Malifaux/Tactics(M3e)

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This page is meant to index pages for the Malifaux tactics dumps.

General Advice

  • Count your Cards - Unlike poker, counting cards is a recommended skill to pick up in Malifaux. If you have more low cards in your hand that means you have more high cards in your deck and vice versa. The more low cards in your discard pile the better your chances are.
  • Keep your Eye on the Mission - Malifaux is one of the few games where you can still win the game if your entire crew is dead. Some objectives can only be completed once per turn so make sure you have enough turns to max out your victory points.
  • Activation Control - If your opponent loses a model that hasn't activated yet they are playing at a loss that turn. Focus on models that can do the most damage that turn or in the long run. Some models can chain activations allowing you to get two activations in a row.

Required Reading

  • The Core Rules - You need to know how to play.
  • Your Crew's Cards - You need to know how your models play.
  • Gaining Grounds - This is the Malifaux tournament rule set. It is free and has all the missions listed as well as tournament guidelines.

What's Changed from 2nd Edition?

  • Masters now have a cost, unless they are your Leader.
  • The max hand size is 6, though this can go up with abilities.
  • Several Masters have gained/lost their dual faction status.
  • A few models have switched factions.
  • Several models have been removed from Tournament/Organized play, but live on as Dead Man's Hands.
  • Dealing with elevation has had a rework.
  • Entering buildings now has rules.
  • Stat numbers have reset. 4 appears to be the new minimum, 5 is average, 6 is above average(Most Masters), 7 is very rare. Very few models go above 7 in any stat (other than Health and Cost).
  • Deployment for the person going first involves separating their army into halves and the second player picking which one deploys first. Then the defender deploys their entire army, and the remaining group of the first players is deployed. This seems to be done to avoid players winning via counter deploy.
  • Added Titles which are when a character has two models that represent them. You cannot hire the same model with different titles. This is specifically for models like McCabe that has a mounted and dismounted version.
  • There is an order of operations set to determine the priority of effects and actions.
  • Max number of VPs is now 8 (4 for Strategy, 2 for each Scheme).

Hobby Advice

  • Make Duplicate Models Unique - A few schemes may require a player to choose a specific model as a target. In the case of minions you may have multiples of the same model. Make sure that there is a way to identify which model is which. Most Malifaux models have different poses and/or gender to help differentiate, but this can only help so far in some cases. General rule of thumb your opponent should be able to recognize which duplicate is which. The best way to do this is with changes in color on the model or rim of the base, but can be done with props such as terrain features or conversions. Note that models that you can only have 1 of don't need this done.
  • Conversions have to be mostly Wyrd - For tournament play there is a requirement that the models be a certain percentage Wyrd (This will be in Gaining Grounds, but currently its around 2/3 Wyrd model).

Listbuilding 101

  • Standard Crew Size is 50 Soulstones - This is the tournament standard.
  • Extra Soulstones are a Resource - When you build a crew you will likely have leftover soulstones which can be used by your Master and Henchmen to modify their card flips.
  • Masters - Your Master will be your leader. This will determine both your hiring pool as well as your crews overall play style. There is a bit of wiggle room, but a lot of players can determine what your crew can do from your Master.
  • Scheme Runners - These are models who are fast and able to place scheme markers onto the table reliably.
  • Beaters - These are models you have high damage output.
  • Support - These are models that buff other models.

Building a Successful Malifaux Crew

  • Know your Enemy - Players declare their Faction then Leader before building their crew. Take that information and figure out a good counter, but know your opponent can counter you as well. Going up against a Resurrectionist faction? You should probably take something that destroys corpse markers so they can't summon more zombies.
  • Know your Strategy and Schemes - Building a crew that can complete the mission objectives is more important than damage output. Don't take Assassinate if your opponent is taking a durable Master.
  • Know your Synergies - A lot of models have various effects that boost other models. Keep these in mind, because you are paying for these tricks and they can swing entire games.


Strategy and Scheme Advice

Strategies and Schemes are the primary and secondary missions of Malifaux. Both players have the same Strategy that is worth up to 4 victory points. Each player may choose two of four schemes generated at the start of the game, typically these are kept hidden from your opponent until you score. Each Scheme is worth up to 2 victory points. Players choose their Leader after the Strategy and Schemes are generated, but choose their crew after both players reveal their leader and schemes after crews are revealed. This allows players to choose schemes not just based on what army they bring, but also based on what the opponent has brought. If your opponent has brought a high wounds/defense leader then maybe you shouldn't choose a Scheme that requires you to kill them.

Strategies

Core Book

  • Turf War (Ram): The table is divided into four table quarters with a Strategy Marker in the center. A model can use an action in base contact with the marker to switch it from enemy controlled to neutral or from neutral to friendly. At the end of each Turn a crew gains 1 VP if it has more friendly Strategy Markers than it has scored VP for this Strategy.
    • You have to score every turn to get max points. Which means by the end of turn 5 you will need to control all of the Strategy Markers.
  • Plant Explosives (Tome): Five models on each crew are given Explosive Tokens which can be dropped on your opponent's side of the table. You score your first point for having at least 1 marker on your opponents side, and subsequent points for having at least one more than when you previously scored.
  • Corrupted Idols (Mask): TBD
  • Rockoning (Crow): TBD

