Hello everyone!
As the second week of CID dropped few days ago and the third one right before I was supposed to upload this post π , allow me to express my thoughts and feelings about both weeks together in one post. I need to create a topic on CID forums as well, as changing what’s not right is generally more important and productive than complaining about it and whining here hahah it’s easier though π but now that Angelius is fixed I don’t know what’s there to complain about (I will find something, no worries).
I added my hot takes on the third week right after my thoughts on the second week.
Please keep in mind that, as the Week 3 changes are minor, I kept the Week 2 screen shots for the models and indicated what has changed between those two steps in the picture’s description.
Bethayne, Pride of Everblight
Week 3: “from enemy attacks” removed from the feat wording
Week 2: To be fair, I believe it is a change into the right direction, as before you could transfer damage between any of your models. Now you have to focus on your battle group and maybe a couple of solos (Blight Archons?), however restricting it to a living models only, would exclude objectives for example, what would make sense in my opinion. It makes it more balanced in some way and forces the Legion player to make decisions. You cannot save every model now, what could create a Negative Player Experience.
Week 3: At first I thought that PP actually added “living model” restriction, but it turns out they were considering it and changed mind at the end, but it was already too late to adjust that and the actual change is removing “from enemy attacks” from the feat wording, what is a slight boost to the feat honestly. I wonder if it stays that way. Remember that you cannot transfer damage to models you cannot damage, so that exclude objective in the first turn of the second round. I still believe her feat is too strong and should have an additional requirement at least. I can imagine her beast standing with all the ARM buffs it can get and survive the whole army. That shouldn’t be the case.
Bethayne, Voice of Everblight
As indicated on the CID forum, beast points didn’t give justice to Beth1, fortunately PP noticed that and adjusted it properly by adding 2 more points. It has been mentioned that increasing number of free beast points further would require Belphagore to be toned down, therefore I’d rather have it stay as it is now.
I love the change to her feat, as now all friendly models with magical attacks benefit from it, Minions included π Additionally, this little tweak, combined with an addition of Throne to another theme force, will most likely increase Throne’s play time. It strengthen Legion’s ability to shread infantry with all the spray attacks it has even further.
What’s more, it will encourage Legion players to include less played Minion models, what opens up new possibilities. Please find the list of Minion models with Magical offensive abilities below (thanks to Blight Bringers podcast):
– Bog Trog Mist Speaker
– Eilish Garrity, the Occultist
– Gatorman Witch Doctor
– Hermit of Henge Hold
– Kwaak Slickspine & Gub, Croak Sorcerers
– Boil Master & Spirit Cauldron
– Gatorman Bokor & Bog Trog Swamp Shamblers
Take note that, as for now, Blood Thorn gives +2 POW to melee and ranged weapons (not melee and ranged attacks), what for instance makes Zuriel’s Combo Strike POW 25 as it gives +2 POW to each sword. However, usually it would make more sence to use those swors separately π
Blight Archon
Week 3: reducing damage to 10
Week 2: Like some other players, I haven’t noticed it didn’t indicate friendly blighted models, just blighted models. Well, fortunately somebody noticed that and it has been corrected.
As Devs mentioned, they are not considering removing Impending Doom from the Archon’s spell list (what I believe they should), what’s one of the most powerful features of the model. I understand that using Impending Doom and being within 5″ within enemy models could mean that Blarchon will go down next turn (together with his battle group going wild), but there are ways to prevent that from happening (Abby1, Fyanna2 etc.) and this spell combined with other abilities like Hellmouth’s drags, some animi or Gallows is very powerful.
Apart from that, Counterblast animus (present on Stinger and Teraph) combined with the powerful spray attack is quite interesting, right (especially with CMD 10)?
Week 3: Damage boxes reduced to 10, what is a way of toning down this Archon a little bit without manipulating with the abilities, what is certainly the fastest way to fix the model.
Kryssa, Conviction of Everblight
Small adjustment of Total Obedience’s wording not to include any warlocks. I like how simple to understand, build a list around her and play she is. She seems to be a cool starter warlock that can be used by more experienced players as well.
Annyssa Ryvaal
Hurraayyy Annyssa can use her claymore now! I haven’t used her for so long I didn’t even realize she didn’t have that weapon mentioned on her stat card lol fortunately now she does π
Blackfrost Shard
That’s a good change that allows to remove enemy upkeep spells on models within 5″ of the unit, not only on the BFS itself. Taking out Rebukes etc. is going to be helpful. They would make a nice addition to Bethayne1 list and any infantry based list that might be scared of Rebuke. However, if you think of them as a damage bonus on a fragile model with 2 sidekicks, 9 points might be a little bit too much. Worth considering, but I wouldn’t build every list around them.
Carnivean / Proteus
Our prayers have been answered, at least to some extent ;p as the Lead Developer himself said, that increasing ARM stat is out of the question, it came down to SPD or DEF and SPD buff is not something the team is willing to change. I will take the +1 DEF happily.
