Arrows of Rot

Even the bravest warriors serving the Daqan Lords know to flee for cover when they hear the hiss of the Reanimate Archer’s blighted arrows. Those unlucky enough to be caught in the open are witnesses to a sickly sight as the projectiles pierce their flesh. Skin peels away, foulness spreads, and bones crumble and crack. The ability to rot their opponents from the inside out makes the Reanimate Archers fearsome to any foe of Waiqar the Undying.

Today, we’re looking at the Reanimate Archers Unit Expansion for the Runewars Miniatures Game. The expansion features eight Reanimate Archer figures, enough to field a two-tray unit on its own or attach to a larger unit. These figures are identical to the ones found in the Runewars Core Set and feature five new upgrade cards to help customize any army.

Aim and Fire

The Reanimate Archer’s command dial paints a picture of a unit that moves methodically rather than quickly. The Reanimate Archers have two separate shift options, an initiative-six, speed-one shift and an initiative-seven, speed-two shift. This, combined with their reform action, gives them all the tools they need to line up the perfect shot and rain death upon the enemies of Waiqar.

If the Reanimate Archers find themselves engaged in close combat with an enemy, they have the option to perform a melee attack, but with an initiative value of nine, they aren't likely to strike first.

The arrows of the Reanimate Archers do more than puncture. They get inside their target's skin, infecting them with rot and disease, represented by their ability to spend two surges to give their target a blight token when they make a ranged attack. Blight tokens can weaken opposing units by removing their die before an attack, and with the Reanimate Archer’s ability to add a free surge to their strikes with their modifier dial, it’s something they can accomplish often. Furthermore, the shambling bowmen are united in their service to Waiqar, and with the "Steadfast" keyword, it becomes difficult to shake their resolve with a doubt card during a morale test.

The Reanimate Archer Unit Expansion features enough models to either field a two-tray unit for 18 points, or combine with the two trays found in the Runewars Core Set for a 32-point four-tray unit. An additional expansion plus the Runewars Core Set will allow you to field a 45-point six-tray unit. This massive horde of archers has their threat increased by one, making their arrows even deadlier and the unit itself much more difficult to eliminate.

Enhance Your Forces

The Reanimate Archers Unit Expansion comes with five upgrade cards compatible with any army.

In the Runewars Miniatures Game, movement and positioning are key. An upgrade like Wind Rune functions as a way to master mobility, correct mistakes and line up your units for the perfect attack. After using a skill modifier, your unit can make a shift action with speed equal to the number of natural energy tokens on the field. Then, they get a free reform action, allowing a massive change in their positioning. This can undo a costly movement mistake or set up the upgraded unit for a flank attack—with the power of the Wind Rune, the battlefield is yours to control, and for only six points.

With two Natural Energy Tokens on the field, the Wind Rune Upgrade lets the Reanimate Archers perform a speed-two shift. Then, they get a free reform action, allowing them to line up the perfect shot against the Rune Golem!

All that positioning is for naught though, if you’re not doing damage to your enemies. Luckily, upgrades like Tempered Steel allow you to add a hit to an attack at the cost of a surge symbol. The fact that Tempered Steel can be added to a melee or ranged attack makes it extremely versatile, and can provide a boost to any unit you field for just three points.

Identical to the upgrade found in the Rune Wars Core Set,  Terrifying Heraldry turns one of your units into a fearsome force, giving any unit engaged with them at the end phase a panic token. For the cost of five points, Terrifying Heraldry gives you an additional advantage when you are engaged in close-quarters combat, setting the opponent’s unit up for a dangerous morale test later on.

Combat Ingenuity allows you to consistently activate your unit’s surge abilities. For six points, any unit equipped with Combat Ingenuity needs one less surge to activate their special abilities, to a minimum of one. When the Reanimate Archers have this upgrade equipped, you can use their surge modifier to automatically give any target of their ranged attack a blight token!

Another synergistic upgrade for the Reanimate Archers is  Close Quarters Targeting.  For three points, this allows units to make ranged attacks against engaged foes without gaining a panic token. This allows units like the Reanimate Archers to use their quick and deadly arrows at any range, and risk free.

Sinister Sharpshooters

No matter who stands across the battlefield, the Reanimate Archers are a terrifying foe. Their dread arrows pierce even the bravest of warriors, and their numbers and mobility options make them a truly dangerous asset.

Rain death from above and order the Reanimate Archers Unit expansion (RWM08) for the Runewars Miniatures Game from your local retailer when it launches in the second quarter of 2017.