Zuriel

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Zuriel Legion Character Nephilim Heavy Warbeast

Zuriel is the product of Saeryn’s attempt to create a spawn embodying her essence and that of her twin sister, Rhyas. Zuriel demonstrates the stealth and fighting prowess of Rhyas together with a unique receptiveness to Saeryn’s magic. In battle he soars through the sky on powerful wings as he searches out those his mistresses have marked for death. Targets who attempt to escape the reach of his blades find themselves engulfed by dragon fire from his fanged maw.

Basic Info

Zuriel
Missing Info
	COST {{{cacost}}} UNIT SIZE {{{casize}}} FA {{{cafa}}} Warcaster 0 BASE Large SPD 6 STR 11 MAT 8 RAT 6 M.A. N/A DEF 13 ARM 17 CMD N/A ESSENCE {{{essence}}} FOCUS N/A FURY 4 THRS 10 HP 28 F. Field N/A WJP {{{wjp}}} WBP {{{wbp}}} IHP {{{ihp}}} FA C UNIT SIZE N/A COST 16 N/A N/A N/A Warcaster 1 COST N/A N/A Understanding the Statblock

Warbeast - All warbeasts share a huge stack of special rules. The short version is they're big, furious, and beat stuff up pretty good. Click here for a newbie-friendly recap, or click here for the full rules.

Abilities

• Eyeless Sight
• Flight
• Bond [ Rhyas or Saeryn ] - If this model begins the game in Rhyas or Saeryn's battlegroup, it is bonded to that model. If it begins the game in a battlegroup shared by Rhyas and Saeryn it is considered to be bonded to both. This model is not considered to be bonded while under your opponent's control. While this model is bonded to Rhyas and in her control range, it gains Stealth. While this model is bonded to Saeryn and in her control range, Saeryn can channel spells through it.
• Dual Attack - This model can make melee and ranged attacks in the same activation. When this model makes its initial melee attacks or a power attack, it can also make its initial ranged attacks. This model can make ranged attacks even while in melee.
• Kill Shot - Once per activation, when an enemy model is destroyed or removed from play as a result of a melee attack made by this model during its activation, immediately after that attack is resolved this model can make one basic ranged attack.
• Precision Strike - When this model damages a warjack or warbeast with a melee attack, choose which column or branch suffers the damage.

Weapons

Dragon Breath
		RNG			ROF			AOE			POW
		SP 8			1			-			12
Damage Type: Fire Continuous Fire
War Blade (x2)
		RNG				POW				P+S
		2				5				16
Combo Strike (★ Attack) - Make a melee attack. Instead of making a normal damage roll, the POW of the damage roll is equal to this model's STR plus twice the POW of this weapon. (Giving a total P+S = 21)

Animus

	COST	RNG	AOE	POW	DUR	OFF
Elusive	1	SELF	-	-	Round	No
The spellcaster gains Dodge. Elusive lasts for one round. Dodge - A model with Dodge can advance up to 2" immediately after an enemy attack that missed it is resolved unless it was missed while advancing. It cannot be targeted by free strikes during this movement.

Theme Forces

• When taken in either Rhyas or Saeryn's battlegroup
  • Children of the Dragon. Zuriel gains Unyielding in this theme.
  • Oracles of Annihilation
  • Primal Terrors
  • Ravens of War

• When taken by anyone else
  • Children of the Dragon. Zuriel gains Unyielding in this theme.

Recent changes

2021. October

• Dropped 1 point (from 17)

Thoughts on Zuriel

Zuriel in a nutshell

On a superficial look Zuriel seems like an expensive jack-of-all-tredes heavy who lacks both the hitting power of his beefier brothers and the elusiveness of the winged heavy chassis.

This is true - to some degree at least. If you plan to send in Zuriel on his own to get the job done, you will most likely have a bad time. However, Legion has some crucial support models with whom he becomes one of the best heavy warbeast in the faction. Despite his ubiquotus toolkit he is not a point-and-click solution, but with the right models he shines bright.

Combos & Synergies

To get the most out of Zuriel, you need to buff his hitting power and his survivability. Fortunately, there are several models in the Legion who can do just that.

