Introduction
Since my conversion to the Deathless Legions, I have been eagerly researching the tactica of the Ossiarch Bonereapers, in order to further the agenda of Necrotopia and make sound decisions in what and how to field the elite troops of Death. It would be a shame to squander this knowledge to myself, so I will disseminate it below for all who partake in Nagash’s great work. There are, of course, no silver bullets, and I advocate that you use the information provided to make your own decisions, based on your personal playstyle and the rigors of your local meta. This handbook will continue to evolve as the OBR does, perhaps with a new battletome in the near future.
A special thank you to The Sun King , for inspiring this handbook with his own work.
Rating Scale
No unit exists in a vacuum and the ratings should reflect that. Thus the ratings are given based on how effectively the unit accomplishes its role in the army. However, all army lists are different so the analysis of each unit will be based on a very general perspective and common assumptions (e.g. fast and cheap units are used as screens etc.).
✪✩✩✩✩ is unusable. This rating is reserved for the real stinkers. Picking this can only make your list worse.
✪✪✩✩✩ is situational. You need to have a specific purpose in mind if you pick this. Without a plan for the selection you will make your list worse by picking this.
✪✪✪✩✩ is decent. These are balanced selections but are not a must have either.
✪✪✪✪✩ is good. Most lists benefit from this selection and you should definitely consider it.
✪✪✪✪✪ is amazing. This rating is reserved for the best our book has to offer.
Units
Battleline
Kavalos Deathriders - ✪✪✪✪✩
Other
Immortis Guard - ✪✩✩✩✩
Necropolis Stalkers - ✪✪✪✩✩
Morghast Archai - ✪✪✩✩✩
Morghast Harbingers - ✪✪✪✩✩
Mortek Crawler - ✪✪✪✩✩
Gothizzar Harvester - ✪✪✪✩✩
Heroes
Katakros - ✪✪✪✪✪
Nagash - ✪✪✩✩✩
Arkhan the Black - ✪✪✪✪✩
Arch-Kavalos Zandtos - ✪✪✪✪✩
Liege-Kavalos - ✪✪✪✪✪
Mortisan Boneshaper - ✪✪✪✪✩
Mortisan Soulreaper - ✪✩✩✩✩
Mortisan Soulmason - ✪✪✪✪✩
Vokmortian - ✪✪✩✩✩
Mir Kainan - ✪✪✪✪✩
Endless Spells
Nightmare Predator - ✪✪✪✩✩
Soulstealer Carrion - ✪✪✩✩✩
Bone-Tithe Shrieker - ✪✪✩✩✩
Since my conversion to the Deathless Legions, I have been eagerly researching the tactica of the Ossiarch Bonereapers, in order to further the agenda of Necrotopia and make sound decisions in what and how to field the elite troops of Death. It would be a shame to squander this knowledge to myself, so I will disseminate it below for all who partake in Nagash’s great work. There are, of course, no silver bullets, and I advocate that you use the information provided to make your own decisions, based on your personal playstyle and the rigors of your local meta. This handbook will continue to evolve as the OBR does, perhaps with a new battletome in the near future.
A special thank you to The Sun King , for inspiring this handbook with his own work.
Rating Scale
No unit exists in a vacuum and the ratings should reflect that. Thus the ratings are given based on how effectively the unit accomplishes its role in the army. However, all army lists are different so the analysis of each unit will be based on a very general perspective and common assumptions (e.g. fast and cheap units are used as screens etc.).
✪✩✩✩✩ is unusable. This rating is reserved for the real stinkers. Picking this can only make your list worse.
✪✪✩✩✩ is situational. You need to have a specific purpose in mind if you pick this. Without a plan for the selection you will make your list worse by picking this.
✪✪✪✩✩ is decent. These are balanced selections but are not a must have either.
✪✪✪✪✩ is good. Most lists benefit from this selection and you should definitely consider it.
✪✪✪✪✪ is amazing. This rating is reserved for the best our book has to offer.
Battle Traits
This doesn't exist anymore. Nagash no longer benefits from OBR allegiance abilities. However, Arkhan the Black got the Ossiarch Bonereapers keyword permanently added to his warscroll.
