So what I have read in this post so far is Kaelyssa helps to deliver the sentinels. I have also read a couple mention Helynna being great as well. I see she helps delivery in a different way than Kaelyssa. So with those two in mind; whom do you prefer to lead a Legion of Dawn theme?
I've also played a number of games with Helynna leading the Dawnguard, and she plays a different style of delivery. Being able to have them at armor 20 (22 v ranged) for multiple turns or armor 23 (25 v ranged) is a big deal. She can also help with their threat range a bit, and the value she gives through Rhythm of War and Hand of Destruction cannot be overstated. But, her personal threat is very low, and she has no innate way to protect her sentinels on her own from offensive upkeeps.
Nevertheless, she is extremely good in theme, and I am actually much more comfortable with a marshalled jack with Helynna than with Kaelyssa. A siren is absolutely amazing when marshalled, and let's me run with no heavies. Between 8 pow 13s with signs and portents and a potential pow 18 weaponmaster jack, the battlegroup can be quite effective at killing enemy armor, and then you throw the sentinels. Kaelyssa lacks the damage buff and extra mobility that keeps the lights safe, so I'm more inclined to being a heavy with here as backup.
Here's a Helynna list I took to a tournament thisnweekend, and I enjoyed it immensely. The only marked weakness compared to Kaelyssa is lots of cover and cloud walls, which Kae handles with ease.
War Room Army
Retribution of Scyrah - Helynna - Legions
Theme: Legions of Dawn
2 / 2 Free Cards 74 / 75 Army
Magister Helynna - WJ: +30
- Sylys Wyshnalyrr, The Seeker - PC: 4
- Harpy - PC: 9 (Battlegroup Points Used: 9)
- Harpy - PC: 9 (Battlegroup Points Used: 9)
- Harpy - PC: 9 (Battlegroup Points Used: 9)
- Harpy - PC: 9 (Battlegroup Points Used: 3)
- Chimera - PC: 8
Arcanist Mechanik - PC: 2
Arcanist Mechanik - PC: 2
Arcanist Mechanik - PC: 2
Dawnguard Sentinel Scyir - PC: 0
- Siren - PC: 8
Dawnguard Sentinels - Leader & 9 Grunts: 18
- Dawnguard Sentinel Officer & Standard - Officer & Standard: 0
- Soulless Escort - PC: 1
Dawnguard Sentinels - Leader & 9 Grunts: 18
- Dawnguard Sentinel Officer & Standard - Officer & Standard: 4
- Soulless Escort - PC: 1
You can replace Sylys with Linus and Edrea to give more game into clouds, but they aren't always great into other matchups, and Sylys is always valuable. My favorite trick with him is to get signs and portents on Hand of Death so you have it all the time.
Hand of Death also cranks up the likelihood of crit knockdown on the Harpies, which can be a big deal.