Cities of Sigmar Shieldbands und ihre Aufteilung in 7 verschiedene Städte mit Fähigkeiten und Reaktionen wurde mit der Einführung der aktualisierten Reihe für die Age of Sigmar Armee komplett verändert. Die Regeln sind erhältlich bei Warhammer Community Website unter der Warcry FAQ Sektion.
The warband, that had a whopping 60+ fighter profiles has seen many profiles being removed with some new addition, but more importantly, has been split in 3 distinct warbands, one for each major race populating the cities: the Humans of the Castelite Hosts, the aelves of the Darkling Covens and the Dispossessed Duardin.
This article will focus on the Dunkle Höhlen but you can find more about the duardin und the humans in their respective guides.
Background and Lore of the Darkling Covens Warband
At the beginning of the Mortal Realms, civilization thrived under the leadership of Sigmar’s pantheon. All gods collaborated and taught the mortals many things ushering a golden age. But Chaos planted its poisoned seeds within mortal minds and eventually managed to take a grip on this new universe.
And so, the Age of Chaos dawned, with the mortals being chased to the brink of extinction from all realms except Azyr, Realm of Heavens, where Sigmar retreated bringing as many as he could before closing the gates and leaving everyone else to fence off for themselves.
Centuries later, Sigmar deployed the Stormcast Eternals, warriors forged from the best mortal souls who died fighting against Chaos, to retake that was lost. A new era started and where before there was only desolation and everything was under control of the Ruinous Powers, now there’s a spark of hope. Civilizations started reappearing in all realms and new metropolises grew from tiny outposts thanks to the blood and sacrifice of the many mortals that flocked under Sigmar’s banner.
The aelves live in secluded areas within the city from where they can perform their trade. Their mysterious, and in some ways shady, habits are tolerated by Sigmar’s forces because of the common enemy and their value in battle.
The Sorceress command their Darkling Covens with a mixture of magical prowess and political influence, formed mainly by Dreadspear phalanxes and Bleakswords infantry. The Black Guard are the most trained fighters, able to compete in the gladiatorial arenas against Morathi agents. Next to them we can find the secretive Executioners, armed with draich two-handed blades with their face hidden behind skull masks.
But the cities navy is formed mostly by the Scourge Privateers who sail the treacherous waters of all realms on top of the fast wolfships or the hulking shell of some tamed or mind-controlled monsters in giant floating fortresses known as Black Arks. These pirates can be seen taming all sorts of sea beasts, ready to be unleashed in battle against their numerous enemies.
The Order Serpentis is all is left of the ancient empire of Narkath, from which they learned to ride the dangerous saurians known as Drakespawn and the Black Dragons that are a rare sight, but can be controlled by the best Dreadlords, the military leaders of the order.
The Shadowblades are an independent group of assassins often employed as skirmishers or private killers.
But how swift are the Darkling Covens? Let’s find out.
Fighters in the Darkling Covens Warband
Hinweis: Wenn du die Grundregeln von Warcry noch nicht gelesen hast, bevor du diesen Artikel liest, ist es vielleicht hilfreich zu wissen, dass die Fähigkeiten des Spiels durch 6 Würfel aktiviert werden, die du zu Beginn deines Zuges wirfst.
Zeigen zwei der Würfel den gleichen Wert, können sie zur Aktivierung einer Doppelfähigkeit verwendet werden. Zeigen drei Würfel den gleichen Wert, können sie für eine Dreifach-Fähigkeit verwendet werden, usw.
Wenn also in diesem Artikel von einer Fähigkeit als Double, Triple oder Quad die Rede ist, bezieht sich das auf dieses System. Es mag ein wenig verwirrend klingen, aber man gewöhnt sich schnell daran, wenn man anfängt zu spielen
Der Kriegsverband der Darkling Covens besteht aus 19 verschiedenen Kämpfern, von denen 10 die Anführer sind.
Sorceress: 125 points
Die Zauberin ist die Hauptanführerin eines Darkling-Zirkels, die ihre Führungsrolle mit einer Mischung aus Gedankenkontrolle, Macht und Charisma behauptet. Sie ist eine Zauberin und verfügt daher über den üblichen 3-7″-Angriff für 3/6 Schaden bei Stärke 3, aber mit geringer Zähigkeit (3). Ihr Nahkampfangriff hat jedoch eine Reichweite von 2″ und erlaubt es ihr, auch in der Nähe etwas Abstand zu halten.
