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Arch-Militant Build: Versatility Focus

This build centers on maximizing the Arch-Militant's core mechanic, Versatility. By cycling through different attack types, the Arch-Militant rapidly accumulates stacks of Versatility, leading to substantial increases in damage, hit chance, and critical hit probability.

Key Characteristics

Prioritize these characteristics for optimal performance:

• Ballistic Skill (BS): Essential for all ranged attacks. Aim for high values.
• Weapon Skill (WS): Crucial for all melee engagements. Aim for high values.
• Agility (AGI): Improves initiative, dodge, and is a prerequisite for some key talents. Also reduces penalties from medium armor.
• Perception (PER): Increases hit chance, critical hit chance, and awareness.
• Strength (STR): Boosts melee damage and carrying capacity. Important if focusing more on melee.

Distribute points aiming for a balance that supports both ranged and melee combat, with a primary focus on BS and WS.

Core Talents

These talents are fundamental to the Arch-Militant's effectiveness:

• Wildfire: Grants an additional 0 AP attack after killing an enemy with an attack that generated Versatility. This is paramount for action economy and rapidly stacking Versatility.
• Always Ready: Provides a damage bonus when switching between ranged and melee combat styles, perfectly complementing the Versatility mechanic. (Often a Soldier talent, highly synergistic).
• Tides of Excellence: Increases damage output for each stack of Versatility.
• Steady Superiority: Increases hit chance for each stack of Versatility.
• Critical Versatility: Increases critical hit chance for each stack of Versatility.
• Adaptability: Grants temporary Wounds at the start of your turn based on current Versatility stacks, enhancing survivability.
• Second Skin: Reduces the Agility penalty from wearing armor, useful for maintaining dodge with medium or heavy armor.
• Strongpoint: Provides defensive benefits as if in cover, even when not, increasing resilience.

Key Abilities

Focus on abilities that enable different attack types to generate Versatility and capitalize on its stacks:

• Arch-Militant Attack Abilities: The class provides specific abilities that count as the four distinct attack types required for Versatility:
  • Single Target Ranged Attack (e.g., Controlled Shot, Deadeye Shot)
  • Area of Effect Ranged Attack (e.g., Suppressive Fire)
  • Single Target Melee Attack (e.g., Daring Breach, basic melee strikes enhanced by AM passives)
  • Area of Effect Melee Attack (e.g., Sweeping Strike if weapon allows, or specific AM AoE melee abilities)
• Run and Gun (Soldier Origin): Allows movement after an attack or an attack after movement, providing critical tactical flexibility.
• War Hymn (Arch-Militant): A tactical pattern ability that can buff allies and/or assist in Versatility generation or utilization.
• Sworn Enemy (Arch-Militant Ultimate): Consumes Versatility stacks to unleash a devastatingly powerful attack, ideal for eliminating high-priority targets.

Weapon Considerations

Equip weapons that facilitate the use of multiple attack types:

• Ranged: Prioritize weapons with reliable single-shot and burst-fire/area-of-effect capabilities. Bolters, Plasma Guns, and Melta Guns are excellent choices as you progress.
• Melee: A solid melee weapon is essential. Power Weapons (swords, axes) often provide good single-target damage, while some (like Chainswords with specific talents or Power Axes) might offer cleave or area attacks.

Ideal Loadout: A versatile ranged weapon (e.g., Bolter) and a potent melee weapon (e.g., Power Sword). Ensure your weapon choices allow you to perform all four types of attacks needed for Versatility stacking (Single Ranged, AoE Ranged, Single Melee, AoE Melee).

Gameplay Loop

The primary goal each turn is to use an Arch-Militant attack ability of a different type than the one used previously to gain a stack of Versatility.

1. Initiate Combat: Start with an attack type, e.g., a Single Target Ranged Attack. Gain 1 Versatility.
2. Follow Up: If Wildfire triggers on a kill, or you have AP remaining, use a different attack type, e.g., a Single Target Melee Attack if an enemy is close, or an Area of Effect Ranged Attack if enemies are grouped. Gain another Versatility stack.
3. Subsequent Turns: Continue cycling through the four attack types (Single Ranged, AoE Ranged, Single Melee, AoE Melee) to maximize Versatility stacks.
4. Unleash Power: Once high Versatility is achieved, use Sworn Enemy for massive damage or benefit from the passive bonuses to mow down lesser foes.

Recommended Origin & Homeworld

• Origin:
  • Soldier: Excellent starting point due to access to talents like "Run and Gun," "Rapid Fire," and strong BS progression.
  • Warrior: A viable alternative for a more melee-centric Arch-Militant, offering strong WS and melee talents.
• Homeworld:
  • Fortress World: Bonus to Ballistic Skill, perfect for a ranged-focused Arch-Militant.
  • Death World: Bonuses to Strength and Toughness, beneficial for melee damage and survivability.

Advanced Tips

• Itemization: Seek equipment that boosts BS, WS, Agility, Perception, critical hit chance, damage, or provides additional AP/attacks.
• Positioning: Utilize cover and the "Run and Gun" ability to maintain optimal engagement distances and protect your Arch-Militant.
• Synergy: Coordinate with party members. Officers granting extra turns or attacks are invaluable. Debuffs from other characters can make your attacks more effective.
• Adapt Offensive Profile: Arch-Militants can switch between different damage types (e.g. Las, Bolt, Plasma, Power) by changing weapons, making them effective against a wide array of enemy defenses.