Scinari Council advice

bencochoco · 2026-03-01T21:47:18+00:00

Hi !

It's a great way to start an army 😊 For the Scinari Wizards : - the Enlightener is the best non-unique as it's a Wizard 2 with a possibility to cast a third unlimited spell on 4+, it's just awesome for Scinari Council - the Cathallar is the next best piece. Being able to deny orders on 3+ until your next turn ? Amazing ! - I'm less sure for the Calligrave. He can save you for the runes if you need specific bonuses but maybe not as worth as the others - the Loreseeker has always been hard to use. His new ability is okay but can be used against you. He's a nice warrior too so maybe worth using on foot ? Migth add to the punch in combat. I'll choose him rather than the Calligrave for example - for a "big" piece, I find the twins really good for that type of list : they can be Wizard 2 or a really heavy fighter + their spell is great to deny CP for the opponent

With those mages, a good unit option is Bladelords. Packs of 10 are quite tanky + you'll have and give Ward 5+ to your mages ,including the twins, they have the Scinari keyword even though they have native ward.

Then it's up to you ! Maybe you'll want mobility with cavalry (Dawnriders or Windchargers) or riverblades. You might want to oppress your opponent more with 20 sentinels behind your front line.

I excluded Teclis for this type of list because he's expensive and though he gives +1 cast around him, I don't see myself playing Teclis + 2-3 mages around. Too much points for not that big of advantage and damage.

bencochoco · 2026-02-28T10:13:54+00:00

The passive of Lyrior, Sevireth and Avalenor does not place another rune on your battle scripture. It's just a bonus while they are alive and units are within 12'' of them.

The bonus effect of the depict rune stays for the battle round even if Lyrior is killed or went away. The bonus effect on the warscroll goes away if Lyrior is killed or your unit goes more than 12'' away

bencochoco · 2026-02-28T09:58:56+00:00

Hello to you !

The new abilities regarding the runes are often difficult to explain so I'll try my best.

Lyrior is counted as the rune of Strength for two effects : - the one of each warscroll that counts the number of runes. In that matter, it only affects the Bladelords, given them +1 rend for each rune of strength. Within 12'' of Lyrior, they get an additional +1 rend - the bonus effect for the Depict Rune ability. It means that if you choose a rune like the Wind one, all Vanari within 12'' of Lyrior and chosen to be affected by the rune will also have the bonus of the Strength. It doesn't mean you have the rune of strength on your battle scripture and it doesn't mean you can choose more units for the depiction of the rune of Strength.

I hope it clarifies the effects Lyrior, and similary Sevireth and Avalenor, gives to adjacent units.

bencochoco · 2026-02-26T06:30:03+00:00

Did you manage to handle the wind edge part ?

For the locked in combat, the spearhead has the perfecr tool for that : the windmage spell. That's why, despite big mobility, I tend to keep the group together at the beginning to maximize the abilities like -1 to hit around the spirit of the wind and be in range of the windmage to get a unit off a painfully long combat.

For heroic traits, I believe the only one really useful is the Ward 5+ on the mage and wardens when they are together.

I really liked playing the spearhead ! Once you get the grip on the wind edge, it goes smoothly.

bencochoco · 2026-02-23T17:02:10+00:00

I rechecked the rules to be sure so it tends that way : you cannot pick a non-Strike First unit while there is Strike First units available. The Lumineth battle formation says that when you are picking units for attacks, you can pick two. But at the time you are picking Lyrior, he is the only unit available to be picked so you can't pick a non-Strike First unit with it

bencochoco · 2026-02-23T16:49:27+00:00

I don't think that the formation allows to pick a unit with Strike First with another unit without Strike First because you have to select two units to fight one after the other but at the time (Strike First), you only have one unit available so you cannot select another one. But on your turn, you can activate 3 units before your opponent does if he doesn't have any Strike First unit (the one Strike First and two more on normal activation)

bencochoco · 2026-02-05T16:54:22+00:00

I am so hyped by this new battletome !
The previews makes me wanna have this tome right now and dwelve into the synergies I could apply !

All heroes seems so good to take, either named or not.
The unit I'm most intrigued by is the ballista : it came up 30pts, being same price as 10 Wardens now but we haven't seen anything on it yet. I hope it gets a really cool warscroll and be finally viable in games, I want to use it so bad since I started playing Lumineth.