Gaining Grounds 2020

TBD

Schemes

Core Book

  1. Detonate Charges - One of the hardest schemes to score. It's certainly doable against slow models, but it requires leaving one of your opponent's figures alive until the end of the game. A good way to get this done is with models that have special abilities like 'Don't Mind Me' or 'False Claim' to drop multiple markers while either engaged or from a distance.
  2. Breakthrough - Simple enough, spearhead through your opponents (or sneak around the side like a sneaky bastard) and start dropping schemes in your opponent's deployment zone. This is a NIGHTMARE on Corner deployment, since you have to be VERY particular where you're placing your scheme markers.
  3. Harness the Ley Line - Easily telegraphed, okay to score. Can be quite fun to try to play into. Same rules as Detonate apply, since you have to drop multiple scheme markers, potentially in a small area or in a highly contested one.
  4. Search the Ruins - The easiest scheme to score for most lists. This just involves being on your opponent's table half and dropping markers on terrain on their side. Easy? Easy.
  5. Dig Their Graves - The hardest scheme to score for most lists. There's a foolproof way for it to happen against models with just one inch engagement range. Let it activate first, or use a Lure like ability to drag it over, then drop a scheme with a different model nearby, then kill the target. The End Game point is at least really easy, so if you mess up the End of Turn you can at least always try to score off that.
  6. Hold Up Their Forces - Pretty easy to score early, but the end game can be hard. Always remember that your opponent's Master is 11-15 points. Unless someone's running a henchman led list, they can usually be used as a good way to get this point off.
  7. Take Prisoner - Ugh, another one where you need to leave an opponent alive the whole game. Not impossible, but you also need to isolate and keep that enemy minion isolated.
  8. Power Ritual - And the most faked scheme in the game is...POWER RITUAL. Yes, you can always tell if someone's going to fake power ritual or even go for it, if one of their models hangs out in a corner and drops a token turn one. It can be challenging to score if you can't put fast models past your opponent, but hey, it's not always that bad.
  9. Outflank - This is a tricky one. If you've got a high mobility list, you can score this pretty reliably mid-to-late game, or go early to try to get board control. This one is REAL easy to deny, so if it's in the pool and you're not taking it, play heavy to one flank if you can.
  10. Assassinate - Good old fashioned bloodshed. Note the first point requires you to telegraph it. You HAVE To reveal it when your opponent is half health or below but NOT. DEAD. This makes it actually pretty hard to score in some situations. ESPECIALLY difficult to weigh against things like Von Schtook, who you want to kill early to make sure he can't buff his crew.
  11. Deliver a Message - Like Assassinate, except easy to score, but requires you to leave your opponent's Master alive. First point is dead easy for most lists. Run a schemer up, interact, or, if your opponent is Lady J, watch as they sweat you taking this objective every time. Second point is tricky, but if you have a fast scheme runner still alive at the top of four, just activate them late both times if possible. You'll need to activate AFTER your opponent moves their Master.
  12. Claim Jump - Yikes. This can be hard to pull off. You have to put a model up in the center of the board, outside of engagement from any other model. This can be a huge problem if you can't get center control right out of the gate. End game point does require your Claim Jumper to be half health or higher too, so this is usually ideal for a model with self-healing.
  13. Vendetta - Probably the riskiest scheme. First point's simple. Damage a specific model you name at the start of the game, with a model you choose at the start of the game. Easy? Right. Leave it alive and below half, and you can only score at the end of that model's activation. Not so easy. Now keep your model alive until the end of the game and remove theirs. This one can be easy to get two points off of if playing super safe, but it can also pull one of your own models way out of combat. Take it carefully.

Gaining Grounds 2019

TBD

Army Specific Advice

Guild

Why Play Guild

Pros

  • You get to play cowboys.
  • Most of your army does high damage output.
  • Most models have Hard to Wound and/or Hard to Kill.

Cons

  • Guild summoning is not as reliable as other factions.
  • Guild has a lot of Living Models; meaning that you'll drop a lot of corpses for you enemy to summon monsters.

General Guild Advice

Masters

  • Charles Hoffman: (Augmented) Hoffman is an engineer who regulates the creation of robots in Malifaux. He makes sure that no one is using living creatures to make robots, but secretly he did similar to try and save his brother Ryle. He is paraplegic, but can walk around with an exo-suit he can control with his mind.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living, Construct
    • Crew Building:
      • Augmented - Peacekeeper, Guardian, Melissa K.O.R.E., Hunter, Riotbreaker, Watcher, Mechanical Attendant, Warden, Joss, Medical Automaton, Mobile Toolkit, Howard Langston, Union Steamfitter.
      • Peacekeeper, Howard Langston, and Joss are dedicated beaters. Joss is Ruthless and can generate scrap when he kills enemies, but his main attraction is using Power tokens to make his attack irreducible. Howard and Peacekeeper are almost interchangeable.
    • Tactics:
      • Hoffman likes giving out Fast and Power tokens with his Overcharge ability.
      • Emergency Power Transfer can be used to transfer Power Tokens, but also on Hoffman to push himself.
      • Hoffman can also redirect attacks on him to nearby allies to help avoid giving up points for Assassinate.
  • Lucius Mattheson: (Elite, Mimic) Lucius used to be the right hand man of the previous Governor General. He is always wearing a mask which hides the fact he is in fact a Neverborn.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Elite - Agent 46, Alan Reid, Investigator, Guild Lawyer, The Scribe
      • Mimic - Agent 46, Doppelganger, Changeling
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Perdita Ortega: (Family) Perdita is part of the Monster Hunters group funded by the Guild. All of the Ortega Family are seasoned monster hunters. Her father is insane and she has strange abilities which leads many to believe her mother may be Zoraida.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • TBD
    • Tactics:
      • All Family models share the following abilities "Bravado" and "¡A Por El!".
        • "Bravado" - When model uses Concentrate, they may also push 4" towards an enemy within line of sight. Good for repositioning and then Focus shooting a nearby enemy.
        • "¡A Por El!" - After this model ends its Activation another friendly model within 6" that costs less than this model may discard a card to take an action. Perdita can never activate off of this(She's the most expensive family model at 15ss), but she can trigger any high cost model in her crew with this.
  • Cornelius Basse: (Frontier) TBD
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • TBD
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Dashel Barker: (Guard) A Henchman back in M2e now promoted to Master.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • TBD
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Nellie Cochrane: (Journalist) A propaganda journalist for the Guild.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • TBD
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Lady Justice: (Marshal) A blind woman who wields a katana. She is the head of the Death Marshals, the branch of the Guild in charge of bringing Necromancers to justice.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • TBD
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Sonnia Criid: (Witch Hunter) The leader of the Witch Hunters, the branch of the Guild in charge with bringing renegade magic users to justice. She used to be possessed by one of the Tyrants of Malifaux. She is known to take mages and turn them into Witchling Stalkers and Thralls for the Guild to use in combat.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • TBD
    • Tactics:
      • TBD

