Ice Witches

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Ice Witches Legion Blighted Nyss Unit

Sorcery has long been a valued talent among the Nyss, now doubly so among the Legion of Everblight. Before the coming of the dragon, the Ice Witches were the brutal sorceresses of isolated and feral shards of the deep mountains who now use the blight to augment their power. They are among the Nyss most eager for battle, reveling in unleashing their powers.

Basic Info

Ice Witches
Missing Info
	COST {{{cacost}}} UNIT SIZE {{{casize}}} FA {{{cafa}}} Warcaster 0 BASE Small SPD 6 STR MAT 5 RAT N/A M.A. 6 DEF 14 ARM 11 CMD 6 ESSENCE {{{essence}}} FOCUS N/A FURY N/A THRS N/A HP 1 F. Field N/A WJP {{{wjp}}} WBP {{{wbp}}} IHP {{{ihp}}} FA 3 UNIT SIZE 3 COST 5 1.7 pts each N/A N/A Warcaster 1 COST N/A N/A Understanding the Statblock

Abilities

• Immunity: Cold
• Pathfinder
• Magic Ability [ 6 ] - This model can cast spells. Normally this uses up the model's Combat Action and as such is limited to one spell per activation, but exceptions do exist.
• Snow-Wreathed - This model has concealment.

Weapons

Cold Steel Blade
		RNG				POW				P+S
		0.5				4				8
Damage Type: Magical Critical Freeze - On a critical hit, the model hit becomes stationary for one round unless it has Immunity: Cold.

Spells

	COST	RNG	AOE	POW	DUR	OFF
Frostbite	(★ Attack)	8" Spray	-	12 (Cold)	-	Yes
Models hit suffer a POW 12 cold damage roll.
Ice Cage	(★ Attack)	10	-	-	(★)	Yes
This attack causes no damage. Instead, a model hit suffers a cumulative -2 DEF penalty for one turn unless it has Immunity: Cold. When a model without Immunity: Cold is hit with three or more Ice Cage attacks in the same turn, it becomes stationary for one round.
Puppet Master	(★ Action) or (★ Attack)	10	-	-	Round	(★)
When Puppet Master targets an enemy model/unit, it is a magic attack. You can have one affected model reroll one attack or damage roll, then Puppet Master expires. Puppet Master lasts for one round.

Theme Forces

• Children of the Dragon
• Oracles of Annihilation. In this theme, enemy models that end their activation within 2" of this model suffer continuous corrosion.

Recent changes

2021.10 Mega Update

• -2 points cost

Thoughts on Ice Witches

Ice Witches in a nutshell

Three Puppet Masters, or the ability to spam Ice Cages, for five points is a lot of To-Hit fixing utility in Legion, something we already have a lot of. That said, three casts of Puppet Master alone may be enough to allow these ladies to squeeze their way into many lists that rely on assassination or critical effects (which are all too prevalent in Legion).

Ice Witches can slot nicely into an Oracles of Annihilation List that wants to bring as many beasts as possible, but still sort of wants a unit for scoring circular zones in the 2019 steamroller scenarios.

Combos & Synergies

Any assassin warlock (most notably either version of Rhyas) really likes Puppet Master to improve their chances. Remember that Puppet Master is not a cure-all medicine. Dice are still dice, and you can roll poorly on the reroll - it simply improves your probabilities and percentages over a large sample and helps mitigate outlier rolls over time.

• With Rhyas, it's all about the crit fishing. She usually doesn't struggle to hit, but to really seal the deal landing a decapitation on the charge can make the difference between succeeding or failing at the job.
• Vayl2 may appreciate Puppet Master when setting up for her assassination attempt. Against flighty casters (the likes of Caine2 and other crazy DEF stackers), landing that first Icy Grip is all but required, and the Witches can help even out the dice curve.
• Throne of Everblight and the Blackfrost Shard can piggyback off of the other casts of Ice Cage - the spell doesn't require the Ice Cage effect to all come from the same model. It's a niche use, but one nontheless
• Zuriel often relies heavily on landing a choice Combo Strike charge attack. The Witches can save him a Fury by rerolling his attack roll (freeing up one for an extra attack or another boosted damage roll), or save a poor damage roll from going sour.
• Like Zuriel, the Angelius will seriously appreciate the extra insurance of evening the success key Armor Pierce.
• Notable other models with critical hits: Nephilim Bolt Thrower, Azrael, Typhon, Naga Nightlurker, Seraph, Blight Wasps, Nephilim Bloodseer, Angelius, Archangel. Some of the criticals are better than others, but keep these in mind if you find any of these models in the same list as Ice Witches. Puppet Master improves your odds, even moreso if you are able to buff your MAT or lower enemy DEF, as higher base accuracy allows for more combinations of dice rolls that are valid crits.