Virtue Host
Week 3: Reducing cost to 8
Week 2: Getting pathfinder is definitely helpful, especially on models with giant feet ;D Losing corrosion on melee is not an issue, since they still have assault attack with continuous corrosion.
I’d like them to have an additional die instead of boosted attack and melee damage roll, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. They seem to be a unit that will sit back and protect anything from infantry by spitting out 3″ AOE that single wound infantry won’t be able to get through. Put your Hellmouth’s Tentacles in the right spots and turn them into a corrosion wall.
Week 3: Point cost reduction is very welcome here, as I felt they were a little bit overpriced for what they could do.
Virtue Champion
As mentioned above, Virtue Champion gained Pathfinder. This solo’s ARM value is surprisingly high, what combined with 8 boxes will definitely find him a place in many lists.
Nephlim Protector
The Animus has been changed to Safeguard, what certainly will help Protector finding it’s way to some of the battle groups. This will increase survivability of the most fragile warlocks, like Twins or Lylyths, etc.
Angelius
Week 3: Bite melee range increased to 2″
Week 2: The addition of Side Step makes this beast more mobile and dangerous.
However, I’m not a big fan of the change to it’s Tail Strike. It has been already announced that Angelius will be able to make free strikes with his Bite attack. What’s worse though, when you miss your Tail Strike and you don’t have 1″ melee range to the target, you cannot do anything else, as Tail Strike is single use only ;/ I do not fully understand the reasoning behind this change as this is effectively a nerf.
I’d rather have it one time Armor-Piercing on it’s tail, and later buy normal attacks without AP special rule. Side step helps for sure with getting Bite attacks, but before it was 1″ Overtake and 2″ melee range, now it’s 1″ melee with 2″ Side Step, but you miss your first attack and you are done. I hope you get what I mean.
Getting 2″ Bite attack would probably solve all the above mentioned issues. It’s a flying snake, it has a very long neck, right?
Week 3: Yaaaaay, my prayers have been answered even before I could express them on my blog π That was exactly the change I was waiting for!
Zuriel
That’s a huge boost to Zuriel’s utility! I love Dual attack addition the most, as it was frustrating not being able to use the ranged attack because of some random dude within Zuriel’s melee range. Now it opens up so many possibilities. You don’t need to target the model you charged, now you can shot anything within your LoS. Kill Shot, opposite to Quick work, works only once per activation, but it isn’t a big deal honestly. He still isn’t the hardest hitting beast, but I guess he simply is not supposed to be such.
Captain Farilor & Standard
Week 3: Dev team decided to reduce point cost of the Legionnaires UA, as they seemed to be too expensive. Now I don’t think I would take them as a free option, as 4 points seems to be a reasonable cost for what they could do and take something more expensive as a Requisition Option instead.
Final thoughts
First of all, where is Nephlim Soldier?? Sadly, after three versions of CID I don’t believe we will see him being changed anyway.
This CID process, in my opinion, worked out very well and smooth and exposed some minor mistakes in wording that, that were immediately fixed. All of the models received buffs, more significant in some cases, and less important in other. In general, I would say, I am very satisfied with most of the changes, mainly the Great Tier mentioned below. I genuinely cannot wait to field those models and see how they perform now.
The only model I am disappointed in the end is Teraph. I was expecting much more from that light warbeast, maybe simply too much? I haven’t test him yet, but it seems that he is simply too expensive and doesn’t provide any added value to the list (maybe with an exception of Kallus2? I haven’t really think out that yet), especially with such low RAT and only a single shot.
Nephlim Protector is fine probably, but I was just hoping for more, I am whining now π
On the other hand, Zuriel jumped into the Great Tier together with Week 2 changes (and Carnivean chasis π ). The addition of Dual Attack, Kill shot and +1RAT makes him a pretty interesting choice!
Great Tier:
– Reak
– Blighted Nyss Archers & UA
– Blighted Nyss Swordsmen & UA
– Archangel
– Kryssa1
– Blight Archon
– Virtue Champion
– Zuriel (+2)
– Angelius (+1)
– Bethayne1 & Belphagor (+1)
Fine Tier:
– Blighted Nyss Hex Hunters & Bayal
– Annyssa Ryvaal
– Proteus
– Azrael
– Craelix
– Yssylla
– Virtue Host
– Blighted Nyss Legionnaires & UA
– Blackfrost Shard
– Bethayne2 (+1)
– Carnivean (+1)
Meh Tier:
– Nephlim Protector
– Teraph
What I am looking forward to is how will Bethayne2 look like at the end, as it seems PP is still shaping her final form. My high hopes are also with Teraph and Nephlim Soldier. I need to express my thoughts on CID forum about them.
What are your thoughts? How would your tier list look like? How would you change Teraph and Nephlim Soldier? Or are they fine and I’m just exaggerating? π
I’m going for holidays this Saturday to Tatra mountains in southern Poland, so wish me good weather, because I love hiking there! See you soon!
Cheers,
Piotr
Imo Azrael is slightly better also because Kryssa1 became quite good, they are bonded, so Azrael will also receive Ashen Veil π
That’s very true!