Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Mechanicum (30k)

This page is in need of cleanup. Srsly. It's a fucking mess.

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Ave Omnisssiah!

Why Play The Mechanicum?

You've seen the models, right? For the first time since Rogue Trader, the followers of the Machine God can finally take to the field en masse! You can embody the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40,000 (30,000?) with your exotic Martian death-rays, terrifying Battle Automata and horrific Cybernetic monstrosities.

Also? Robots.

The Mechanicum is a curious force as it consists of several lists (currently two) representing different Ordos, and one for Taghmata (The vanilla). Each list is fairly small, with limited unit choices, but a large amount of flexibility within many of these units. Each new Horus Heresy source book from Forge World would seem to be adding new units or lists to create an ever-expanding range to choose from. Be warned; This is a slippery slope that may result in the loss of financial security, family & friends and house & home...

Also, Robots!

Unusually for Forge World, the Mechanicum is one of the cheapest armies to get in to. It's possible to start an army with a single Magos, and a pair of Castellax or small Thallax Cohorts. The army lists, whilst capable of standing alone, are intended to be used as allies for the Legion army list. As a starting point for a new army, this is ideal, as you need even less to get have something you can field. The Mechanicum units provide you with some unique possibilities for conversions, too. Take a cursory glance around coolminiornot or a painting forum and you'll find some damn fine examples. Of course, if this is not your thing, Forge World's own models are more than capable of satisfying any model fanatic.

It should be noted that, in fact, there are three separate Mechanicum lists:

• Ordo Reductor: The Ordo Reductor is in Book 1: Betrayal, and it's fairly small. In fact, there isn't even a standard HQ unit; you have to take a special character to field it as a legal army on the battlefield! However, it gets tanks (glorious tanks!), which the other list doesn't. Indeed, one of the biggest draws of this list is the ability to make a custom Land Raider; you pay for a basic Land Raider chassis, and then choose any of the dozens of options to kit it out. If you want heavy, armoured firepower, you'll probably like this list more. However, it's heavily reliant on "stand-ins" from the Legiones Astartes list, including Legion Techmarines and Legion Artillery, as there were very few Mechanicum models released when the book came out.
• Legio Cybernetica: The Legio Cybernetica feels more like a "full" list, including an actual non-unique HQ unit. Most importantly, you get ROBOTS! You also get Thallaxi (ported from the Ordo Reductor list) and the Myrmidons, which are basically Tech-Priests that have upgraded themselves with heavy weaponry. However, this comes at a cost. Aside from the single aircraft choice, there are no vehicles, not even Dedicated Transports. It's found in Book 2: Massacre.
• Taghmata: These are the ad-hoc armies put together by forgeworlds. This is meant to be the Vanilla.

Armory of the Omnissiah

Being a heresy era list, we get some funky wargear that's not found in later eras/outside of the hallowed halls of the machine god. Augments may also be a thing.

Ranged Weapons

• Volkite Weapons Ancient ray guns that date back to the Age of Strife, they were in the process of being replaced by the bolter as the preferred weapon of the Space Marines due to difficulties in production and maintenance. Volkite weapons have the 'Deflagrate' special rule, which means each unsaved wound caused inflicts another automatic hit! They come in five flavours, Serpenta (pistol), Charger (Assault 2), Caliver (Heavy 2), Culverin (Heavy 4) and the monster Carronade (S8 with Haywire and a beam effect that lets it hit everything in a straight line in front of it). Strangely, they have 15" range increments, so culverin is 45", but the charger only 15", and only have AP5.
• Conversion Beam Weapons Could be seen as inverse Melta; Longer range, Greater damage. The only two difference between the heavy and regular version is the former has a large blast radius but requires the unit to remain stationary in order to fire.
• Graviton Weapons These possess no strength, but possess both concussion and haywire effects. They also have a curious way of causing wounds by forcing the enemy to roll D6; if the result is above their unit strength they take a wound - a result of 6 always causes a wound. Annoyingly this makes it large ineffective against infantry blobs (seriously guardsmen have a 1 in 2 chance to survive this arcane weapon). However it also creates difficult and dangerous terrain in its blast radius, so it can at least severely impede their movement... because soemhow they got better in the 10,000 years since the heresy?
  • Graviton Imploders-These are salvo 2/4 grav guns (so roll against armor save), 18" range. So now you can have it both ways.
• (I)Rad Weapons What you get if you rip out a cathode ray tube from an old television and soup them up. They have fleshbane because you kill your foes with Space-Cancer. The larger one gets torrent and AP3.
• Photon Weapons Funky particle ray guns that have gets hot, ap2, blind, and LANCE. Comes in a pistol (range 12", S5, pistol), a gun (range 48", S6, heavy 2) and a cannon (range 70", S7, heavy 2).

The following are some specific weapons that pop up a lot.

