Retribution:Ryssovass Defenders – I’d Watch Your Back
They slice, they dice, and you’ll love their tricks once they get those swords swinging.
What Is It?
A new weapon master unit for the Warmachine faction Retribution. Small based tough weapon master unit that can be very difficult to remove in melee. This hard-hitting unit can strategically take out warjack’s and warbeast’s systems with their deadly precision strikes. Delivering them into melee can be challenging but they more than make up for it when they arrive. Ryssovas Defenders cost 10 points for a min 16 points for a max unit.
What are the Ryssovass Defenders all About?
SPD5 DEF12 ARM15 with tough. The Ryssovass defenders have a mediocre stat line but tough helps beef them up.
Defensive line: While base to base these guys protect each other giving them an addition +2 melee defense. Making their primary targets warjacks and warbeasts having to spend focus to boost to hit their high defense.
Precision Strike: A fantastic ability with weapon master that allows them to take out key sub systems on warjacks or warbeasts potentially rendering them useless in the following round.
How to Use Ryssovass Defenders?
Delivering the Ryssovass Defenders is the number one priority to having strong success with them. I have found that bring their support solos such as Aelyth to give them hard so they have MK2 tough can be very frustrating to opponents when they are trying to shoot them off the board. The Priest of Nyssor using Blessing of the Winter Father can bring them to a dangerous mat 8 which makes the tough to hit circle and legion bests shake in fear. With their accurate weapon master attacks thanks to their priest and a little luck in rolling I have had them dispatch heavies with ease. I have had some fun and success with my “new things” list the redundancy of the 2 priests and Aelyth + Lys Healer has allowed me to have tough no knock down and mat 8 weapon masters for most of the game. The Defenders especially shine during Ghyrrshyld’s feat turn when their extra melee defense makes it difficult for opponents to remove thus getting frozen and can’t be easily picked off in the next round.
A Sample Army
Retribution Army – 75 / 75 points
Lord Ghyrrshyld, the Forgiven – WJ: +28
– Fane Knight Guardian – PC: 4
– Discordia – PC: 18 (Battlegroup Points Used: 18)
– Hemera – PC: 16 (Battlegroup Points Used: 10)
Arcantrik Force Generator – PC: 17
Aelyth Vyr, Blade of Nyssor – PC: 5
Priest of Nyssor – PC: 4
Priest of Nyssor – PC: 4
Lys Healer – PC: 3
Ryssovass Defenders – Leader & 9 Grunts: 16
Spears of Scyrah – Leader & 2 Grunts: 9
House Shyeel Arcanists – Leader & 2 Grunts: 7
Johnhev’s Final Thought:
The Ryssovass Defenders at 10/16 points seems a little high to me considering that it is just 2 points less than sentinels. I will reassess that statement if they receive a 4 point UA that lines up with their offensive abilities. This unit is tough to take out thanks to all the special rules and does it job of taking down heavies and high defensive melee units out alike. Plus the models look absolutely amazing on the field and were a blast to put together. I have found myself reaching for the Ryssovass Defenders more often than I reach for Sentinels in recent days which is a strong testament to the strength of this unit.
~Do you agree? Tell us your opinion.
