Mandrakes

InfiltrationRecon

KILL GRADE [9]

1	2	3	4	5
2	4	5	7	9

What to Know

Tactical Overview

Unleash the Mandrakes! This 9-op team (1 Nightfiend + 8 specialists) is a fast, shadow-dwelling nightmare. With 7" Move, they strike from darkness using SHADOW PASSAGE to teleport and WITHIN SHADOW for +1 Save. Favor melee with lethal blades, but their unique SOULSTRIKE rule makes shooting deadly against high-APL targets. They're fragile (5+ Save, 8-9 Wounds) but masters of hit-and-run, using ploys like Blade in the Dark to charge from concealment. Control the shadows, harvest souls, and vanish before your foe can react!

Core Abilities

Unusual Shooting ✓

Dirgemaw: Horrifying Scream [Seek Light]

Unusual Melee ✓

Firefight Ploy: Shadow's Bite: strike first when charged and in shadowStrategic Ploy: Blade in the Dark: charge while concealed in shadow

Super Conceal ✗

Out of Order Movement ✓

Strategic Ploy: Creeping Horror: free Dash after each enemy activationOperative: Haunting Focus: interrupt to activate during opponent's turn

Activation Manipulation ✓

Operative: Harrowing Whispers: prevent enemy activation with D6 roll vs APLOperative: Haunting Focus: interrupt to activate first against targeted enemy

APL Modifiers ✓

Dirgemaw: Horrifying Scream [Stun]Chooser of the Flesh: Soul Harvest: +1 APL to friendly operative.

Bitter Demise ✓

Shadeweaver: Weave Darkness: removes marker when operative is incapacitated

Block Rerolls ✗

Damage Reduction ✓

Operative: Oubliex: ignore damage on 5+ when activeOperative: Balefire: -1 damage from enemy ranged weapons with token

Faction Rules

SHADOW PASSAGE: Once per turn, reposition a Mandrake within Shadow without moving, cannot shoot or fight until next turn.
SOULSTRIKE: Defence dice success based on target's APL, 1 is critical success, 6 is always fail.
UMBRAL ENTITIES: Ignore Piercing when shooting Mandrakes, Mandrakes in Shadow get +1 to Save.
WITHIN SHADOW: Defined as near Heavy terrain, under Vantage terrain, or near a Shadow Portal.

Strategic Ploys

Creeping Horror: Mandrake with Conceal can free Dash within Shadow after enemy activation.
Gloaming Shroud: Retain one defence die as success when Mandrake in Shadow is shot.
Blade in the Dark: Mandrake with Conceal can Charge if starting or ending in Shadow.
Inescapable Nightmare: Reroll one attack die when Mandrake in Shadow is attacking or retaliating.

Firefight Ploys

Slither Out Of Sight: Change Mandrake order to Conceal after activation
Soul Feast: Regain wounds equal to APL times damage dice
Nowhere To Hide: Move through terrain during activation
Shadow's Bite: Defender resolves first attack dice in fight

Equipment

Chain Snare: Prevents enemy Fall Back action on a dice roll
Shadow Glyph: Makes operative untargetable while concealed in cover
Soul Gem: Adds Blast 1" to baleblast weapons once per turning point
Bone Darts: Provides a silent, rending ranged weapon once per turning point

Rules Commentary

5 Q&As

If a friendly MANDRAKE DIRGEMAW operative attempts to shoot or fight against the specified enemy operative in its Haunting Focus rule, but is prevented from doing so by an opponent's rule (e.g. SANCTIFIER CONFESSOR Commanding Declamation, NOVITIATE Blinding Aura) is the activation still cancelled?

No. Continue its activation as though the requirements of the Haunting Focus rule have been fulfilled.

If a NIGHTFIEND operative incapacitates an enemy operative, then that enemy operative attempts to inflict damage as a result of being incapacitated (e.g. LEGIONARY Unending Bloodshed) and the NIGHTFIEND operative's Oubliex rule ignores that damage, does the oubliex become active again when the enemy operative is removed from the killzone?

