We have just got our hands on all the juicy goodness of the Martells Starter Set, when right around the corner comes their first Heroes Box. Having the Heroes Box so early in the beginning of the faction’s life in the game is so important for keeping the army fresh and flavoursome until the next Heroes Box. Let us not waste any more time and dive into what is in the box.
Contents
12 Tactics Cards
6 Attachment Cards
3 NCU Cards
1 Special Rules Card
Two Commanders are Obara and Harmon, they both have an Attachment version for when they are not leading the forces. They are joined by Nymeria and Ellia as the last two Attachment cards. The three NCUs are Nymeria, Tyene and Oberyn. Tyene comes with a special rules card for her Strangler Poison.
Obara Sand – Eldest Sister/Sand Snake
Commander Attachment – Order: Reckless Heroism, Fueled by Slaughter, and Sundering.
Tactics Cards – Sustained Assault, Reckless Strikes, and Desert Preparation.
Everything we have seen before other than this new Tactics Card Desert Preparation. When an enemy unit completes an action: if they finished that Action in Long Range of Obara Sand’s unit, they become Panicked and Weakened. Or Start of any Turn: Draw 1 Tactics Card.
Attachment – Sundering, and Uncontrolled Rage.
A very aggressive Commander for the Martells to utilise, the unit she will be in will be supercharged with abilities to do more damage. Any card that has a negative, but at the very least Reckless Strikes is not Price of Failure. Sustained Assault is not great, but there is some self-synergy here to help keep her unit at a good quality throughout the game.
The Attachment version feels like trash, Sundering for always attempt to charge if you can is not great, and there are other characters to grab instead.
Harmon Uller – Lord of Hellholt/Dornish Envoy
Commander Attachment – Order: Supply Aid, and Iron Resolve.
Tactics Cards – Battle Endurance, Set for Charge, and Spiteful Truce.
Everything we have seen before other than this new Tactics Card Desert Preparation. When an enemy unit passes a Morale Test: Target 1 friendly Combat Unit in Long Range of that unit. They restore 2 Wounds, +1 Wound for each of their destroyed ranks.
Attachment – Dornish Conviction, and Reinforcements
New ability for the game with non-Commander Harmen. Dornish Conviction – Effects both Range and Melee – While you Control Crown, this unit Attacks using its highest Attack Dice Value.
An amazing Commander for the Martells, everything he brings is a positive with abilities to invest in units to make them better via healing and extra abilities. Even his Attachment is useful. This will be a very well-played character.
Tyene Sand – Septa’s Daughter
NCU – Healing Hands – At the Start of ROund 2, choose 1 Tactics Zone. The next time an enemy NCU Claims that zone, attach The Strangler Poison card to that NCU.
The Strangler – At the end of each Round, place 1 Order token on this card. If this card has 2 Order tokens, destroy the unit this card is attached to.
Woah, I was not expecting this, but wow it is brutal. Just by bringing Tyene you force the opponent to be aware of her presence. The same power lies with Varys, Qyburn, Wendamyr etc. Having a way to kill off a NCU for good can be colossal. Looking forward to seeing her kill Joffrey with the Strangler.
Nymeria Sand – Lady Nym/Sand Snake
NCU – Conflicting Reactions
Influence: While influencing a friendly unit:
If you or your opponent Controls Crown, its Melee Attacks gain Vicious
If you or your opponent Controls Swords, its Melee Attacks gain Critical Blow
If you or your opponent Controls Gardens, it gains +1 Movement Statistic
Attachment – Advantage Strike, and Dornish Vengeance
Both new abilities. Advantage Strike – When Attacking enemies that have not Activated this Round, this unit’s Melee Attacks may re-roll any Attack Dice. Dornish Vengeance – After this unit is Attacked with a Melee Attack, if you Control Swords, the Attacker suffers 2 Wounds, +1 Wound for each of this unit’s destroyed ranks.
Nymeria as a NCU is a brilliant addition, there is just no loss for bringing her thanks to the triggers for the benefits. I wonder if this is neutered by the opponent taking the Water Gardens as you would still gain the benefits if the opponent were controlling the zones. Will need to look at this closer.
Formidable Attachment version on top of this. For 2pts I do think she is worth it, a more defensive unit like the Royal Guard would be ideal here to help keep the ranks up, or you can bring her alongside Harmon with his capability to heal the unit. The damage potential can be crazy.
Oberyn Martell
NCU – Hot Tempered
Influence: While influencing a friendly unit, each time an enemy Attacks this unit with a Melee Attack, before resolving that Attack, the Attacker suffers 2 Hits, +1 Hit for each of the Defender’s remaining Ranks.
Mix this influence with the Nymeria Attached unit above and there is no winning for the opponent when attacking. Suffers some hits beforehand, suffers Wounds after. Even outside of this combo it is great at helping with attrition and the Oberyn style of death by a thousand cuts. Before your unit is destroyed. You will confess.
Elia Sand – Sand Snake
Attachment – Precision, and Boisterous Charisma
2pts might be too much here, but if she were 1pt she would always be taken. The problem with Boisterous Charisma is it just is not worth spending for unless on mass. Precision is really nice, but I do not see a Martell unit worth taking her in, yet.
That is the Heroes Box, pretty jam packed with models and rules for the Martells to become more flavoursome. Which character are you most looking forward to using?
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