybe even a Champion Hero to compensate for their middling CMD. Fennblades are already more expensive, and with their lower MAT, an unaided unit will miss more often than the Kriel Warriors. And you know you gotta bring along that UA of theirs for another 2 points, although to be fair this is because he makes them amazing.

Of course if you do want to bring that support system, a Fell Caller will get these guys up to MAT 9, and a Krielsone Bearer will put their ARM at 17. And the Kriel Warriors have a UA as well. What do they do? The Standard beared gives the unit Steady which keeps them from getting knocked down. That eliminates a lot of the need for a Chronicler who would set you back another 2 points. The Piper gives them the same In Step as the Fennblade Drummer, so they can spread out. They can really use that extra distance since they have a Weapon Attachment too, which means the whole unit can run at 15 models.

No doubt you already knew about that WA, since three Caber Throwers are included in the same box as the rest of the warriors. The Cabers are hard hitting reach guys who also slam! Under the effects of Fervor each of these guys is like a super Fennblade. Lets’ not forget how awesome slams are. They can easily cause additional casualty against single wounders as models get slammed into each other, and they’ll also throw in some knockdown chaos against tougher targets. Plus I’m sure every experienced player has at least one tale of a caster kill that resulted from a well placed slam. Let’s not forget, slamming your own models is perfectly legit. Getting whacked into the air to go flying headfirst into an enemy caster probably sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon to most Trollbloods. Unfortunately the Caber slam is not just a straight up slam. It only causes models to travel d3″, and won’t slam large models at all – just knock them down. The only other downside to Cabers? They can’t CMA.

So if you’re like me and you already have two units of Kriels, does this new price mean anything to you? Heck yeah it does. It means you’re likely only $65 away from the most important underused Trollblood Theme list. Yes I’m talking about Grissel 1’s Blood of Bragg Tier.

War Room Army

Trollblood – Grissel is ridiculous

55 / 55 (50+5) Warlock(s) : 1/1 Warbeast(s) : 3 Battle Engines : 0 Solos : 2 Units : 5

Grissel Bloodsong, Fell Caller – WB: +5
– Slag Troll – PC: 6
– Troll Bouncer – PC: 5
– Pyre Troll – PC: 5

Fell Caller Hero – PC: 2
Fell Caller Hero – PC: 2

Kriel Warriors – Leader & 9 Grunts: 6
– Kriel Warrior Standard & Piper – Standard & Piper 2
– 3 1 Thrower’s: 3
Kriel Warriors – Leader & 9 Grunts: 6
– 2 1 Thrower’s: 2
Kriel Warriors – Leader & 9 Grunts: 6
– 2 1 Thrower’s: 2
Northkin Fire Eaters – Leader, Grunt, and Pyg Buddy: 4
Northkin Fire Eaters – Leader, Grunt, and Pyg Buddy: 4

THEME: Blood of Bragg – Tier 4

In this list you have 39 medium based tarpit models that can be affected by Hoof It first turn. That, combined with the extended deployment zone, means these guys can be 26″ up first turn if you go first – past that crucial center line. This is a killer list for scenarios, and with Grissell’s feat giving all those models an extra attack, it can also be amazing for mowing down infantry.

It will not excel at cracking armor, but there is a Slag Troll to try to help out, plus two Fell Callers (two points a pop for these guys is ridiculous) with a pair of weapon master attacks each, the Fire Eaters boosting damage if you get the Pyre to light them up, and the Cabers swinging at 17s with Fervor and the Slag’s animus. With some CMA to go with it, you’d be surprised what it can crack with a bit of time and coordination.

Maneuvering the army will be the hardest part. Activating everyone properly to make sure they’re where you need them, when you need them takes practice even in armies with a more standard model count. Terrain is also going to be problematic. You can’t put two fell calls on the same unit so if a unit goes Hoof It, they can’t also Overcome. Still, I think this tier is one that we’ll be seeing a lot more now that Kriel Warriors are a bit more affordable. I like it enough that I still can’t believe I haven’t gotten around to painting my third Kriel unit – although you can only just now get your hands on the Fire Eaters so that is part of my excuse for the procrastination.

~What do you think of that list, and Blood of Bragg in general? Please share all your feels about the Kriels.