Of course, Puppet Master can foil your opponent's plans as well since you can choose to have them reroll successful hits, or a really spiky hot dice roll on damage. It's a little harder to use as the Witches will be high priority targets and this requires exposure, plus they are somewhat limited by only having a Magic Ability of 6. Either way, never forget the option as if the reroll goes your way this tactic could save a key model in your army, or force the enemy to commit resources they would prefer to use elsewhere. Even just forcing them to spend an extra focus or fury they originally did not plan to use can make a difference.

• Anything with a single attack they really want to land can be a good offensive use of Puppet Master. The Archidon in Skorne, or the opponent's Angelius in the shadow matchup spring to mind, but the possibilities are endless.
• Attempted Power Attacks.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• Support bloat: Legion has a lot of MAT fixing in faction, and there are a lot of other models that bring offensive capabilities too (such as the Shard's Kiss of Lylyss). The Witches do bring sprays - but don't expect to use this except in the late game or emergencies.

Tricks and Tips

• Don't forget, you can always have one member of the Witches Puppet Master another if you want to land a very key Ice Cage, or are using Puppet Master offensively on a very important enemy model. It's not always ideal, but when you have three casts flying around, it's not necessary a bad idea.

Other

Trivia

• Released in the Xmas CID (2017.07)
• They have a longer fluff blurb on PP's "extras" page.

Other Legion models

Legion Index       (Edit)
Battlegroup & Similar
Warlocks	Absylonia1 - Absylonia2 - Anamag - Bethayne1 - Bethayne2 - Fyanna2 - Kallus1 - Kallus2 - Kryssa - Lylyth1 - Lylyth2 - Lylyth3 - Lylyth4 - Rhyas1 - Saeryn1 - Saeryn2 & Rhyas2 - Thagrosh1 - Thagrosh2 - Vayl1 - Vayl2
Other Warbeast Controllers	Beast Mistress - Blight Archon - Thagrosh0
Lesser	Blight Wasps - Shredder - Harrier - Mekanoshredder - Stinger
Light	Afflictor - Naga Nightlurker - Nephilim Bloodseer - Nephilim Bolt Thrower - Nephilim Protector - Nephilim Soldier - Raek - Teraph
Heavy	Angelius - Azrael - Carnivean - Golab - Neraph - Proteus - Ravagore - Scythean - Typhon - Seraph - Zuriel
Gargantuans	Archangel - Blightbringer
Units, Solos, & Battle Engines
Units	Blackfrost Shard - B.N. Archers - B.N. Hex Hunters - B.N. Legionnaires - B.N. Raptors - B.N. Scather Crew - B.N. Swordsmen - B. Rotwings - B.O. Warmongers - B.O. Warspears - Chosen - Grotesque Banshees - Grotesque Raiders - Hellmouth - Ice Witches - Strider Blightblades - Strider Scouts - Spawning Vessel - Virtue Host
Solos	Ammok - Annyssa Ryvaal - Beast Mistress - Blight Archon - B.N Shepherd - B.N. Sorceress - B.N. Warlord - Craelix - Forsaken - Fyanna1 - Grotesque Assassin - Incubi - Spell Martyr - Strider Deathstalker - Succubus - Thagrosh0 - Virtue Champion - B.O. Warmonger War Chief - Yssylla
Battle Engines	Throne of Everblight
Theme Forces
Children of the Dragon - Oracles of Annihilation - Primal Terrors - Ravens of War
Minions
Refer to Who Works for Whom and/or Category: Legion of Everblight Minion
This index was last updated: 2021.11