Totems

  • Mechanial Attendant: (Augmented)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Construct, Totem (Charles Hoffman)
  • The Scribe: (Elite, Mimic)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living, Totem (Lucius Mattheson)
  • Enslaved Nephilim: (Family, Nephilim)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living, Totem (Perdita Ortega)
  • Bernadette Basse: (Frontier)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living, Totem (Cornelius Basse)
  • The Dispatcher: (Guard)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living, Totem (Dashel Barker)
  • Printing Press: (Journalist)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Construct, Totem (Nellie Cochrane)
  • Scales of Justice: (Marshal)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living, Totem (Lady Justice)
  • Purifying Flame: (Witch Hunter, Witchling)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Totem (Sonnia Criid)

Henchmen

  • Dr. Grimwell: (Asylum)
    • Characteristics - (Henchman, Living, Versatile)
  • Melissa K.O.R.E: (Augmented)
    • Characteristics - (Henchman, Construct)
  • Greed: (Crossroads)
    • Characteristics - (Henchman, Living, Versatile)
  • Agent 46: (Elite, Mimic)
    • Characteristics - (Henchman, Living)
  • Alan Reid: (Elite)
    • Characteristics - (Henchman, Living)
  • Francisco Ortega: (Family)
    • Characteristics - (Henchman, Living)
    • Strong beater in melee. His Balanced Sword action is Stat 7 at 2/4/5 damage with 3 triggers. Critical strike for +1 damage per Ram. Family Values on Tomes.
  • Jonathan Reichart: (Frontier)
    • Characteristics - (Henchman, Living)
  • Taggart Queeg: (Guard)
    • Characteristics - (Henchman, Living)
  • Phiona Gage: (Journalist)
    • Characteristics - (Henchman, Living, Construct)
  • Allison Dade: (Journalist)
    • Characteristics - (Henchman, Living)
  • The Judge: (Marshal)
    • Characteristics - (Henchman, Living)
  • The Jury: (Marshal)
    • Characteristics - (Henchman, Living)
  • Samael Hopkins: (Witch Hunter)
    • Characteristics - (Henchman, Living)

Enforcers

TBD

Minions

TBD

Arcanists

Why Play Arcanists

Pros

  • You get to play renegade magic users.
  • Steampunk
  • Most of your models drop Scrap Markers which is great against Rezzers who rely on Corpse Markers.

Cons

  • A lot of the army is casting based, meaning that Masters like Sonnia will negate most crews.

General Advice

Masters

  • Sandeep Desai: (Academic, Elemental) Sandeep is a teacher of magic with a specialty in summoning elementals and a seething hatred for the Guild.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Academic - Kudra, Kandara, Shastar Vidiya Guard, Oxfordian Mage
      • Elemental - Kandara, Banasuva, Ice Golem, Fire Golem, Metal Golem, Essence of Power, Ice Gamin, Fire Gamin, Metal Gamin, Poison Gamin, Wind Gamin
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Marcus: (Chimera) Marcus was a biologist who went to study Malifaux, and ended up living among the beasts. He has learned how to twist the animals of Malifaux into new shapes. He works with Titania's blessing and assistance, so he is now part of the Neverborn faction too.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Chimera - Myranda, Jackalope, Ferdinand Vogel, The Beast Within, Cojo, The Scorpius, Paul Crockett, Order Initiate, Sabertooth Cerberus, Slate Ridge Mauler, Moleman, Razorspine Rattler.
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Rasputina: (December) Rasputina is possessed by December, a Tyrant with power over ice. She leads a cult of his worshipers who... let's just say they're big fans of Soylent Green. She works with the Arcanists, but December's main goal is to destroy Titania.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • December - Snow Storm, Wendigo, Ice Golem, Blessed of December, Ice Dancer, Silent One, December Acolyte, Ice Gamin, Hoarcat
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Mei Feng: (Foundry) Mei Feng is the leader of the foundry, a division of the Miners and Steamfitters Union responsible for Malifaux's railroads. The Ten Thunders have her under their thumb, but she has joined the Arcanists in an attempt to break free of their control.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living, Construct
    • Crew Building:
      • Foundry - Kang, Forgeling, Neil Henry, Willie, Metal Golem, Mechanized Porkchop, Sparks, Metal Gamin, Survivor, Rail Worker
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Toni Ironsides: (M&SU) Toni is the head of the Miners and Steamfitters Union, though she's had trouble holding onto control since she sold out Victor Ramos, the head of the Arcanists, to the Guild in exchange for *checks notes* the end of American slavery. Wait, really?
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • M&SU - The Captain, Amina Naidu, Joshua Fitzsimmons, Mouse, Howard Langston, Gunsmith, Union Miner, Union Steamfitter
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Colette Du Bois: (Performer) Colette is a performer who uses real magic but pretends that it's all just sleight of hand.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Performer - Cassandra Felton, Carlos Vasquez, Angelica Durand, Coryphee Duet, Mechanical Dove, Ice Dancer, Showgirl, Mannequin, Coryphee
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Kaeris: (Wildfire) The new leader of the Arcanists is Kaeris, a pyromancer who is going all out against the Guild, threatening to burn the entire city to the ground if Victor Ramos isn't released.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Wildfire - The Firestarter, Carlos Vasquez, Eternal Flame, Elijah Borgmann, Fire Golem, Iggy, Firebranded, Fire Gamin
    • Tactics:
      • TBD

