Procession of the Sacred Affliction Strategy Guide
Just 2 weeks to go before the Carcass Front box will be arriving in stores! Last week, we posted a strategy guide for the Heretic Naval Raiders, and this week, we’re going to take a closer look at the second warband in the box: the Procession of the Sacred Affliction! These malady-stricken zealots seek redemption by unleashing untold violence on the enemies of the Faithful. But will you set them upon your foes? Here’s a quick look at their strengths and weaknesses, and how to get the best out of those who are both blessed and broken…
The Processions of the Sacred Affliction are perhaps the most striking of Trench Pilgrim Processions, formed of the many thousands of poor souls left diseased, disenfranchised or otherwise unwanted by upstanding society.
Founded by ailing refugees displaced by Beelzebub’s Black Grail in the fourteenth century, the Processions of the Sacred Affliction welcome all who suffer under the Lord and who wish to earn salvation in the holy pilgrimage to the front lines.
There, the otherwise open-armed Pilgrims unleash dirty, bloody violence on the forces of Hell, seeking redemption for their sins by way of taking as many of the Devil’s own back from whence they came.
The Procession of the Sacred Affliction are the rusty knuckle-dusters of Christendom, specialising in brutal melee assaults whilst not being afraid to take a hit or two back. Unlike other Trench Pilgrim Warbands, the Sacred Affliction rejects the use of Iron Capirotes and consistent ranged fire support, much preferring to enact the Lord’s Wrath in the heat of close combat, trading blows until they can gain the upper hand with the help of impervious armour and heavy weapons. When their opponent finally falters and is knocked down, the Sacred Affliction have additional bonuses to help them deal the finishing blow to vulnerable enemies. It is this, combined with the increased access to healing abilities, that makes even the humble Leper-Pilgrim able to hold their own against a more elite or trained foe.
However, much of the Procession’s resilience comes from their numbers, and healing abilities only work if there is a body left to heal. An isolated Pilgrim can be picked off, so it’s crucial to keep your models in cover and in the good company of elites and a musician to ensure they reach enemy lines before falling to heavier fire.
Strengths
Fuelled by Faith: The Procession of the Sacred Affliction are a resilient bunch. Imbued with faith in the Lord and protected by icons of His splendor, even the lowliest Leper-Pilgrim can suffer the most devastating wounds and still stay in the fight. Combine this with the healing prayers of the Lazarist Prophet, the regenerative properties of the Stigmatic Nun and the ability for Leper-Pilgrims to miraculously resurrect themselves once killed, and you have a Warband that is hard to keep down.
Holy Fire: The Procession relishes the chance to bathe No Man’s Land in the Lord’s cleansing flame. Whether it be from improvised Flamethrowers, blessed Incendiary Ammunition or the ever-reliable Molotov Cocktail, the Sacred Affliction has a lot of access to weapons with the FIRE Keyword. Helpfully, these weapons also often have ways to ignore the enemies armour, maximising their damage.
Drown them in Mud: If there is one thing a Procession Warband is known for, it’s hitting hard and fast in melee. Good examples of this include the uninhibited access to the extremely lethal Anti-Tank Hammers, as well as the Zealot Strength upgrade letting your Leper-Pilgrims wield HEAVY Weapons without penalties. However, the crowning ability of the Procession is Punishing Millstones, where the Warband can smite those that have been knocked down by their relentless assault, crushing them into the mud with the heavy stones they carry around their necks.
Weaknesses
Limited Armoury: Warbands of the Procession are not an organised military force. This doesn’t stop them from taking to the frontlines with comparable power, but it does mean they don’t have as much access to standard supplies due to not being an official part of New Antioch’s army. Ranged firepower is lacking, meaning that the Procession have to expose themselves to the firepower of their enemies as they close in for the righteous kill.
Risky Tactics: Many of the more powerful abilities available to the Procession also involve an element of risk. The Anti-Tank Hammer can cause damage to its user, the powerful Martyrdom Device is very likely to kill the Ecclesiastic Prisoner who detonates it, and the Morale boosting abilities of the Lazarist Castigator rely on them harming their allies in order to keep their faith.
If the Procession of the Sacred Affliction’s fighting style doesn’t make you want to burst into maniacal hymn, you can check out our Heretic Naval Raiders strategy guide from last week.
Cover art by Martin McCoy, Lazarist Prophet art by Mike Franchina.