• Rotor Cannon Basically a salvo lasgun.
• Las-Lock 18" assault s4 ap6
• Plasma Fusil Strength 6 salvo plasma. Doesn't get hot. Since most of our dudes get relentless, the salvo isn't really a concern. AP3 Salvo3 makes these terrifyingly efficient marine wood-chippers.
• Maxim Bolter Short range bolter that gets an extra shot.

Cybertheurgy

Like psychic powers. For machines. WHERE IS YOUR CHAOS GOD NOW?!

In order to successfully use a power, the cybertheurgist must take a leadership test. Depending on the strength and difficulty of the power, a bonus or penalty may be imposed on the leadership value of the model making the test (note that this is applied always to the characteristic value being tested, not the dice result) If the test is passed, the power takes effect. If the test is failed , the power does not take effect. If the test is failed and a result of a 12 (double 6) is rolled, the power has both failed and gone awry. Roll immediately on the cybertheurgy mishap table.

• Cybertheurgy mishap table
  • 1-3 Signal Corruption: The target battle automata may only fire snap shots and fights with ws 1 in assaults for the next game turn
  • 4-5 Corrosive Paradox: The target battle automata suffers a wound with no armour or cover saves possible
  • 6 Malifica: The machine spirit rebels and gains self awareness! The battle automata is now destroyed for the purposes of VP's and is no longer part of the controlling players force , if part of a unit , it is separated and placed out of coherency with the unit. The battle automata is still used in the previously controlling players turn , will from now on move towards and shoot at the closest unit each turn and then assault that same unit if able, both sides may now target the battle automata if they desire.

• The Powers of Cybertheurgy
  • Rite of Celerity, Ld Modifier +1: Target battle-automata gets +2 Initiative for the duration of the effect.
  • Rite of Eternity, Ld Modifier 0: Target battle-automata gets It Will Not Die for the duration of the effect.
  • Rite of Fury, Ld Modifier -1: Target battle-automata gets +D3 attacks for the duration of the effect.
  • Rite of Destruction, Ld Modifier -2: Target battle-automata may fire its weapons twice against the same target in its shooting phase. Cannot use ranged weapons in the next shooting phase.
  • Rite of Dread Castigation, Ld Modifier -2: Target ENEMY battle-automata. Both sides roll a D6 and add Leadership (Cybertheurgist for the attacker, battle-automata for the defender). Battle-automata suffers a wound with no armor or cover save allowed for each point that the attacker's total exceeds that of the defender.
    • What happens if your roll a mishap ?
  • Rite of Immolation, Ld Modifier -3: Target battle-automata (allied only?) self-destructs. Replace model with Large Blast marker. S = Battle-automata's Toughness, AP = Battle-automata's armour save. If a mishap happens while trying to use Rite of Immolation, don't roll on the mishap table, instead the Malifica effect is automatically applied.

Special Stuff

• Cyber Occularis Like servo skulls, but they're actually models and can move. If you've got one in 3 inches of your dudes, they all get Interceptor. If it's within 12" of enemies, they take a -1 to their cover save. They're taken as equipment by Magi and Techpriests for 15 points a head.
• Cortex Controller Keeps your Cybernetica from attacking their nearest foe. Right now the only cybernetica is Castellax, but there will certainly be more. You'll want a few of these around.
• Servo Arm If the guy has a cortex controller, they can repair robots. Hand out these to your magi and auxilia and watch your castellax never fucking die.
  • Programmed Behavior: Unless within 12" of a friendly model with a Cortex Controller, the following restrictions are placed on the units used in the game, these restrictions do not apply if the Battle Automata is already locked in combat:
    • Methodical: May not make Sweeping Advances or Run.
    • Target Priority: If an enemy model is within 12" and line of sight during the shooting phase, the Battle Automata must fire all its weapons against the closest enemy unit it is able to harm. If there is no enemy model within 12", they are free to select targets as usual.
    • Onslaught: If an enemy model is within 12" during their assault phase, the Battle Automata must attempt to charge the closest enemy unit. Note that the Battle Automata may still only charge the same unit it fired at in the Shooting Phase. If consolidating after combat, they must do so towards the nearest enemy model if there is one within 12".

Taghmata Unit Analysis

To be honest, I'm doing this as much so I can get a grip on things as for anything else, so bear with me.

HQ

• Magos Prime: Kind of like a Praetor. Must be upgraded with an Archana. Independant Character! REJOICE!
  • Archimandrite: Gives all your vehicles IWND and gets +1 to reserves
  • Malagra: Chases down hereteks, so gets +1Ws and Attack, among other things
  • Myrmidax: Makes you a Myrmidon
  • Ordinator: Gives you a bombardment attack
  • Lachrimallus: Gives you a unit of thralls that come back from the dead on a 5+ (and into reserves).
  • Macrotek: Looks like you get to reroll battlesmiths and Auxilia are troops? Also an extra fortification.