Totems

  • Banasuva: (Academic, Elemental)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Totem (Sandeep Desai)
  • Jackalope: (Chimera)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Beast, Totem (Marcus)
  • Wendigo: (December)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living, Totem (Rasputina)
  • Forgeling: (Foundry)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Construct, Totem (Mei Feng)
  • Mouse: (M&SU)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living, Totem (Toni Ironsides)
  • Mechanical Dove: (Performer)
    • Characteristics - Minion (3), Construct, Totem (Colette Du Bois)
  • Eternal Flame: (Wildfire)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Construct, Totem (Kaeris)

Henchmen

TBD

Enforcers

TBD

Minions

TBD

Resurrectionists

Why Play Resurrectionists

Pros

  • Undead summoning faction.
  • Undead Prostitutes.
  • One of the only horde style armies.
  • A great deal of board control.
  • Killing Living models places Corpse markers for more summoning.

Cons

  • A lot of models are more fragile than other factions.
  • Slower than most other models, with a few exceptions.
  • Can't get Corpse markers from Construct enemies.

General Advice

Masters

  • Yan Lo: (Ancestor, Retainer) Yan Lo can summon the spirits of his ancestors, but his own soul was fractured between the worlds of the living and the dead. His descendants in the Ten Thunders helped him to become a complete being again, and he now seeks to destroy the oni that cursed him. He is a member of the Resurrectionists and the Ten Thunders.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Ancestor - Manos the Risen, Toshiro the Daimyo, Yin the Penagalan, Chiaki the Beacon, Izamu the Armor,
      • Retainer - Manos the Risen, Toshiro the Daimyo, Yin the Penagalan, Chiaki the Beacon, Izamu the Armor, Soul Porter, Ashigaru, Komainu, Gokudo
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Dr. McMourning: (Experimental) The Frankenstein archetype. Dr. McMourning was a Guild mortician who experimented on the corpses he was given, raising them as zombies. He is no longer a part of the Guild as he prevented their attempt to end the Resurrectionists.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Experimental - Sebastian, Zombie Chihuahua, Rogue Necromancy, Rafkin, Flesh Construct, Nurse, Guild Autopsy, Little Gasser, Kentauroi, Canine Remains
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Molly Squidpiddge: (Forgotten) One of Seamus' most notable victims, she was freed from his control and now she looks out for the city's abused and undead.
    • Characteristics - Master, Undead
    • Crew Building:
      • Forgotten - Philip and the Nanny, Necrotic Machine, Rogue Necromancy, Archie, The Forgotten Marshal, Rabble Riser, Crooligan, Night Terror
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Seamus: (Redchapel) Jack the Ripper if he had 30-50 times more victims and he raised them all as zombies. Expect a lot of zombie prostitutes with this crew.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Redchapel - Madame Sybelle, Copycat Killer, Bete Noire, Rotten Belle, Dead Doxy, Dead Dandy, Mourner
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Reva Cortinas: (Revenants) Reva Cortinas has the power to enthrall almost anyone who meets her, living or undead. She has amassed a cult of followers who serve her even after death.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Revenants - Vincent St. Clair, Restless Spirit, Wanyudo, Corpse Candle, Mourner, Lampad, Draugr, Shieldbearer
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Prof. Von Schtook: (Transmortis) Professor Albus Von Schtook is an academic who turns his students into half-machine zombies.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Transmortis - Anna Lovelace, The Valedictorian, Research Assistant, Undergraduate, Necropunk, Student of Viscera, Student of Steel, Student of Sinew
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Kirai Ankoku: (Urami) Kirai is a woman with the power to summon spirits from another world. After her husband was assassinated, she went on a campaign of destruction against the Guild, the Ten Thunders, and anyone else who abuses the people beneath them.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Urami - Datsue Ba, Ikiryo, Lost Love, Jaakuna Ubume, Goryo, Onryo, Gaki, Seishin, Shikome, Drowned
    • Tactics:
      • TBD

Totems

  • Zombie Chihuahua: (Experimental, Zombie)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Undead, Beast, Totem (Dr. McMourning)
  • Necrotic Machine: (Forgotten)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Construct, Totem (Molly Squidpiddge)
  • Copycat Killer: (Redchapel)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living, Totem (Seamus)
  • Soul Porter: (Retainer)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Totem (Yan Lo)
  • Corpse Candle: (Revenant)
    • Characteristics - Minion (2), Undead, Totem (Reva Cortinas)
  • Ikiryo: (Urami)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Totem (Kirai Ankoku)

Henchmen

TBD

Enforcers

TBD

Minions

TBD

Neverborn

Why Play Neverborn

Pros

  • You get to play as Grimm Fairytale characters with a Grim Dark twist.
  • The major style of play is support buff and debuff.