Working on this.
Working on this.
Legions
Of the six sub-allegiances to which an Ossiarch Liege may enlist, the current rule of thumb is that Mortis Praetorians and Petrifex Elite are the de-facto picks for competitive play, the former if running Katakros and the latter for basically anything else. This isn't to say that the remaining four are without merit, however, and all but Ivory Host shine when in their particular niche. For casual or narrative play, our army list stands strong enough to entertain a wide assortment of strategic approaches.
Of the six sub-allegiances to which an Ossiarch Liege may enlist, the current rule of thumb is that Mortis Praetorians and Petrifex Elite are the de-facto picks for competitive play, the former if running Katakros and the latter for basically anything else. This isn't to say that the remaining four are without merit, however, and all but Ivory Host shine when in their particular niche. For casual or narrative play, our army list stands strong enough to entertain a wide assortment of strategic approaches.
As mentioned above, this is the legion for taking Katakros, who can give MP units +1 to hit and save rolls with Supreme Lord of the Bonereaper Legions, though the legion falls to ✪✪✩✩✩ without him. Mir Kainan (✪✪✪✪✩), Zandtos (✪✪✪✪✩) and Vokmortian (✪✪✩✩✩) also share this legion.
Ability - The Dread Legion: -1 Bravery aura to all enemy units with 12" of any of your units. I haven't seen it talked about, but without Katakros it appears that Mortis Praetorians's niche in the Undying Legions is the fear bomb. With Vokmortian and Morghasts together, we're giving out -3 to Bravery, which can't be avoided if a Bone-Tithe Shrieker is in the vicinity, however the strategy is useless in mirror matches since OBR doesn't take Battleshock tests and it's a lot of work for a mild benefit.
Command Ability - Counter Strike: Re-roll hit rolls for attacks that target an enemy unit that made a charge move in the same turn. On top of the buffing we can get, I think the most important support for this ability is a Gothizzar Harvester nearby to restore casualties taken because of said charge movement, this will give our circumstantial command ability a bit more of a bite when it goes off.
Command Trait - Katakros' Chosen: D3 additional relentless discipline points once per battle. Common wisdom is that we get more RDP than we can use, so it's not a big loss to make a unique hero general.
Artefact of Power - Artificer's Blade: -3 rend to one melee weapon. Liege-Kavelos benefits the most from this artifact, and you'll want to bring one anyway for their command ability.
Ability - The Dread Legion: -1 Bravery aura to all enemy units with 12" of any of your units. I haven't seen it talked about, but without Katakros it appears that Mortis Praetorians's niche in the Undying Legions is the fear bomb. With Vokmortian and Morghasts together, we're giving out -3 to Bravery, which can't be avoided if a Bone-Tithe Shrieker is in the vicinity, however the strategy is useless in mirror matches since OBR doesn't take Battleshock tests and it's a lot of work for a mild benefit.
Command Ability - Counter Strike: Re-roll hit rolls for attacks that target an enemy unit that made a charge move in the same turn. On top of the buffing we can get, I think the most important support for this ability is a Gothizzar Harvester nearby to restore casualties taken because of said charge movement, this will give our circumstantial command ability a bit more of a bite when it goes off.
Command Trait - Katakros' Chosen: D3 additional relentless discipline points once per battle. Common wisdom is that we get more RDP than we can use, so it's not a big loss to make a unique hero general.
Artefact of Power - Artificer's Blade: -3 rend to one melee weapon. Liege-Kavelos benefits the most from this artifact, and you'll want to bring one anyway for their command ability.
The Petrifex Elite wander the realms looking for bones of immense power, and it looks like they're doing a fine job of it, because they are the best legion in our battletome. It's an easy pick, too easy, but if you want to win without being exceptionally clever this is your legion.
Ability - Unstoppable Juggernaughts: Worsen the rend of weapons that target them by 1. With how important rend is in the current edition, this is basically as good as getting a +1 armor save, which was previously modified for being too good.
Command Ability - Bludgeon: Improve the rend characteristic of a unit's melee weapons. I think this speaks for itself.