No. The enemy operative is already incapacitated when it attempts to inflict the damage, so the timing required for the oubliex to become active has passed.

If two MANDRAKE DIRGEMAW operatives select each other with their Haunting Focus rule, which operative activates in the following instance: Operative A is selected to activate normally, then Operative B would attempt to activate first as a result of the Haunting Focus rule, then Operative A would attempt to activate first as a result of the same rule?

Operative B.

How does the Soulstrike weapon rule interact with rules that allow your opponent to retain defence dice results of 5+ as critical successes (e.g. ANGEL OF DEATH Hardy Chapter Tactic), or retain results of a specific number as a success (e.g. ELUCIDIAN STARSTRIDER Armoured Bodysuit)?

The Soulstrike weapon rule takes precedence. For example, even with the Hardy Chapter Tactic, a 5 would be a fail not a critical success for that ANGEL OF DEATH operative, as it's higher than their APL stat (3).

When a MANDRAKE DIRGEMAW is shooting with its horrifying scream ranged weapon and negatively changes the target's APL as a result of the Stun weapon rule, does that change affect defence dice rolled for the target during that same sequence in relation to the Soulstrike weapon rule?

No, as an operative's stats don't change during an action.

Operative Selection

↘ 1 MANDRAKE NIGHTFIEND operative

↘ 8 MANDRAKE operatives selected from the following list:

ABYSSAL
CHOOSER OF THE FLESH
DIRGEMAW
SHADEWEAVER
WARRIOR

Other than WARRIOR operatives, your kill team can only include each operative on this list once.

Operative Datacards

6 operatives

Nightfiend

2 7" 5+ 9

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Baleblast	4	3+	3/4	Soulstrike* Baleblast - Weapon Rules
⚔ Huskblade	5	3+	4/6	Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. , Shock Shock The first time you strike with a critical success in each sequence, also discard one of your opponent's unresolved normal successes. Huskblade - Weapon Rules Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Shock The first time you strike with a critical success in each sequence, also discard one of your opponent's unresolved normal successes.

Additional Rules

Harrowing Whispers

Whenever your opponent would activate an enemy operative within 6" of this operative, you can roll one D6 (you cannot do so if you already interrupted that operative's activation with this rule or the DIRGEMAW operative's Haunting Focus additional rule during this turning point): if the result is higher than that enemy operative's APL stat, your opponent cannot activate it during this activation. If there are no other enemy operatives eligible to be activated, this rule has no effect.

Oubliex

Whenever this operative is readied, or if this operative incapacitates an enemy operative with its huskblade, its oubliex becomes active. Whenever its oubliex is active and an attack dice would inflict damage on this operative, you can roll one D6: on a 5+, ignore the damage inflicted from that attack dice and its oubliex is no longer active.

Abyssal

2 7" 5+ 8

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Balesurge (blast)	5	3+	3/4	Blast 2" Blast The target you select is the primary target. After shooting the primary target, shoot with this weapon against each secondary target in an order of your choice. Secondary targets are other operatives visible to and within x of the primary target. Secondary targets are in cover and obscured if the primary target was. , Soulstrike* Balesurge (blast) - Weapon Rules Blast The target you select is the primary target. After shooting the primary target, shoot with this weapon against each secondary target in an order of your choice. Secondary targets are other operatives visible to and within x of the primary target. Secondary targets are in cover and obscured if the primary target was.
⚔ Balesurge (burn)	5	3+	3/4	Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. , Soulstrike* Balesurge (burn) - Weapon Rules Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.
⚔ Glimmersteel blade	4	3+	4/5	Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Glimmersteel blade - Weapon Rules Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.

Additional Rules

Balefire

Whenever a friendly MANDRAKE operative is shooting an enemy operative that has one of your Balefire tokens, add 1 to both Dmg stats of that friendly operative's ranged weapons, and those weapons have the Saturate weapon rule. Whenever an operative is shooting a friendly MANDRAKE operative that has one of your Balefire tokens, subtract 1 from both Dmg stats of that operative's ranged weapons (to a minimum of 1).

