Kurnoth's Heralds

Welcome to our rundown of Kurnoth’s Heralds. 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 & [Z]ACH

P: The thunder of hooves in the woods portents the swift strikes of Kurnoth’s Heralds in the Spitewood. Lets see what these Cervidae centaurs have in store for those who would defile Ghyran.

 

WARSCROLl

S: Fairly straight forward Strike inspire, but I appreciate the risk/reward factor when Charging out of your territory.

P: Get rewarded for doing what you were going to do anyway. I think these guys needed an easy inspire to be honest.

S: Having some caveated access to Flying helps realize a Speed motif I'm surprised is absent otherwise. (Looking at these models, you'd assume at least one of them hits 5-Speed.) But the thing I especially like in Swift Sentinels is the home territory guardians feeling invoked by not being able to be Flanked in friendly territory. Love that.

P: I'm gonna hate this playing Hexbanes... On the whole this ability is decent but not amazing. The theme is on point though.

 

S: You'll never here me complain about a push of 2 hexes. Solid ability. Tons of application.

P: So much flexibility with this, always good to have more pushes. Especially with a warband with so few fighters.

 

S: But here, here I'll complain. Lenwythe is not offering much on her own as a fighter. She's a utility piece. It would have been rad if she had full choice of who to target with a follow up bow shot and possibly get a second chance at moving a target you failed to move on the first shot. The ability is fine, but doesn't stand out or do much to help set this warband apart from the rest of the warbands available today.

P: A bit meh, but I'll take it. Can set up some scores by taking an extra attack but nothing earth shattering.

 

S: Speaking of abilities that are bland and nothing special... it's fine and will be of use. A bit surprised to see it locked to Ylarin.

P: This feels like the ability you pop when you are trying for that assassination run on a critical piece. It's a pretty solid accuracy boost and it better work because you are probably in trouble if it didn't.

 

FIGHTERS

Uninspired
S: First thing to acknowledge with all of the Heralds is that they each have the 4-Sword 1-Damage Range 1 Grapple weapon profile. I like this quite a bit. Mostly because it gives them all a cool option to Overrun with. At the very least, it's a neat throughput.
But let's talk about Ylarin for a moment, he starts with a 2-Damage Range 2, that's pretty rare! And it can spike up with Crit Grievous. That's some serious damage output, and absolutely a good candidate to throw an extra dice ploy at.

P: Being 3 bounty I’m glad to see some solid offensive stats. Without the ability to spike extra damage it wouldn’t seem all that impressive compared to say Morgok.

Inspired
S: No Speed or Save boost, but those Range 2 gains are no joke!

P: I guess Ylarin is a believer in the strategy of the best defense is a good offense!

Uninspired
S: Pretty typical elvish profile here, just with an extra health. Nothing special, especially for an elite fighter. Hopefully that means the inspire slaps.

P: For sure, not bad but not what I’d expect from a cavalry charge with that axe.

Inspired
S: And slaps it does! 3-Damage on 3-Hammers and with cleave! Cullon the Cannon!
But ahhh... 1-Dodge? What is that. Cullon the Glass-cannon.

P: All gas, no breaks. I guess just hit them hard enough and you don’t have to worry about the counter?

Uninspired
S: Alright, so I know I've already hinted at Lenwythe's shortcomings while highlighting her Precision Volley... but like she doesn't do much. And another fighter on 1-Dodge? I hope that means she inspires to do something spectacular.

P: Very much the utility fighter. That crit stagger probably could have just been stagger?

Inspired
S: Nope. Can't even find a second damage to offer on either of her weapons. The best thing she can do is offer some positioning while getting her Charge token and not holding the other two up, but if you want her to stay where you put her... well that 1-Dodge means you won't have much say over that.

P: Extra accuracy and switching to stagger are nice… but she probably needs her companions to really shine, which isn’t what you want from an elite fighter.

 

Summary

P: These Heralds pack quite a punch, but by the looks of things they may only get one chance to land that killing blow. I really hope, as I’m sure Skyler does as well, that these followers of Kurnoth play much better than they look on paper.

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