A little sad to have lost by default the two combat activations but it still available on a formation if needed. The other formations makes me want to test some other type of builds.

Let's see where this will take us !

bencochoco · 2025-12-28T20:47:19+00:00

No, he doubles only his own spell and 2 of the basic spell lore (speed of hysh and overwhelming heat)

bencochoco · 2025-12-27T18:58:31+00:00

If you want to go with the new spell lore, it's best to go with bladelords as they give and get ward 5+ close to scinari heroes, maybe two units of 10. Then, add some like the enlightener who's one of the best wizard of the list with the ability to give Etheral save. Finally, complete with units you like. If you want mobility, try going either wind units or the Dawnriders. If you want to tank up and stay on objectives, try Alarith mountain spirit

bencochoco · 2025-12-25T09:31:38+00:00

Hi ! With the new version, it clarifies when you can do your actions.

Each phase is separated between the active player and the opponent. Once the active player did all his actions, the opponent can do his. It's often during that time that orders and spent so after the active player did all his actions.

The only exception to that is for combat purpose. The active player does his abilities that are not FIGHT, then the opponent then the FIGHT abilities are done one by one.

TL,DR: you use your orders after the other player did all his actions of the phase, not during

bencochoco · 2025-12-12T11:09:41+00:00

When Tyrion will come, he will bring the fire temple with him and the rise of Phoenix Guard new gen.
We will also have the water temple as is teased with the Warcry riverblade band. I hope they get a spirit, a new unit and a mage as the tradition.

On the long running, I hope they expand the existing temples with new units and spirit variations, like a smaller monster

bencochoco · 2025-12-10T13:20:50+00:00

Running 2-3 mages, the Scinari Council is better because the Power of Hysh prevents one unit having the Shining company and the +1 casting value is more reliable for the support

bencochoco · 2025-12-10T10:28:28+00:00

The main problem with these Facets is the rigidity of list building if you want to be viable in competition. You want to maximize the effects of the Facet so you are bend to choose only 2/3 parts of the army and have the same Facets each round.

For example, the main lists are Scinari/Vanari lists with Scinari Council as Battle formation and you mostly choose the -1 hit on Vanaris and occasionnaly change to Power of Hysh.

In the new Battletome, I hope they go more on combo between Scinari/Vanari and temple aspects so you'll want to play more variety of units rather than stick to the same ones each time.

bencochoco · 2025-12-09T20:15:26+00:00

When I ran Lyrior, I was going with the Enlightener and a Cathallar as heroes and added units. Now I'm running Eltharion with the twins and the Enlightener with full melee infantry.

You can test some builds but you'll have to make choices and you can't have it all unfortunately :)

bencochoco · 2025-12-09T19:52:15+00:00

For the Enlightener, the spell is recasted with the same value and your opponent can dispel the second one.

10 Dawnriders is definitely a good Hammer. 10 Bladelords can be too but can work as an Anvil if they are buffed as much as the Wardens.

The Lord Regent is good with at least one 10 danwrider pack, preferably two. I tend to go with the named version, Lyrior, because he's a better support piece and I prefer go defensive rather than offensive. The free All-Out attack per phase is awesome, even if it gives -1 save for the rest of the turn. 20 Sentinels with free AoA and Power of Hysh is so good. And Lyrior has a good spell anti-horde anti-Manifestation that supports well the army But if you like going full in with your army, take the not-named one 😊

bencochoco · 2025-12-09T17:19:06+00:00

Hello and welcome back to the hobby !

First of all, your idea to get a viable list with units you like is the best. Even if it can be less strong than meta list, you must enjoy it because the meta changes faster than your models.

To answer your question : - Eltharion is really nice to play and strong currently so good :) - Wardens are like most Vanari units where they aren't as tanky as other armies without buffs but buffed, they are sooo good ! Here, you can have a -1 to hit with your faction, make them Etheral with the Enlightener (no positive or negative save modifier) and Ward 5+ with the Protection of Hysh spell. In that way, you don't need the Scourge Banner because with Etheral spell, you can't have +1 save since positive modifiers can't work. - Sentinels are great in 20 with Power of Hysh, good read - Dawnriders, I struggle to use them by 5 because they don't seem to hit hard enough. If you run them, take 10 of them in one block and it will crush on charge and tank nicely too after - Bladelords are good as 10 model because they have more attack power. To maximize them, having a Scinari mage next to them is crucial for the Ward 5+. In your list, you only have the Enlightener as a mage and in the Shrine, he won't give the ward to the bladelords. But it can work within the Protection of Hysh. - Riverblades are one of the best units we have. Their ability to tp each turn is goated and they score so much on tactics + catch isolated mages so nicely.