• Magos Dominus: Just like before, you need these assholes to keep your robots under control (unless you take Auxilia). NOT ICs.

• Decima:

• Arcmagos Inar Satarael: Monstrous creature sized Magos with a shield that can reflect shots back at the shooter and teleports home on a 3+ if he would otherwise die. Comes with a cortex controller and is an Archimadrite. If you're taking a lot of robots and who isn't? He's probably worth your time.

Elites

• Techpriest Auxillia: Must choose an Arcana. They can also take Triaros as a dedicated transport.
  • Enginseer gives them battlesmith and Servo Arms, their servitors get the support rule.
  • Lacyraemarta: FNP 5+ and +1 to Adsecularis FNP within 6". So they're thrallmasters. Sexy.
  • Reductor: Servo arms (Note, they don't loose Battlesmith), everyone gets Tank Hunters and Wrecker! They can also trade in their servo arms for Conversion Beamers or Gravitorn Imploders for +25

• Myrmidon Secutors- As before but can take a Triaros

Troops

• Thallax

• Castellax

• Adsecularis Covenant--Thralls as before, no vehicle, but they can now go up to 20 Thralls. Can be given Carapace, their shots doubled, or made into plague zombies with hatred. Mix in some Lacyraemarta love and suddenly you've got 4+ FNP.

Dedicated Transport

• Triaros Armoured Conveyer-- Not quite a CRASSUS, but close. 14/12/12, 4HP The thing comes standard with a flare shield for all that -1 goodness. It also gets a shock ram, wich is like an anabaric claw, but also gives you AV15 on your front when ramming and does haywire damage. Carries 20 and rerolls dangerous terrain. Give it lesser IWND for 5 points. 135.

Fast Attack

• Ursarax Cohort==These fuckers are Thallax with twin lightning claws and they have ironman chest lasers. If they use them in CC, they are str6 ap2 instant death, but you only get the one attack that turn.
• Vorax Class Battle-Automata--Quicker and lighter (4+ armour and 3W, but I4) than the Castellax, they get fleet and scout. They also come standard with a pair of rotor cannons, a lightning gun, and powerblades. (Can swap the lightning for an irrad cleanser) Outflank these assholes and let their automatic programming take care of the rest.
• Planes
• Tarantulas

Heavy Support

• Thanatar Class Siege-Automata--240 a pop, but they're t8,s8 2+. They get Hellex Plasma Mortars, which are ordinance barrage str 8 ap2 plasma blasts which force rerolls on conver saves. Go look up a picture and see how sexy they are.

• Krios--Farmer Jone's angry Tractor. These fuckers are 13/12/10 3HP with a flare shield. Awwhell yeah. The're fast and can be taken in squadrons of 3. Start off at 125, and can take a Pulsar Fusil for 25 extra points. (So turn your 7 3 large blast lighting gun into a 9 2 ordinance 4. Can be taken in mixed.) They also have Autosimulacra.

• Mechraiders

• Myrmidon Destructors--Can now take a Photon Thruster. They also can take Triaroi.

Lords of War

• Knight Errant

• Knight Paladin

• Knight Lancer--3d6 run, I4 (5 on the charge) d strength lance. 18" H6 S7 ap2 Concussive. Shield is like an ion shield but can't cover your ass and works in CC. 400 points.

• Warhound Titan

• Reaver Titan

Ordo Reductor Unit Analysis

HQ

• Magos Reductor Caleb Decima: A tough motherfucker that also comes with a Haywire-spamming gun which will one-shot anything less than a Titan (although it's one-use-only).