• Mekanoshredder - Zuriel's toolkit is tailored toward fighting warjacks and warbeasts. Even if you just charge for free, that is one more Fury to buy attack with or boost a crucial roll.
  • The Blighted Nyss Sorceress can fill the same role to some degree with Aerial Coordination while Blight Storm will guarantee a damage from your attacks, but the Mekanoshredder's +2" charge range against Constructs often outshine her abilities.
• Blight Archon - The model that put back Zuriel on the map. And the main reason is Crimson Ballet. Despite the Dodge animus Zuriel has debatable defensive stats for a heavy - and even more so if you count his point cost. However, Sprint makes the set-up of favourable piece trades much easier. All you have to do is to kill a squishy(er) model beside your main target then run back to safety. Watch out that you're not immune to free strikes while doing so. Impending doom can set up excellent sprays both for Killshot and your ranged attack while Dragon's Blood will help Zuriel reach the battle whole against gunlines. It is not a cheap package by any means but can do a whole lot of job done.
• Precision attack worth only so much if your opponent can repair the damage. A source of Grievous Wounds and/or Entropic Aura is always welcome. This usually comes from character beasts and/or a certain warlock (Golab, Anamag's feat, Proteus with Absylonia, Scythean with his animus on), so consider these combos accordingly.
  • The only notable exception is the Grotesque Assassin in Ravens of War, but honestly, it is more of a curiosity than an actually advised list to go by.
  • Speaking of Grievous Wounds, Absylonia1's toolkit perfectly fits for Zuriel, be it Refuge or Playing God. It also delegates non-Horror heavies to fight with unboosted attacks against Zuriel if they are being caught in a Blight Burst patch.

'Warlock synergies'

• Rhyas1, Saeryn1, and The Twins offer Zuriel access to either of his bonds - both in the case of The Twins, as long as he is in both control ranges. Sadly, both bonds are inferior compared to the Archon's Sprint and since none of the girls bring any form of damage buffs, setting up favorable piece trades can be really difficult. The Twins also have lower-than-average Warbeast-Points, making the inclusion of Zuriel a challenging prospect.
  • Rhyas1 offers Stealth as long as Zuriel is in her tiny CTRL area, freeing Occultation (and due to his naturally high MAT, Rapport) to go to a second target of her choice.
  • Becoming a channeler for Saeryn1 offers her some good arcing options, allowing her to place Blight Bringer AOEs or Breath Stealers from relative safety. Saeryn can occasionally tag his targets with Grievous Wounds, drastically improving his survival against crippled targets but that may put her uncomfortably close to the frontlines.
• Abby2 turns Zuriel a reasonable threat on the feat just as any other Legion beast. Proteus can apply Grievous Wounds due to his bond and pull targets closer with his tentacles, making Zuriel more dangerous.
• Fyanna2, Thagrosh1, Kryssa1, Vayl1 and Lylyth1 can all pump up his offensive output without needing to be in their respective battlegroup.
  • Special mention to Bethayne1 and Bethayne2 who have ways to buff both the ranged AND melee damage with a single spell (Blood Thorn and Dissolve). Zuriel also loves Deceleration from the former and the feat's protection from the latter.
• Blackfrost Shard and Ice Witches/Yssylla - for damage/accuracy fixing, and for occasional Puppet Master.
• Thagrosh0 - If you happen to bring him with Rhyas/Saeryn in Primal Terrors or Oracles of Annihilation, Thagrosh can use Blight Burst to increase his durability immensely, especially if enemy heavies have only 1" melee weapons.

Drawbacks & Downsides

• If you use Combo-Strike, you cannot make ranged attacks (despite Dual Attack)

  Dual Attack only allows initial ranged + initial melee, or initial ranged + power attack.

• Expensive, especially with the support you must bring to make him work at peak efficiency.
• Average defensive stats
• Fairly uninspiring bond(s)

Tricks & Tips

• Dual Attack lets you Trample and then make ranged attacks. This is a great way to increase your effective gun range by 3".
• Try to set up your charge vector so that you may have a favourable angle for your Dual Attack/Killshot templates.

Other

Trivia

• Released in Hordes: Exigence (2014)
• In the Bible, Zuriel ("My Rock is God"), son of Abihailm was chief prince of the Merarites at the time of the Exodus.

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 : Zuriel and the Twins When Zuriel is taken in The Twins battlegroup he gains the benefit of both bonds.

