101 - Model Types

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This article is part of Warmachine University's Crash Course (101) series, which is "Basic Training" aimed at new players who are still learning the core rules.

 

The 101 series is intended to help you understand the rulebook, but you shouldn't be reading this instead of the rulebook.

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This article is a glossary of the "model keywords" that are often used on spells and abilities. See also Glossary for other terms used by players.

    "Life type"    

"Life type" determines whether a model produces a corpse token, a soul token, both, or neither. There are also many special rules that interact with one "life type" but not another (for instance, Rust only works vs Construct models, Bloodthirst only works vs living models, etc).

• Living - Models are living by default. If it isn't undead, construct, or have a special rule that says "this model is not living" (such as Divine Manifestation), then living is what it is.

Living models produce a soul and a corpse when they're destroyed.

• Soulless - Soulless models are identical to living models, except they don't produce a soul.
• Construct - Mostly warjacks, battle engines, and a few other built things.

Constructs don't (normally) produce a soul or a corpse. But they might have an exception (such as the Soul Vessel special rule).

• Undead - You know what they are.

Undead models produce a corpse, but no soul, when they're destroyed.

    Warrior vs non-warrior    

A War Wolf is a warrior model

A Warden is a Monstrosity, a non-warrior model

Warrior - Models are a warrior model by default. If it isn't one of the types listed under "non-warrior" below, or have a special rule that states "this model is not a warrior model" (such as Man in the Machine), then warrior is what it is.

Warrior models include: pretty much everything, even stuff like dogs, artillery, spooky trees ...

Most warcasters/warlocks are warrior models, but some are Battle Engines instead.

Most cavalry are warrior models, but some are Battle Engines instead.

Non-warrior models include:

• Battle Engine - A super-sized model, that works independently of your main battlegroup. See LPG - Battle Engines.

• Warjack - The main fighting creatures of a Warmachine army. See 101 - Warjacks
  • Colossal - A super-sized warjack. See 101 - Warjacks and LPG - Colossals & Gargantuans

• Warbeast - The main fighting creatures of a Hordes army. See 101 - Warbeasts
  • Gargantuan - A super-sized warbeast. See 101 - Warbeasts and LPG - Colossals & Gargantuans

• Horror - The main fighting creatures of an Infernal army. See LPG - Infernals

• Monstrosity - The main fighting creatures of a Cephalyx army. See LPG - Cephalyx

• Structure - An immobile model you can add to your army. It is not terrain. See LPG - Structures

• Special Rules - There are a variety of special rules on a few models which explicitly state that model is not a warrior model, such as Carried.

    Units    

A unit is a group of warrior models that act together during the game turn. A unit must contain:

• Unit commander - A role assigned to one model, to measure formation and give orders.
• Troopers - All models in a unit are troopers.

A unit may contain:

• Leader model - The default unit commander.
• Grunt models - Cannon fodder models. Grunts can sometimes be promoted to a Leader model mid-battle.
• Named models - These could be non-character names like "Gunner & Spotter" or character names like "Lynus & Edrea"
• Officer - If a unit includes an Officer model, that model gets the unit commander role (instead of the Leader model).
• Weapon Attachment - Extra models that can be added to the unit. They have better gear than the Grunts.
• Command Attachment - Similar to Weapon Attachments.

See also LPG - All About Units

    Battlegroup    

• A warcaster and the warjacks they control are referred to as a battlegroup, similarly for warlocks and warbeasts.
• "Junior Warcasters" and Lesser warlocks also have their own battlegroups.
• Units and solos are normally not in a battlegroup, but exceptions do exist (such as Warcaster Units and Companions).
• Note that battlegroup is not a model type (but we're listing it here anyway).

• Warmachine
  • Warcaster - The main controller. Normally a warrior model.
  • Warjacks - The creatures they control.

• Hordes
  • Warlock - The main controller. Normally a warrior model.
  • Warbeasts - The creatures they control.

• Infernals
  • Infernal Master - The main controller. Normally a warrior model.
  • Horrors - The creatures they control.

    Other    

Darragh Wrathe is a Dragoon

Cavalry - Cavalry is not a model type per se, but an ability that some models have. You can have warrior cavalry, battle engine cavalry, warcaster warrior cavalry, etc. See LPG - Cavalry

Dragoon - A Dragoon is a Cavalry model with extra rules that allow the rider to become dismounted. See LPG - Cavalry

Solo - A solo is any single warrior model (ie not part of a unit) that is also not leading the army (ie not a warcaster, warlock, etc).