Cons

  • A lot of models are pretty grotesque.
  • Army can fall apart if support models are targeted.

General Advice

Masters

  • Titania: (Fae) Titania is the queen of the Fae, and the self-proclaimed queen of the Neverborn. Several of the other Neverborn masters have sided with her as she works to bring down the Tyrants.
    • Characteristics - Master, Undead
    • Crew Building:
      • Fae - Aeslin, Gorar, Killjoy, Autumn Knight, Rogarou, Bultungin, Waldgeist.
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Nekima: (Nephilim) Nekima has overthrown her sister Lilith and is now the queen of the Nephilim. She has sided with Titania for now, but she is beginning to fear the Fae's growing power.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Nephilim - Hayreddin, Blood Hunter, Mature Nephilim, Young Nephilim, Terror Tot, Lelu, Lilitu, Black Blood Shaman, Corrupted Hound.
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • The Dreamer: (Nightmare) The Dreamer is a little boy from London whose dreams come to horrible life in Malifaux. The Tyrant Nytemare (know to the Dreamer as Lord Chompy Bits) works with the boy to push his dreams into ever more vicious forms.
    • Characteristics - Master
    • Crew Building:
      • Nightmare - Lord Chompy Bits, Widow Weaver, The Carver, Teddy, Coppelius, Serena Bowman, Bandersnatch, Alp, Insidious Madness, Daydream, Stitched Together.
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Euripides: (Savage) Euripides is a giant seer from the icy mountains who serves Titania because he foresaw that it was pointless to fight against her.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Savage - Thoon, Primordial Magic, Gigant, Geryon, Cyclops, Lyssa.
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Pandora: (Woe) Pandora is a woman with a magic box that unleashes people's worst fears on them until they fall into despair.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Woe - The Carver, Candy, Poltergeist, Iggy, Baby Kade, Lyssa, Aversion, Sorrow.
    • Tactics:
      • TBD

Totems

  • Gorar: (Fae)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Undead, Totem (Titania)
  • Blood Hunter: (Nephilim)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living, Totem (Nekima)
  • Lord Chompy Bits: (Nightmare)
    • Characteristics - Henchman, Totem (The Dreamer)
  • Primordial Magic: (Savage)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Totem (Euripides)
  • Poltergeist: (Woe)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Totem (Pandora)

Henchmen

  • Wrath: (Crossroads)
    • Characteristics - Henchman, Living, Versatile
  • Aeslin: (Fae)
    • Characteristics - Henchman, Undead
  • Angel Eyes: (Half-Blood)
    • Characteristics - Henchman, Living, Versatile
  • Hayreddin: (Nephilim)
    • Characteristics - Henchman, Living
  • Widow Weaver: (Nightmare)
    • Characteristics - Henchman
  • The Carver: (Nightmare, Woe)
    • Characteristics - Henchman
  • Hinamatsu: (Puppet, Qi and Gong)
    • Characteristics - Henchman, Construct, Versatile
  • Bad Juju: (Swampfiend)
    • Characteristics - Henchman
  • Candy: (Woe)
    • Characteristics - Henchman, Living

Enforcers

  • Mysterious Effigy: (Effigy, Puppet)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Construct, Versatile
  • Mysterious Emissary: (Emissary of Fate)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Versatile
  • Killjoy: (Fae)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Undead
  • Tuco Ortega: (Half-Blood)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living, Versatile
  • Hooded Rider: (Horseman)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living, Versatile
  • Doppleganger: (Mimic)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living, Versatile
  • Bandersnatch: (Nightmare)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Beast
  • Coppelius: (Nightmare)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer
  • Teddy: (Nightmare)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Construct
  • Serena Bowman: (Nightmare)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living, Versatile
  • Vasilisa: (Puppet)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Construct, Versatile
  • Adze: (Swampfiend)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Beast
  • Grootslang: (Swampfiend)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Beast
  • Iggy: (Wildfire, Woe)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living
  • Baby Kade: (Woe)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Living

