Blindwalker Hype #2 - Spoilers

From the internets:

Blindwalker
Blindwater Heavy Warbeast

SPD: 5
MAT: 5
RAT: 1
DEF: 10
ARM: 20
Fury: 3
Threshold: 10
HP: 27


PC: 7
Claws x2, P+S 14, Open Fist
Amphibious
Shield Guard
Empathic Transference: Can be transferred to even if on full fury.
Animus: Rites of Power: RNG Self, Cost 2, Controller can channel spells, takes D3 damage for each channel (assuming this damages the beast, not the caster)


Obviously disclaimer that these may not be legit, but we'll go with that assumption for now. Here are my initial thoughts:

• Obviously not a combat beast given it's craptacular combat stats. HOWEVER, it does have two open fists which makes it at least capable of having some combat impact
• Relatively cheap at 7PC, and at 10/20 with 27HP, is overall slightly less tanky than a Wrastler.
• No Undead?
• The two most useful abilities on the card are Shield Guard and the Animus:
  - Shield Guard fits in with the Gator anti-shooting theme, and with good ARM makes it generally useful. Good for Calaban if he wants to put Occultation somewhere else.
  - The animus is basically a "shitty arc node", but an arc node nevertheless. This makes a huge difference to Calaban, who also likes the idea of a Shield Guard a lot.

• I see no reason to play this with Rask since he neither needs Shield Guards nor arc nodes.
• If Undead, could be decent with Maelok, not only for the tankability but also for the Shield Guard capability and the ability to cast an opportune Venom or cycle Death Pact from a distance.
• Not super useful with Barnabas, although with Warpath can get some pretty long range Flesh Eaters.
• Decent with Jaga as it provides her a buddy for Escort (although I usually use a Bull Snapper for this), and Deadweight is a REALLY good spell. Shield Guard can also help protect her troops as she otherwise has little anti-shooting tech.
• Obviously designed for Calaban - Shield Guard, Arc Node, consistent transfer target. Almost everything he could want - except that the arc node starts killing itself so not too useful to spam attack spells on the feat! Just the threat projection of Hex Blast and Parasite should be good though.

Anyway, I'll probably do a full write-up of my opinions for the full book as spoilers develop over the coming days.