Skaven Blitzers / Storm Vermin

Skaven Blitzer Overview:

Skaven Blitzers (previously known as Storm Vermin) are the two players on the Skaven team that give them some reliable strength and resilience. They have the highest armour of the Skaven players at AV8, though this still is only an average value. The Blitzers also have access to strength skills, so you can utilise them to add a bit of bite or resistance to your squad. While they do make really good Blitzers, with access to strength skills and also having high movement, I think there are better ways to develop them given the make up of the team as a whole.

If you read my guide on Gutter Runners, you will see that I lean towards using them for blitzing, they are even faster and more mobile and you can counter their low strength. This is because the Blitzers can get Guard and with their higher armour are going to survive in a ruck better than the rest of your team (though don’t mistake AV8 for being better than it is). As they start with Block you can still blitz with them should you have them free, able to get to the target and also need the higher strength. Skaven are very flexible with regards to their high movement, so look around the pitch for the best player to fulfil any specific action.

Protective Blitzer:

• Normal: Guard, Tackle/Stand Firm, Fend, Mighty Blow
• Doubles: Dodge, Side Step/Horns/Claw
• Stat Increase: +ST +AG +AV/+MV

Personally I tend to develop mine to complement the current state of the team as a whole and with an eye on the other teams in the league, rather than a hard and fast build. I’d start with Guard though, as they are the only players on your team who can easily get it. Combined with their higher armour you can move them in to assist where you need them, whilst they are more survivable if that should leave them open to get hit again next turn. Ideally that wouldn’t happen but sometimes needs must. I would also consider getting Tackle next, or first if building both this way. As they start with Block, having a player who has the Block and Tackle combo is well worth having. Stand Firm is good if you want to block off parts of the pitch and slow down cages, also combines well with Guard or if marking someone. There are quite a few skills that could be useful after that, Fend aids in slowing down cages and minimising blocks against him. I may be tempted with Mighty Blow to give a bit more bite to your team though.

For doubles, Dodge is great for mobility reasons and protection, most Blocker positions on other teams usually won’t have Tackle. Block, Dodge, Guard and Stand Firm is a brilliant skill combination. Next up Side Step is great as well, though I wouldn’t take if it you already had Stand Firm. Then I would consider Horns or Claw instead. Stat wise +ST and +AG you should take without even thinking about it. For +MV or +AV, take the double on 5,5 rolls. For 4,6 +AV would be helpful if you tend to get them bogged down in a ruck, or if your skills lean more towards blitzing, then the +MV would probably be more helpful.

Killer Blitzer:

• Normal: Mighty Blow, Piling On, Tackle, Frenzy
• Doubles: Claw, Jump Up/Horns
• Stat Increase: +ST +AG

The standard killer build that teams with players to strength access can possibly add to their team. Get the numbers advantage on pitch with Skaven and you are probably on your way to winning. Mighty Blow first off to get more armour breaks and injuries, Piling On follows on nicely after that. Tackle for hitting the softer players who typically have Dodge. Frenzy will give you two chances to knock them over and is better on faster players like Skaven. The downside to this build is you are giving up on a player with Guard, so bear that in mind.

Doubles point to Claw being the most obvious, though it is less useful in leagues with lots of lower armour teams for obvious reasons. Jump Up combines really well with Piling On and also keeps your high movement available to you. Horns is another option if you are blitzing targets, which this build often will be, the extra strength is useful considering the lack of Guard on your team, will also make Frenzy less risky for the second block. Stat Inceases +ST is really useful, +AG lets you get to targets, though if you get it first or second skill, I would change plans and look to build a more rounded player.

Ball Extracting Blitzer:

• Normal: Tackle/Strip Ball, Guard, Stand Firm/Mighty Blow
• Doubles: Dodge, Two Heads/Horns
• Stat Increase: +ST +AG +MV

The more usual build is for ball extraction, with the standard skills of Tackle or Strip Ball. Follow up with Guard as it is never a bad choice. Stand Firm for the reasons mentioned above, or Mighty Blow to injure those players you are blitzing. Dodge, again for reasons given above, Two Heads also helps with mobility or Horns to make the blocks easier when you blitz targets. As ever +ST or +AG are a no brainer and I’d consider +MV on 6,4 rolls. You don’t really need to consider picking the ball up after you knock it free as you have Gutter Runners who should be able to get in and do that, or even perhaps a Thrower. Being that since Wrestle has come into the game, which is a better skill for ball extracting than Block, I find any player who starts with Block less useful to build in this manner.

Skaven Blitzer Summary:

With only two Blitzers available it can be tricky to decide how to develop them. Personally I look to building two of the Protective builds. They are the most flexible and you can give them a useful skill on every increase without really praying for a double roll like the Killer. The ball extracting role can be done with Gutter Runners, or a Lineman with Wrestle, so I don’t really favour that build either. Those jobs are probably also made easier if you get Guard on your Blitzers as well. If you run out of obvious choices you may want to look at skills like Shadowing, great for your high movement, especially as you probably already have Tackle as well.