Minions

  • Razorspine Rattler: (Chimera)
    • Characteristics - Minion (3), Beast
  • Autumn Knight: (Fae)
    • Characteristics - Minion (3), Undead
  • Rougarou: (Fae)
    • Characteristics - Minion (3), Undead, Beast
  • Bultungin: (Fae, Savage)
    • Characteristics - Minion (3), Living
  • Waldgeist: (Fae, Swampfiend)
    • Characteristics - Minion (3), Living
  • Bloodwretch: (Half-Blood)
    • Characteristics - Minion (2), Living, Versatile
  • Changeling: (Mimic)
    • Characteristics - Minion (3), Living
  • Black Blood Shaman: (Nephilim)
    • Characteristics - Minion (2), Living
  • Corrupted Hound: (Nephilim)
    • Characteristics - Minion (4), Living
  • Lelu: (Nephilim)
    • Characteristics - Minion (2), Living
  • Lilitu: (Nephilim)
    • Characteristics - Minion (2), Living
  • Mature Nephilim: (Nephilim)
    • Characteristics - Minion (2), Living
  • Terror Tot: (Nephilim)
    • Characteristics - Minion (3), Living
  • Young Nephilim: (Nephilim)
    • Characteristics - Minion (4), Living
  • Alp: (Nightmare)
    • Characteristics - Minion (3)
  • Daydream: (Nightmare)
    • Characteristics - Minion (3)
  • Insidious Madness: (Nightmare)
    • Characteristics - Minion (3)
  • Stitched Together: (Nightmare, Puppet)
    • Characteristics - Minion (3), Construct
  • Wicked Doll: (Puppet)
    • Characteristics - Minion (3), Construct, Versatile
  • Cyclops: (Savage)
    • Characteristics - Minion (2), Living
  • Will o' the Wisp: (Swampfiend)
    • Characteristics - Minion (2), Beast
  • Sorrow: (Woe)
    • Characteristics - Minion (3)

Outcasts

Why Play Outcasts

Pros

  • You play a mercenary based faction.

Cons

  • Your army doesn't have a thematic reason to work together.

General Advice

Masters

TBD

Totems

TBD

Henchmen

TBD

Enforcers

TBD

Minions

TBD

Ten Thunders

Why Play Ten Thunders

Pros

  • You want to play an Asian inspired faction.
  • Most of your faction mimics what other factions can do.

Cons

  • Your plastic models were some of the original kits made, and as such have a lot of bits.

General Advice

Upgrades Ten Thunders is the faction where the upgrades got a little silly.

Silent Protector gives access to Challenge, which is a VERY nice ability indeed, along with allowing you to work in 'Take the Hit' if it's on a minion. The gem here is Hard to Kill for 2 stones. Not bad.

Trained Ninja is, to put it bluntly, the single funniest upgrade in the game. Stealth and Unimpeded are good on pretty much any model, but it also gives From the Shadows on Minions. This means that you can put your Samurai up in a good position to start the game in. It's a godsend on squishier Masters like Jakob or Youkou.

Masked Agent is the 'tech' upgrade, more than the other two. While Silent Protector will find its way into most lists just by virtue of Hard to Kill being amazing, Masked Agent gives the interesting 'WITH ME' bonus that allows you to move models with your Charge (could be interesting on McCabe or Jorogumo, or hell, the Dawn Serpent or Emissary) and a bubble of denying Resistance Triggers. This also gives Coordinated Attack on minions. This plus a Charm Warder can put all your Fuck You tactics right in one bubble of fun.

Masters

Lucas McCabe - Wastrel - Malifaux's Indiana Jones from England with a more tragic backstory than being nuked inside of a fridge.

General Info McCabe's card is loaded, like one would expect with a Master. He's about average for what you'd expect. 5 WP makes him vulnerable to WP spam, but his defense is above average at 6.

Lucas is the fastest 'traditional' master in the game, in that his MV is 7 and he just ignores models and severe terrain. His 'Make Way' ability forces your opponent to take a 13 Move duel whenever you move through them or suffer 2 damage. This includes Charges, Pushes, Walks, anything that makes him move and run over people means he will be trampling them with hooves. It combos with his attacks as well. A nice little bonus is Looted Supplies, his Keyword ability, which allows you to draw a card if he starts his activation within an inch of a scrap or corpse.

McCabe's other dirty trick comes in the fact of when he dies, he's got a pretty nice demise trigger. When he hits the end of his 12 wound track, he dismounts, replacing with his dismounted form. He picks up Swagger, a nice little bonus, and Extended Reach, but he drops down to 5 wounds. This makes him a 17 health Master, and if you drop 2 stones on him for 'Silent Protector' he ends up having 3 'stop' triggers. One for hitting 1, one for replacing, one for hitting one again. He's really hard to pin down, but his dismounted form is more of a bonus than an actual defense strategy. Keep him mounted.

Offense While on horse, McCabe has two solid attacks. His netgun is probably the star of the show early game, a 10 inch range with a 15 inch threat if you burn Ride with me to move him, it targets the opponents move on a 6. The profile isn't really impressive 2/2B/3B. The icing is slow AND staggered with a ram trigger to drag the model three inches forwards. The gun does tons of work. His second attack is the Bull Whip which is his prime way of actually dealing damage. The base stat is 6 with a ram baked in. Profile, again, not too good for a master. 2/3/4, but with a 2 inch reach, he's good at keeping folks at arm's reach.

The meat of the attack is the 2 inch push, which he can use to trample over the side of someone's base to force the Trample, then the baked in trigger which is a 2 inch defense 13 duel or take two more. In one attack he can force 3 duels on your opponent's single model, or more if you're hitting a wide amount of people.

Bull Whip is absurdly effective. It's the best way for him to handle damage. Even if you black joker on damage, it can still put out the incredible trigger and push. Don't discount the Mask trigger either. A 5 inch push can get him quite quickly out of harm's way if needed.

Dismounted he trades the netgun and bullwhip for the Glowing Saber, a pretty standard 2/3/4 profile, but ignores Hard to Wound/Hard to Kill/Incorp and has Crit and Siphon as its triggers, and a Collier. Interestingly the Collier is probably the best option here. Making your opponent come to you with his 'Extended Reach' ability means they're liable to get one, maybe two attacks at best if they have to charge into him.