Unique Actions

Wreathe In Balefire 1AP

Select one operative visible to this operative that doesn't have one of your Balefire tokens. Until the start of this operative's next activation, until it's incapacitated or until it performs this action again (whichever comes first), that selected operative gains one of your Balefire tokens.

This operative cannot perform this action while within control range of an enemy operative.

Chooser Of The Flesh

2 7" 5+ 8

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Baleblast	4	3+	3/4	Soulstrike* Baleblast - Weapon Rules
⚔ Baleblade	4	3+	5/6	Brutal Brutal Your opponent can only block with critical successes. , Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Baleblade - Weapon Rules Brutal Your opponent can only block with critical successes. Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.

Additional Rules

Soul Harvest

Whenever an enemy operative is incapacitated as a result of this operative's Part Collector rule or baleblade, you gain 1 Soul Harvest point, or two if that enemy operative had an APL stat of 3 or more. Whenever a friendly MANDRAKE operative is activated, you can spend 1 of your Soul Harvest points to either add 1 to its APL stat until the end of the battle, or have it regain up to 2D3 lost wounds. Note you can spend your Soul Harvest points even if this operative is incapacitated.

Part Collector

Whenever an enemy operative performs the Fall Back action while within control range of this operative, you can use this rule. If you do, inflict 2D3 damage on that enemy operative before it moves.

Dirgemaw

2 7" 5+ 8

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Baleblast	4	3+	3/4	Soulstrike* Baleblast - Weapon Rules
⚡ Horrifying Scream	5	2+	2/2	Range 6" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Devastating 2 Devastating Each retained critical success immediately inflicts x damage on the operative this weapon is being used against. If the rule starts with a distance, inflict x damage on that operative and each other operative visible to and within that distance of it. , Seek Light Seek When selecting a valid target, operatives with a Conceal order cannot use terrain for cover. If the rule is Seek Light, they cannot use Light terrain for cover. , Stun Stun If you retain any critical successes, subtract 1 from the APL stat of the operative this weapon is being used against until the end of its next activation. , Soulstrike* Horrifying Scream - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Devastating Each retained critical success immediately inflicts x damage on the operative this weapon is being used against. If the rule starts with a distance, inflict x damage on that operative and each other operative visible to and within that distance of it. Seek When selecting a valid target, operatives with a Conceal order cannot use terrain for cover. If the rule is Seek Light, they cannot use Light terrain for cover. Stun If you retain any critical successes, subtract 1 from the APL stat of the operative this weapon is being used against until the end of its next activation.
⚔ Glimmersteel Blade	4	3+	4/5	Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Glimmersteel Blade - Weapon Rules Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.

Additional Rules

Haunting Focus (STRATEGIC GAMBIT)

STRATEGIC GAMBIT . Select one enemy operative. Until the Ready step of the next Strategy phase, it gains your Haunting Focus token. The next time your opponent would activate an enemy operative that has your Haunting Focus token, if this operative is ready, you can activate this operative first (you cannot do so if you also rolled to prevent that operative's activation with the NIGHTFIEND operative's Harrowing Whispers additional rule during this turning point). If you do, during that activation, this operative must shoot against or fight against that enemy operative, and cannot do so against any other enemy operatives until it does (if this isn't possible, this operative's activation is cancelled). After completing this operative's activation, your opponent activates that enemy operative (if possible), or activates a different enemy operative if they can't.

Unique Actions

Pareidolic Projection 1AP

Select one enemy operative that's a valid target for this operative or is WITHIN SHADOW . Until the start of this operative's next activation, until it's incapacitated or until it performs this action again (whichever comes first), worsen the Hit stat of that enemy operative's weapons by 1 and subtract 2" from its Move stat (these aren't cumulative with being injured).

This operative cannot perform this action while within control range of an enemy operative, unless the only enemy operative it's within control range of is selected for this action.

Shadeweaver

2 7" 5+ 8

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Baleblast	4	3+	3/4	Soulstrike* Baleblast - Weapon Rules
⚔ Glimmersteel Blade	4	3+	4/5	Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Glimmersteel Blade - Weapon Rules Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.

