Rise of the machines

[InfestedKerrigan]

Information:

 

 

General Warlord Traits: 

Specific Warlord Traits: 

Stratagems: 

“Chapter Tactics”:

[Dark Trainer]

Omg, i would love to run my destroyers again! Any idea on a date for the codex?

[Chikin]

19 minutes ago, Dark Trainer said:

Omg, i would love to run my destroyers again! Any idea on a date for the codex?

End of March is what they said with the announcement of the new box set.

[Dark Trainer]

45 minutes ago, Chikin said:

End of March is what they said with the announcement of the new box set.

You just made my day. Time to dust off the destroyers...

[andozane]

Damn, I have 3 HVY Destroyer conversion kits I may need to bust out too...

[Kingpin]

I have 18 Destroyers, 3 heavy Destroyers, and a Destroyer Lord all ready for action. But I am actually really interested in trying a mostly Infantry list out to see how it goes.

[InfestedKerrigan]

Excellent news, Guardsmen!

While the Cicatrix Maledictum has provided all manner of opportunities for heroism, all good things must come to an end. Today, Adeptus Mechanicus Explorator Fleets are happy to announce the discovery of a new material, known as blackstone, that may hold the secret to keeping the Great Rift at bay, should it ever become a substantial threat.

What is Blackstone?

Blackstone is a naturally occurring material which appears to have warp-dampening qualities. Several deposits already exist on several Imperial worlds, such those formed on Cadia* by the unusual geological processes on that world. How it works is no concern of yours – but your assistance is needed in safely recovering blackstone for use by the Adeptus Mechanicus!

Spotting Blackstone

During field operations, you may happen upon naturally occurring deposits of blackstone which, to the untrained eye, may appear to be pre-formed into structures/xenos war machines. We have provided this field guide to assist you:

1. Monolithius Stelae: Naturally Occurring “Pylons”

2. Monolithius Sepulchrum: Naturally Occurring “Structures”

3. Monolithius Sepulchrum Maxima: Naturally occurring “activated” deposits. IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not attempt excavation without heavy mining equipment, e.g. Rockgrinders, lascannons, Adeptus Astartes support units.

We’re sure you’re raring to put your newly learned geological skills to the test, and thus your regiment is being dispatched to Amontep II in order to help the Adeptus Mechanicus with their surveys.**

---

* Which, we must reiterate, still stands and will be reconstituted into a more appropriate spherical shape as soon as possible.
** In rare circumstances, you may also be required to remove some residual xenos presence but we are assured by Magos Ologostion that any loss of life will be acceptable, and unlikely to overly distract the Skitarii from their duty anyway.

[pretre]

Posted 19/03/2018

Preview: The Sautekh Dynasty, Tomb Blades and the Catacomb Command Barge

Codex: Necrons is designed to give you unprecedented choice and flexibility when constructing your army. Like previous codexes, you’ll be able to customise your army by dedicating them to a well-known sub-faction – in this case, a dynasty. Each dynasty has a corresponding Dynastic Code – a set of rules that’ll allow for a huge range of potential armies. This week, we’ll be previewing each Dynastic Code, as well as taking a look at some of the most improved units in the new codex. You may remember the Sautekh Dynastic Code, Relentless Advance, from last week’s sneak peek.

Sautekh Dynasty Necrons have something that the army has traditionally lacked – mobility! By allowing your units to Advance and shoot, your opponents will find it much more difficult to stay out of range of your deadliest weapons, allowing you to take ground with your Necron Warriors and Immortals while maintaining a steady hail of fire.

Equipped with a variety of Assault or Rapid Fire Weapons, Tomb Blades are particularly good candidates for Relentless Advance, adding D6″ to their already impressive movement of 14″. Where Tomb Blades really shine, however, is their new Evasion Engrams rule:

With Toughness 5, 2 Wounds and a respectable 4+ Save, Tomb Blades are already pretty durable, and this makes them even harder to put down. And the best bit? They’ve gone down in points, too. Of course, to fully capitalise on Tomb Blades, you’ll want to keep a Character carrying a resurrection orb nearby to help bring the squad back up to strength should your enemy manage to break through… and we can think of the perfect candidate.

