Bastiladon (Solar Engine)

Bastiladon (Solar Engine) is a Lizardmen monster artillery unit introduced in Total War: Warhammer II. The Solar Engine can disintegrate enemies with a beam of pure sunlight.

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.

Upon need, the eldritch and inexplicable artefact known as a Solar Engine is taken from its secure chamber deep within the confines of a pyramid-temple and manoeuvred onto a Bastiladon’s carapace. Skink Priests declare that the Bastiladon is favoured by Chotec — the Lord of the Sun — and that this creature alone is worthy to carry the Solar Engine. Whether this is true, or if the hoary Bastiladon is simply the only jungle creature that will bear the superheated device upon its back, is unknown. When activated, the arcane machine radiates invigorating rays that stir nearby reptilian creatures to energetic new heights of action and violence. When the attending Skink crew intone the correct blessings to Chotec, the Solar Engine also blasts forth a beam of intense heat, which burns the foe like the condensed rays of the sun itself.

Strategy
Solar Engine Bastiladons provide rare artillery support for the Lizardmen roster. With high damage, the Solar Bastiladon is ideal at weakening high value units. It does tremendous single target damage, making it a great choice for sniping enemy monsters or Lords/Heroes. As is the case with all other Lizardmen ranged units, it's range is rather lackluster for an artillery unit and it will be out-ranged by almost any other artillery unit in the game. This is off-set by it's distinct advantage of being strong in melee. With incredibly high armor, an Anti-Infantry bonus, and high armor-piercing damage, the Bastiladon is extremely effective in melee both as a damage dealer and tank.

Solar Bastiladons can also apply the unique and rare debuff, Blinded, which heavily reduces the targets MA, Accuracy, and MD for 10 seconds. This is a significant debuff applied on top of a high damage missile. This makes the Solar Bastiladon even more valuable, as reducing a high-value target's core combat stats can significantly weaken their combat effectiveness.

When using Solar Bastiladons, focus their beams towards high-threat targets. They are particularly good at sniping enemy Lords and Heroes as well as large monsters. Their Blinded debuff can also significantly reduce the effectiveness of enemy ranged units-probably the only area where Lizardmen have trouble dealing with-and makes them ideal for debuffing strong ranged units such as Elf, Dwarve, or Empire ranged units. Lastly, Solar Bastiladon's can wreck havoc on enemy battle lines when it charges in to melee, causing Fear and Terror on top of being a unit with one of the highest armor values in the game.

The Beam of Chotec is a Flaming Magical projectile. As such its damage is reduced by magic resistance instead of physical resistance. This greatly increases its effectiveness against units with Regeneration. On top of this, Ancient Salamander can make the enemy Flammable! When used together, the +47% damage output allows the Solar Engine to deal a massive 852 damage on a single shot.

Unfortunately, the majority of the beam's damage is base damage. This means that it will be significantly weaker against heavily armored enemies. The armor piercing damage is large enough to kill standard armored infantry, but it becomes significantly less effective against armored monstrous infantry. Aim at low health units or high health with low armor for the best results.

Background
To the Lizardmen, the Old One known as Chotec is Lord of the Sun, and is venerated by Skinks and Saurus as a bringer of warmth and energy. It is said by his most strident followers that those favoured by his blessings are imbued with great vigour. All major temple-cities have great pyramids built to Chotec -- each sitauted and aligned so as to harness the power of the sun. The largest of such temples resides in Hexoatl -- the City of the Sun -- and it is no coincidence that the city's ruler, Lord Mazdamundi, is the most active of all Slann -- a now tireless avenger in his relentless prosecution of the Great Plan of the Old Ones.