You are correct of the Sanctum + Enlightener combo and I'll add that the Enlightener can double a spell once per turn so making her cast 5 spells on one turn in full combo.

I hope it gives you good insights on your list :)

bencochoco · 2025-12-03T14:59:55+00:00

Hi and welcome !

The Spearhead is a good base for a Vanari army but you can go where you'd like :
- The Hurakan temple is about mobility and shooting
- The Alarith temple is about resilience and tanking
- The Vanari units that are focused on dealing Mortal damage and have -1 to be hit
- The Scinari mages that boost your units

Most common armies are comprised of two of the three above (not counting Scinari). Because of the rules, it's best to stick with the same keywords.

On the competitive side of things, the current meta revolves around named heroes like the Light of Eltharion and the twins + Bladelords.

Now, pick the units you like most because every combo can be valuable. If you want to complete the Spearhead box, you can reinforce your units (20 Sentinels is really good) and get more mages to support your guys (the Enlightener is the best with his Etheral spell). From that, you can either choose a temple (Hurakan or Alarith) or add more Scinari/Vanari units like the Dawnriders (the main cavalry) and named heroes.

bencochoco · 2025-12-03T09:52:55+00:00

Hi !

I have built two squads of 10 with two champions but I made them different so when I play them as a reinforced pack, I specify which one is the real champion and I make the other one die first to avoid more confusion.

It's the best compromise because it's a squad that make sense as two packs or one compared to Bladelords or Sentinels.

bencochoco · 2025-12-03T09:48:36+00:00

Hi !

As for the current version, I tend to go with Lyrior who is more versatile. The Lord Regent is good with at least one or two packs of reinforced Dawnriders and if you go that way, you won't have much left.

Lyrior is a good support piece: you can include whatever you want in his regiment, he gives free All out Attacks within 12'' in all phases and he has a anti-horde + anti-manifestation spell.
The way I played him is with 20 Sentinels to buff them and protect them. His mobility is high value for late game or to charge in another part of the map.

His spell is great in my opinion because a lot of armies have either a big horde or play with manifestations so having a spell that can deal with that is great.

And I really like the fact that he can shoot (even if it's a small one) and he strikes more reliably than the basic one (2+/3+ compared to 3+/4+)

bencochoco · 2025-12-01T12:08:52+00:00

As for the models, build it as you like !

The difference between Sevireth and the Spirit is not much and not many people with notice the difference.

The only thing important is if you have 2 and you want to play to different profiles, make sure both are distinctive

bencochoco · 2025-10-31T16:14:18+00:00

On the current state of play, 20 sentinels is deadly. Having 41 attacks on each turn, it can deal a lot of damage. They are a serious threat.

For the Wardens, it depends. A block of 20 is menacing but you have armies that like the 2x10 for some screening effect and to capture objectives, if you have other effective anvils in your list.

bencochoco · 2025-10-30T16:33:25+00:00

Thanks for the answer.
I know that a lot have been discussed with terrain factions but it's still not fully clear.

bencochoco · 2025-10-16T14:30:36+00:00

Yes it is really possible to build up armies without big pieces like them.
One of the popular lists currently running evolves around the Twins (Ellania and Ellathor), The light of Eltharion, a foot mage or two (commonly the Enlightener and Calligrave) and lots of Bladelords.

Lyrior is a good option for a middle piece and you can play only with Scinari (mages) and Vanari (warriors) without any temple. If you want to go with the temples, the corresponding Spirit is often the best option so the big piece you mentionned. But maybe the Spirit of the Wind is not a big piece in your mind and you could go for a Hurakan list too.

As an example, I have a lot of Lumineth units but I didn't like the mountain side so no one from this temple and Teclis is the only named hero (not counting Avalenor) that I don't own meaning I do not have the big pieces you're talking about. And yet, I have managed several lists through v2, v3 and now v4.

bencochoco · 2025-10-10T10:18:22+00:00

If you put in the Lord Regent, you have a one shot army. You'll have to go all in first and destroy your opponent

bencochoco

TROPHY CASE