Happy New Year! Maelstrom Available for Pre-order!

Welcome back! We hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season.

We’re still restarting the cortex for the computers back at HQ, so there won’t be any subscriber content this week. We’ll be back in the swing of things next week with more previews and subscriber content.

Today, however, it's all about the Maelstrom colossal for Cygnar Storm Legion, which is now available for pre-order! Read on to find out how this massive warjack could fit into your Storm Legion army, including lore, strategies, and a side-by-side size comparison with the corpse-recycling Necroharvester.

The Maelstrom stands as the pinnacle of colossal warjack design, surpassing all predecessors with its innovative technology.

Unlike traditional colossals that rely on the Eschewing steam engine of traditional warjacks, the Maelstrom is powered by a cutting-edge storm core generator, providing it with near-limitless energy. This generator fuels its vast array of weaponry, making the Maelstrom a terrifying force on the battlefield!

Alongside its core arsenal, the colossal is equipped with a pair of shoulder hard points. Each houses a potent weapon borrowed from the Stryker heavy warjack; either a Heavy Mag-Bolter or an Electro Bombard.

In addition to its massive Storm Wave Projector ranged spray attack, and choice of brutal hammers, the Maelstrom also has a pair of compelling left arm options.

These include either Electro Harpoon Fist — granting the colossal both a melee and a ranged attack — or a Pulse Fist which, in addition to a strong melee attack, also grants the Plasma Nimbus special rule.

And since size really does matter, check out how this colossal truly earns its name…

Maelstrom Compendium

Want to learn more about the Maelstrom’s origin?

Then check out the Maelstrom Compendium, already available in the subscriber’s content section of the Warmachine App.

Here’s a sneak preview:

Before the Cygnaran Armory could lay the groundwork to initiate the Maelstrom project, a team from the new Storm Forge came forward and presented nearly-complete plans for that wholly galvanic colossal.

A faction within the Storm Forge had accurately read the writing on the wall years before the War Council found the ability to pay for the development of the Maelstrom. They had begun back in 616 AR within weeks of completing the first field tests on the Stryker heavy warjack.

Their work laid the foundation for the creation of the new colossals and greatly accelerated the project.

The most powerful and complex colossal ever developed, the Maelstrom entered service in late 622 AR. Though the project proceeded quickly from the moment it was initiated, the return of the Orgoth added new urgency to its completion. Its development had become an open secret, with virtually every free hand belonging to either the Cygnaran Armory or the Storm Forge pressed into service.

The machine’s great size and the complexity of its systems required some degree of training to fully utilize. The first Maelstroms were presented to Mechanik Adept Figmund Sparkhammer and Major Anson Wolfe to develop a training regimen and field guide for the warcasters controlling them in battle.

The great cost and sophistication of the Maelstrom has ensured it has been manufactured in small numbers, but the threat posed by the Orgoth-Cryx alliance is certain to keep it in production for years to come.

Maelstrom Tactical Tips

We’ve put together a few strategies to help you maximize your Maelstrom’s potential.

Whether you’re looking to dominate the battlefield with sheer power or unlock its tactical versatility, these tips will guide you in making the most of this colossal warjack.

Storm Legion Synergies

• Maelstrom has multiple electrical ranged weapons that will hit even harder under Ionization, an aura provided by Zephyrs and Legionnaire Standard Bearers. (Legionnaire Standard Bearer is also in the Core Expansion.)
• One of Maelstrom’s arm options includes a ranged Skewer to pull distant enemies in close and let the heavy melee hitters of Storm Legion do their work.
• Maelstrom adds a healthy dose of ranged firepower to Storm Legion, a predominantly melee army.
• But it’s not just powerful at range — it’s also packing POW 23 melee attacks, upping your close combat game.
• Find all Cygnar Storm Legion here.

Storm Forge Cadre Synergies

• Like Zephyr and Legionnaire Standard Bearer, warcaster Mechanik Adept Sparkhammer provides Ionization, increasing the hitting power of the Maelstrom’s electrical ranged weapons.
• As if the Maelstrom weren’t powerful enough, give it a speed boost with Sparkhammer’s Mobility spell. Keep your Maelstrom protected at range with Storm Vanes’ Wind Weaver ability.
• Find the above models in the Storm Forge Cadre.

Hellslinger Cadre Synergies

• The Maelstrom’s swathe of powerful ranged attacks will be further strengthened Caine's feat, Arcane Conflagration, which makes ranged attacks hit harder, become magical, and gain Blessed to ignore enemy defensive spell effects. Ouch!
• Not to mention Caine's Calamity spell pushes the Maelstrom's already incredible damage output to extreme levels, by reducing enemy defense and armor stats by 2 each.
• Find the Hellslinger Cadre in the Two-Player Starter Set (currently sold out on our site in the UK and EU, but check with your local gaming store!)

Happy new year once again! Warmachine Wednesday will be back next week.

Change Log for January 3, 2025

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