Editing Zardu Layak (section)

==On Tabletop==

[[File:ZarduLayakTabletop.jpeg.jpg|thumb|right]]

===Horus Heresy 1.0===

{| class=wikitable
! || Pts || WS || BS || S || T || W || I || A || Ld || Sv
|-
| '''Zardu Layak''' || 175 || 5 || 5 || 4 || 5 || 2 || 5 || 2 || 10 || 2+
|}

Like Erebus and Kor Phaeron, Layak is a Diabolist Master of the Legion, so he fills 2 of the HQ requirements for Dark Brethren, and also gives a +1 bonus to rolls on the Dark Channeling table. The Daemon and Zealot rules compensate for a fairly low statline, and he's also a ML2 psyker that can generate (as of the FAQ) any power from Pyromancy or Malefic Daemonology. As a Warlord, he unlocks Ashen Circle squads as troops but forces them to buy Dark Channeling. He can also give them a +1 bonus to the roll, but you likely won't want to do this, the Daemon result is usually the worst one so don't try for it unless you really want to combo it with Cursed Earth. In addition to his Bolt Pistol, frag/krak grenades, and artificer armor, he wields the Azurda Char'is (a two-handed S+2 AP4 force staff which allows him to reroll a single failed attempt at manifesting a psychic power per game) and the Panoply of Flame (which gives all units with the Legiones Astartes (Word Bearers) rule within 12" a +1 bonus to combat resolution and Sweeping Advance rolls, and may also be used like a heavy flamer once per game). Like Erebus and Kor Phaeron, he can bring in an allied detachment of Chaos Daemons, which synergizes well with the Malefic Daemonology powers he can generate (and has a much safer time using than anyone else in this legion aside from Diabolists thanks to his Daemon rule). If he has one weakness though, it's that he only has 2 wounds, but there's plenty of ways to boost his survivability. With the Daemon rule and with access to Daemon bodyguards, he can boost all of their Invuln saves by +1 with his powers, which can be further boosted by a Deredeo Dreadnought (up to 3++).

{| class=wikitable
! || Pts || WS || BS || S || T || W || I || A || Ld || Sv
|-
| ''' Anakatis Kul Blade Slaves''' || 100 || 5 || 4 || 6 || 5 || 3 || 5 || 3 || 10 || 3+
|}

[[Anakatis Kul|Anakatis Kul Blade Slaves]]: Layak's backup dancers who must remain with him at all times. For an extra 100 points, you get a pair of 3-wound combat monsters with Daemon, Rage, and IWND, with the only thing really holding them back being their 3+ armor save. They wield plasma pistols and the Anakatis Blades - AP3 Specialist weapons (so no +1 attack from the pistol) that gain AP2 anytime they roll a 5 or 6 to wound AND each unsaved wound inflicts two wounds that must be saved against separately (akin to Gets Hot! it's 2 autowounds that allow armor saves). However, if Layak is ever slain or removed from play they go nuts and try to charge the nearest Infantry or MC they can reach, focusing on whichever nearby unit has the most models in base contact with it - including your own units. If you go with these guys, either make sure to keep Layak alive or ensure that the Blade Slaves are closer to the enemy than they are to your own troops. The biggest downside of the Blade Slaves is the fact that you will have to fork out a transport cost for them & Layak, so while powerful these guys are going to be very expensive to use. The guys are also Chosen Warriors. Curiously, unlike Gal Vorbak, who are in perfect control of their transformation, minds and bodies, these quote Mindless Killers end quote do, in fact, get Legiones Astartes (Word Bearers). Does this mean that the Beloved Sons lost LA due to Brilliant Forgeworld Editing or that the Blade Slaves gained it by mistake?

===Horus Heresy 2.0===

For 300 points, you get an interesting little unit with a unique Praetor and his own built-in little squad of special Gal Vorbak. Layak has a Praetor's stat-line with the exception of having a reduced WS of 5 and an extra wound. He also has a bucketload of special rules: Relentless, Fearless, Hatred (Loyalists) as well as being a Psyker with his own unique discipline called Soul Binding, which is a bit meh on default squad but can be an absolute banger if you stick him in a Terminator deathstar, and the Aetheric Lightning power. He's equipped with an Iron Halo to stop him from bursting when he Perils (which he will) as well as two unique items. The first is the Azurda Char'is, a big weird staff-censer/torture device that translates to the table top as a S-User Unwieldy AP2 Force weapon. The second is the Panoply of Flame, which adds +1 to the result of assaults and sweeping advance rolls to all Word Bearers with 12" of Zardu.

Like many other HQs this edition, Zardu has gotten a new unique Warlord trait. The Eater of Wisdom gives up to three Corrupted units +1 Strength and Movement at the beginning of the game, but each unit must take a leadership test at the end of each of the controlling player's turn, suffering Perils of the Warp if failed. An additional reaction can also be made during the assault phase. This warlord trait has the potential to really ramp up the killing power of Gal Vorbak, Mhara Gal Dreadnoughts and Diabolists, with a few "buts". The problem is that you can only take Invulnerable saves against Perils and Gal Vorbak don't get those without Argel Tal, while a Mhara Gal's Tainted Claw has a fixed Strength of 9, leaving counter-intuitive squads like Breachers or Deep Striking Assault Marines as the safest picks for Zardu's special warp-dust cocktail.

His two backup dancers, the Anakatis-Kul Blade Slaves, are much better bonuses than his unique psychic discipline. They are a pair of Gal Vorbak with all the same rules but with lower movement and leadership, and gaining S6 in return. They are armed with Plasma Pistols and Anakatis Blades, which are Power Swords that lose Rending and gain Murderous Strike(5+) and Brutal(2) for molly whopping power armour and putting the fear of the Chaos Gods into automata. Note that unlike last edition, Layak isn't required to stay with his slaves, so nothing prevents you from putting him behind a Spartan with a Deathstar inside, embarking on turn 1 and riding off into the sunset.


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[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]][[Category:Chaos]][[Category:Space Marines]][[Category:Word Bearers]]