Killing Time: Absylonia, Terror of Everblight

[PG_BloodRath]

Greetings Legionnaires! Some say there is no time like the present. I say there is no time like Killing Time! In this issue we are going to take a look at the Dragon Queen, Absylonia, Terror of Everblight. I find Absylonia to be one of the most reliable warlocks to play. She is easy to understand and makes a great gateway into the faction for new players. Absylonia has a fantastic tier and can adapt to a great deal of situations.

?Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory in the attack.? -Sun Tzu-

For every model we evaluate I first give you the break down. There is three base characteristics that define every warlock and warcaster.
? Feat
? Abilities
? Spells

When evaluating a warlock it is these three elements I intend to focus on to give us a base for discussion. I try not to give you the basic rundown of stats and army composition because you can find things like that on the battle collage or in our other amazing stickys. I just want to create a platform in which our community of players can contribute their take on the subject. I hope each and every one of you will Kill Time with me and discuss Absylonia.

[PG_BloodRath]

PANACEA: “Remove all damage from Absylonia; she can then suffer 1 or more damage points. For each damage point she suffers, remove all damage from one warbeast in her battle group in her control area.” The first thing to note about this feat is that it does not use the word “Healing” in any way. Because of this Gallows Grove, Grievous Wounds and other such abilities do not prevent the feat in any way. Panacea can be mitigated by your opponents focusing force on one warbeast at a time. The feat can be very match up dependant and there are a few opponents who it can frustrate to no end. Armies that struggle to deal with multiple heavies in one turn or deal with even a single heavy in one turn can feel overwhelmed by this feat. Stacking armor and defense bonuses can be a great way to aid your beast in the survival game. We will touch further on this later. Another fun way to use the feat is to heal Absylonia in times of dire straits. Failed assassination runs, indirect damaging spells like bad blood, or fire burning for a few rounds can really put a hurting on a warlock. Absylonia can recover from an otherwise devastating situation simply by healing herself and her injured warbeast. Because Absylonia typically has to play very close to the front lines to swap around her upkeeps and spam animus she often sees a lot of incoming attacks. Being able to camp and transfer damage around is a great way to bait in your opponent and make great use of your feat. Most games I use her feat as an engine to heal away the damage from transfers.


“When I first started Legion I originally began the army to play something entirely new for an Escalation league. I wasn’t sure where to start and I the game store I played out was sold out of legion battle boxes. After flipping through the faction book I settled upon Absylonia. I loved the idea of a nyss so blighted she was more draconic that elven. At the time I knew little about legion so I decided to focus on High Def models to aid in keeping things alive for the feat. My first 15pts were an angelius, 2 raeks, a shredder, a shepherd. I had no idea that I already had the basics to what would one day be her tier list. Nothing says fun like 2 raeks tossing a warcaster from the back field to the front lines to serve it up to my army. Good times”

[PG_BloodRath]

THE PACKAGE: Absylonia has a long list of abilities that make her one of the most unique warlocks in the game. To begin with Absylonia has Abomination, how awesome is that? I love warcaster with abomination. 3? terror is great for forcing command checks on non fearless troops and solos. It doesn?t come into play often but a chance scaring non fearless infantry trying to kill my warcaster?yes please.
This next ability defines Absylonia play style. Resourceful: Absylonia can upkeep spells on models in her battlegroup without spending fury. This ability allows her to keep her 3 upkeep spells out there and still have the fury to cast Blight field and spam animuses. Absylonia may only be 6 fury but it can feel like allot more when you have all your spells out an animus on each beast and still have 2+ fury to camp. Having resourceful also allows for upkeep juggling putting which ability where you need it when.
Spontaneous mutation is a neat ability that gives Absylonia a small toolbox to help her in overcome terrain and take care of business herself. Barbed hooks giver her reach for a very respectable 12? threat range. Flight?.well that?s pretty self explanatory I don?t need to explain to Legion players how it works. Warp strength grants her +2 strength giving her a respectable P+S 15. All of her Mutations help facilitate the abilities on her Blight Claws. The first is critical grievous wounds giving her a solid chance at assassinating warlocks who are camping fury. The second is one of my favorite abilities she has Spirit eater which allows her to reave fury from warbeast she destroys with her melee weapon.