Troops

• Mechanicum Thallax Cohort: Shock Troops sometimes gifted by the Ordo Reductor to the Legio Cybernetica, Thallax are Ogryn sized Jet Troops. You can only have a special weapon for every 3 thallax, so keep the units in multiples of 3. Their standard lightning gun (18" S7 AP5, heavy 1, shred, rending) is best used at short range against light vehicles, so a good option is a simple multi-melta and destructor augments. The photon thruster is really the best weapon option - sadly you have to take 2 expensive ablative thallax for each one. Overall pretty damn good but start to cost a lot of points quickly. This isn't a fantastic way of picking up a tonne of high strength weaponry; Legion heavy support is far cheaper, and carries more vanilla weaponry for this purpose. However Legion Heavy support doesn't have Relentless and meltabombs.
  • Phased-Plasma Fusils are an interesting weapon choice, though listed as Salvo 2/3 it needs to be remembered that Thallax possess relentless, thus turning this into a Assault 3, 24" S6 AP3, which is amazing against marines. Of course you may be wondering if this subverts the point of using the Thallax cohort as tank hunters and you would be right it does. However if you're running an all Ordo-Reductor these weapons are extremely potent as they provide a cheap way of taking out chunks of marines without taking out chunks of your self.
  • Irrad-cleansers are also a very interesting weapon; 2+ Fleshbane (not poison!) template pretty much guarantees a large portion of the target will get wounded, at AP5 however it could vary widely as to how effective it is afterwards; Ork, Nids, IG and even Nurgle demons blobs; not a problem. Khorne Berserkers and Space Wolves; better use that 2D6. Tau with their 4+? You're S/T5, A2 striking at the same initiative, you can charge them and crush them like the blue berries they are.
  • Photon-Thrusters are expensive (25pts), but they provide 48" S6 AP2 blind at Heavy 2 (as well as Lance but at S6 who cares). Now; what jumps around the field like a pony, has T6, a 2+ save, and a low initiative? Riptides! Of course, in 30K, the race of Tau wasn't even known and you shouldn't be planning around fighting 40k armies. In 30k its a brutal solution to chipping Terminator blobs and forcing the squishier of the Primarchs to take lots of invulnerable saves (Lorgar, Fulgrim and Konrad Curze are all examples). In this regard it could be considered a "safe solution" (it is gets hot)to taking on the above threats and anything short of those. Of course at 25 pts cheaper solutions are present; if you have a big enough pair of balls using a mob of 9 Thallax cohorts at 18" and throwing yourself to lady luck for your jetpack roll could work very well.
  • Multi-lasers are also an option, unless you really want to throw some really cheap S6 hits at 36" (5pts) don't bother... it is really cheap though.
  • The other augments are also neat, though if you're taking this as an allied choice they are really diminished.
    • Icarian: Would be good if all your weapons weren't in the category of being short ranged or too low in strength to reliably at least glance AV12 (Most fliers tend to be around 10-12). It also requires the unit be stationary that entire turn; which is the problem with all the short ranged weapons or under powered to be reliable. This is where you would want the multi-laser to come into play (heavy 3, S6) but you can only take it once for every 3 models.
      • This causes the unit to become a heavy support choice rather than troops.
    • Ferrox: Rage is nice adding 2 attacks on the charge, so is rending. In a legion list you already have quite a lot of pretty good melee units, many with power weapons and a pretty good strength value. This particular anon is still wondering if its worth also taking heavy chain blades with this upgrade; it would allow you to instant death a huge blob of T3 units and give you the opportunity to score quite a a lot wounds on units with T5-6, which previously would of been difficult... but you already have rending so this upgrade could be somewhat irrelevant in that respect, as a roll of 6 with S5 is as a effect as a S7 now that you have rending.
      • This makes the unit become a fast-attack choice rather than troops.
  • It's somewhat shocking too see that Djinn-sight has been overlooked completely. Djinn-sight prevents units from being infiltrated within 24" of a Thallax model (so you could really abuse some cohesion if you wished.). But most importantly is there ability to reduce cover saves by 2! This combined with their access to pretty high strength weaponry means they can take on horrors such as Nob bikers at range! Go to ground in open terrain is ignored completely as that provides a 6+ save.
  • Given the damage output of these units when upgraded and there ability to be deep striked, in addition to be a troops choice that can deep strike, it is probably best to go with the maximum squad size when possible as after the turn they arrive, they will be shot at (The Castellax tend to be to tough and the Thralls too insignificant). Remember deep-striking stops you only from charging; you can still move 2d6 elsewhere; use this to get the fuck away from the enemy or to the next target.

Dedicated Transports

• Mechanicum Land Raider: "Build Your Land Raider" construction kit. As dedicated transport. Starting from 195 points you can make any and all type of pre- and post-heresy LR's, except Terminus Ultra, Ares, or Achilles, and even some homebrew beast that does not exist on any sacred blueprints (disregard the fact, that this is techno-heresy) - like mixing melta-imunity with heavy flamers all around to burn shit and does not afraid anything (cause railguns won't be invented for a few millenia) Also flare shields. Because you can.
  • Interestingly one of the best options might be too just give it a hull mounted Lascannon. This creates a 205pts anti-tank vehicle that is incredibly tough. Of course the problem then is that you still have to pay at least 135 pts for the Thallax cohort (bringing the overall cost to 350).
  • Gravitron cannons are also an option for an anti-armour Land Raider, as they possess haywire. Also semi-useful against Tau Firewarror lines (as the gravitron cannon is AP4.)
  • Twin-linked multi-meltas are probably a non-option in that they possess short range and are relatively cheap (albiet without Twin-linkage) on Thallax Cohorts.
  • Dual Flamestorm cannons with Aromatic Ceramite is a fantastic option for pushing shit out of cover, especially with its AP3 (so its a godsend in 30K).
  • The Explorator Augary Web is an option limited to this vehicle and the Proteus. Its incredibly interesting for its ability to either to reduce enemy reserve rolls by one (invariably screwing with anyone who uses aircraft in abundance, so Necrons in particular) or let you re-roll your own reserves (failed or successful!). Only one Augary web per side may be active at any one time, and with this upgrade costing 50pts you will almost certainly only have one of these. It reduces capacity to 8 models which will somewhat hamper the scout rule it gained from this. Overall its a very useful option that should be strongly considered.