Codex: Necrons contains a host of rules for customising your Characters and constructing your ideal nemesor. With a vast host of Artefacts of the Aeons and Warlord Traits to choose from, your Overlord could be anything from a backline commander to a brutal offensive unit in his own right. Sautekh Warlords are great if you’re looking to make maximum use of the new Stratagems in the book thanks to Hyperlogical Strategist.

But which Warlord to pick? Our eyes are on the Catacomb Command Barge – it’s durable, it’s incredibly well armed and you’ll be able to lay down a considerable hail of fire on the move with your gauss cannon and staff of light thanks to the Sautekh Dynastic Code.

Your opponent will, naturally, want to take down your Warlord as quickly as possible, but even death is not the end for the Necron characters! For a mere command point, you’ll have a chance to escape death and heal up with Resurrection Protocols.

Finally, you’ll want to ensure you keep a Cryptek with a Canoptek cloak nearby for the best possible results, providing bonuses to your Reanimation Protocols and helping your Catacomb Command Barge regenerate wounds.

In short, Sautekh armies are flexible, surprisingly mobile and well-placed to take advantage of the host of new rules in Codex: Necrons. They’re far from the only dynasty in the book, however. Come back tomorrow, when we’ll be taking a closer look at the merciless Mephrit Dynasty, and some changes to Destroyers that’ll make them even deadlier…

[pretre]

Posted 20/03/2018

Preview: The Mephrit Dynasty and Destroyers

The new Codex: Necrons broadens the tactical options available to Necrons players while capitalising on the existing strengths of the army. While the Necrons are notoriously durable thanks to excellent saves, Toughness and, of course, Reanimation Protocols, they’re also superb on the offensive thanks to the high AP characteristic of gauss weaponry.

One Necron dynasty, however, is particularly lethal against armoured foes: Mephrit.

Solar Fury makes the Necron army absolutely devastating to face at short range. From helping your heavier weapons to tear through even the very best armour saves to allowing your tesla weapons to shred massed infantry at close range, this is quite possibly the most potent offensive Dynastic Code available to the Necrons.

While there are few units in your army that won’t benefit from this Dynastic Code, we can think of one choice that’ll find it particularly useful…

Destroyers are perhaps the most sinister of the Necrons, infused with an insatiable urge to erase all sentient life, and bereft of any emotion save a cold, simmering fury. Destroyers have been significantly improved in Codex: Necrons, their gauss cannons gifted an additional shot and an extra point of Strength, not to mention having their points slashed!

At short range, Mephrit Destroyers will go through even Terminators with ease – but that’s not all. Destroyers from any dynasty can now utilise one of the most brutally effective Stratagems in the game:

What if your enemy is hiding in cover? That’s easily dealt with too:

In short, Mephrit Dynasty Necrons are ideal for when you really, truly need an enemy to die – but you’ll need someone to lead them…

Yesterday, we looked into how Necron characters can be built to support the rest of your army, but thanks to the new codex, you’ll also be able to create some pretty deadly hero-hunters. A Mephrit Destroyer Lord with a warscythe is a brutal option, cutting through enemy armour and punishing anyone who tries to charge your lines.

Equip yours with the Voidreaper and there’s little that’ll be able to stand in your way – and what’s more, you’ll be able to tackle foes reliant on their invulnerable saves by utilising Entropic Strike.

Another sneaky combo you could try is combining the Mephrit Warlord Trait, Merciless Tyrant, with their artefact, the Voltaic Staff. In the hands of your chosen Character, this will allow you to strip out enemy support units with terrifying ease.

The Mephrit are a brutal close assault force that’ll tear through elite armies with ease – but they’re not the only Necron dynasty that specialises in short-range warfare. Tomorrow, we’ll be looking at the bloodthirsty Novokh Dynasty, and their surprising skill in close combat…

[WestRider]

I like how they call out the Destroyers for gunning down Terminators at under half range, when there isn't actually any difference between AP-3 and AP-4 there, because Termis have a 5++ ;)

[pretre]

53 minutes ago, WestRider said:

I like how they call out the Destroyers for gunning down Terminators at under half range, when there isn't actually any difference between AP-3 and AP-4 there, because Termis have a 5++ ;)

Cover?

[WestRider]

15 hours ago, pretre said:

Cover?