Additional Rules

Shadow Portal

Whenever this operative performs the Reposition action using a SHADOW PASSAGE , you can use this rule. If you do, remove your Shadow Portal markers from the killzone (if any), then place one of your Shadow Portal markers within this operative's control range before it's removed and one within its control range after it's set up. Each friendly MANDRAKE operative can use a SHADOW PASSAGE each turning point (this takes precedence over one operative once per turning point) if one of your Shadow Portal markers is within that operative's control range when it's removed, and the other is when it's set up. Note that friendly operatives can do so even if this operative has been incapacitated, and doing so doesn't prevent one operative from using a SHADOW PASSAGE in the normal manner.

Unique Actions

Weave Darkness 1AP

Remove your Weave Darkness marker from the killzone (if any). Then place your Weave Darkness marker visible to this operative, or on Vantage terrain of a terrain feature visible to this operative. That marker creates an area of smoke with the same size and effects as a smoke grenade (see universal equipment), except you don't remove it during the following turning point. If this operative is incapacitated, remove your Weave Darkness marker from the killzone.

This operative cannot perform this action while within control range of an enemy operative.

Warrior

2 7" 5+ 8

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Baleblast	4	3+	3/4	Soulstrike** Baleblast - Weapon Rules
⚔ Glimmersteel Blade	4	3+	4/5	Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Glimmersteel Blade - Weapon Rules Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.

Additional Rules

Shadow Warrior

Whenever this operative is WITHIN SHADOW , add 1 to the Critical Dmg stat of its glimmersteel blade.

Faction Rules

4 rules

SHADOW PASSAGE

Faction Rule

Once per turn, reposition a Mandrake within Shadow without moving, cannot shoot or fight until next turn.

Mandrakes 💀

Mandrakes can slip into the slightest patch of shadow as if vanishing into dark waters, only to crawl forth from another patch of gloom as though the intervening distance doesn't exist. This sinister ability allows them to bypass sentries and defences unseen, and to pounce upon their victims from unexpected quarters.

Once per turning point, one friendly MANDRAKE operative WITHIN SHADOW can use a SHADOW PASSAGE when it performs the Reposition action. If it does, don't move it. Instead, remove it from the killzone and set it back up WITHIN SHADOW in a location it can be placed. When you set it back up, it cannot: - Be within control range of an enemy operative. - Be a valid target for an enemy operative. - Perform the Shoot or Fight action until the start of the next turning point.

SOULSTRIKE

Faction Rule

Defence dice success based on target's APL, 1 is critical success, 6 is always fail.

Mandrakes 💀

The balefire hurled by the Mandrakes burns cold and fierce, fed by the tinder of their victim's life force and animus. Conventional armour offers little protection against this insidious force.

Some weapons in this team's rules have the Soulstrike weapon rule below. *Soulstrike: Successful defence dice are determined differently. Each result that's equal to or less than the target's APL stat is a success and is retained. Each result that's higher than the target's APL stat is a fail and is discarded. Each result of 1 is always a critical success. Each other success is a normal success. Each result of 6 is always a fail. Designer's Note: Many of this kill team's rules refer to an enemy operative's APL stat. This would be the APL stat at the time the rule takes effect (i.e. including changes).

UMBRAL ENTITIES

Faction Rule

Ignore Piercing when shooting Mandrakes, Mandrakes in Shadow get +1 to Save.

Mandrakes 💀

The Mandrakes' physical forms shift and shudder like shadows smothering the last light of a guttering torch. Those rare survivors of their attacks describe the Mandrakes blending with the encroaching darkness, or even vanishing from sight altogether, confounding the increasingly panicked aim of their prey as they flitter ever closer.

Whenever an operative is shooting a friendly MANDRAKE operative, ignore the Piercing weapon rule. Whenever a friendly MANDRAKE operative is WITHIN SHADOW , improve its Save stat by 1.

WITHIN SHADOW

Faction Rule

Defined as near Heavy terrain, under Vantage terrain, or near a Shadow Portal.

Strategy Ploys

4 ploys

Creeping Horror

Strategy Ploy

Mandrake with Conceal can free Dash within Shadow after enemy activation.

