Top Picks to add to Mei's Arsenal
This is the first in what I hope will be a little series of looking at the Wave 2 Malifaux release from a master to master basis and what works well with them.
I realise that is not how everyone plays the game, it is usually about factions, but as discussed on this weeks @malifools a lot of people do pick Masters and not factions.
The reason for this article (and hopefully future ones) is Wave 2 is HUGE and still fairly new to most people.
I for one am still taking crews and "testing" Wave 2 models.
Also, if you go to tournaments with the Soulstone Pool system or an equivalent, this may help you make some decisions.
Warning, these are thoughts and opinions. They could be utter rubbish.
Arcanists
5. Coryphee
Nasty, fast, deadly.
The Coryphee is a Wk 7 Construct, this is something I look at and get excited about when using Mei Feng as her power comes from Rail Walker.
Wk 7 allows the Coryphee to easily become the second or third "stop" for Mei.
At 7 Soulstones, it is a big chunk cheaper than the current (wave 1) fast constructs Big H and the Rail Golem.
The downside is that 4wds is very low and will be annihilated fairly easily, if hit.
Don't stay bunched up with these.
Solid all around model with only Dance Partner being the only part of the card that doesn't synergise with Mei Feng specifically.
4. The Firestarter
Ok, so this isn't a construct, but can offer a few other things.
First of all, this is M&SU, this may sound like a stretch but other M&SU things will still be in your crews, regardless of the addition of the Foundry.
Unsurprisingly, this guy is all about Burning.
This means Mei can be set up to hit harder with her Tiger Claws if The Firestarter has been burning things already and once you've started to stack up burning you will actually be able to earn VPs if they are the cause of death as long as the Firestarter is about.
The other great combination and the main reason he is on the list, is the combination of him and the Emberling. FIRE!
Again, another fast construct with a Wk of 6.
Not only is the Mechanical Rider a great second or third "stop" like the Coryphee is, the Rider can then start creating new stops from the second turn onwards.
Also Mech Rider has a couple of things over the Coryphee.
First is that it can take a lot more abuse, this is expected however at it's cost.
The second bit is Fated Strike draws cards!
I love card draw as we all know, but the "Mei Haters" always complain she is card dependant, sometimes even suit dependant. Well this can help go a long way to sort those things out.
Mechanical Rider also has a lot more it's own tricks up it's sleeve and remains a fantastic addition to any Arcanists arsenal.
2. Arcane Effigy
This little guy is another significant non-peon, with Hard to Kill to add to her pool.
It's a construct, it's only 4 soulstones and has got a higher defense than the Metal Gamin (though only armour +1).
On top of this you get what is probably the cheapest access to condition removal she can get and if that's not all Arcane Radiance synergises well with her too.
It essentially means that you get her inbuilt Mask trigger without having to pick it, if they do decline to get Burning, they're discarding cards and that might just be better.
1. Willie
He is Willie!
Ok, I'll elaborate, but I don't feel I should need to.
First of all he is Foundry and synergises with her themed crew as he did in 1.5.
He has blasts at range, something there isn't really the largest selection of for Mei Feng to choose from, Vapormancy is a thing and Kang can shoot.
Willie has a fair bit of scheme marker interaction, this is also something, the Foundry especially lacked outside of Ten Thunders.
6 Soulstones is a bargain. He isn't a construct, but bar maybe Kang, he is the only thing you'll probably take that isn't.
Ten Thunders
5. Toshiro the Daimyo
I have to admit Toshi is mostly here as I just like him.
However, Daimyo is potentially a strong ability with Rail Workers a stable of Mei Feng crews everywhere.
Implacable Assault and this for ++Attack, with the + to damage makes the likeliness of negative damage flips quite low.
War Eternal is a great trigger that can be used in a similar fashion to why the Mechanical Rider is good with Mei, get those 7's, dig for that mask to Leap Aside.
Mei doesn't use corpse marker's so not only is The Daimyo's Price some free value, it also works very well with the Avatar, Focused may not be much of a shackle to throw off but I think we can all appreciate more ways of giving her minions Fast.
The War Fan is also a great addition, especially with it's Samurai Champloo trigger, again Mei has slow crew members, so let's push that Worker up and give him an even scarier threat range!
4. Mr Tannen
Painted by @PanzerHarris
Mr Tannen is a very unique guy, simply having him around can swing combats your way thanks to Cooler.
Letting you cheat and your opponent potentially not being able to, means that with Mei specifically you can set up stronger attacks or even set up a perfect Leap Aside.
Bore to Tears is a similar ability, helping Mei's slower crew catch a hold up it's foe and Yawn can have a similar and potentially more powerful effect on combats like Cooler.
Leave it to Luck also can help Mei Feng, not with her Kick from Punch Street Fighter combo, but if she wants to leap, burn or slash at multiple enemies, doing these all at a starting total of 8 is pretty ace.
Finally, my favourite thing about Tannen is he can get Chatty, not Mei specific, just a powerful ability.
3. Komainu
This guy comes in at the same cost as a Rail Worker, isn't quite better or worse.
What it does is attacks from a different angle and I can see mixing these up against different opponents.
Attacking Willpower rather than Defense can be huge is certain match ups.
Rend the Soul is a solid attack, comparable to the Rail Worker but this can put out Slow and for more synergy, yes that's right, it's Burning again.
Like Rail Workers, Construct, tick, Hard to Kill, tick. A good little doggy/lion statue thing.
2. Shadow Effigy
Ctrl+C Ctrl+V Arcane Effigy
While the Shadow Effigy doesn't have quite as synergistic abilities on the back of it's card as the Arcane.
Remember the Mission is fantastic and Blend Into Shadow can turn a combat or help Mei leap the hell out of there (well usually further into there, no not there, there).
1. Willie
Well I'm not explaining this again.
Hope this helps
What wave 2 models are you looking forward to using in your Mei Feng crews?
Do you totally disagree with things on my lists?
Who would you like us to cover next?
Answers on a postcard... sorry no, in the comments or on twitter.
Thanks for reading.
Byeeeeee
-Ben (@psientologist)
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