Yeah, then it would make a difference. But the statement in the article didn't have any qualifiers like that. And even then, it might be better to stay back out of double-tapping Storm Bolter range of any survivors.

[pretre]

Preview: The Novokh Dynasty, Flayed Ones and Canoptek Wraiths

One of the most exciting things about the latest batch of codexes is the new types of army builds they’ve made available to Warhammer 40,000 players. Codex: Necrons is no exception – so far, we’ve looked at the unusually mobile armies of the Sautekh Dynasty and the short-ranged carnage wrought by the Mephrit Dynasty. More than the others, however, there is one Dynastic Code that reinvents how your army works.

Traditionally, Necrons are well known for being a shooting army, with a couple of deadly close-combat units to deal with anyone that reaches your lines and to hold down particularly dangerous enemies. The Novokh Dynasty turns this archetype on its head with Awakened by Murder:

With this Dynastic Code, your close-combat units will be able to go toe to toe with whatever the enemy can array against them, while defensively, any enemy wishing to charge your shooting units will have to risk taking more casualties than they can afford in return.

There are several units that are particularly effective with this Dynastic Code, but our favourite has to be Flayed Ones.

Having received a marked points cut in the new codex, Flayed Ones are a great option for a melee-oriented Necrons army. Matching the impressive durability of their brethren, Flayed Ones can tackle even the toughest enemies thanks to their re-rolls to wound, while the re-rolls to hit provided by the Novokh Dynastic Code are icing on the cake. We’d recommend going all-out and taking a unit of 20, then activating the Disruption Fields Stratagem for the best results.

Enemies still alive? Give it another go with Blood Rites.

Against more heavily armoured opponents, you’ll need to pack some specialist weapons. Thankfully, a certain Canoptek unit has received some significant enhancements…

In Codex: Necrons, Canoptek Wraiths have been granted additional Damage and AP on their close combat attacks, making them superb hunters of heavy infantry. By using yours with Awakened by Murder, you’ll be able to ensure your attacks land and deal maximum damage when you charge.

Defensively, Canoptek Wraiths are even more difficult to get rid of. As if 3 Wounds, a 3+ invulnerable save and Toughness 5 wasn’t already durable enough, you’ll be able to bring units back from the brink of destruction with Repair Subroutines:

Make sure to keep a Cryptek nearby to ensure the best results!

Novokh Dynasty armies are ideal for Necrons players who want to take the fight directly to their enemy – or just fancy some insurance against getting charged.

We’ve looked at all sorts of unconventional Necron dynasties so far in our preview, but if you’re looking to field a more classic force, worry not – the Nihilakh Dynasty is ideal. Come back tomorrow when we’ll be checking them out.

[DisruptiveConduct]

wow. wraiths getting reanimation protocols and a flat 2 damage attack. very nice upgrade!

[WestRider]

3 hours ago, DisruptiveConduct said:

wow. wraiths getting reanimation protocols and a flat 2 damage attack. very nice upgrade!

I also like that the Whip Coils are no longer a "gotta have it" upgrade. Makes them much more convenient, logistically speaking.

[pretre]

Preview: The Nihilakh Dynasty, Doomsday Arks, and Lychguard

The classic image of a Necrons army is that of an implacable metallic wall – a serried mass of Warriors and Immortals resisting any and all attempts to displace them. We’ve looked at all sorts of ways you can shake up your Necrons army in our previews so far – from the melee mastery of the Novokh Dynasty to the armour-shredding abilities of the Mephrit Dynasty – but the Nihilakh Dynasty is ideal if you’re looking to field a more traditional force – an immovable, immortal gunline.

From the humble Necron Warrior right up to your Annihilation Barge, there are few units in your army that won’t benefit from re-rolling 1s to hit. One unit in particular truly shines in a Nihilakh army.

In the new Necrons codex, the doomsday cannon has been upgraded to properly live up to its name and is quite possibly one of the deadliest ranged weapons in the entire game, now working just as effectively against small units and single models as it does larger squads.

Cleaving through armour with ease, and shrugging off damage with Quantum Shielding, every Nihilakh army will want a couple of these Doomsday Arks hovering on their back lines. Even if you end up taking damage, you’ll be able to keep firing with unerring accuracy thanks to Damage Control Override:

Of course, a gunline is all well and good, but you’ll need a contingency plan for any enemies that can set up close to your lines or those units that can weather your firepower, like Imperial Knights. For that, Lychguard offer a somewhat insidious solution.