?One of my favorite maneuvers is to position an angelius on each flank and Absylonia in the middle. I have one angelius charge in to the farthest extreme back side of a warbeast, sting it hard then repulse bounce it a little toward my line. Next I have the second angelius on the opposite flank charge in sting it, and then repulse it toward my lines further. Finally I have Absylonia charge in and burn her fury smashing the injured warbeast. She then sucks up all its fury with spirit either refilling her for transfers or animus spamming. It?s not a perfect tactic but I have pulled off this little shenanigan a number of times?

[PG_BloodRath]

SPELL LIST: Absylonia only has 4 spells but all 4 are very potent. The first spell is Blight field. It’s a 4” AOE that she can place completely in her control area. While in the AOE enemy models can’t be allocated focus, channel spells, or be forced. Against Warmachine dropping BF on an enemy jack is devious because killing your warbeast in a single turn is going to be very hard if it can’t get focus the same goes for warbeast. I often like to wrap a BF around my DEF 17 angelius and watch as the enemy beast fail miserably to kill it only to have it healed completely the following turn. Her next spell is Carnivore, it gives a friendly model/ unit + 2 to melee attack rolls. When the affect target boxes a living model Absylonia heals D3 damage and the boxed model is removed from play. This is a solid way to heal the damage off of Absylonia after the feat damage she receives. Her next spell I feel is her bread and butter. Forced evolution grants a faction warbeast +2 str and Def. the ideal target for this is an angelius. Forced Evo brings the angelius up to 16 DEF (17 with tenacity) the way most people deal with crazy defense is to knock the target down. Because of serpentine this is not an option. Its armor piercing tail becomes a PS 16. Against the average armor of 18 on most heavies the angelius is now stinging at dice + 7. Finally we come to her last spell and many feel this is her signature spell. Playing God grants a warbeast reach, terror, and open fist. This can be used on various beasts to great effect. On Typhon it increases his gunfighter charge range to 11” for a total of 17" threat range on his sprays. With the carnivean it can shore up one of its biggest weaknesses in the lack of reach. The real fun for me is placing it on a raek. having the raek leap next to the enemy warlock and two handed throw them out from behind their lines will serve up a knocked down caster for your army to pounce on.


“As I mentioned earlier I love running two raeks and having the first leap in and toss a warcaster out from behind the lines. Then I cycle the upkeep to the second raek and have it toss the warcaster closer to my lines allowing for Absylonia to get many kills on fury camping warlocks snug inside their own lines. No one is safe from raek tossing mwah ha ha”

Well that’s all I have for now. Why not take a few minutes and Kill Time with me. Tell me how you Kill Time with Absylonia, Terror of Everblight!

This link will take you to omnus' article on absylonia
http://handcannononline.com/blog/201...2012-part-xii/

Below is a link to Chain attacks battler report pod cast featuring Absylonia
http://www.chain-attack.com/2012/03/...-vs-absylonia/

THE MENU
• TO TIER OR NOT TO TIER THAT IS THE QUESTION
• WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE TARGETS FOR HER FANTASTIC UPKEEPS
• DO YOU FIND SHE HAS REALLY BAD OR GOOD MATCHUPS? PLEASE SHARE WHICH ONES.
• WHATS YOUR IDEAL LIST FOR HER?
• HOW DOES YOUR BEAST LINE UP LOOK
• ARE YOU IN THE DOUBLE ANGELIUS CAMP OR IS 1 ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB DONE

[ThatWhichLurks]

THE MENU
• TO TIER OR NOT TO TIER THAT IS THE QUESTION
• WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE TARGETS FOR HER FANTASTIC UPKEEPS
• DO YOU FIND SHE HAS REALLY BAD OR GOOD MATCHUPS? PLEASE SHARE WHICH ONES.
• WHATS YOUR IDEAL LIST FOR HER?
• HOW DOES YOUR BEAST LINE UP LOOK
• ARE YOU IN THE DOUBLE ANGELIUS CAMP OR IS 1 ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB DONE