Upgrade Attachments His Tactical Actions are where McCabe shines hard. His key action, and the big unique element is 'Scrounge for Relics'. It's shared between him and his totem, Luna, but he's way more efficient. It targets and removes a scrap or corpse marker and equips an upgrade to himself, or on its baked in trigger, on a minion or wastrel within 6.

The upgrades are all the same in two respects. They have 'Take This!' which allows you to pass the relic to an ally, and 'Paid with Trinkets' which grants FAST to a model if it started its activation with a artifact that was attached this turn.

The best of these is probably the Mask. The Phantasmal Mask grants Life Leech, which is aces on both McCabe and his henchman, LaRaux and a pulse that can push out shielded one as a bonus on a 7 and also provide a nice self-healing trigger.

Timeworn Blade is also called the 'Lightsaber' which provides precise. It's just like McMourning, ignoring most defensive tech. The unique bonus is Bladestorm which is yet another pulse that does a 12 DF duel or take two, with a brutal trigger that adds injured to enemies who fail on a crow. This is the secret weapon against Von Schtook. It's efficient as hell against the old bastard.

The Mirror is situationally amazing. Know the Warrior basically gives you a free card back if you cheat fate. Don't forget about cheating down, by the way, as long as you're Focused when you finish cheating, you get a card back. The bonus is Equality of Fate, giving you a card back which is always great if you're down a card.

These artifacts are KEY to McCabe's plans early on, but don't get too attached to them. McCabe will probably throw one, maybe two out during the course of the game, and leave the rest to his totem.

Tactical Actions Mounted, McCabe has Ride with Me, which is always great. It allows you to speed up or even rescue some of the softer or slower models in keyword/faction (not that there are many in Ten Thunders) and he's got 'Careful, it's Cursed!' which is a great way to pop an artifact that you can't get unstuck to do even more damage.

Dismounted, he loses Careful and Ride with Me for Chain Gang, which is a boon to be sure, but it's just not the same as Ride with Me.

Gameplay

To condense it, McCabe is a fast, versatile Master who can adequately accomplish most strategies. He doesn't play well in Reckoning most of the time, given that his keyword right now is better at scheming, but he can always take some of the popular Versatile Ten Thunder models to really amp up his kill potential.

McCabe as a Leader plays best into Corner, where his minions can toss relics between each other to gain fast and really get some ground on turn one, and Flank, but he can do well under most any deployment.

His keyword really enjoys scheming, and taking him as the Leader ensures that you get cheap access to Hucksters and one of his henchmen, LaRaux. Between those two models, you have easy access to most of the mobility and scheme marker intensive schemes, and McCabe's own speed and endurance via the Mask and potentially Silent Protector, make him good into countering Assassinate.

He isn't a 'hang back and wait' sort of Master. You'll likely activate him early enough to bank Netgun shots onto models that need to be somewhere, and hopefully get blasts early, followed by trampling things under his hooves. Bull Whip is his main source of damage through his triggers and Make Way interactions, and even ties aren't safe for your opponent. On a single target, his damage potential can roughly be broken down into 10 duels that could inflict up to 20 damage. This only accelerates as your opponent bunches up. Don't be discouraged if your opponent flips high to avoid the damage off his incidental triggers or his Make Way, they're burning 13s when they likely just need 7s or 6s.

Play smart early on and rely on your conditions to hit some of those slower models, then, change gears and mix it up with the bull whip and horse when you get a chance during the mid-game.

And whatever you do, do not let him get stunned.

Totems

Luna - Lucas McCabe's faithful hunting hound is probably one of the better totems in the game. (Not counting Viktoria Chambers on this) Aside from being the best puppo, she generates Scrap and can hand out artifacts for McCabe, since, shit, he's got better things to do. She primarily functions as a ferry to pass upgrades along. Her big gimmick is 'Carry the Goods'. Basically, if an ally uses the 'Take This!' upgrade that's listed on an artifact, she can double the range in exchange for being placed adjacent to the target that gets the relic. This also means when she digs up and scrounges for a relic on her activation, she can pass it, since it's an aura, an impressive distance and place herself anywhere she needs to be.

"Luna! Give!" is rarely used, but if Luna flips Black on her own Take This you can have an ally claim a relic from her as an action, or for a bonus if Lucas is trying to get it. Finally, she's ignored for Friendly Fire and enemy models within an inch need to chuck a card to disengage. Pretty good stuff if you want to use her that way.

Her bite is actually pretty impressive too for being a totem. Stat 5 with 2/3/4 and You're Comin' with Me as a trigger can help to disengage models that need some help, or drag them away from Sidir for him to murder them with a machinegun. Y'know. Go wild. She is VERY liable to get shot off the board though early. At 4 wounds, if she is carrying goods, make sure she ends up behind whoever she's delivering too to help avoid her going all 'Old Yeller.'

Henchmen

Sidir Alchibal - Wastrel - Sidir is the oft-neglected Wastrel Henchman. It's kind of fitting the old 'keyword' for McCabe and Sidir was 'Black Sheep' since Sidir really feels like one in his own keyword. An abysmal MV 4 makes him hard to get up the board, but Fast from Artifact tossing, detailed in the McCabe section, can help allay this. To make up for it, he has Swagger, Ruthless, Parry on Mask, and Juggernaut. His melee attack is nothing special, though, because it's Wastrel, if using him with McCabe it can ignore all defensive tech, and if you've got a high ram in hand, consider Stoning for the Crit Strike to make it min 4.

