Greetings, servants of the Empire! Your Immortal Celestian Emperors call upon you to fight for the Seven Realms.
The Empire Assault Regiment is the latest release for the oldest of this world’s Great Powers, and within it you’ll find some of the most iconic models yet to grace the tabletop. Join us as we explore the rules for these new units, their place in your Empire Force, and how they can lead you to victory!
New Models, New Units and New Rules
Few of the warriors who enforce the Immortal Emperors’ will across the world are as feared as those drawn from the samurai temples of Japan. Of these, none boast a more storied legacy than the Bushi Ryu Samurai.
Fearsome combatants who claim that the blood of the dragon courses through their veins, the Bushi Ryu are terrifying in Close Quarters. With Onslaught granting them a Combat Rating Bonus when they Charge and Veteran (2) allowing them to convert two Strikes into Heroic Strikes—not to mention their Shock weapon quality almost doubling their Attack Pool against Light targets—they are capable of blending through even the hardiest of enemies with little effort. Better yet, their Hunter special rule will secure you an additional Victory Point each time they win a Close Quarters Combat!
Where the Bushi Ryu are a precise blade, the Oni Samurai are the manifestation of unrestrained brute force. Boasting a Defence of 3 and Damage Limit of 2, these monstrous warriors are difficult to shift; harder still given their Irrepressible special rule, which renders them immune to failing Discipline Tests. But it is once they enter Close Quarters Combat that their strength is truly felt. A brutal combination of Arc and Wreckers on their Melee Attack makes them a potent force against enemy Armour units, while their Overrun special rule all but ensures they finish the job as they charge in for a second attack.
Supporting these units from afar is the dependable Ashigaru Company. With their respectable Ranged (Light) and Ranged (Heavy) Attacks, the Ashigaru can drown almost any target in withering teppo fire, and even be commanded to support their Samurai masters with an additional Ranged Attack. Paired with their Veteran (1) special rule, even the temples’ most basic troops are a force to be reckoned with.
Of course, the might of the Empire does not lie solely in its elite Infantry. The Laohu Transport, while a deceptively simple unit, is vital for shuttling your troops further up the field. With its Speed of 7" and Assault Ramp special rules, you’re now able to deposit your Infantry directly into the heart of combat as early as your first Round.
Similarly, the Yaksha Super Heavy Transport, with its immense Capacity (12), allows a pair of these gargantuan vehicles to ferry any of the Empire’s Full-Strength units wherever you need, with its Assault Ramp special rule meaning that a Disembarking unit is immediately ready to enter the fray. Better yet, Ammo Supply (Infantry) means that all friendly Infantry units within 3" gain a Combat Rating Bonus to their Ranged Attacks, pairing particularly well with its Obfuscating (3"), meaning that these same units count as Obscured.
The Zhurong Heavy Incinerator, meanwhile, brings the full alchemical might of the Empire roaring onto the Battlefield, with All-Out Attack (2) and the new Sweeping weapon quality on its Ranged (Light) Attack, which, rather than targeting a single unit, allows the Zhurong to target all units it can draw Line of Sight to. Be careful, however, as this also means that your own units can be caught in the ensuing inferno…
Battlegroups & Boons
This new release brings with it a new addition to the Empire ORBAT: the Bushido Auxiliary Battlegroup. Built around the contents of this box, its Commander Bonus interacts with the brand new Samurai and Ashigaru traits possessed by the Infantry units in this Regiment.
Further synergising the relationship between your Samurai and Ashigaru units, this powerful ability allows your Ashigaru Company to make up to two Ranged Attacks each Round, either in defence of your Melee-focused units, or to finish off any surviving models after a Charge.
Additionally, in a first for Armoured Clash, this release also sees the inclusion of a new Empire-specific Boon in their ORBAT! Honour in Death allows you to issue a Special Command whenever one of your Samurai units is Annihilated. Before removing the last model from this unit, you can make a single Close Quarters Attack against an enemy unit that is within 5", ensuring they get the final strike!
In Summary
The Empire’s legacy stretches back centuries, and under your command, its rule will endure for generations to come. Fielding powerful Samurai units and providing a plethora of transport options, this Assault Regiment provides vital additions to your existing Empire Force, by doubling down on their strengths: heavily specialised Infantry and forcing Suppression upon the enemy.
Through fire and fear, your foes will bend the knee.
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