Rules Clarification : Fire      (Edit) If you deploy in fire hazard terrain (Burning Earth), then you get set on fire before the game starts. Deploying a model in a hazard counts as being "put into play" in the hazard. Being put into play counts as "entering". When you enter a hazard, you trigger the hazard. Moving into "Shallow water" standard terrain does not cause continuous fire to expire. It's magic fire. You can always use non-standard terrain if you agree with your opponent before the game starts, however. A weapon can inflict continuous fire without itself being a fire damage weapon (for example, the Helios's fists). In this case, the attack can hurt models with Immunity:Fire it just won't apply the continuous effect. In terms of which player's clock is running down during the Maintenance Phase: The active player will roll for expiration of all the continuous effects. Then the inactive player will roll for all the damages of the continuous effects. (Judge Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Combo Strike      (Edit) You cannot make a Combo attack if the weapon is crippled. Refer "Crippled Systems" in the core rulebook.

Rules Clarification:  : Warbeast      (Edit) (Click Expand to read)

See also the Warbeast page for a recap of the core warbeast rules. Forcing If an ability doesn't specify how much it costs to force, it costs 1. (Infernal Ruling) Animi A single Animus can be on several models at the same time. (Infernal Ruling) Unlike in Mk2, in Mk3 if a model has an animus on it from any source and then another animus is cast on that model, it will lose the first instance of an animus and will be replaced by the second. It does not matter if either the first animus or the second animus is from a warlock or warbeast. (Infernal Ruling) An animi cast by a warlock is an animi and a spell. (Infernal Ruling) Transferring Damage If both the warlock and the warbeast are damaged by the same attack (such as an AOE), then you need to apply the 'normal' damage to the warbeast before the transferred damage. This distinction can be important when you're working out who/what actually destroyed the beast. (Infernal Ruling) Frenzy (Edit) You cannot trigger optional abilities (such as Cleave or Sprint). (Infernal Ruling) You must trigger compulsory abilities (such as Consume) ... except for compulsory abilities that also generate an extra attack (such as Berserk). In that case, you don't get the Berserk attack. (Infernal Ruling) A warbeast may not make an Assault shot as part of a Frenzy activation. If the closest target to a warbeast resolving a Frenzy cannot be charged, then the warbeast will forfeit movement and action (as per the rules of having to charge and not being able to). (Infernal Ruling) If a frenzying warbeast can't reach its charge target (because the charge lane is blocked by terrain, etc) then it will make a failed charge and end its activation. (Locked thread) If a frenzying warbeast has two melee weapons with the same POW, it can choose which one to use. (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Eyeless Sight      (Edit) A model that ignores Stealth must ignore both aspects: both (1) the auto-missing, and (2) the 'not counting as an intervening model' parts. This can have some strange interactions with casters & channelers, if one has Eyeless Sight and one does not. There are examples on the Category:Channeler page. Blind vs Eyeless Sight (Edit) If a model is Blinded, and then given Eyeless Sight, then that model ignores Blind ... but it is technically still Blinded. So if you somehow later lose Eyeless Sight (for instance walking out of the range of Menoth's Sight), it will immediately go back to suffering the effects of Blind. (Infernal Ruling) Also this means stuff that only works vs Blind models (ie Hidden Blade) will still trigger vs a "Was Blinded but then got Eyeless" model. Anti-Cloud abilities vs Burning Earth (Edit) If you make a piece of terrain "Burning Earth" it counts as a cloud effect in addition to it's original type. This has 2 odd rulings: If any part of the terrain piece is "hit" by an ability that makes clouds expire (such as Gale Winds) then the entire terrain piece is taken off the table. (Infernal Ruling) If a model can ignore clouds but not the original terrain type, they don't ignore the terrain. For instance if you have a burning forest, then Eyeless Sight can't see through the forest. (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification:  : Flight      (Edit) (Click Expand to read)

