CONVERT RETREAT INTO ADVANCE

n order to confront enemies that make use of Fear-causing units, we need to get inside their heads by analysing a few concepts that many players hold as key. While many of these ideas are specific to Undead generals, you can gain insights to use against any army.

"The key to success with Fear is to outnumber your enemy..."

The difficult part about confronting a Fear-based army is that cheap troops organised in large units usually have poor Leadership and will fail many of their Fear tests. Conversely, high Leadership troops are expensive and get outnumbered easily. So, what else can you do?

• Blast them down to size before they get to you. If you are facing slow units, then missile fire, artillery, and magic can even the odds a bit.
• Outmanoeuvre the enemy. Not an option for Dwarfs, but other armies can pull this one off. Cavalry, flyers, skirmishers, and fast infantry can allow you to choose your battles and avoid tough foes until you've whittled them down.
• Magic Items. You want magic items that can help in combat every round to help fight Fear. If you depend on a character (as opposed to a unit standard bearer) to carry these items, you had better protect him. Your hero's death could spell the doom of your unit and others behind it. Also, Magic Items that add to combat resolution are very useful.
• Field a host of low-cost troops and hope for the best. If you outnumber your Fear-causing foe and survive the initial round of combat, you should be set. Eventually, one of your units will build up the nerve to make a flank or rear attack and then you can grind your enemy to dust.

"Keep your characters with your units..."

Undead armies use this tactic more than most other armies with Fear-causing monsters, but it should still be examined since your major Fear-causing foes are Vampire Counts and Tomb Kings. The flaw in this tactic is that if your opponent selects characters who are good in close combat, they will usually get less magic to use against you, and vice versa. Below are some ways to counter this Undead strategy.

• Counter with your own characters. The same problem stated above applies to you. If you choose characters that like to rumble, your Magic Phase will suffer. Also, few armies can field characters that can go more than one round with a Tomb King or a Vampire of any kind.
• Avoid/Slow Down. If you have some way to keep your enemy's uber unit from marching or moving, then you might never have to face it. Cheap, fast troops that you can get within 8" of the enemy are ideal. If they charge, run away and send another quick unit in to do the same thing next turn.
• Kill those characters from afar! This is easier said than done, especially with the "Look out, Sir!" rule and the regenerative magic of Undead armies. Magic-proficient armies might find something useful in their spell list. Remember, if the General or Hierophant dies, the Undead start to crumble.

"Boost your magic capability..."

Again, while this tactic is not unique to Undead armies, they more commonly use it. While all armies have magic (even Dwarfs, with the Anvil of Doom), only the Vampire Counts have the ability to make an entirely new unit of Fear-causing creatures and charge them into your flank! In this case, magic is something to be feared.

• Counter with Wizards. If you find yourself fighting a magic-heavy opponent, you will probably not need melee characters to counter his. Fight fire with fire, but remember that you get fewer dispel dice than power dice when using or facing Level 2 and Level 4 Wizards.
• Magic Items can help. Dispel Scrolls, items that add to your dispel pool, items that add to your dispel rolls, and spell-destroying items will all help your cause.
• Kill the Wizards. Again, easier said than done, especially if you have a slow moving army or your opponent is good at controlling his characters. If you have a fast army, all of your efforts should go to killing these linchpins.

"Watch out for enemies that are fearless..."

Finally something useful against all Fear-causing units: fearless units!

• The Unbreakables. Many armies have Unbreakable swarms, but beyond that, there are pretty slim pickings. Slayers, Flagellants, Undead, and units under the influence of magic that causes troops to become Unbreakable can all hold up, and in some cases subdue, Fear-causing (and Terror-causing) troops.
• Immune to Psychology. Again, if you find yourself lucky enough to have access to troops that are Frenzied or are Immune to Psychology, take them! These troops are very rare, however.
• Fear/Terror-causing units. If you cause Fear or Terror, you are not going to run away from something that is just as scary as you. A small unit of monstrous troops can make short work of a weaker unit when used correctly. Also, an elite infantry unit carrying a Fear-causing banner will do very well under normal circumstances.

Next: Things You Should Really Fear
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