Lychguard have always been an invaluable unit for Necrons players, providing valuable support to nearby leaders, possessing excellent durability and even intercepting wounds. But why include them in a Nihilakh army, which focuses largely on shooting?

For one, Lychguard are a fantastic counter-assault unit – you’ll want to keep a line of them around your most valuable vehicles to prevent them from being charged. Where they really shine is when you begin to combine them with the new Stratagems in the codex.

Dispersion Field Amplification boosts your Lychguards’ invulnerable saves AND forces any foe shooting at them to potentially risk injuring themselves, meaning the usual solution to dealing with high invulnerable saves – namely, overwhelming the foe with a high volume of attacks – suddenly becomes a much riskier prospect. If you really, really don’t want your Lychguard to die, you could even combine it with Reclaim a Lost Empire.

In this way, you’ll be able to transform your Lychguard with dispersion shields into a true shieldwall ideal for holding onto objectives or just keeping deadly opponents occupied. If you combine the two, you’ll receive a 2+ invulnerable save against shooting – the cost in Command Points may be steep, but for a last-minute objective grab, it could well be worth it…

Nihilakh are the ideal Necron Dynasty for players looking to field a defensive force with the firepower to punish anyone that comes close and is capable of holding the line in even the direst of circumstances.

There are still more Necron previews to come – make sure to come back tomorrow, when we’ll be looking into the reality-phasing Nephrekh Dynasty, C’tan Shards and Doom Scythes!

[pretre]

Preview: The Nephrekh Dynasty, C’tan Shards and Doom Scythes

The Necrons are the undisputed masters of science – while the warp continues to elude their grasp, the level of their technology borders on magical. The Nephrekh Dynasty take this to a new level, augmenting their bodies with metagold and phasing through solid matter with their Translocation Beams:

There are all sorts of units that excel in a Nephrekh army – and while we’d recommend Immortals with tesla carbines in particular, broadly speaking, any model carrying an Assault weapon is a strong candidate.

Indeed, for a change, we’ll be using this preview to check out a couple of units that have a place in ANY Necrons army, not just the Nephrekh Dynasty – these guys are just too awesome not to mention…

While C’tan Shards can never benefit from Dynastic Codes, we couldn’t resist spotlighting them in this preview. These enslaved star gods add some significant – if highly unpredictable – punch to any Necrons army, thanks to an extended suite of powers of the C’tan. One of our favourites is Cosmic Fire, a brutal ability that punishes armies that use multiple small units:

Similarly, Sky of Falling Stars allows you to reliably inflict wounds on units with more than five models – imagine the deluge of mortal wounds you’d be able to inflict by combining the two…

You’ll be able to cast these powers with your classic C’tan – the Nightbringer and the Deceiver – or you could harness the powers of the Transcendent C’tan. To represent the fractured, unstable personalities of a Transcendent Shard, you can now pick one of the following traits (or roll for two!) before your game starts.

Each C’tan in your army will feel chaotic, terrifying, powerful and unique – exactly as they should be!

The Flyer slot is a competitive one when building a Warhammer 40,000 army list, and particularly in a Necrons army, where usually you’ll be picking between offensively oriented Doom Scythes and the invaluable transportative powers of the Night Scythe.

While Doom Scythes might not directly benefit from Translocation Beams, they’re still a valuable pick in the Nephrekh army. Why? Because transport duty can be taken by the Translocation Crypt Stratagem.

You’ll want to use large units of Necron Warriors to fence in your foes early in the game before releasing a deadly combined assault from your Doom Scythes with Amalgamated Targeting Data.

Usually, moving Doom Scythes have to worry about accuracy when firing their death rays, but with this Stratagem, tougher enemies will be reliably destroyed while your opponent will be forced to space their units as widely as possible to avoid obliteration.

You’ll be able to harness these new abilities very soon now – Codex: Necrons is available to pre-order tomorrow. If you really, really can’t wait to get started, we’d recommend picking up a Tesseract Vault – the perfect centrepiece for an existing collection or a pretty great way to kick off a new one!