The Helsmiths of Hashut march in the regalia of opulence, their finely crafted war machines belching gouts of daemonfire overhead as they conquer new lands to strip and despoil.
Still not sure what these half-pint despots are all about? This primer video will explain.
The Helsmiths’ tactics revolve around their relationship to the twin influences of all-consuming industry and the tyrannical arrogance of their god Hashut. The basics of their battleplan are illustrated here, but it’s only part of the story. While the Despots, Daemonsmiths, and Ashen Elders all vie for control of their ziggurats, it is only the Daemonsmiths who can create an Infernal Taurus.
Like the Infernal Cohort, Daemonsmiths benefit from Daemonic Resilience when allocated daemonic power points, and the artisan forms of their mounts often lead an Unholy Stampede of Bull Centaurs, granting Retreat and Charge to all nearby cavalry.
Resilient horns and hooves are perfect for goring and crushing worthless foes, with Charge (+1 Damage) further incentivising these arrogant sorcerers to get stuck into the thick of it and dominate their enemies.
DAEMONSMITH
ON INFERNAL TAURUS
MELEE WEAPONS
Horns and Hooves
Charge (+1 Damage), Companion
Atk: 6
Hit: 4+
Wnd: 2+
Rnd: 2
Dmg: 3
UNHOLY STAMPEDE
Passive
An Infernal Taurus inevitably forms the horn-tip of Hashut’s trampling hosts.
Effect: While a friendly HELSMITHS OF HASHUT CAVALRY unit is wholly within 12" of this unit:
That unit can use a RETREAT ability and still use CHARGE abilities later in the turn.
No mortal damage is inflicted on that unit by RETREAT abilities.
Not all Daemonsmiths have risen high enough in the ranks to earn the right to ride an Infernal Taurus, and most must content themselves schlepping into battle on foot – no doubt planning their own path to ascension through the indignity.
They practise mastery over fire and ash, repairing batteries of war machines with Molten Mending by D3, adding one for every daemonic power point they hold.
The Ashen Elders, meanwhile, are venerable preachers who hold a fierce rivalry with the sorcerers of the Helsmiths. Their Stoked Fanaticism allows friendly units to ignore a point of Damage – better suffer the wounds of combat than mark yourself as a coward in front of such scornful prelates.
DAEMONSMITH
MOLTEN MENDING
Once Per Turn (Army), Your Hero Phase
A learned Daemonsmith can suture ensorcelled plate and stoke the daemon furnaces anew.
Declare: Pick a friendly HELSMITHS OF HASHUT WAR MACHINe wholly within 6" of this unit to be the target. Add 6" to the range of this ability for each daemonic power point this unit has.
Effect: Heal (D3+X) the target, where X is the number of daemonic power points this unit has.
ASHEN ELDER
STOKED FANATICISM
Passive
Better to endure grievous wounds unflinching, so say the Zharrdron, than falter under the gaze of Hashut’s hateful priests.
Effect: Ignore the first damage point allocated to each friendly
non‑HOBGROT HELSMITHS OF HASHUT unit each phase while it is wholly within 6" of this unit. Add 6" to the range of this ability for each daemonic power point this unit has.
Bull Centaurs are also envoys of the temples, mutant beings reared as living demigods due to their likeness to the Bullfather. Both types can improve their charge rolls by one for each daemonic power point they have earned.
The Bull Centaurs’ Bull-charge thunders into combat with reckless abandon, dealing mortal damage whose potency increases with their daemonic power. The Anointed Sentinels are the more reserved temple guardians, who can instead Strike-first in combat with a Zealous Counter-attack.
BULL CENTAURS
BULL-CHARGE
Any Charge Phase
The galloping charge of the Bull Centaurs tramples lesser beings beneath their hooves.
Declare: If this unit charged this turn, pick a visible enemy unit
within 1" of it to be the target.
Effect: Roll a dice for each model in this unit. Add the number of daemonic power points this unit has to each roll. For each 6+, inflict 1 mortal damage on the target.
ANOINTED SENTINELS
ZEALOUS COUNTER-ATTACK
Reaction: You declared the ‘Counter-charge’ command for this unit
The Anointed Sentinels are furious, eager combatants that use their sheer size to meet charging armies head on.
Effect: This unit has STRIKE-FIRST for the rest of the turn.
How do these units fit in with the rest of the Helsmiths’ forces? We’ve got a gaming expert from the Age of Sigmar community to compose their own impressions – look out for that later in the week.
