Bastiladon (Ark of Sotek)

Feral Bastiladon is a Lizardmen melee infantry unit in Total War: Warhammer II. This "Living Bastion" has few predators save the terrain it must traverse, making it the ideal conveyor for the Ark of Sotek itself.

Description
Known to the Skinks as the Bastiladon, this hulking quadruped is perhaps the most heavily-armoured beast in Lustria. It is a walking fortress, a living bastion covered in rock-hard bony skin, and then further protected by massive iron-like plates - a natural armour so dense that it can, sometimes, thwart the bite of the mighty Carnosaur. Even those blows that crack the outermost armour plates cannot penetrate deeply into the beast due to the Bastiladon's alternating layers of thick leathery skin and additional scales. Their incredibly thick and armoured hides allow them to carry devices which other beasts, even the revered Stegadon, steadfastly refuse. These revered and holy objects are mounted upon the great beast's back so that they might be activated to smite any who dare set foot in sacred Lustria.

For example, the Ark of Sotek, or Twin-headed Ark, is a device that was first used in the Skaven Wars by the order of Tehenhauin himself. It is a sacred stone artefact lifted upon the Bastiladon’s armoured back. In appearance, it is a stone basin engraved with symbols venerating Sotek. As the Bastiladon pounds towards its enemies, the Skink crew activate these glyphs and, perhaps most importantly, rake the coals beneath. From out of the Ark’s sacred confines pour forth an endless supply of serpents, blessed by Sotek (or at least enraged by the heat) and eager to attack the nearest foe. While some beasts would understandably balk at the multitude of snakes, it is the red-hot coals that cause creatures to refuse to carry this sacred device. Such is the thickness of a Bastiladon’s armour, however, that it does not even notice the blazing fires stoked on its very back.

Strategy
The Ark of Sotek is one of the cheaper additions to the bastiladon. It gives it the ability to release poisonous snakes around the unit. These snakes do minimal damage, but ensure all enemies are inflicted with poison, hampering their melee stats. The poison from this ability does not affect friendly units.

The Ark of Sotek can be considered a direct upgrade to the Feral Bastiladon. While it is a bit more expensive, the addition of the poison significantly deteriorates enemies' damage and vigour. Where the Feral Bastiladon is a set-and-forget unit to take down infantry, the Ark of Sotek can be used alongside your own infantry to more easily overpower the enemy infantry due to their Poison!

Trivia
In the Potion of Speed Update: Bastiladon (Ark of Sotek): +1 base damage on Ark of Sotek ability (+33% damage increase)