The Book of Airborne Elite

[dnutt99]

The Book of Airborne Elite

Rise of the Valkyrie - Master Set

If you cannot see the Army Card graphic, check Hasbro's Unit Page for stats and special powers, plus "character biography" and other non-game unit info.

Character Bio: Battle-trained on the planet Earth, the Airborne Elite squad has plagued the enemy with its deadly sneak attacks. Lifted high by Valkyries and dropped behind enemy lines, they parachute down for a surprise visit, then quickly fire a barrage of grenades to unleash total havoc in the enemy's own territory. Off the battlefield the Elites are a fun-loving bunch, known for their practical jokes and raucous card games. When called into action, they are unmatched in fast action, focus and fearlessness. (Hasbro)

Originally Posted by Confred

GRENADE SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 5. Lob 12. Attack 2.
Use this power once per game. Start the game with a grenade marker on this card. Remove the grenade marker to throw grenades. One at a time do the following with each Airborne Elite: Choose a figure to attack. No clear line of sight is needed. Any figures adjacent to the chosen figure are also affected by the Grenade Special Attack. Roll 2 attack dice once for all affected figures. Each figure rolls defense dice separately.

THE DROP
Airborne Elite do not start the game on the battlefield. At the start of each round, before you place order markers, roll the 20-sided die. If you roll a 13 or higher, you may place all 4 Airborne Elite figures on any empty spaces. You cannot place them adjacent to each other or other figures, or on Glyphs.

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-Rulings and Clarifications-

- GRENADE SPECIAL ATTACK : Activating for Partial Squad
If I decide not to throw a grenade with one Airborne, Can I throw 2 Grenades with one of the other ones?
No, you must throw one grenade with each Airborne. They must be thrown in the same turn. If one of your Airborne Elite is out of range, he cannot throw a grenade and loses the ability since it is a once per game special attack. (Hasbro FAQ)

- THE DROP : Landing Under Overhangs
Can you use The Drop to drop the Airborne Elite into an area below an overhang?
No. (Hasbro FAQ)

- THE DROP : One Time Activation
Do you have the ability to drop the Airborne Elite every turn with The Drop?
No, due to the complexity of the Grenade Special Attack we had to cut down the wording on The Drop. The Airborne do not enter the battlefield until they are dropped (By a roll of 13 or higher prior to the beginning of each turn). After that they cannot be dropped again. You may go the entire game without dropping them. That is why the Airborne Elite are a valuable weapon, but also a costly risk. (Hasbro FAQ)

- GRENADE SPECIAL ATTACK : Optional Attack
When you use the Grenade Special Attack power, does each Airborne Elite have to lob a grenade if they have an enemy in sight?
No. They don't have to. But if one uses his grenades, they all have to use them. You can't split it up across turns. (Hasbro FAQ)

- GRENADE SPECIAL ATTACK : Order for Rolling Defense
When an Airborne Elite uses his Grenade Special Attack into a crowded area, who gets hit first?
The target always rolls defense first. Then the attacker determines the order in which the other figures roll defense dice. (Hasbro FAQ)

- GRENADE SPECIAL ATTACK : Attacking a Double-Spaced Figure
If I target a double spaced figure with Grenade Special Attack, who is considered adjacent?
Normally it’s anyone adjacent to the hex the character is on, however with double spaced figures any character that is adjacent to either space/hex it occupies is hit. (Hasbro FAQ)

- THE DROP : 4th Massachusetts Line and Valiant Army Defense Bonus
If I draft and field an all valiant army and include the Airborne Elite, do the 4th Massachusetts Line receive their Valiant Army Defense Bonus if I have not used The Drop to field the Airborne Elite?
Yes! Even though the Airborne Elite is part of your army and has a Disciplined personality, they do not disrupt the Valiant Army Defense Bonus until you activate “The Drop” and they are in play. (dnutt99)

- GRENADE SPECIAL ATTACK : Lobbing Grenades "Around / Through" Figures
If I want to attack a group of enemies behind an opposing Braxas, (who is standing between my AE unit and the group I wish to attack, and who has a height of 13), can I throw the grenade around Braxas, or through her legs to attack the group on the other side?
Yes! Figures are not walls. They have dead space that can be utilized as a legal passing point of the lobbed grenade. (Hasbro FAQ)

- BEFORE "THE DROP" : Placing Enhancements / Order Markers on the Army Card Before Units are on the Board
Can I place Eldgrim's "Warrior's Swiftness Spirit," (or any other viking spirit), on the Airborne Elite Army Card even though the Airborne Elite have not yet Dropped?
Yes, you can place it on any unique army card, yours or your opponents, on the battlefield, or not. This includes the Airborne Elite before they drop as well as the Retchets. (Hasbro FAQ)

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-Combinations and Synergies-

Synergy Benefits Received

- MARCUS DECIMUS GALLUS: Soldier Leadership
As Soldiers, the Airborne Elite may benefit from Marcus Decimus Gallus’ SOLDIER LEADERSHIP movement bonus.

- MARCUS DECIMUS GALLUS: Soldier Attack Enhancement
As Soldiers, the Airborne Elite may benefit from Marcus Decimus Gallus’ SOLDIER ATTACK ENHANCEMENT.

- SIR GILBERT : Jandar’s Dispatch
As a Squad that follows Jandar, the Airborne Elite may benefit from Sir Gilbert's JANDAR'S DISPATCH movement bonus.

Synergy Benefits Offered

- SACRED BAND: Disciplined Army Defense Bonus
Having a Disciplined personality, the Airborne Elite may aid the Sacred Band with their DISCIPLINED ARMY DEFENSE BONUS.

C3V and SoV Custom Synergies

Spoiler Alert!

Synergy Benefits Offered

8TH INFANTRY PATHFINDER : MARCHING ORDERS
As Unique Soldiers that follow Jandar, Airborne Elite can be used as the end-of-movement adjacent figures for the 8th Infantry Pathfinder's MARCHING ORDERS ability.

SIR ORRICK : A BROTHER'S CALL
As a Human who follows Jandar, Airborne Elite may aid Sir Orrick with his A BROTHER'S CALL movement bonus.

Synergy Benefits Received

CAPT. JOHN VARAN : PURPLE HEART
As a Human who follows Jandar, Airborne Elite may benefit from Capt. John Varan's PURPLE HEART wound reassignment.

EBON ARMOR : ANIMATED MATERIEL & ETERNAL WAR
As a Unique Human, a destroyed Ebon Armor you control may be placed on Airborne Elite's Army Card to replace the Airborne Elite figure upon his own destruction.

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-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

When placing your AE on the board after a successful drop, remember to place them at least one turn’s movement away from where you want them to actually “land”. Example: if you want to throw a grenade on your first turn, place your AE four hexes (away from the enemy and hopefully with height advantage) back from the hex where you plan on throwing it from. If you happen to lose the initiative, those 4 buffer spaces should at least keep them safe from melee attack on the first round where you can then hopefully reevaluate the situation. (UPC)

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-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

Power Rankings

Jexik: Airborne Elite- Though easy to kill, the AE can attack with high power. A-

OEAO: Airborne Elite- 4x4 at 8 after a first round Drop is crazy ridiculous. Avoid using grenades other than in a very specific few circumstances as they are a trap. Inconsistent in that they can fail to drop or just not drop when you need them to, and 2 defense is bad. A-

Cleon: Tier 8 (32/208)

dok (VC inclusive): A-

Master Index
Paratrooping onto Ladder Rungs?
Grenades under Overhangs?


Unit Strategy Review

Unit Strategy Review: Airborne Elite