Flight doesn't ignore: Impassable terrain. Most hazards. The exception is they do ignore Acid Bath and Burning Earth as long as they don't land in them. Templates that stay in play and do damage to models moving through them (such as a Scather). Free strikes. Trampling with a flying model (Edit) Flight allows you to trample "over" medium- and larger-bases. Although you trample "over" them, you don't get to make a trample attack vs them and you don't ignore their free strikes. Refer the core rulebook. Unless, of course, you have an exception like Blade Rush. Flight on a Cavalry model (Edit) Although flyers can move over obstacles/models, and horses can pause to do impacts while charging, flying horses cannot make impact attacks while overlapping models/obstacles. You need to pause in a legal position. Charging through models (Edit) You can't charge all the way through your charge target, with the intention to turn around and face them once you're on the other side. Because you aren't able to satisfy the "must keep the charge target in melee range" clause at the point after you are through the model but before you turn to directly face. At that point the target is behind you, not in your front arc, and thus not in your melee range. Your melee range only extends to your front arc. Refer to the latest errata. You can still "skim" through the edge of their base, if you're careful and smart with your positioning.

Rules Clarification : Bond      (Edit) Bonds are ineffective while the model is under your opponent's control. Refer the core rulebook. Bonds & Themes If a warjack/warbeast with a bond is in that caster's battlegroup, they can be taken in any theme force. Refer the core rulebook. This is true even if the caster isn't a full warcaster or warlock (this interaction changed as of 2018.06).

Rules Clarification : Stealth      (Edit) Stealth models are not invisible and you can target them - you'll just auto-miss most of the time. You can target them with a charge. You can target them with an AOE, have it auto-miss and scatter, luckily land on top of them anyway, and that will hit them.

Rules Clarification : Channeler  and/or Arc Node     (Edit) General It is possible to channel a spell with a range of CTRL. The control range is still measured from the caster though, so channeling it has zero effect ... unless you've got something like Empowered Arc Node or Reaction Drive. Stuff like that can trigger. (Infernal Ruling) Channeling in melee A channeler that is engaged by an enemy model can not channel. A channeler that is engaging an enemy model can channel. (For example, the channeler is standing in the enemy's back arc.) Channeler - LOS You use the channeler's abilities when determining LOS (such as whether you can see your target through a forest). If the channeler has an ability to ignore LOS or DEF bonuses (such as Eyeless Sight), then you only apply that "ignorance" to LOS (but not to the DEF bonus). Caster - Attack roll You use the caster's abilities when determining attack roll modifiers (such as whether a target standing in a forest gets +2 DEF or not). If the caster has an ability to ignore LOS or DEF bonuses (such as Eyeless Sight), then you only apply that "ignorance" to the dice roll (but not to the LOS). Stealth - It affects both LOS and the attack roll Since Stealth has both a LOS modifier (stealth models more than 5" away aren't intervening models) and an attack roll modifier (stealth models more than 5" away are auto-missed) things get a little complicated. If only the channeler ignores stealth, then all stealth models count as intervening models and block LOS, but the caster will auto-miss models more than 5" from the channeler. If only the caster ignores stealth, then only models within 5" of the channeler block LOS, but the caster won't auto-miss no matter what you target. If both channeler and caster ignore Stealth, it works as you'd expect. Stealth Examples     [Show/Hide] Caster has Eyeless Sight, channeler does not. Stealth model is within 5" of channeler LOS - The model counts as an intervening model, as per the normal Stealth rules Attack roll - If you attack it then you don't auto-miss, as per the normal Stealth rules Stealth model is more than 5" away from channeler LOS - The model does not count as an intervening model, as per the normal Stealth rules. Attack roll - If you attack it then you don't auto-miss, as the attacking model has Eyeless Sight. Stealth model is more than 5" away from channeler, and you want to target a model behind it. LOS - The front model doesn't block LOS Attack roll - Doesn't auto-miss   Caster hasn't got Eyeless Sight, channeler does. Stealth model is within 5" of channeler LOS - The model counts as an intervening model, as per the normal Stealth rules Attack roll - If you attack it then you don't auto-miss, as per the normal Stealth rules Stealth model is more than 5" away from channeler LOS - The model counts as an intervening model, because the model drawing LOS ignores Stealth. Attack roll - If you attack it then you will auto-miss, as the attacker doesn't ignore Stealth. Stealth model is more than 5" away from channeler, and you want to target a model behind it. LOS - The front model blocks LOS, so you can't target the rear model. Attack roll - N/A

Rules Clarification:  : Dual Attack      (Edit) (Click Expand to read)