Lords of War

• Imperial Avenger Strike Fighter:
• Warhound Scout Titan: Do you remember this is 30K, where Imperium tech was not a tale of slow degradation? Well, pre-heresy Warhound comes with one extra void shield and night vision for the same price as post-heresy one. Even though 6-th edition nerfed D-strength a lot (no more +1 on damage chart), pair of DB TLD's is still a go-to load-out, but due to all-marine environment choosing megabolter or inferno cannon actually start to make some sense, especially with huge blobs of said marines.
• Reaver Battle Titan: Bigger, tougher, meaner and slower titan. As with Warhound, destroyer blast spam is still preferable weapon loadout, but nothing wrong with choosing gatling blaster or melta cannon. Vortex missile for carapace weapon is an interesting choice, capable of one-shoting any other lord of war with removing D3 SP from super-heavies or just instakilling any other model (yes, even primarch) with no saves of any kind allowed, but it is one use only, so use it wisely.

Legio Cybernetica Unit Analysis

Legio Cybernetica Warlord Traits

The Legio Cybernetica have their own unique Warlord table.

• 1 - Master of Mechanism - Select one MC unit OR vehicle squadron with at least one AV12 or more side in the same detachement. This unit/squadron gets It Will Not Die.
• 2 - Perfected Targetting - In the Shooting phase, select a Heavy weapon within 6" of the Warlord. The weapon counts as twin-linked for the turn. This can be done every turn.
• 3 - Predictive Augury - The Warlord and the unit he is joined to hit on 5 and 6 for Overwatch.
• 4 - The Death of Flesh - All units in the detachement have Preferred Enemy (Infantry - All Types) while within 3" of an objective.
• 5 - Dread Rites - The Warlord and the unit he is joined cause Fear and are immune to it. They also receive the Adamantium Will special rule.
• 6 - Battlefield Analysis - After deployment but before the game begins, can select a piece of terrain in the opponent's deployment zone and reduce its cover save by -1.

HQ

• Magos Dominus" What the average neckbeard has become by the 30th millennium. Comes with a cortex controller, laspistol and power weapon base; they're essential if you want to be actually able to control your robots. Can be upgraded to an Archmagos for a better statline and Relentless (probably a good idea, since several of the cooler weapons they can take are heavy or salvo). As well as pistol weapons to replace the laspistol, you can take things like Irrad-Cleansers, Conversion Beamers and Photon Thrusters on top of it (letting you keep the extra attack it grants). Non-weapon upgrades that may come in useful include the Abeyant for an extra wound, It Will Not Die, Move Through Cover and Hardened Armour; the Machinator Array, an old-style Servo-Harness that grants two extra Power Axe (rather than Power Fist) attacks and has an Inferno Pistol rather than a plasma pistol; the Mechanicum Protectiva, which as well as being a shout-out to the old Iron Hands Iron Father grants a 4++ save, which can be improved to a 3++ with the Cyber-Familiar (which also lets you reroll one characteristic test per player turn). They can get expensive quickly, even though a baseline Magos is only 65 points, but you can quickly make them into rock-hard beatsticks that will wreck face in both shooting and close combat. Can use Cybertheurgy powers (Ld 9, 10 for the Archmagos Dominus).
  • They can also be used as a Magos Reductor, for taking with the Ordo Reductor list (as a HQ in place of Decima), who loses the Cybertheurgy powers, but gains a variety of other rules including rad grenades.

Elites

• Enginseer Auxillia" 1 Enginseer + 4 Servo-automata for 65 points. Behaves similarly to the IG Enginseer, except you can add 1 extra Enginseer and give the Servo-automata (5 pts each) servo-harnesses (+5 pts each) to improve the repair roll of the unit. Can be used as source of Grav guns but without relentless they will suffer. Its best usage is almost certainly as a source of Nuncio-vox for your Thallax. Though they Cortex controllers at +15pts, it is probably better just getting a 2nd Magos and upgrading it to be tougher (and in the process, far deadlier) if your going to get that many Castellax units.

• Mymirdon Secutors: Sturdy SOBs. T5 W2 3+/5++, 120 points for 2 Secutors + 1 Lord without the weapons. Can add 7 Secutors (+35 pts each) and must equip two weapons on each (ranges from +10 pts to +20 each, doubles don't twin-link). Can fire the two weapons in a single phase at the same target, Relentless but cannot run or make a sweeping advance. Annoyingly not that great an option as they cost so many damn points: At cheapest a squad will cost 180 which will give them either a combination of 2 Maxim bolters, 2 Volkite chargers or 50/50. You may notice both are assault weapons and the squad as standard comes with a Power axe, so one could potentially use them as a sort of heavy assault trooper; a job that is immensely better performed by the Castellax automata. At an average cost of 75 per model for 2X Phased-plasma fusils you can get an extremely unpleasant marine killer! Unfortunately this is its only especially useful set-up. The only reason this anon has immiedately said "there isn't much these guys do that the Thallax do better" is because the Thallax can only take a special weapon as one in every 3... but with all the goodies the Thallax get this isn't that bum a deal, that and they get the Irrad cleanser and PPF at half price.

