Death Runners is a Skaven melee infantry unit in Total War: Warhammer II. Understanding from the outset that yours is a suicide mission focuses the murine mind on the murderous task at hand.
Description
Most suspicious deaths and acts of espionage in Skaven society are blamed on the nefarious Clan Eshin. Such accusations are probably true, but, of course, there is no evidence. Much of this devastation is wrought by the Gutter Runners, Clan Eshin's black-clad death squads. Death Runners are the elite among their ranks, having excelled at the mysterious Far Eastern fighting styles for which Gutter Runners are known and demonstrated enough wherewithal and self-determination to lead. Because of their ability to bend and contort their pliable bodies with a speed and dexterity unachievable by man, Death Runners have no need for encumbering armour - they simply dodge the blows and missile of their foes.
Abilities
- ▲ Concealment Bombs: When a bomb is smashed, a dark smoke curls out, concealing those who wish to hide and choking everyone else.
- ▲ Dodge: This highly dexterous unit dodges blades and missiles with ease; its luck is known to run out quickly when facing magical weapons, however.
- ▲ Stalk: This unit can move hidden in any terrain.
- ▲ Weeping Blade: Weeping Blades devour armour. A couple of slashes is all that's needed for their corrosive venom to eat through even the thickest of plates.
Strategy
Death Runners are the sneakiest of the Skaven infantry, with several dirty tricks up their sleeves. They can move across the battlefield quickly and stealthily with Stalk, and deploy concealment bombs that allow them to get the drop on nearly any opponent. In addition, their melee attacks halve the armor of whatever enemy they're facing, cracking open the defenses of tough units such as Steam Tanks or Stegadons. They should never be used in a frontal engagement, as they have paper-thin armor and deal relatively low damage by themselves. However, they become extremely potent when supporting other Skaven units by reducing the enemy's armor and attacking from behind. Their speed allows them to weasel their way out of any problematic situations, and they should be carefully managed to ensure that they do not get caught up in any unfavorable engagements.
Death runners can be countered be effective reconnaissance, from light cavalry to gyrocopter with steam canons. With their paper thin armor they are vulnerable to focused missile fire. Don't rely on melee unit to kill them, but rather pin them place, whilst your missile units deal damage from safety.
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