Command Trait - Mighty Archaeossian: Add 2 to this general's Wound profile. See below.
Artefact of Power - Godbone Armor: Ignore the first wound in each phase. The command trait and artefact basically make your general immortal, which is great for the Prized Sorcery grand strategy if you make your general a Mortisan.
Ability - Unstoppable Juggernaughts: Worsen the rend of weapons that target them by 1. With how important rend is in the current edition, this is basically as good as getting a +1 armor save, which was previously modified for being too good.
Command Ability - Bludgeon: Improve the rend characteristic of a unit's melee weapons. I think this speaks for itself.
Command Trait - Mighty Archaeossian: Add 2 to this general's Wound profile. See below.
Artefact of Power - Godbone Armor: Ignore the first wound in each phase. The command trait and artefact basically make your general immortal, which is great for the Prized Sorcery grand strategy if you make your general a Mortisan.
Do you like cavalry? We have some of the finest cavalry in Death, and if you want to bring the Bone-Tithe down upon your foe with the stampeding of hooves, this is your legion. Overall this sub-faction counters our low speed, but Kavalos Deathriders are fast anvils if anything, so make sure to bring along Morghast Harbingers or Necropolis Stalkers along as well.
Ability - Equumortoi: Units can run and charge in the same turn.
Command Ability - Rally Back: Mounted units can retreat and then charge in the same turn. Unstoppable Charge and Deathrider Wedge for days, which we can give to all of our respective mounted units in the same turn.
Command Trait - Twisted Challenge: General can get a +1 to hit against a hero in 3", which a -1 against all other units. Considering the legion artefact, this could put your general in a great position to assassinate other heroes, since they've likely been softened up with Mortal Wounds.
Artefact of Power - Nadir-bound Mount: Roll D3 additional dice when using Unstoppable Charge. We need more Mortal Wounds, more Mortal Wounds is good.
Ability - Equumortoi: Units can run and charge in the same turn.
Command Ability - Rally Back: Mounted units can retreat and then charge in the same turn. Unstoppable Charge and Deathrider Wedge for days, which we can give to all of our respective mounted units in the same turn.
Command Trait - Twisted Challenge: General can get a +1 to hit against a hero in 3", which a -1 against all other units. Considering the legion artefact, this could put your general in a great position to assassinate other heroes, since they've likely been softened up with Mortal Wounds.
Artefact of Power - Nadir-bound Mount: Roll D3 additional dice when using Unstoppable Charge. We need more Mortal Wounds, more Mortal Wounds is good.
I've seen people defend the Ivory Host as viable, but even if they didn't get a -1 to armor saves when they got their +1 to hit rolls, and waste their command ability doing just that, their generals only get extra attacks. It's a waste, and we're in the realm of beasts this season too! But, if you love the idea of a simmering animal under a refined exterior, it is possible to make them work, but much harder to accomplish than with the other legions.
Ability - Simmering Rage: At the start of combat, each friendly legion unit within 6" of a wounded legion model, during that phase they get +1 to hit rolls and -1 to armor saves. As we already have a few good ways to get +1 to hit in our list, the legion almost never sees play. Though I admit that the idea behind it is neat.
Command Ability - Temper Fury: Negates the armor save penalty from above. Underwhelming.
Command Trait - Scrimshawed Savage: During each of your hero phases, roll a die, on a 5+ add one attack to profile of all this general's melee weapons. Again, the idea is cool, but it's unreliable.
Artefact of Power - Beastbone Blade: One weapon gets +1 attack. More attacks good? Sure, but not with a crappy sub-faction ability.
Ability - Simmering Rage: At the start of combat, each friendly legion unit within 6" of a wounded legion model, during that phase they get +1 to hit rolls and -1 to armor saves. As we already have a few good ways to get +1 to hit in our list, the legion almost never sees play. Though I admit that the idea behind it is neat.
Command Ability - Temper Fury: Negates the armor save penalty from above. Underwhelming.
Command Trait - Scrimshawed Savage: During each of your hero phases, roll a die, on a 5+ add one attack to profile of all this general's melee weapons. Again, the idea is cool, but it's unreliable.