To use her ability, a powerful Quad that does 3 damage on a 2+ for each dice rolled, you need to get up close (3″), but can be really worth. You roll as many dice as the ability’s value, for a potential maximum of 18 damage, and in addition you halve the Toughness of the targeted enemy (rounding up, so a Toughness 5 would become 3). With an average Strength of 3 within the warband, reducing a tough opponent defences can help out considerably.
To ensure her survival, we recommend some Black Guards that block the path of melee fighters.
Black Ark Fleetmaster: 135 points
Die Black Ark Flottenmeister shares the same low Toughness (3) and high movement (5″) with most of the warband but provides a great attack profile with 4 attacks at Strength 4 for 2/4 damage.
His main ability works only on the first battle round where, for a Double, his profile is buffed to 7″ Movement and 5 attacks for the entire round.
The reaction that is shared across all other Darkling Covens, has a chance (3+ on a single dice roll) to allocate D6 damage from an enemy disengaging from him.
Assassin: 165 points
Leider ist die Meuchelmörder hat keine coole Fähigkeit, aber er fügt dem Flottenmeister der Schwarzen Arche 1″ Bewegung und 2 Angriffe hinzu, was ihn im ganzen Spiel noch gefährlicher macht.
Bleaksword/Dreadspear
- Lordling: 95 points
- Dreadspear: 55 points
- Bleischwert: 55 points
Die Lordling is the leader option of both the Dreadspear and the Bleaksword and is the first profile to see Toughness increased to 4, same as the other 2 non-hero profiles. With a decent attack profile (2/4 damage but at Strength 3) is not a bad fighter, but not an exciting leader hero. His ability allows all Dreadspear and Bleaksword within 3″ to increase their Toughness to 6 for the rest of the battle round, but with a so limited range, it’s not that great an ability in most situations.
Die Bleischwert hat das ausgewogenste Profil mit 3 Angriffen für 1/3 Schaden, während die Dreadspear erhöht seine Reichweite auf 2″ und den Schaden bei kritischen Treffern auf 4, zum Preis von 1 Angriff weniger. Beide sind die billigste Einheit in der Armee, also ein großartiger Listenfüller.
Scharfrichter
- Draich Master: 135 points
- Executioner: 90 points
Die Scharfrichter are the more elite infantry unit with 4 attacks at 2/4 damage, one of the highest Toughness in this warband (4) and an ability that for a Double adds half the value of the ability to the damage on critical hits from melee attacks. Forgetful.
Die Meister Draich ist ihre Anführeroption mit einer auf 4 erhöhten Stärke.
Darkshards
- Guardmaster: 100 points
- Darkshard: 80 points
Die Darkshards are the basic shooting unit, with crossbows that can reach 12″ range for 1/3 damage at Strength 3. Their melee attack is nothing noteworthy, but the missile attacks make them worth considering, especially because their ability, for a Triple, increments by half the ability’s value for their next shooting attack (so a Triple 6 grants them 5 attacks, or 6 to the leader).
Die Guardmaster ist die Anführer-Option, mit 1 zusätzlichen Angriff (3, sowohl im Fern- als auch im Nahkampf), mehr Wunden (aber dieselbe Zähigkeit 3) und einem zusätzlichen Schaden bei kritischen Treffern im Nahkampf.
Schwarze Garde
- Captain of the Black Guard: 120 points
- Schwarze Garde: 85 points
Die Schwarze Garde are the defensive infantry line with Toughness 4 and a 2″ range melee weapon that allows to attack without being engaged. When next to a Sorceress, for a Double they can ignore 2 damage per hit (to a minimum of 1) that guarantees them more chances of survival against the biggest hitters.
Works only when close to a Sorceress, but they are worth considering even just for the 2″ range, despite having 1 attack less than the Executioner.
Their leader option, the Hauptmann der Schwarzen Gardehat weniger Stärke (3) als der Draich Master, aber seine 2″-Reichweitenwaffe macht ihn zu einer validen Alternative als Anführer.