• I don't like her tier list that much, so I prefer playing her with non-tier lists.
• Upkeep targets: Carnivore: Striders/Absylonia/Raek, Forced Evo: Angelius/Typhon, Playing God: Raek/Typhon
• Good matchups: Gunlines, Jack/Beast heavy lists ; Bad matchups: Infantry spam with high defense
• Favourite list 50pts:
Absylonia, Terror of Everblight
*Raek
*Shredder
*Angelius
*Ravagore
*Typhon
Blackfrost Shard
Blighted Nyss Striders + UA
2x The Forsaken
• Beast line up - I don't have some standard deploy pattern. I usually try to apply my beasts on their ideal targets in the opponent's list and tend to deploy and move them accordingly.
• Dual angels? I prefer variety in my lists, so I'd lean towards a no.

[drsn0]

? I don't like her tier list that much, so I prefer playing her with non-tier lists.
? Upkeep targets: Carnivore: Striders/Absylonia/Raek, Forced Evo: Angelius/Typhon, Playing God: Raek/Typhon
? Good matchups: Gunlines, Jack/Beast heavy lists ; Bad matchups: Infantry spam with high defense
? Favourite list 50pts:
? Beast line up - I don't have some standard deploy pattern. I usually try to apply my beasts on their ideal targets in the opponent's list and tend to deploy and move them accordingly.
? Dual angels? I prefer variety in my lists, so I'd lean towards a no.

I am going to go ahead and disagree.

Her tier is very very good. All of the bonus's are worthwhile and restrictions are how I would run her anyway.

I find that she deals with high def infantry very well under her tier as well. being able to run extra forsaken for some shrouds is bye bye kayazy.

I like to take 2 stinger, 2 shredders, angelius, ravagore and scythean at 35pts.

I dont run dual angels with her as i feel that you get more out of a scythean+angi than 2xangi.

She is my favourite lock to play and I love how brutal she can be when she needs to get stuck in.

[Lachlan the Mad]

Theme force: I run Abby in tier because I am poor and bad at modelling, and all warbeasts is cheaper and easier to assemble than infantry. The benefits are very good, but I haven't played out of tier except at 15pts, so it's hard for me to speak with authority. I have been considering mixing my list up at some point by adding some infantry for Carnivore and attaching a Succubus to Abby. This lets her upkeep Carnivore for free and makes her animus-spammin' a little easier.

Upkeep targets: Ideally? Carnivore on a Scythean, Forced Ev on an Angel, Playing God on Typhon. I am intrigued by this "PG on a Raek" idea though.

Good matchups: Anything heavy on the 'jacks or 'beasts. Any force that spreads out across the battlefield -- Abby likes to keep her army close together and punch straight through enemy lines, so I usually try to go second and put all of my army down a flank.

Bad matchups: Worst matchup I'd ever had was a 15pt list with Ashlynn, a Nomad, a Forgeguard squad, Harlan Vesh and a couple of others. Utterly demolished me. But anything that can punish you for upkeeps and animi, anything that has a good chance of wrecking heavies, and anything that can outmanoeuvre her is bad (so that Ashlynn list was made to destroy me really).

Favourite list: Here's what I'm currently building towards at 50. It's technically only 49 points, but I don't particularly care, it's 53pts worth of models before the points discount.

Absylonia, Terror of Everblight (*5pts)
* Nephilim Bolt Thrower (6pts)
* Shredder (2pts)
* Shredder (2pts)
* Stinger (2pts)
* Angelius (8pts)
* Ravagore (9pts)
* Scythean (8pts)
* Typhon (11pts)
Blighted Nyss Shepherd (1pts)
Blighted Nyss Shepherd (1pts)
The Forsaken (2pts)
The Forsaken (2pts)

Beast line-up: I put everything down a flank of the battlefield and try to punch straight for the enemy caster. I usually use the Shredders to block charge lanes, snag up AD models by running 16" with Advance Deploy, and trick enemy models into getting into Typhon's charge range. The Ravagore burninates infantry and the Bolt Thrower goes for lucky crits against key targets to knock 'em down.

Dual angels: Nope. She only gets Forced Ev once.