Troops

• Tech-Thrall Adsecularis: The cheapest unit available in 30k, heck even in 40k its only outdone by Ork grots by a decimal point! (35pts for 10!) However in many ways it shows. The unit has a measly T3, BS2, WS3, LD7 with a 5+ save. However it also has FNP, S4 and Las-locks; 18" S4 AP6 Assault 1. These would be an excellent horde unit but their squad is fixed to 10. They may exchange their Las-locks for shotguns (free) or Heavy chain blades (20pts for the whole squad). They can also take frag grenades (5pts) and "Rites of Pure thought" - this grants them fearless, but removes overwatch and sweeping advance.
  • This unit is excellent for camping an objective near your deployment zone or an aegis defense line (or similar thing.) due to its extremely low points cost. Don't expect them to hold that point very well if they are attacked; they're only slighty less vulnerable to bolter fire than guardsmen (FNP). Firing back will actually be similarly effective due to BS2 as the 5+ has moved from the "wounding" phase and to the "to hit" phase and vice-versa.].
  • Giving them Heavy Chainblades is a reasonable choice in someways. In melee against LSM these units will most likely be hitting for 4+, and then wounding on a 2+ for a pretty low points cost. Additionally granting them fearless would be a great choice if the Thralls could be taken in squads of 20, but they cannot, thus these units are very poor for tarpitting via numbers.
  • However there low cost combined with their high-damage potential makes them very useful as a sort of "chaff"; have them accompany important units like Castellax or Myrmidons (not Thallax; they move to quickly) and throw them at incoming squads; the Thralls are very likely to hurt them if they enter combat, but they will not stay for long.
  • Remember the upgrade for Heavy chainblades replaces the las-lock. The above "tactic" can be done with las-locks as they're an assault weapon.
  • These units -do not- count towards your compulsory choices. So you cannot use these to have more points for elites, but the Mechanicum troops being so great this probably wasn't being considered. However they will take up the other 4, so use them carefully.
    • Now would be a good time to point out, upgrading Thallax with augments causes them to either become fast-attack or heavy support. Thus freeing slots for these loonies but denying them the ability to take objectives.
  • In an army like the Legio-Cybernetica this is a very needed role as your other choices are very expensive; much to expensive to be holding objectives in your deployment zone or manning Aegis lines.
  • Against guardsmen, they may actually lose!
    • Lasguns have longer range, by a whole 6".
    • Lasguns have rapidfire, and can be assisted with rankfiring.
    • Guardsmen have better WS and BS (gee thats not something you hear often.)
    • Access to special weapons.
    • Can be taken in vastly higher numbers due to platoons.
    • Can be taken with better armour saves and shit-tonnes of special weapons due to Veterans.
    • However the higher strength value and FNP of the Thrall could see them come out on top; possibly even instant-deathing characters. Of course this depends on them reaching past the imperial guard gunlines... which is highly unlikely.
• In summary, the purpose of this unit could be considered to either be sitting on their ass doing nothing but skyfiring aircraft or holding objectives in your territory. Or being used as limited-cannon fodder; you will likely have at least 2 of these, but never more than 3!
• If you want pure numbers of bodies take IG allies; Imperial Army will most likely also fulfill this role just as well.