The best part about Sidir is Blow it to Hell, which can flush your opponent out of cover, or just destroy their tiny objects they're hiding behind. It's obviously the best ability on his card.

Alright, fine. It's the machinegun. Sidir has taken a page from the Orks. His gun just unloads Dakka. Combined with Swagger, the 2/3B/6B profile is just unfair. His triggers are Quick Reflexes (awesome) and Delay (even MORE awesome). The problem is that he's just...so...slow. Without Artifact tossing or McCabe dragging him around, he can be hard to get into position.

Desper LaRaux - Wastrel - Desper is just unfair. McCabe's entire gimmick is being fast and scheming in this edition, at least without the Explorer's Society stuff out. LaRaux is just...he's just so efficient for his cost of 8. He's got a built in trigger on his leap, which means he just needs a 7 of any suit to go for a jump, he ignores models and terrain for movement, has a better butterfly jump on a successful Mask defense, average attacks, and Don't Mind Me, which means that he WILL be scoring points. I can't think of a list that LaRaux doesn't fit in. Unless you're like, in Reckoning, or your opponent has Distracting or something to prevent him from taking bonus actions, LaRaux can't be pinned down.

His attacks are shoddy, sure, but he has an inbuilt crit-strike on his blade which ignores armor, a way to steal stones and drop scrap, that can also put out stunned, and a grappling hook which lets him move FURTHER up the board with 'You're coming with me.' The ideal 'Why' tactic is definitely using this on McCabe and relenting to have the bossman take a little damage in exchange for LaRaux to go like...15 up the board in one AP. I don't think you can run McCabe without LaRaux, unless you're playing McCabe into Reckoning. And if you're playing McCabe into Reckoning...you're a braver man than I.

Enforcers

TBD

Minions

Hucksters - Wastrel - These guys right here? Best models in the game. Sculptwise, they're awesome and full of flavor. Rules wise? They're the best schemers in Malifaux. Don't even look at their attack action, because, at best, you're going to use it in an emergency. Instead, gaze with wonder upon their Manipulative, their Looted Supplies, and their 'Fetch a High Price.' Mmm, delicious. Now, add to taste their tactical actions.

False Claim, dropping Scrap for Mei Feng or McCabe to interact and utilize, oh, so tasty. Detonate charges with ONE AP. Mm, delicious. Harness Ley Line in TWO AP with no annoying RANGE requirements. Mm, so wonderful. Breakthrough in two actions. Ah, so wonderful.

SECRET. PASSAGE. ON A MINION. Yeah it needs an 8, so what? It's Ride the Rails with BLOCKING TERRAIN. Rasputina can suck it. That pillar is MINE now. This is just absurd. Hucksters are the best model in Malifaux. Hands down. They do everything you need to do to win the game and in Keyword they are one of the best options for scoring points. And as we all know, as long as you win on points, your opponent can table you and you'll still win.

Ruffians - Wastrel - Much maligned by most McCabe players and by almost all Ten Thunder players, Ruffians currently have no place in most lists. Unless Explorer's Society has some bomb minion upgrades, they will have their cool, 'Ultraviolent' theme and that's about it. They're not BAD, per say, but there are so many better options in Ten Thunders. Thunder Brothers are just a better Ruffian, even though they lack a ranged attack. If you are going to use Ruffians, which, you may want one as a point filler, or against Pandora as a MAYBE tech piece, the best thing they can do is Walk and Shoot. Burn the focus every time and hope for a Tome if you can get it, or go for a Ram if you wanna splash damage. Chain Gang is the best thing these guys bring to the table and it's still not that good. If you are using them in a McCabe list, they are actually a more point efficient way to set up for False Claim then using the AP on a more valuable model, but it's, again, not strictly required to do so. The Miss sculpt is pretty nice, though.

Gremlins

Why Play Gremlins

Pros

  • Classic greenskin army with all the shenanigans.

Cons

  • Randomness means less reliable.

General Advice

Masters

  • Zoraida: (Swampfiend) Zoraida is an old hag with the power to manipulate fate. She works to undermine and eventually defeat the Tyrants, but she is suspicious of Titania as well. She is Neverborn as well as Bayou.
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • Swampfiend - Bad Juju, McTavish, The First Mate, Spawn Mother, Voodoo Doll, Adze, Grootslang, Silurid, Bayou Gator, Gupps, Gautreaux Bokor, Will o’ the Wisp, Waldgeist.
    • Tactics:
      • TBD

Totems

  • Voodoo Doll: (Swampfiend)
    • Characteristics - Enforcer, Construct, Totem (Zoraida)

Henchmen

TBD

Enforcers

TBD

Minions

TBD

Dead Man's Hands

Why Play Dead Man's Hands

Pros

  • You get access to dead/removed characters; such as Lilith, Collodi, and Nicodem.

Cons

  • Your hiring pool is limited to specific models as opposed to an entire faction.
  • These models are not tournament legal, without permission from the Tournament Organizer.

General Advice

Masters

  • Collodi: (Puppet)
    • Characteristics - Master, Construct
    • Crew Building:
      • TBD
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Lilith: (Nephilim)
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • TBD
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Aloysius Nicodem: (Mortuary)
    • Characteristics - Master, Living
    • Crew Building:
      • TBD
    • Tactics:
      • TBD
  • Victor Ramos: (Machina)
    • Characteristics - Master, Living, Construct
    • Crew Building:
      • TBD
    • Tactics:
      • TBD

Totems

Henchmen

TBD

Enforcers

TBD

Minions

TBD

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