Prepare to embrace the Mandalorian spirit with the new Star Wars™: Shatterpoint squad pack titled This Is the Way, featuring iconic characters such as the Armorer, Paz Vizsla, & a unit of two covert Mandalorians. This release comes at a time when the legacy of the Mandalorians faces both challenges & opportunities for resurgence, following the devastation of their homeworld, Mandalore, by the Empire.
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The Resilience of Mandalorians
After the Empire’s brutal campaign against Mandalore, many believed that the Mandalorian people would fade into obscurity. However, those who adhere to the Way of the Mandalore have demonstrated remarkable resilience, forming hidden coverts in abandoned locations & underground spaces to preserve their culture & way of life. The Armorer & other members of the Children of the Watch managed to survive the Great Purge on Mandalore’s moon, Concordia. By the time the New Republic emerged, they had established a new Tribe on Nevarro, operating in secrecy & sending out individual members for resource gathering through bounty hunting.
Even after their covert was compromised, the Armorer & Paz Vizsla continued to uphold their traditions, forming a new covert dedicated to revitalizing Mandalorian culture & eventually reigniting the Great Forge on Mandalore.
The Armorer: A Beacon of Strength
In Star Wars: Shatterpoint, players will find that the Armorer’s unit card is designed primarily to support fellow Mandalorians. Her tactical ability, Wisdom of the Mandalore, allows her to execute two jumps at the start of her activation—one for herself & one for an allied Mandalorian. This ability enhances strategic positioning on the battlefield, enabling coordinated attacks or defenses against their enemies.
Key Abilities
- Both Hunter & Prey: This active ability reflects the precarious balance that Mandalorians maintain in combat. The Armorer can select an enemy & either jump or advance towards them while exposing both characters if they are engaged.
- Just As We Shape Mandalorian Steel, We Shape Ourselves: This innate ability grants her an additional melee defense die for every three damage or Injured tokens she possesses, significantly bolstering her defensive capabilities.
- Our Survival Is Our Strength. This Is The Way: This identity ability alters a core game rule for allied Mandalorians by preventing Wounded & Injured tokens from increasing the Force cost of their Reactive & Active abilities. This ensures that even when faced with significant damage, Mandalorians remain unyielding—much like the beskar armor they wear.
Combat Focus
Players will observe that the Armorer focuses exclusively on melee combat rather than ranged attacks. Her abilities are geared towards aggression & tactical defense:
- Strength of the Hammer: Emphasizes offensive maneuvers by pushing back enemies while breaking through their defenses.
- Insight of the Forge: Facilitates more defensive strategies by applying conditions more effectively.
Paz Vizsla: The Stalwart Defender
Paz Vizsla stands as a prominent figure within this squad pack. A member of Clan Vizsla—a lineage rich in history—Paz embodies strength & leadership on the battlefield. His tactical ability, We Are Mandalorians!, allows him to remove one damage or special condition from each allied Mandalorian within range 4, including himself. Following this action, each allied character can then make a jump, enhancing mobility & positioning.
Key Abilities
- I’ll Cover The Rear: This reactive ability provides an opportunity for retaliation when he or another allied character is attacked. This ability can deter opponents from targeting specific allies or force them to reconsider their strategies before launching an assault.
- Go. There Are Too Many. This Is The Way: When Paz suffers a wound, he can exchange that damage along with a Wounded token for two Injured tokens while launching a five-dice attack against his attacker. Although this may appear costly at first glance, it can serve as a game-changer in critical moments when victory hangs in balance.
- Descendent of the Great House Vizsla: This ability grants him Steadfast if his stance is set to Fearless. However, this pride also imposes limitations; once he acquires an Injured token, he cannot place his Order Card in reserve, compelling players to deploy him strategically against foes threatening his Tribe.
Versatility in Combat
Paz Vizsla offers players two distinct stances: Fearless & Heavy Firepower.
- In Fearless mode, he gains Steadfast while wielding an impressive eight-dice melee attack without relying on ranged weapons.
- Conversely, in Heavy Firepower mode, he utilizes his heavy gatling blaster effectively, showcasing formidable range expertise with three successes on a single expertise roll—ensuring he can provide covering fire for allies when necessary.
Covert Mandalorians: The Backbone of Strategy
The covert Mandalorians accompanying Paz are always prepared to defend their way of life through hit-and-run tactics aimed at protecting their most vital asset: their people. Equipped with standard-issue jet packs & variable armaments granting either Sharpshooter or Impact capabilities, they are adaptable in various combat scenarios.
Key Abilities
- Mandalorians Are Stronger Together: Grants them a focus action whenever they end a move action within range 2 of another Mandalorian.
- Our Secrecy Is Our Survival. This Is The Way: Provides protection as long as their Order Card remains in reserve or within the order deck—encouraging strategic play around hit-and-run tactics until optimal moments arise.
Combat Versatility
Covert Mandalorians bring versatility in their Stance Card as well, with multiple branches allowing them to customize their combat style according to their enemy’s weaknesses. With abilities granted from both the Armorer & Paz Vizsla, they can effectively engage any foe threatening their Tribe while applying necessary effects based on battlefield conditions.
The introduction of this squad pack not only enriches gameplay mechanics but also deepens players’ engagement with the lore surrounding these beloved characters from the Star Wars universe. With unique abilities tailored for both offensive maneuvers & defensive strategies, players can expect dynamic gameplay that reflects true Mandalorian resilience.
As Atomic Mass Games continues to unveil new content for Star Wars: Shatterpoint, fans eagerly anticipate how these characters will influence gameplay dynamics within this rich narrative framework. For those looking to immerse themselves further into this universe, pre-orders for This Is The Way squad pack are available at local game stores & through Atomic Mass Games’ webstore.
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