• Legio Cybernetica Castellax Class Battle-Automata: Monstrous Creature with WS3, BS4, S6, T7, W4, I3, A2, Ld7, 3+/5++ against shooting/6++ CC. Each of these monsters costs 85 and a squad can include up to 5 of them. Due to Cybernetic Resilience, successful Poisoned and Fleshbane wounds must be re-rolled but Haywire attacks deals a wound on a 6 (but can take saves as normal against Haywire wounds). They also get Rage, amongst their many extra rules. In addition to their built in bolters, they come standard with bolt cannons -- 3 shots of S6 Ap3 pinning hatred. Standard attacks melee attacks possess concussive due to shock-chargers.
  • They may also take dual powerblades. At first AP2 rending in melee seems fantastic, but then you remember that this is a monstrous creature; thus it already has AP2 by default via smash. And with S6 its quite likely to be wounding most targets reliably anyway. The main point of this upgrade (which would explain why its relatively cheap) is to give a potential extra D3 of damage to an enemy. But then once again you remember this is a monstrous creature which on the charge will be likely to through out 2 STR smash-attacks with rerolls... in 5 Automata squads. They do grant an additional +1 attack to your unit; 5 attacks on the charge! Hurrah! This is because these are -two- melee weapons, where as shock-chargers are technically a single weapon. (Not anymore, forgeworld recently clarified on their facebook page that there's no additional attack because Castellax are supposed to be armed with two shock chargers already. small clarification buff for the naked automata.) It's an upgrade to be considered, but probably should only be taken if you have spare points left over for some reason.
  • Multi-meltas are another AT option replacing the Mauler bolt-gun for no points cost. You're probably better off shoving this onto the Thallax cohorts who are way more likely to be looking at the victims backside... that and these are monstrous creatures so "smash".
  • Darkfire cannon is a strong choice, with its S7, AP2, heavy 2 and 60" range. It also forces units to take blind tests which could really tip the balance of power when it comes to assault them (remember; monstrous creature, you have relentless). Ignore the lance factor as you're still glancing on 5's.
  • Siege wreckers essentially allow your unit to make 4 S10 attacks against enemies instead of 2. However they will omit themselves from the reroll of armour pen. Think carefully before taking this as it is an expensive +20 pts. It also removes a single bolter, if you care.
  • Enhanced targeting arrays increase this units BS5 and reduces enemy cover saves by 1. The Castellax maniple does have some very strong shooting options but the main point of it is to assault enemy units in melee. Its not a bad option but as this is a 15pts per unit upgrade, it's not the optimal choice.
  • Infra-vision grants these units night-fighting, but also makes them far more vulnerable to blind (they take the test at I1). Its a cheap upgrade (5pts each) but a risky one depending on who you're fighting.
  • Another thing. Take the frag grenades. Now its an MC with assault grenades.
  • Paragon of Metal - Oh boy. This allows a single Automata to be no longer subject to programmed behaviour and gain "It will not die" and rampage, this absolutely incredible and can turn the machine into a one-unit wrecking machine. Giving this unit Paragon blades and Darkfire cannon. The Paragon blades combined with rampage cause this unit to gain between 6 to 8 attacks on the charge! (excluding hammer of wrath). The problem with this means is that Cyberthautergy becomes incredibly risky, though more potent; any failure results in Malifica.
    • About the one man wrecking machine; it is literally a one man wrecking machine as it can no longer be fielded in squads; beware of overwatch from large units, especially those with S7+ weapon; assaulting lucky squads of Plasma veterans with Autocannons could prove fatal.

• Mechanicum Thallax Cohort: Shock Troops sometimes gifted by the Ordo Reductor to the Legio Cybernetica, Thallax are Ogryn sized Jet Troops. You can only have a special weapon for every 3 thallax, so keep the units in multiples of 3. Their standard lightning gun (18" S7 AP5, heavy 1, shred, rending) is best used at short range against light vehicles, so a good option is a simple multi-melta and destructor augments. The photon thruster is really the best weapon option - sadly you have to take 2 expensive ablative thallax for each one. Overall pretty damn good but start to cost a lot of points quickly. This isn't a fantastic way of picking up a tonne of high strength weaponry; Legion heavy support is far cheaper, and carries more vanilla weaponry for this purpose. However Legion Heavy support doesn't have Relentless and meltabombs.
  • Phased-Plasma Fusils are an interesting weapon choice, though listed as Salvo 2/3 it needs to be remembered that Thallax possess relentless, thus turning this into a Assault 3, 24" S6 AP3, which is amazing against marines. Of course you may be wondering if this subverts the point of using the Thallax cohort as tank hunters and you would be right it does. However if you're running an all Ordo-Reductor these weapons are extremely potent as they provide a cheap way of taking out chunks of marines without taking out chunks of your self. This weapons usage is a bit a diminished considering the Mauler bolt cannon mounted on the the Castellax, however this a far more mobile package.
  • Irrad-cleansers are also a very interesting weapon; 2+ Fleshbane (not poison!) template pretty much guarantees a large portion of the target will get wounded, at AP5 however it could vary widely as to how effective it is afterwards; Ork, Nids, IG and even Nurgle demons blobs; not a problem. Khorne Berserkers and Space Wolves; better use that 2D6. Tau with their 4+? You're S/T5, A2 striking at the same initiative, you can charge them and crush them like the blue berries they are.
  • Photon-Thrusters are expensive (25pts), but they provide 48" S6 AP2 blind at Heavy 2 (as well as Lance but at S6 who cares). Now; what jumps around the field like a pony, has T6, a 2+ save, and a low initiative? Riptides! Of course, in 30K, the race of Tau wasn't even known and you shouldn't be planning around fighting 40k armies. In 30k its a brutal solution to chipping Terminator blobs and forcing the squishier of the Primarchs to take lots of invulnerable saves (Lorgar, Fulgrim and Conrad Curze are all examples). In this regard it could be considered a "safe solution" (it is gets hot)to taking on the above threats and anything short of those. Of course at 25 pts cheaper solutions are present; if you have a big enough pair of balls using a mob of 9 Thallax cohorts at 18" and throwing yourself to lady luck for your jetpack roll could work very well.
  • Multi-lasers are also an option, unless you really want to throw some really cheap S6 hits at 36" (5pts) don't bother... it is really cheap though.
  • The other augments are also neat, though if you're taking this as an allied choice they are really diminished.
    • Icarian: Would be good if all your weapons weren't in the category of being short ranged or too low in strength to reliably at least glance AV12 (Most fliers tend to be around 10-12). It also requires the unit be stationary that entire turn; which is the problem with all the short ranged weapons or under powered to be reliable. This is where you would want the multi-laser to come into play (heavy 3, S6) but you can only take it once for every 3 models.
      • This causes the unit to become a heavy support choice rather than troops.
    • Ferrox: Rage is nice adding 2 attacks on the charge, so is rending. In a legion list you already have quite a lot of pretty good melee units, many with power weapons and a pretty good strength value. This particular anon is still wondering if its worth also taking heavy chain blades with this upgrade; it would allow you to instant death a huge blob of T3 units and give you the opportunity to score quite a a lot wounds on units with T5-6, which previously would of been difficult... but you already have rending so this upgrade could be somewhat irrelevant in that respect, as a roll of 6 with S5 is as a effect as a S7 now that you have rending.
      • This makes the unit become a fast-attack choice rather than troops.
  • It's somewhat shocking too see that Djinn-sight has been overlooked completely. Djinn-sight prevents units from being infiltrated within 24" of a Thallax model (so you could really abuse some cohesion if you wished.). But most importantly is there ability to reduce cover saves by 2! This combined with their access to pretty high strength weaponry means they can take on horrors such as Nob bikers at range! Go to ground in open terrain is ignored completely as that provides a 6+ save.

