2 for 1 - Lilith

Hello there! Ben has invited me to jot down some notes on my ideas about the wave two models that one of my favourite wave one masters benefits from. It won't surprise many of you that I chose Lilith. What might surprise you is that this was actually tough to write. Lilith is a real toolbox master who can do perfectly well without recourse to wave two models - what she got in wave one will still do her proud.

What has changed is that wave two has brought all the factions more tools for dealing with Lilith and her crew. In light of this arms race, the models I've picked to have a look at are those that can either augment Lilith's own abilities (do the same thing, just more efficiently) or those that try and "counter the counters" so to speak.

The first two models on my list are all about the first of those - and focus on the growth mechanic to some extent.

Black Blood Shaman

This is a great support model, capable of having tots grow without the need for the rapid growth upgrade to be taken, or even without models dying in that activation. Alternatively, it can act as a second "growth area" for tots to make things easy for the Lilith player.

Both these pale next to the shaman's ability to tinker with the black blood ability that a lot of Lilith's crew (and Lilith herself) have. Giving out black blood to models that don't have it, being able to hand out positive flips and - even better - being able to heal models (including Lilith) is golden. Lilith herself can ensure the shaman is protected and/or in a good spot with her tangle shadows too.

I often find myself giving room to the Black Blood Shaman these days and I'm sure I haven't even scratched the surface of his possibilities yet.

Nekima

Ah! The rebellious big sister had to get a mention I suppose, if only because she brings Lilith an alternative to the Mature Nephilim as an in-theme large beatstick. Nekima has some not-so-subtle advantages though, namely the ability to take multiple upgrades, use soulstones and a better Statline on top of a third action point in the form of Melee Expert.

Nekima isn't cheap at all, but she can cause havoc in the right list too. She is as close to a master as a henchman gets, and certainly isn't unkillable - but nekima will slaughter enemy models like nothing else.

As well as speeding up the kill-rate of a Lilith crew, through upgrades (and even more cost!) she can bring new terror tots to the table - a trick that can really help out with claiming those objectives in turns 4 and 5 as well as supplying an activation advantage just when it's most needed.

So, with the black blood tinkering and growth mechanics of a Lilith crew boosted, it's time to take a look at patching a few holes and weaknesses that other players might try to exploit. Only one of the next three models is a neverborn though...

Tuco

The former Ortega who found his true calling is a model that I've seen many neverborn players dismiss in this edition. For me, he gives some new opportunities for the Lilith crew to take advantage of. Firstly, we have a model who can "from the shadows" - allowing some interesting tangle shadows tricks to happen a turn to two earlier in the game. We also have a decent shooting attack with blast damage, a very useful push effect with a surprisingly nasty trigger and a defensive trigger that can enable Lilith to have an easier time dealing with high Wp targets.

Tuco is a model that will probably be either under or over estimated by your opponent - make sure to play on that!

McTavish

This guy should not be underestimated by anyone! His gun adds a lot to Lilith's crew - not only for the possibility of some long range damage, but also because it ignores cover, doesn't randomise targets, and gets more accurate if swampfiends are within 6" of the target - a huge distance when you see it on the tabletop. Since Lilith has a great fondness for Waldgeist, a nasty little synergy builds itself.

McTavish is also no slouch in close combat, with a whopping reach of 3" and a decent damage spread - on top of soulstone use and multiple upgrades being a henchman. If this wasn't enough, he also has synergy with Lilith (and her crew's) terrain generation abilities by improving the quality of their cover and even supplying some of his own. Certainly worth the cost, McTavish is a nasty addition to a swampfiend-based Lilith crew.

Which brings us to the wild card entry here. A model who seems to have to direct synergy, but does have a host of new options for Lilith.

Sue

The man in black himself! So, why do I think that Sue is a model to look at for a Lilith player? Well, let's start with the "hurt" ability. Additional card draw is never bad. Another decent ranged attack, this one backed up by a built-in critical strike trigger allowing for a very decent "weak" damage, is another consideration to be sure, but the reason I like him with Lilith his his ability to offer her a lot of protection from those who would try to target her weakest link - her willpower. 

Since many attacks that target Wp are casting actions, with a (0) action, Sue can provide a bubble that will give Lilith the comfort of her enemies being on negative flips for many things that would give her trouble. 

With additional actions that can push out burning (something Neverborn doesn't really do) and the ability to give "finish the job" to models as well, there are a load of new options that are opened up to a clever player.

So, thanks for reading this far if you have - and if you've got any questions about these models, or any other wave 2 models with Lilith, feel free to drop me a tweet.
Toodles. x

Joel (@Joel__Henry)