Routing is always useful but this is telegraphed and sacrificed.  Powers Infantry Conscripts, but not enough to make this card see a huge amount of play IMO.

As we're commented elsewhere, there are pros and cons compared to Archon's Terror:

Pros:

- Can target unique units. Archon's Terror can't do this.

- Playing in Deploy phase give's a deploy turn's delay.

- Can be activated in Deploy phase for another turn's delay, and to effect upcoming command struggle. Also, answers Zythlex lockdown, and so on. Archon's Terror can't do this.

- Supports stuff that likes supports, as you say.

- Can be dropped in with the Enginseer Augur. Augur is non-viable in core set + blackmane, but this card rapidly approaches it to usability. One more good AM support, and the deck is playable.

- Even telegraphed, a rout is an effect worth 2.

Cons:

- Telegraphed.

Add those factors up, and they balance out. This card is easily as good as Archon's Terror. 5 stars.

Add to your cons list:

- Single use.  No recursion for supports (unlike Archons Terror)

- Vulnerable to Support Hate (Squig Bombin', Deathskull Lootas, etc.)

It's a nice effect but I think it's downsides are too much until we get better supporting pieces, in which case it'll shoot up in effectiveness.

Another fine example of AM being kings of the Support cards.

Much like Archon's Terror this card has some extreme potential in special because in-faction there is also good synergy for it.

Besides the synergies Routing is easily the next best thing after Destroying in this game.

5/5 (4.75/5 if it was possible, Archon's Terror is slightly superior because it also has 1 Shield Icon)

In my honest opinion this card will be as much as a staple for AM as Catachan Outpost is. The AM have a very high combat potential only often have to make heavy sacrifies to do that (which isn't always a problem but can become one in the late game).

Every card that allows it to make less sacrifices make AM more powerfull. This card should be at least included 2-3x in any AM deck, not because of Augur or Conscripts but because Catachan Outpost becomes better the game stretches on and this effect will allow you to do just that.

Add to your cons list:

 

- Single use.  No recursion for supports (unlike Archons Terror)

- Vulnerable to Support Hate (Squig Bombin', Deathskull Lootas, etc.)

 

It's a nice effect but I think it's downsides are too much until we get better supporting pieces, in which case it'll shoot up in effectiveness.

Good points.

However I suppose if we're adding vulnerable to support hate, then we can also say:

Pros:

- Can't be Nullified.

5/5 (4.5/5 if it was possible, Archon's Terror is slightly superior because it also has 2 Shield Icons)

1 shield, I'm afraid. But point taken.

Slipped my mind, as I think I can count the number of times I've played Archon's Terror for shield on one hand. No, make that one finger.

This card is superior to Archon terror, you can route stuff before struggle. AND it gives you another action to play in deploy.

Telegraphed? Yeah, because a dark Eldar with 2 resources during combat phase doesn't give you any clues about what is going to play.

When AM will have a decent WL it'll be fun.

1 shield, I'm afraid. But point taken.

 

Slipped my mind, as I think I can count the number of times I've played Archon's Terror for shield on one hand. No, make that one finger.

Your totally right, 1 Shield it is (considerd that post edited).

You are also right on not using it for it's Shield Icon in 99% of the times. Still I feel it's a little Icon that can make that difference in 1% of your games.

This card is superior to Archon terror, you can route stuff before struggle. AND it gives you another action to play in deploy.

Telegraphed? Yeah, because a dark Eldar with 2 resources during combat phase doesn't give you any clues about what is going to play.

 

When AM will have a decent WL it'll be fun.

I think I agree with you altough if people are bound on playing Straken they should include this card for sure.

AM seems to have a multitude of good 2 drops. Which in turn means their Deployment phases are really solid (no lows or extreme peakes) in special with this Support added it's another way to balance "problems" out/get information out of your opponent.

All in all both Archon's Terror and this card are incredible, each have their small differences in pro's and con's.

This card is superior to Archon's Terror in that it can help win a key command struggle - as was mentioned by FedericoFasullo. But ALSO because it has synergy with the Enginseer, Infantry Conscripts AND there is no way to stop it. Nullify works against Archon's Terror, but not against this puppy.

The most subtle con to this card over AT is that games are won in the battle phase. Thus in almost every game you'll have resources from the last command phase doing nothing. A DE player can bank on getting 2 resources to play AT and thus spend everything on playing units. The AM player must spend his resources on this card and then get extra non-routing resources in the Command phase.

The trade off is, of course, delay during deployment, etc. This feels like the most powerful con of this card. Event hate vs. Support hate changes based on your opponent, telegraphing only works against someone not paying attention (every DE turn is a potential AT if they have 2 resources). This can be counteracted by having staging ground in play, but that's cards and combos.

Still I very nice card (because I hate being routed. Ugh). I'm curious just how big an impact this timing/resource difference will make.

I think the other difference is that (at present at least) Archon's Terror is a really easy x3 pick for Kith, as there's not really anything of comparable quality in its non-unit slots that would take its space.

In contrast, Fortress is competing for the same slots as Staging Ground, Ammo Depot, Catachan Outpost, the 2-shield events, Suppressive Fire. It really gets crowded quick.

I think in a no context card v card comparsion the two cards are very comparable, with Archon's Terror slightly ahead for the reasons discussed. However, in deckbuilding, its a lot simpler to say 3 x Terror than it is to say 3 x Fortress, because of context.

Janky combo of the week: trigger IF on a target army unit at planet X before the command phase that you want at the battle planet. As it doesn't say enemy, this can be your unit. 

This is almost the definition of jank, but if you know, e.g., that you'll be facing AOE at the first planet and you need to win it, you could use this to get back your poor Chimera hanging out at some distant planet. 

Since this option is not available to AT, this card goes up 1/15th of a star. 

Even though a lot of stuffs Astra Militarum is doing are telegraphed, it's still a good effect.

As someone said to me before: ''Astra Militarum is the champion of telegraphed move that you can't stop.''

I agree with the wise man who said that, and also think he's an excellent doctor.