| “ | A bolt in the eye is a terrible way to die, and the calling card of the Bolt-fiends. | „ |
The Bolt-fiends (Darkshards – Shields) are a 
Dark Elves Regiment of Renown missile infantry unit introduced in Total War: Warhammer II with The Queen & The Crone.
Recruitment[]
Recruited with: Regiments of Renown Recruitment panel
Description[]
Dark Elf armies are formed around a core of utterly merciless soldiers, schooled in slaughter by a lifetime of survival amidst the twisted streets of Naggaroth's cities. Most such warriors are conscripted into service, but a few muster willingly, having identified some manner in which the battle will play to their personal advantage. Many Dark Elves forsake melee weapons in favour of delivering death from afar. Armed with repeater crossbows - magazine-fed weapons capable of unleashing blistering hails of bolts - these Darkshards can take positions at the rear of the battlefield firing storms of iron-tipped bolts against approaching foes, or move forward to weaken the enemy line with a withering volley before the Dark Elf attack charges home. Though often scorned by other warriors for their distaste of close quarters battle, the Darkshards are unflinchingly proud of their marksmanship and are certainly no less cruel than their fellows. It is not uncommon for a Darkshard to forgo a killing strike to eye or heart in favour of a gut shot or other debilitating blow which, while ultimately no less fatal, guarantees that the enemy's last moments will be spent in mewling agony.
Attributes[]
- Missile Infantry
- ▲ Shieldbreaker: This unit’s shield-breaking attacks can significantly weaken the target’s chance of blocking missile attacks.
- ▲ Shielded: Shields have a chance of blocking arrows, bolts, rifle shots and similar small arms fire - but only in a forward facing arc.
- ▲ Armour-Piercing Missiles: The damage of armour-piercing weapons mostly ignores the armour of the target, making them the ideal choice against heavily-armoured enemies. They are often heavier and attack at a slower rate though, making them less efficient against poorly-armoured targets.
Unit Abilities[]
Passive Abilities[]
Difference from Darkshards (Shields)[]
- New Contact Effect: Shieldbreaker
- Range: 125 → 145
- Cost (SP): 650 → 850
- Cost (MP): 600 → 850
- Upkeep: 163 → 213
Strategy[]
This unit is ideal for dueling archer units. While their shields protect them from enemy missiles, their shots diminish enemy shields. This allows them to comfortably win most ranged battles. This also helps shred infantry or cavalry that may be relying on shields to block missile damage.
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