[allenamenvergeben]

May be a bit off tpoic but still fits imho:
I really like her rules, fluff and playstyle but honestly her model is so ugly that I could just not push myself to pick her up. So my question is: is it really that bad or is the photo just not showing her chocolate side?

[allenamenvergeben]

Edit: double post

[MeniteTom]

I've been playing her with two Ravagores at 50 points recently to great effect. You give both of them Advance Move and then if you go first, you're aiming at stuff on turn 2 and if you go second you're shooting stuff turn 1. They're also good targets for PG or Carnivore in the late game.

[PG_Saturated Phat]

And its super!
Absylonia can now totally neuter any colossal.
If you get locked you are automatically forced into a melee action and thus can not shoot as well unless you have virtuoso.
So a locked stormwall cant do anything else other than trying to break free.
http://privateerpressforums.com/show...52#post1500652

The tactic is now officially viable.

[OldOneEye]

May be a bit off tpoic but still fits imho:
I really like her rules, fluff and playstyle but honestly her model is so ugly that I could just not push myself to pick her up. So my question is: is it really that bad or is the photo just not showing her chocolate side?

It's that bad, if not worse.

[Lachlan the Mad]

May be a bit off tpoic but still fits imho:
I really like her rules, fluff and playstyle but honestly her model is so ugly that I could just not push myself to pick her up. So my question is: is it really that bad or is the photo just not showing her chocolate side?

It's true that Abby is a bugger to pose. While it is possible to make her look badass if you clamp her arms in a vice while gluing and/or do some Greenstuff resculpting, if you just put her together any way she'll stand up (like I did), you get a fan dancer.

[PG_BloodRath]

I sawed mine in half at the waist and then took a bane thrall ua officer and sawed it in half at the waist. I put absylonias upper body on the banes lower body. Next i angled both wings downward. This created the feel that she was floating along. Its much more" terror of everblight" looking. Im very happy with the conversion.

[Roadhouse]

I sawed mine in half at the waist and then took a bane thrall ua officer and sawed it in half at the waist. I put absylonias upper body on the banes lower body. Next i angled both wings downward. This created the feel that she was floating along. Its much more" terror of everblight" looking. Im very happy with the conversion.

Care to post a picture?

[PG_BloodRath]

Forgive me for the bad photos I took these with the phone so you can get the idea. Ill try
To take some with my camera and post them tommrow

[drsn0]

this is mine

[OldOneEye]

I'm still trying to figure out what to do about her butt face. Those fat, fat cheekbones and heavily-lined mouth just drive me crazy. I guess I'll carve up one of the extra plastic Sorschas I have laying about.

[Belthazar1113]

leave her face alone! naresh would never forgive you if you took that sexy grin away.

[muag]

how do people feel about nipilim protectors as body guards for her

[Alexwheeler]

how do people feel about nipilim protectors as body guards for her

Waste of points that could be used on forsaken, shredders, a reak .... All in all not worth it.

[muag]

really i think it makes sense if you plan on running her in the front line and already have 4shredders a couple forsaken and a couple raek you can almost always transfer damage to it barring anti healing effects it has reach and you can stop slams with its animus with spells you can get a 14 ps out of it as well

[Alexwheeler]

But the thing is your still losing something bigger and better by taking it, ae the points would be a loss of something else. This is the list I run and I don't know what I would take out to bring a NP.

Aby +5
Typhon -12
Angel -9
Rava -10
Reak -4
Shredder -2
Legos + UA -9
Full pot -3
X2 forsaken -4
x2 Shepherd -2

Not the best but doesn't have too many bad match ups, thinking of adding in a succubus when she comes out. Maybe I'll take out the shredder for her and I'll have to play back a bit till I could make one with the pot.

[Kalaris]

I've been playing her with two Ravagores at 50 points recently to great effect. You give both of them Advance Move and then if you go first, you're aiming at stuff on turn 2 and if you go second you're shooting stuff turn 1. They're also good targets for PG or Carnivore in the late game.