Mandrakes 💀

Flitting in and out of the shadows, Mandrakes advance with unsettling speed.

After each enemy operative's activation, before the next operative is activated, one friendly MANDRAKE operative that has a Conceal order can perform a free Dash action if it starts and ends that action WITHIN SHADOW. You cannot use this ploy during the first turning point, and you cannot select each friendly operative for this ploy more than once per turning point.

Gloaming Shroud

Strategy Ploy

Retain one defence die as success when Mandrake in Shadow is shot.

Blade in the Dark

Strategy Ploy

Mandrake with Conceal can Charge if starting or ending in Shadow.

Inescapable Nightmare

Strategy Ploy

Reroll one attack die when Mandrake in Shadow is attacking or retaliating.

Firefight Ploys

4 ploys

Slither Out Of Sight

Firefight Ploy

Change Mandrake order to Conceal after activation

Soul Feast

Firefight Ploy

Regain wounds equal to APL times damage dice

Mandrakes 💀

Mandrakes subsist on the agonies of their victims, gaining vigour with each torturous blow inflicted upon their prey.

Use this firefight ploy when a friendly MANDRAKE operative is shooting against, fighting against or retaliating against an enemy operative within 6" of it, at the end of the Resolve Attack Dice step. That friendly operative regains a number of lost wounds equal to that enemy operative's APL stat, multiplied by the number of your attack dice that inflicted damage during that sequence. Excess attack dice are ignored (i.e. if the enemy operative is incapacitated before remaining attack dice are resolved). You cannot use this ploy if that friendly MANDRAKE operative is incapacitated.

Nowhere To Hide

Firefight Ploy

Move through terrain during activation

Mandrakes 💀

Walls and other obstructions are of no concern to Mandrakes, who fade in and out of the physical realm at their own whim.

Use this firefight ploy during a friendly MANDRAKE operative's activation, when it performs an action in which it moves. Until the end of that activation, that operative can move through parts of terrain features as if they weren't there, but it cannot move more than its Move stat if it's the CHARGE action and must end those moves in a location it can be placed.

Shadow's Bite

Firefight Ploy

Defender resolves first attack dice in fight

Mandrakes 💀

When suffused with shadow, a Mandrake moves with unnatural speed and grace, lashing out preemptively with its glimmersteel blade.

Use this firefight ploy when an enemy operative performs the FIGHT action during an activation in which it performed the CHARGE action, and selects a friendly MANDRAKE operative WITHIN SHADOW to fight against. In the Resolve Attack Dice step of that sequence, you resolve the first attack dice (i.e. defender instead of attacker).

Faction Equipment

4 items

Chain Snare

Faction Equipment

Prevents enemy Fall Back action on a dice roll

Mandrakes 💀

Composed of hooked blades attached to a length of chain, this weapon bites into the flesh or armour of the wielder's target, preventing them from fleeing.

Whenever an enemy operative would perform the Fall Back action while within control range of a friendly MANDRAKE operative, if no other enemy operatives are within that friendly operative's control range, you can use this rule. If you do, roll two D6, or one D6 if that enemy operative has a higher Wounds stat than that friendly operative. If any result is a 4+, that enemy operative cannot perform that action during that activation/counteraction (no AP are spent on it), and you cannot use this rule again during this turning point.

Shadow Glyph

Faction Equipment

Makes operative untargetable while concealed in cover

Mandrakes 💀

Etched into the inky skin of the Mandrake, this glyph glows when activated, causing the creature to fade utterly from sight.

Once per turning point, when a friendly MANDRAKE operative is activated WITHIN SHADOW , you can use this rule. If you do, until the start of its next activation, while that operative has a Conceal order and is in cover, it cannot be selected as a valid target, taking precedence over all other rules (e.g. Seek, Vantage terrain) except being within 2".

Soul Gem

Faction Equipment

Adds Blast 1" to baleblast weapons once per turning point

Bone Darts

Faction Equipment

Provides a silent, rending ranged weapon once per turning point

Universal Equipment

0 items