Drakespawn Knight
- Dread Knight: 200 points
- Drakespawn Knight: 165 points
Die Drakespawn-Ritter are the heavy cavalry, with 20 wounds, Toughness 5 and 8″ movement. They have the same 2″ melee range than the Black Guard but more attacks (4 at Strength 3 for 2/4 damage) making them an excellent addition to any army.
They are mounted, so they have some limitations when fighting urban warfare (can’t go through archways or open doors) but they can do some damage after charge: for a Triple, they can do as much damage as the ability’s value when ending a movement within 1″ of the target. This ability will need to be accurately balanced with the 2″ range weapon, so that you don’t get them stuck in fights losing their high movement versatility.
Die Schreckensritter ist ihre Anführeroption und hat nur eine Nahkampfwaffe mit 1″ Reichweite, aber 5 Angriffen.
Dunkle Reiter
- Dark Rider Herald: 180 points
- Dark Rider: 150 points
Die Dunkle Reiter represent instead the light cavalry, with high wounds but Toughness going back to 4. They add a 12″ range shooting attack for 1/3 damage that classifies them as skirmishers, although their best damage is in their 2″ melee attacks (4 at Strength 3 for 1/4 damage).
Their signature ability allows a free disengage action at the cost of a Double.
Their leader option, the Dark Rider Herald has 1 more shooting attack (3) and a bit more damage in melee (2/4). For a potential error, instead of having the free disengage action, shares the same runemark as the Darkshards that increases his missile attack value, but should be rectified in the next Errata.
Black Ark Corsairs
- Black Ark Reaver: 100 points
- Schwarzer Arche-Korsar mit böser Klinge und bösem Entermesser: 60 points
- Schwarzer Arche-Korsar mit bösartiger Klinge und Repetierhandbogen: 65 points
The last profile represents the Black Ark Corsairs. They all have the same Double that adds +2″ to the movement and +1 melee attack, but can be used only on the first battle round, Toughness 3 and 5″ movement, but 3 different weapon profiles:
- Die Schwarzer Arche-Korsar mit böser Klinge und bösem Entermesser ist das Basis-Infanterieprofil mit 4 Angriffen für 1/3 Schaden.
- Die Schwarzer Arche-Korsar mit bösartiger Klinge und Repetierhandbogen verliert 1 Nahkampfangriff, um ein 8″-Reichweiten-Raketenprofil für 1/2 Schaden bei Stärke 3 hinzuzufügen, das nützlich sein kann, wenn du viele von ihnen hast.
- Die Schwarzer Arche-Reaver, however, is their leader option, with 2/4 damage compared to the melee Corsair but also 1 Strength and 6 wounds less than a Fleetmaster making the latter a better option for a leader.
Fähigkeiten für die Darkling Covens Warband
- Gnadenlose Jäger (Double, alle Black Ark-Jäger, einschließlich Fleetmaster, Reaver und Corsairs): Füge +2″ zur Bewegung und +1 zu den Nahkampfangriffen hinzu, aber nur in der ersten Runde.
- Schlag des Henkers (Doppel, Draichmeister und Henker): Erhöht den Schaden bei kritischen Treffern von Nahkampfangriffen um bis zu +3.
- Schneller Rückzug (Doppelt, Dunkler Reiter): Führe eine Bonus-Aktion zum Ausklinken durch.
- Stahl und Zauberei (Double, Hauptmann der Schwarzen Garde und Schwarze Garde): Ziehe 2 (bis zu einem Minimum von 1) vom erlittenen Schaden ab, wenn du dich innerhalb von 3″ um eine Zauberin befindest.
- Form Shieldwall (Double, Lordling): +2 Zähigkeit für Dreadspear- oder Bleaksword-Kämpfer, die sich in der Nähe befinden.
- Kavallerieangriff (Dreifach, Schreckensritter und Drakespawn-Ritter): Am Ende der nächsten Bewegungsaktion kannst du einem angegriffenen gegnerischen Kämpfer bis zu 6 Schaden zufügen.
- Salve von Schüssen (Dreifach, Wächtermeister, Dunkelschwert, Dunkelreiter-Herald): Bis zu +3 Angriffe auf die nächste Raketenangriffsaktion (Dark Rider Herald wahrscheinlich ein Fehler).