You've inspired me to try this at 35, a pair of AD Ravagores, an angelius, reak, 2 forsakens, and 3 lessers of whatever flavor you wnat (I'm thinking 1 of each, so I can hunt gorman with harrier, shredder for tenacity, and stinger for living models. I will miss my melee beat sticks though =/

[muag]

i guess i just like it because i plan to run a tier list heres the list i'm looking at
35pts
abby +5
np 5
2 raek 8
3 shredder 6
angel 9(8)
ravagore 10(9)
2 forsaken 4
i think its decent buil but its still on a paper build so ya

[Alexwheeler]

i guess i just like it because i plan to run a tier list heres the list i'm looking at
35pts
abby +5
np 5
2 raek 8
3 shredder 6
angel 9(8)
ravagore 10(9)
2 forsaken 4
i think its decent buil but its still on a paper build so ya

I'd take out the NP and one reak (I can't ever find a use for two) add in either scy/angel + a shep or another rava

[PG_BloodRath]

Just for refrence here is my 35 list. Any further list discussion should be taken to the list discussion side

Army Name: Terror of Everblight
Legion of Everblight
Tier 4: Winds of Change
35+5 points, 10 models

Absylonia, Terror of Everblight +5 points
* Angelius 8 points
* Carnivean 10 points
* Raek 4 points
* Scythean 8 points
* 3x Shredder 2 points each

2x The Forsaken 2 points each

Additional Rules

Lesser warbeasts in Absylonia's battlegroup gain Advance Deployment.
For each Forsaken, one heavy warbeast gains Advance Move.

[VTRC]

I really love the idea of Abby. And I love the Forsaken. But I can't look at either model without flashing back to the Kids in the Hall Chickenlady sketches.

"I made it with blight. From my own body!"

/shudder

[Crate123]

Just for refrence here is my 35 list. Any further list discussion should be taken to the list discussion side

Army Name: Terror of Everblight
Legion of Everblight
Tier 4: Winds of Change
35+5 points, 10 models

Absylonia, Terror of Everblight +5 points
* Angelius 8 points
* Carnivean 10 points
* Raek 4 points
* Scythean 8 points
* 3x Shredder 2 points each

2x The Forsaken 2 points each

Additional Rules

Lesser warbeasts in Absylonia's battlegroup gain Advance Deployment.
For each Forsaken, one heavy warbeast gains Advance Move.

Why not switch one of the shredders for a harrier ?
With that animus you can threaten an assassination run even through feats such as Ashlynn or through iron flesh.

[PG_BloodRath]

I often swap around diffrent lessers with her. This list is an expansion to the the battle box. The AD shredders.become early game harassers to occupy runnung until my advance move heavies get into place

[PG_Pszito]

I LOVE this lady. AND her tier. She was my first motivation to get 75 fully painted. She's simple, thus flexible, hard to nail down, and brings along tons of our best models... BEASTS! She's got a surprising learning curve, if only because of all the tricks and options you have at your fingertips. Absy herself can assassinate, bait, or play the waiting game just supporting her beasts. Her beast composition is flexible, albeit some much more solid than others, which allows for diverse matches. Then her tier... oh sweet sweet tier... is one of the best in all of Legion, imnsho. He's my usual 50 pointer:

Absylonia +6 -Tier 4 Winds of Change
- Typhon - 11
- Ravagore - 9
- Angelius - 8
- Seraph - 7
- Raek - 4
- Shredder x4 - 8
Forsaken x4 - 8

4 solid heavies. All of which get Advance Move, cost one point less, along with 4 Advanced Deployed Shredders, and each has their own personal fury manager. Each heavy also has at least some form of ranged attack option, which helps with her worse match-ups. If you go all melee then you're going to struggle vs any anti-charge/buy-a-turn feat. I've found the ravagore especially nice given that he keeps pressure on their caster and you can tune him up how you need once the melee gets rough. He also has the ability to start shooting turn one with his advance move, slipstream, and full advance he can land 35-38" into the board.

You get 5 Abominations in the list and one Terror (playing god) beast, making non-fearless troop lists a bit nervous. I also like the fact that you have 1 Forsaken and Lesser for each heavy, helping de-snare them from troops and you have slipstream/repulsion/power attacks to free them from other heavies. No spiny growth to spam around, I found it was a bit too costly for absy so tenacity does the trick especially with base def 13-15 beasts up front.