Fast Attack

• Crusade Fleet Support Wing: Coming soon.

Heavy Support

• Myrmidon Destructors - Similar to Myrmidon Secutors, but have Preferred Enemy (Everything!) and can only pick 1 weapon: Volkite Culverin, Photon Thruster Cannon, Irradiation Engine, Conversion Beamer. Also their models are freaking awesome. Be sure to read that carefully. They are BS5 with preferred enemy: everything.

Allies

Battle Brothers

• Sons of Horus
• Iron Hands They don't really offer us much we don't already have.
• Salamanders
• Iron Warriors Not out yet, but Castellax seem flavourful.
• Raven Guard Not out yet, but Thallax would certainly fit the play style.

Fellow Warriors

• Emperors Children
• Night Lords
• Death Guard
• World Eaters
• Word Bearers
• Generic/Other
• Custodes
• Sisters
• Imperial Army Not released yet but would certainly alleviate the numbers issue and act as objective-bench warmers; possibly bring ordnance onto the field?

Tactical Discussion

As Allies: Real talk. Legion troops cost a lot. Tactical Squad? 10 bolter marines for 150 points. Buy them a rhino or max them with an apothecary? 200-350 for 1 troop choice with only bolters. When you start looking at noncompulsory options like terminators or tactical support squads they break the bank even worse.

Enter Mechanicum. The best way of getting cheap fearless troops into a legion army:

• 1: Cheap scoring units –The cheapest ally option. A naked Magos Dominus and two units of fearless Tech-Thralls runs around 165 points. That’s two fearless objective campers and a guy who can repair tanks.

• 2: Troop Deathstar –A Magos Dominus, some upgrades, and two scoring Castellax runs around 275 points. That’s ten majority toughness 7 wounds. If you take lance weapons, you have up to 6 48-60” S7, AP2, heavy 2 lance shots (which you can fire TWICE if you don’t roll like a bitch). Make them melee oriented and you have an all-around MC hunter or tarpit unit. Or just march it alongside your tactical blob- blow up tanks with your lances and then fury of the legion the assholes inside. If it’s still alive, charge in your MCs.

• 3: Skimmer + Objective Hunter – Thallax Cohorts are fast and their best feature is reducing cover saves by 2 points. 200 gets you a cohort and a Magos Dominus kitted into a support role. Use the Thallax to uproot objective campers in cover or hunt all those pesky jetbikes, skimmers, and light vehicles. Jink saves against the 2 S7 AP5 and 3 S6 AP3 shots? Bitch please.

Here's something to try: Make a Myrmidon Destructor squadron, four-strong. Pack two with Conversion Beamers and two with Irradiation Engines. Have them joined by the ArchMagos, pray you get the "Free Twin-Linked for a unit within 6"" trait, park in a tower and snipe to your Geary's content. Everything comes at you gets cancer, everything that stays away gets Beamed. Be sure to reinforce with Castellax to toss head first at the enemy lines to give them something to keep shooting at.