Malifaux+Rat

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 * Malifaux Rat, Outcast Minion**

=__Overview__= A long-time denizen of the sewers of Malifaux, this blighted vermin will always eventually appear when Hamelin the Plagued shows himself. Generally found in swarms, the Malifaux Rat is individually rather weak but collectively very dangerous.


 * NOTE: 12/21/12 this model has been changed by [|Errata]. Rabies, Instinctual, Impetuous, and Hungry Rats are removed. Malifaux Rats cannot be destroyed during a friendly model's activation. An enemy model in base contact with three or more Malifaux Rats gets -2 Df and -2 Wp. **

=__Mobility__= The Rat is **Slow**, with a walk of 5, but can //(0)Writhing Mass// its way into base contact with any other rat within 5, giving it a potential movement of 12'' at the cost of one Wound if another Rat is nearby. In addition the Rat is a **Scout**. Being **Tiny** and **Unfocused**, the Rat can be stepped over easily - no point using it to block your opponent's movement or LoS as they can see and walk straight through him without even risking a disengage strike. On the other hand this also means that your own crew's movement won't be blocked by its base.

=__Offense__= Rats act as a swarm: when activating a Rat, all other friendly Rats within 4'' will simultaneously activate, which makes for quite the offensive strike if enough Rats are around. The Rat's basic attack causes a low damage flip of 1/2/2 with a relatively weak Cb. However it can become //(0)Impetuous// before attacking to flip an additional card for both striking and damaging. Moreover, being //Instinctua//l, the Rat can combine this with //(0)Writhing Mass// for added threat range. Any model damaged by the Rat will receive a Blight Counter, increasing other Rat's - and anyone else's - damage against that model. And with the //Rabies// trigger, Rats can even permanently debuff other units' Wp.

The Rat can also make other models Insignificant until the beginning of the next turn, which can be very useful in the endgame. However the Rats themselves are Insignificant (unless Hamelin the Plagued or Nix, the Bull Terrier is on the field), so this spell does not give them an advantage as much as level the playing field somewhat. This being a spell, they can also use //(0)Impetuous// to have a higher chance of beating the opponent's defense flip.

Finally the Rat can also sacrifice all Corpse and Scrap Counters in a 6'' pulse around him, which can play havok against gravediggers and scavengers.

=__Resilience__= With only 2Wd and the option of sacrificing one for //(0)Writhing Mass//, the Rat is very easily killed. Being **Tiny** gives it some defense at range, but its death is as quick as it is inevitable. On the plus side, when it dies it generates no counters and heals nearby friendly vermins. The Rat can also sacrifice itself and two other friendly Rats to summon a Rat-Catcher, with which the Rat has a lot of synergy, increasing both its survivability and its offensive powers tremendously. Finally new Rats can quickly be generated in proximity to models with **Voracious Rats** (i.e: Hamelin the Plagued and the Rat-Catcher) whenever a model dies as well as through the death of models with **Inevitable Fate** (i.e.: The Stolen and Obedient Wretch)

=__Master-Specific Tips__= Som'er Teeth Jones can hire a couple of rats to help him summon up Giant Mosquitoes with full Health.

=__Minion-Specific Tips__= See the Rat-Catcher's page for more information on its synergy with the Malifaux Rat.

=__Playing Against [Minion]__= If no models with **Voracious Rats** are nearby, blasts are your go-to option to get rid of swarms of rats. they'll die quickly and won't come back. If such models are withing 6'' of the swarm it will be necessary to get rid of them first by killing, luring, burying or any other way you want.

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