- Vitriolisches Spray (Quad, Zauberin): Bis zu 18 Schaden an einem gegnerischen Kämpfer in der Nähe und Halbierung seiner Zähigkeit bis zum Ende der Kampfrunde.
Reaktion für die Darkling Covens Warband
Eingeführt in der neuen Staffel von Warcry, Reaktionen sind Dinge, die unter bestimmten Umständen getan werden können, aber immer während des gegnerischen Zuges. Sie kosten eine Aktion, so dass sie nur von Kämpfern eingesetzt werden können, die noch nicht aktiviert wurden oder noch warten. Es gibt 3 universelle Reaktionen und eine spezifische für jeden Kriegsverband:
Halsabschneider-Streik (Alle)
- WennEin sichtbarer Feind innerhalb von 1″ erklärt eine Rückzugsaktion.
- Was: Bei einem Wurf von 3+ wird dem gegnerischen Kämpfer D6 Schaden zugefügt.
Kampfeigenschaft für alle Cities of Sigmar Warbands
Die Kampfeigenschaft ist ein Zusatz, der in Briar and Bone eingeführt wurde und der eine zusätzliche optionale Regel hinzufügt, die alle Charaktere mit der gleichen Runenmarke betrifft, ohne dass ein Fähigkeitswürfel verwendet wird. Jede Fraktion hat ihre eigene, aber die der Großen Allianz kann stattdessen verwendet werden:
- Bestellung - Mutige Beschützer: Bei der Verwendung von In Deckung gehen Reaktion wird der kritische Treffer bei einer 3+ statt 4+ zum normalen Treffer.
- Chaos - Streben nach Ruhm: Einmal pro Kampfrunde, addiere 1 zum ersten kritischen Treffer eines Nahkampfangriffs eines Kämpfers, dessen Kosten 125 Punkte oder weniger betragen.
- Tod - Unsterbliche Schergen: Einmal pro Kampfrunde wird ein kritischer Treffer eines Dieners durch einen Schussangriff als normaler Treffer gewertet.
- Zerstörung - Unerbittliche Zerstörer: Bei Nahkampfangriffen kann das Ziel nicht den +1 Zähigkeitsbonus aus der Deckung beanspruchen.
Dämmerungsbringer-Eiferer: Am Ende jeder Kampfrunde kann ein einzelner Kämpfer 3 Schadenspunkte heilen oder 4, wenn er sich innerhalb von 3″ um ein Ziel, einen Schatz oder innerhalb von 1″ um ein Hindernis befindet.
Strategy and Tactics for the Darkling Covens Warband
The Darkling Covens are the left-overs of the Dark Elves still within Cities of Sigmar. As such, they are all models 10+ years old. If you had a Cities of Sigmar army before the latest release, and your main focus was the pirate and darkest side of it, chances are you already have a base for a Warcry warband.
Otherwise it will require hunting through different boxes of units that should also return valid for the Old World upcoming game set in the Warhammer Fantasy setting.
In Warcry, the Darkling are a fast warband (on foot 5″ and mounted 8″ movement), on the fragile side (Toughness 3, except the armoured infantry at 4 and the Drakespawn Knights at 5). They have few ranged options, but a maximum range of 12″ and not the most damaging options either.
Their heaviest hitters are the one with better armour, except the Assassin, a good leader with a great attack profile but extremely slim chances to survive. So, their main tactic is quite clear: swarm the battlefield, get fast in position, harass the enemy from safe distance, and obtain as many objectives as possible.
In order to achieve all of that, speed and numbers are not enough, you need also good abilities. And we start from the warband reaction, the only one shared by all fighters: an attack of opportunity against an enemy disengaging. It activates on a 3+ and does D6 damage, that can be quite interesting to discourage disengaging and running away, but on the other side, most fighters have Toughness and Strength 3, so an opponent would need to be extremely desperate to be forced to disengage.
A mobile warband needs also movement tricks, so let’s look at their relevant abilities. The Black Ark fighters on the first battle round for a Double can add +2″ movement AND +1 to their melee attacks. That is good, and cheap, but then the remaining of the battle they don’t have any other ability except the universal ones like Rush for an extra 1″ of movement or Ansturm for an extra attack (both Doubles).
