Using Bandit in your Gravediggers army
Cygnar’s Gravediggers just got an upgrade with the release of Bandit, the character super heavy built to marshall other warjacks.
But how can you use Bandit in the field? Let’s take a look at some army lists fresh from the Warmachine dev studio.
(For a refresher on Bandit’s rules, check out this overview.)
75-point Bandit army list – Major Grant Vargus
Major Grant Vargus could be one of Bandit’s new best friends.
Why?
One word: armour.
Vargus is the leader to reach for when you want to put down heavy armour, have a reasonable expectation that it’ll withstand the worst your enemies can throw at you, and then hit back even harder. It’s all about Standing Tall.
Under Standing Tall, Bandit’s base ARM of 20 rises to an impressive 23. With 36 health boxes, that’s a lot of steel to blast through to take Bandit down. But wait, there’s more!
If Bandit calls in a marshalled Blocker warjack using a Heavy Airdrop, and stands base to base with it, that pushes Bandit’s ARM up to an incredible 25. Even colossal warjacks would struggle to destroy Bandit at that level!
Hold on a second: we didn’t include any Heavy Airdrops in this army list for Bandit to use?
That’s okay! At 75 points, we need to be as efficient with points as possible. So, instead, Bandit will use FRAGO to convert the Light Airdrops in this army list into Heavy Airdrops.
It doesn’t end there. Vargus has a range of spells to help Bandit and its marshalled warjacks be more effective.
Hand of Destruction increases the damage output of all of Bandit’s attacks, and those of its marshalled warjacks.
Rhythm of War ensures all Vargus’ warjacks are positioned perfectly at the end of the Gravediggers turn, ready to weather the enemy assault.
Rock Wall provides protection from enemy ranged attacks for everyone… except Bandit. Not to worry, though; a well-placed Rock Wall can ensure enemy light or heavy warjacks can’t even reach Bandit to attack in melee.
100-point Bandit army list – Colonel Allison Jakes
Bandit got its start by serving as Allison Jakes’ personal warjack while she trained to become a fully fledged warcaster. It’s only fitting that Bandit still has an important role in Jakes’ battle plans.
Jakes is who you reach for when you need to hit like a tonne of bricks, but not with guns; with swords, hammers, knives, and sharp sticks. Why? Because Synergy, that’s why.
With Synergy and a large complement of warjacks, Jakes can make even the lowliest Patriot hit like a heavy warjack.
The great thing about Synergy is the warjacks don’t even have to attack the same enemy. As long as Jakes’ warjacks are able to make at least one melee attack, they’ll improve the melee accuracy and damage of all the warjacks that activate afterwards.
How does Bandit help this strategy?
Well, thanks to it’s Vanguard Command Cortex, all Bandit’s marshalled warjacks contribute to and benefit from Synergy.
This army list starts with Jakes and five warjacks making use of Synergy. By turn four, Jakes could have NINE warjacks at her disposal thanks to the two Heavy Airdrops and two Light Airdrops Bandit can convert into additional Heavy Airdrops.
What a great time for Bandit to airdrop in a marshalled Raider to give Bandit Flank with the Raider, and all Bandit’s marshalled warjacks Flank with Bandit. Additional damage dice for everyone!
Will Bandit play a starring role in your Cygnar Gravediggers army? Secure this character super heavy now, then head to Discord to share your list ideas!