Artefact of Power - Beastbone Blade: One weapon gets +1 attack. More attacks good? Sure, but not with a crappy sub-faction ability.
Arkhan's legion does two things, stops magic and gives your general a lightsaber (it ignores saves). If your local meta is magic heavy, you can't go wrong taking this legion, but if it isn't all you really get is a good Artefact.
Ability - Eldritch Nulls: 5+ ignore spells. Nice.
Command Ability - Holdfast: Improve the above to 2+. Very nice.
Command Trait - Unsettling and Sinister: Your enemies get -1 to hit and bravery your general in melee, because they're an eldritch abomination.
Artefact of Power - Baleful Blade: Wounds with weapon cannot be negated. Surprisingly, the magic legion wants you to run a Liege-Kavalos as general if you don't have Arkhan calling the shots.
Ability - Eldritch Nulls: 5+ ignore spells. Nice.
Command Ability - Holdfast: Improve the above to 2+. Very nice.
Command Trait - Unsettling and Sinister: Your enemies get -1 to hit and bravery your general in melee, because they're an eldritch abomination.
Artefact of Power - Baleful Blade: Wounds with weapon cannot be negated. Surprisingly, the magic legion wants you to run a Liege-Kavalos as general if you don't have Arkhan calling the shots.
OBR generally has a hard time dishing out Mortal Wounds, except here. The idea is that you set up a melee meatgrinder with lots of infantry and as they die and explode, your support units and heroes bring them back until the enemy is mincemeat. The playstyle is a little dry, but if you love exploding skeletons, you know what to do!
Ability - Immolation: When a legion model is slain, roll to see if you inflict a Mortal Wound to a unit within 3". That'll teach 'em.
Command Ability - Levellers of Cities: A unit gets to ignore cover saves. Incredibly situational, but if you like playing sieges you'll get some use out of it.
Command Trait - Wrathful Avenger: +2 to Immolation dice roll and D3 Mortal Wounds when your general dies. Could be fun, but I don't like the idea of offing my general personally.
Artefact of Power - Searing Blade: Add one to the damage of one melee weapon. This is decent.
Ability - Immolation: When a legion model is slain, roll to see if you inflict a Mortal Wound to a unit within 3". That'll teach 'em.
Command Ability - Levellers of Cities: A unit gets to ignore cover saves. Incredibly situational, but if you like playing sieges you'll get some use out of it.
Command Trait - Wrathful Avenger: +2 to Immolation dice roll and D3 Mortal Wounds when your general dies. Could be fun, but I don't like the idea of offing my general personally.
Artefact of Power - Searing Blade: Add one to the damage of one melee weapon. This is decent.
Units
Battleline
The foundation of the Ossiarch Bonereapers is its Mortek Guard, and you'll be relying on them to maintain dominant positions on the battlefield, so carefully consider where you'll be sending them. In lower point games, they are your greatest asset and weakness, as a canny enemy can bait you into over-committing.
Kavalos Deathriders - ✪✪✪✪✩
Other
Immortis Guard - ✪✩✩✩✩
Necropolis Stalkers - ✪✪✪✩✩
Morghast Archai - ✪✪✩✩✩
Morghast Harbingers - ✪✪✪✩✩
Mortek Crawler - ✪✪✪✩✩
Gothizzar Harvester - ✪✪✪✩✩
Heroes
Katakros - ✪✪✪✪✪
Nagash - ✪✪✩✩✩
Arkhan the Black - ✪✪✪✪✩
Arch-Kavalos Zandtos - ✪✪✪✪✩
Liege-Kavalos - ✪✪✪✪✪
Mortisan Boneshaper - ✪✪✪✪✩
Mortisan Soulreaper - ✪✩✩✩✩
Mortisan Soulmason - ✪✪✪✪✩
Vokmortian - ✪✪✩✩✩
Mir Kainan - ✪✪✪✪✩
Endless Spells
Nightmare Predator - ✪✪✪✩✩
Soulstealer Carrion - ✪✪✩✩✩
Bone-Tithe Shrieker - ✪✪✩✩✩
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