* If you fail a charge, then you do not get to make ranged attacks. If you have multiple ranged attacks and/or melee attacks, you can intermingle them in any order. (Infernal Ruling) You can charge, make a ranged attack, then make your charge melee attack. Even though you made a ranged attack, that doesn't change the fact that your first melee attack is the charge attack. (Infernal Ruling) You must complete all initial attacks before buying attacks. You can't go: Make an initial melee attack, then buy a melee attack, then make an initial ranged attack. (Locked Thread) Dual Attack doesn't let you mix initial attacks with a (★) attack. Dual Attack only lets you make either: Initial melee attacks and initial ranged attacks. Power attack and initial ranged attacks. Any other combination of (★ Attack) and initials is disallowed. See this thread for full explanation and links to relevant Infernal Rulings. You could theoretically make a special melee attack and then buy additional ranged attacks (or vice versa) ... but the core rules say "The rules for these special attacks indicate the nature of any additional attacks that can be made afterward, if any" so the special attack would have to explicitly allow a swap - and I'm unaware of any that do so. There is no penalty for shooting an enemy you are in melee with. Your ranged attack(s) can target a model you are not in melee with. (Infernal Ruling) Dual Attack & Drag ( Edit ) This is pretty-much limited to just the Prime Axiom under Syntherion, or the Swabber, Galleon or Prime Axiom under Aurora2 If you charge model A then utilise Dual Attack to make a ranged attack vs the same model, then you would get the free melee attack from Drag. The Drag attack is a charge attack. (Infernal Ruling) If you charge model A then utilise Dual Attack to make a ranged attack vs a different model, then you would lose the free melee attack from Drag. Your first melee attack must be versus the charge target, and you cannot save the Drag attack for later. (Infernal Ruling) If you didn't charge then ... just go nuts. There's no restrictions that I know of. Dual Attack & Slam/Trample ( Edit ) Power Attack Slam and Trample combine your Normal Movement and Combat Action, and how this works with Dual Attack is: Slam: You must resolve the movement, the attack, and moving the slammed model. Only then can you make initial ranged attacks. Trample: You must resolve the movement, the attacks, and the free strikes. Only then can you make initial ranged attacks. (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Kill Shot      (Edit) If you're still in melee when you trigger Kill Shot, you cannot make a ranged attack. Unless you have a rule that lets you shoot while in melee (such as being a Gargantuan or Colossal). Kill Shot can be triggered from a Power Attack. Power Attacks are melee attacks. Kill Shot only triggers one ranged attack, regardless of the gun's normal ROF. (Infernal Ruling) Attack-Generating Abilities (Edit) From the core rulebook: When a model is granted more attacks as a result of an attack it made, it gains only one. If two or more special rules would grant the model another attack as a result of making an attack, its controlling player chooses which special rule to apply. If you trigger two attack-generating abilities (such as Black Spot and Kill Shot) you choose to resolve one and "lose" the other (unless you trigger it again later). If you trigger two attack-generating abilities, and one of them is compulsory (such as Black Spot and Berserk), you must choose to resolve the compulsory one. (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Marksman and/or Precision Strike     (Edit) These abilities do not get around Retribution Force Fields. The attacker's ability assigns it to a column, and Force Field reassigns it. Versus a Colossal or Gargantuan, you don't get to choose which grid is damaged. That is still governed by which Firing Arc the attacker is standing in. Attacker chooses column vs Defender chooses column (Edit) When both the attacker and defender have an ability that lets them choose the column that gets damaged, the attacker gets to choose. (Infernal Ruling)

Rules Clarification : Elusive      (Edit) Rules Clarification : Dodge      (Edit) Dodge triggers after any missed attack - melee, ranged, or magic. An enemy model with 2" melee range that is B2B with you before you Dodge, will be exactly 2" away afterwards, and thus will be able to attempt a 2nd melee attack. If you're missed by an AOE attack, but it doesn't deviate very far and still hits you then: Dodge still triggers, but the AOE does damage before you get the Dodge movement. (Infernal Ruling) If an enemy can attack you when you advance and then stop moving (such as Countercharge or Defensive Strike) and they miss you, then you can trigger Dodge (because you're no longer advancing). Dodge plus Riposte (Edit) If a model has both Dodge and Riposte, you can choose whether to dodge or riposte first. Appendix A Step 13 applies here, because the controller of the model being attacked is not the active player.