The Dark Riders can disengage at the cost of a Double. That can be good to get in a better position or avoid being pinned down on your fastest unit. Funny enough, their leader, most likely because of a printing error, does not have access to this ability.
And that’s all there is, the other abilities being mostly defensive: the Black Guard can reduce incoming damage but need to be close to a Sorceress that needs to be close to the front line for maximum efficiency. The Dreadspear and the Bleaksword can increase Toughness and block a door or a pass from melee enemy fighters, however they need a Lordling close-by to issue the Double.
That leaves the offensive abilities, that should help with the overall low Strength of the army. The Executioner’s Double is not even worth discussing. The Drakespawn Knight’s Triple is great if you have a high Triple and you have yet to engage an enemy but still would do at most 6 damage. The Darkshards Triple adds more attacks but we are still talking about a Strength 3 1/3 damage series of attacks…
Even the most offensive spell, the one that can change the tide of the match, has a big drawback. The Sorceress’ Quad can do up to 18 damage AND halve an enemy Toughness so that the rest of the warband can finish off the toughest enemies. However, it has a 3″ range from a fighter with 18 wounds and Toughness 3, that cannot be protected by anything except a literal wall of Dreadspear/Black Guard and hope your opponent does not have 2″ range melee weapons or any missile attack.
In summary, everything in the warband seems underpowered. Playing Darkling Covens would often look like playing in hard mode, and that can be satisfying for experienced players, but, between the age of the models, their availability, and overall rules, they are definitely not recommended for beginners.
Vor- und Nachteile der Darkling Covens Warband
Vorteile:
+ Gute Kämpferprofile Vielfalt
Nachteile:
- Geringe Zähigkeit und Stärke
- Banale Fähigkeiten
Some thematic warbands for the Darkling Covens
Nur zum Spaß stellen wir hier ein paar thematische Warbands vor, die mehr für den Spaß oder den erzählerischen Kontext als für das kompetitive Spiel gedacht sind. Beachtet, dass ihr im narrativen Spiel eine Quest abschließen müsst, die es euch erlaubt, einen Helden zu rekrutieren, bevor ihr ihn zu eurem Dienstplan hinzufügen könnt.
From a single box: 1 Lordling, 4 Dreadspear, 5 Bleaksword, 5 Darkshards.
Darkling Power: 1 Dread Knight as leader, 1 Sorceress as support hero, 3 Black Guard, 1 Executioner, 2 Darkshard, 3 Bleaksword/Dreadspear. For a more thematic warband the Sorceress could be the Leader and the Knight the support hero.
How to buy a Darkling Covens Warband
The Darkling Covens are part of the Cities of Sigmar range, in particular the aelvish side. As any Age of Sigmar army, there’s no easy to collect Warcry box, but you would most likely need to start a Cities of Sigmar army or invest in boxes with multiple models.
The individual blisters that provide you hero options are:
- Assassin for £17
- Black Ark Fleetmaster currently unavailable
- Sorceress for £12
Otherwise, the units (and their leader option) are available in the following boxes:
- Black Ark Corsairs, 10 models including the Black Reaver for £20
- Executioners, 10 models including the Draich Master for £35. The Black Guard comes from the same kit.
- Dreadspears, 10 models including the Lordling for £25. Bleakswords and Darkshards come from the same kit, so a single box can give you a bit of variety.
- Dark Riders, 5 models including the Dark Rider Herald for £27.5
- Drakespawn Knights, 5 models including the Dread Knight for £22.5
Tips on painting a Darkling Covens Warband for Warcry
As mentioned above, Darkling Covens come from the Dark Elves range 10+ years old, so there’s plenty of video tutorials for that army, but not many recent. The closest thing Games Workshop released not long ago is a colour scheme for Har Kuron armies, that are those aelves from Anvilgard that rebelled against the Stormcast and gave the city to Morathi.
Doctor Faust proposes non-Citadel colours, with drybrush and ink colours that can easily be replaced with modern colours if you prefer. As a bonus there’s how to paint over a decal, especially on banners.
Adrien Leloup shows how to paint a Sorceress, while Duncan shows a way to paint the cloaks of Black Ark Corsairs. Finally, if you don’t want the pale skin but something more purplish, Vince Venturella tutorial for Drow skin could be what you are looking for.