Scalpel is a perfectly accurate skirmisher with both aoe and enough damage/alpha to be antiheavy.

What do you expect. There is no winning.

Yeah BlueTemplar they are very counterable in that way. They're still way overpowered in that even raiders have difficulty against them (and that tactic doesn't work if they're supported), but the entire factory is carried on their back until dagger is useful again.

They're also one of those units that are very difficult to deal with when you don't know how (like funnel and krow), and they've got a bimodal counter relationship in that they either make infinite cost or die quickly without making any (wolverine/firewalker). So they often feel even better than they actually are.

Most skirmishers do have AoE though. The orthodox thing would be to baleet guidance instead.

(otoh other perfect-accuracy skirmishers - domi, mod - lack AoE, so i guess it can be either)

I don't think it's inapplicable based on counter structure - The devs haven't had any issue splashing around with the counter structure before. Dante is a riot skirm, as is felon. Crabe and slashers are also riot skirms (ish) that sacrifice mobility for range.

Roles are not meant to be absolutes, they're loose descriptors of function.

That said, the name implies precision too. Funny how a mace has the practiced precision of a surgeon while the scalpel just smashes shit willynilly. :P