The Seraph is a critical choice for Absy. Slipstream is a vital tool in her list given she has no threat range extenders and it is a solution for many matches/abilities that shut down heavies. It also extends the threat of blight bombs and frees forsaken to reposition if a unit runs just to engage. The shooty of the Seraph helps deal with spot removal of troops to punch heavies through, 'snipe' out solos, and again put pressure on low arm casters. 14.5" Raek headbutt/throw and seraph strafe has won me games many times; they focus too much on putting down the bigger heavies and miss the other angles I can get them by.

Then you get into her spell list. I certainly go in with the plan of FE -> Angelius, Carnivore -> Typhon, and Playing God -> Raek. These swap out based on matchup and situation. If i know that my opponent can shut down Typhon with Reach+shadowbind/stranglehold/etc then I toss playing god on him. If I know Absy is going to get down to business then Carnivore will end up on her. If Typhon needs to survive and KD isn't an easy option for them, FE+Tenacity makes him a huge pain followed up by 7 pow 19s. If the ravagore is going in for the pummeling I toss carnivore/FE depending on what he needs. I've even used FE on the Raek to ace powerful solos/assassinate casters. You have to adapt to the situation as needed.

Blight field, her only 'offensive' spell, takes some learning to use. Vs Hordes you either use it to prevent charges, complicate their attempts to win the heavy beatdown (vs reach beasts you put it where they want to be when engaging your beast so they must walk around/charge at odd angles), and make their ranged beasts lose their aiming bonus. Vs Warmachine you can drop it on their critical jack(s) to prevent assassinations/beatdown. Keep in mind you only have to get them 'within' so you can get 2-3 jacks if they are close together (often I'll make them get close with repulsion/slams/throws). The other great trick is you can knockdown beasts/jacks, drop a blight field and they cannot shake the KD! It shuts down melee beasts/jacks, so long as they wont engage on stand-up. Ranged lose their aiming bonus and ability boost/buy if they stay in it! Clutch. It's also worth noting that it is NOT a cloud effect, so be courteous to your opponent and don't let them assume it is. It also only prevents allocation, other means of acquiring focus still apply. It should also be noted that a Raek, with playing god, can weapon lock a colossal/gargantuan, prevent it's move, force it to make a melee combat action, lose the break check, but if it is also affected by Blight Field, they can't buy attacks on it. Next turn... repeat. Or he can leap-lock it from behind to prevent any kind of retaliation.

Absy always has her assassination/business mode to fall back on. With carnivore up from the turn before, warping for flight, using the raek's animus, she can get anywhere she need to go with 3 fury to play with. She can get either str or reach if she needs it, then swing to the fences. Getting 4 mat 9 pow 15s can put down a number of things or you can go for crit grievous on warlocks, double boosting her initials. She can get things done, you just can't rely on it if she has to spend 4 fury just to get there. So do your math and be cautious.

Finally, she has her feat. The best way I've found to abuse it besides defensive buffing all beasts is to bait your opponent into an assassination. I usually do so by leaving her in a rather open mid-field position (takes serious knowledge to play this right), tenacity up, and camping 4-6 transfers. Against experienced players they know not to go for this as you can transfer the hits away at your discretion then fully recover the following turn. However, you KNOW they're tempted to and can press that advantage. With repulsion, shadow step, and slipstream I'm not worried about her being caught in combat, it's mostly ranged/magic assassination to worry about. In that case, I'll leave a small gap between heavies to let them think I'm just being careless but ultimately limiting their field of fire. It all comes down to knowing what tools your opponent has and how to bait them just enough.

On a modeling note, I posed Absy like so:

Not my best paint job (finished her at 5am Friday at Templecon 2011!) but I'm very happy with her presence. Arms up and proud, like she's ushering on her pretties or summoning the power of the blight! May have to repaint her soon... ;-)

edit: I love that after full deployment and AM it's just Absy and 4 forsaken on the normal deployment line. If you go first you can press the scenario very easily, just make sure to not over extend and be outside Absy's control/forsaken absorption.