Khagra's Ravagers

Welcome to our rundown of Khagra’s Ravagers. Make sure you catch our podcast coverage of the release. For everything out with this release window, follow these links:

Thanks go to GW for providing a review copy to make this content possible.

Introduction

[D]AVY, [P]HIL, [B]RIAN, & [S]KYLER

B: Khagra's Ravagers previously revolved around desecrating treasure tokens that they then could not hold. This was challenging for them as they denied themselves a lot of objective card options for reliable hold scoring. But, they made up for it with 3 strong fighters, and a bonus utility wizard. FYI, I start these by looking at fighter cards, then the Warscrolls if you want to read and follow my train of thought.

WARSCROLl

B: So I read ahead to the next two abilities to learn how one "Desecrates" a treasure token. I think this should be very doable. Packing push tech will greatly help with desecrating tokens before launching into another. Overrun also greatly helps with this warband's goal. These guys properly "Take & Hold". Radical! I'm here for it.

D: Oh wow. I think this warband can expect to likely be inspired after the first round. Interestingly, you won't have the final power step to use Razed Realm to help with this. And with as much as they gain out of inspire, I can imagine games with this warband being very hard fought over treasure.

B: So they kinda have their own unique version of delve. But delving undoes their Desecration. I'm thinking you don't pair this warband with Pillage and Plunder. But, you can still delve a token back to the treasure side, then desecrate it in the same power step of the turn.

P: Since this essentially reads, get on treasure token and desecrate it in the power step, they should be able to desecrate the board pretty quickly. Hope your opponent was planning on delving anyway because I don't think you want to let chaos have free reign in the mines of Embergard.

B: Very solid and very reminiscent. This warband loves Overrun, so consider packing extra dice into your power deck.

D: Oh man, this presents a damned if you do/damned if you don't for folks trying to cover up treasure tokens.

B: Omg. This is a really good ability. Seeing more of your power deck each game is so good. Emberstone Sentinels has "By the Numbers" for even more draw.

P: I think this can easily be a draw 2 effect and even drawing 3 shouldn't be too hard if you get some early positioning or kills.

B: +1 offense or defense dice, at surge speed, is crazy good to have at the ready on your Warscroll. This warband is 2 for 2 so far for incredible abilities.

P: I think the save boost will be extra helpful here to keep your fighters on those treasures.

B: AAAAAND push tech!? I'm in love.

P: And easily a multi-hex push. This is great in that it can be used for offense or treasure positioning. Glad it has at least a little bit of a restriction though!

FIGHTERS

Uninspired
B: A solid profile to start with. I was curious if they would be 5 health to match Stormcast, but no. She did lose her fearsome 3 damage aspect of her attack profile from first edition. Thought we might've at least seen 2 damage with crit grievous.

Inspired
B: Oh wow, get her inspired quick. Her range 1 attack reaches that fearsome 3 damage, AND now has a range 2 for 2 damage option. Fearsome offensively, and 2 block to boot. 3 move is the biggest limitation, but the range 2 option helps offset that.

D: This warband has a global inspire, but this profile alone feels worth pursuing for it. A little inaccurate for an inspired fighter, but there's upgrades for that. One thing I think we lost out on a little bit with no named attack profiles are answers to questions like "What's going on with this range 2 attack?"

Uninspired
B: Zarshia finally gets that 4th health point that always felt oddly missing from her profile in 1st edition. She remains familiar with a staff melee attack and a range 3 attack. Not your damage dealer, but your utility/objective piece.

D: The warband's one bounty fighter. Chaos is throwing her away!

Inspired
B: Gains stagger on both her attacks to help prime your target for the round. Plus some accuracy on the range 3 profile. This is what I'd want from my utility turret.

D: I really think you're right. A chip shot from Zarsh-dog really sets up a haymaker from Khagra.

Uninspired
B: Cragan looking much the same as first edition. Since the model has his shield on his back he stays on 1 block, but gains accuracy since the model dual wields weapons.

Inspired
B: Sure enough, 1 block and more accurate. Oh interesting,. He goes up to 4 move, and the only one to do so. Previously the three warriors inspired to 4 move.

D: This shield on my back? Just for show. I attend the school of Turosh. Another good piece for triggering overrun.

Uninspired
B: Razek follows in Khagra's statline footsteps. Wait what!? 3 health? This man's been done dirty. How is Zarshia 4 health and not this guy. Chaos is fickle.

D: Hey wha happun? I'm going to forget this a lot. I think this is your backline desecrator...

Inspired
B: Luckily, he inspires to be a tank. Hold this guy back in deployment and let him inspire before exposing him. Gaining his 4th health, and 2 block will be a big change in the warband's board presence. Gaining cleave on his attack will be situationally excellent too.

D: Uh yeah, speaking of Chaos being fickle, what a weird choice to have him go from 3 to 4 health. I guess it makes a little early damage less scary if you're expecting an inspire.

Summary

B: I really love this warband's new identity. Desecration feels much the same, but more functional and not a limitation. Being an elite Take & Hold warband hasn't been historically viable, but overrunning and desecrating treasure tokens feels oh so perfect for these guys. Omg I'm gonna play these guys more in second edition than I ever did in first edition. I'll bet Alexx will pair this warband with Pillage and Plunder, just to be even more on brand. Even though I think that pairing will have trouble flipping treasure tokens and not trapping yourself on timing.

The Mortal RealmsNovember 23, 2024Comment