The Sprigs unit card has been revealed at Freak Wars! It’s only in Spanish, but thanks to online translators I think we have a pretty good idea of what they’re like. Here you will find my 100% unfounded hot-take on the unit including mandatory tier listing.
So in English we have: 35 points, 4-4 (11) movement, 2 wounds, willpower of OY, MOR 1, AVA 1, Conquest 1/1. They also have Nemorous (which gives an autoshield when Lioslaith is on the table), Raging (free hit on the charge), Bloodlust (forced to charge closest enemy if they can’t pass a WP test, if they do charge they keep charge rerolls for each subsequent attack), and Preferred Terrain (Forest) (likes trees).
Melee: RROY. Switches: !! gives slow, elite hit gives vulnerable.
Defence: GBBBk. Switches: !! gives slow.
Seeds of the Great Forest: During the “No one left behind” step. Regain 1 troop.
Branches and Vines. Target: All enemy units engaged with you who are slowed. Targets cannot move or be placed.
Ok so we have an 8 wound 35 point MOR 1 unit with an unreliable attack (no penetrating switches), ok defence due to being Nemorous and having Lioslaith, with a steady conquest of 1. This isn’t a great start with its high price tag. However, the combination of giving out slow pretty reliably and forcing engaged slowed enemies to stay in contact with you is a niche but potentially game-winning power. For instance, you could charge the enemy War Rig and hold it in position to stop it from waltzing over your units to push you off the objective, which is something no other unit can do. Their main drawback of course is their MOR 1, which means if you are at all stressed when the enemy counterattacks, you can’t stress to stay in position so they will just push you out of combat, and your Branches and Vines won’t do anything. It seems the Sprigs will rely on the Druid buffing them to let them drop a stress at the end of each activation so they can actually get somewhere to charge them. I can see people using this duo as their opening moves – first action move-move the Sprigs to grab the central objective. Second action Druid moves up and buffs the Sprigs, who can now activate repeatedly without gaining stress. With a 13 stride charge range most enemies will have to move into the danger zone to hope to charge on their own turn if they want to contest the objective. If they stay out, and move in later without charging, the Sprigs can charge them instead and maybe push them out of the objective range, then pin them there uselessly for a long time. The pin also becomes a very dangerous place to be with the large number of gang-up choices available to Sÿenann – Lioslaith, Shadows, 22 charge range Alula and Ynyr, Warden rally-charge, even Grove Curtailers could scout into range, then next action charge if the enemy can’t get away from the Sprigs in time. Having the Sprigs be the central forest also frees up the Druid to place their forest somewhere else, like near the opponent’s deployment zone.
Bloodlust, Raging and giving out vulnerable are nice bonuses, and all rare powers for the faction. Regaining a troop twice a game could be something, but I doubt it’ll trigger more than once. Having more Nemorous on the field is nice for things like Grove Curtailers, but how often will the Sprigs and the Curtailers ever be near each other?
Given their role of probably just charging to pin an enemy, I can’t see wanting to pay more points and put a character in them. Aodidos could be an option to make a tarpit from hell – if you already engaged your first action is to gift your opponent your stress, then second action attack. The three available Captains would make the Sprigs more dangerous, tougher, and more reliable, but the opportunity costs seems pretty high. There could be a fun play where you have a Grand Captain on the field (or in the unit) and teleport the Sprigs onto the other side of forest to let them charge into someone’s deployment zone, to great surprise and anguish. Ismail’s teleport could also be something to explore.
I started writing this thinking they were solid C tier – offers something nice, can feel underwhelming OR if I have to activate them I will, but it means I’m probably desperate. However, after thinking about their unique pinning power, and the combination of stress reduction from the Druid or Aodidos to mitigate their pitiful MOR 1, I could see a world where they win me games. The high cost is off-putting, but I look forward to testing them out on the table. In the end: an overly optimistic A – great at what they do, offers something unique and list-defining OR good fun, I enjoy activating them.
If you want to buy the Sprigs directly (and give me the benefit of the affiliate link) you can find them here.
Did I miss anything you love or hate about them? Comment here or on the Discord, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these wooden wonders.