Rules Clarifications

Rules Clarification:  : Magical Damage      (Edit) (Click Expand to read)

* The "Damage Type: Magical" is not inherited by "secondary" damage from a weapon. That is, stuff like arcs (Electro Leap) or hazards (Scather). (Infernal Ruling) All spells have "Damage Type: Magical" (refer errata). This is inherited by "immediate" secondary damage (such as Eruption of Spines). (Infernal Ruling) and might be inherited by "lingering" secondary damage (see below). If a spell leaves a template in play that does damage to models that walk around in it, then: if it is not described as a hazard it will do magical damage to models that walk around in it. (Example: Razor Wall) if it is a hazard then it will not do magical damage to models that walk around in it. Instead, it does whatever damage type is specified by the spell description. (Example: Breath of Corruption). (Infernal Ruling) If a weapon/spell includes Magic Damage and another kind of elemental damage it will still damage Incorporeal models. Incorporeal models are not affected by the rule "if an attack does multiple types of damage and a model is immune to at least one it is immune to the entire attack." The phrase "immune to non-magical damage" should be interpreted as "immune to damage that doesn't include Damage Type: Magical" (not interpreted as "has immunity to Corrosion and Electricity and Cold and etc.")

Rules Clarification : Freeze      (Edit) Remember Stationary only prevents what it says it does. Refer the page on Stationary for a refresher.

Rules Clarification : Cold - None yet. (Edit)

Rules Clarification : Pathfinder      (Edit) Pathfinder (Edit) - Pathfinder does not apply to involuntary movement (pushes & slams). (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Magic Ability      (Edit) Using a Magic Ability counts as a spell, for effects such as Spell Ward, Witch Hunter, etc. Combat Action Nearly all Magic Ability spells require the spellcaster to use their Combat Action to cast the spell. As such it is not an "at any time" ability (like it is when warcasters/warlocks cast spells). This means ... You must complete your movement before you use a MA. A model in a unit cannot use its Combat Action to cast a spell until all members of the unit have completed their movement. (Infernal Ruling) You cannot make initial ranged or initial melee attacks on the same turn you use a MA. You cannot buy additional melee/ranged attacks after using a MA special attack. Refer to the core rulebook, "Special attacks listed as a rule of the model itself are neither melee attacks nor ranged attacks. The rules for these special attacks indicate the nature of any additional attacks that can be made afterward, if any." You cannot use a MA on the same turn you charge. Because a charge must (almost always) be followed by a melee attack. Non-Combat Action There are a few models that can use a Magic Ability without using their Combat Action. These models get around all the restrictions listed above. Models with Geomancy or Necromancy can use a Magic Ability at "any time" just like a warcaster/warlock. Models with Battle Wizard or Necrophage can make melee attacks then get a bonus "free" spell. Models with Combat Caster can cast a spell before charging, then do a normal charge + melee attack. Note that Battle Wizards, Combat Casters, etc have the option to use their Combat Action to cast a spell. Their special rule is in addition to the normal spell casting, not instead of.

Rules Clarification : Frostbite - None yet. (Edit)

Rules Clarification : Ice Cage      (Edit) Models with Immunity Cold can be damaged by this attack, they just ignore the DEF penalties. Remember, stationary only prevents what it says it does. Refer the recap on stationary for what models can/can't do. Abilities that say they cannot be used if the model is stationary (such as Shield Guard) cannot be used while a warjack is inert, either. Refer "Warcaster Destruction", page 59 of the core rulebook.

Rules Clarification : Puppet Master      (Edit) Puppet Master can be put on a model in a unit, and it will be applied to the whole unit. However, as soon as any model in the unit chooses to use it then it expires on the entire unit (so really it only affects one model). Puppet Master can be used on "secondary" damage rolls such as Electro Leap, Magic Bullet, etc. It can't be used on "stay in play" damage effects like a Scather's AOE. If the same player casts Puppet Master on the same model/unit multiple times it doesn't stack, at all. (Infernal Ruling) If different players cast Puppet Master on the same target, then they both take effect. When one player uses the Puppet Master, the other does not expire. Both players can use Puppet Master on the same roll. (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Snow-Wreathed - None yet. (Edit)