Editing Warhammer 40,000/7th Edition Tactics/Cult Mechanicus (section)

==Formations==
 EDIT: you can now use Cawl to replace any Tech-Priest Dominus in these formations...
*'''Cohort Cybernetica''' - Two Kastelan Maniples join up to form a unit with a Techpriest Dominus, who becomes a super-Datasmith. For ''each'' Datasmith/Dominus in the squad, one Kastelan also get to fire at a separate target from the rest of the squad, which sounds pretty cool.  
**If you were going to field these units anyway, ''always'' field them like this. Always. This here is the only formation/detachment in which a Dominus who joins a unit ''explicitly'' still counts as his own unit for Canticles of the Omnissiah, plus the super-Datasmith buffs can be pretty nasty.
**With this formation, you should really think ''seriously'' about grabbing the Autocaduceus of Arkhan Land for your Techpriest Dominus, and/or the Raiment of the Technomartyr for your Datasmith. The first will make your formation all but un-killable with everyone getting IWND. The other will have all your Robots, Datasmiths, and Techpriest Dominus snap firing at BS 2 and your flamers get the cognis flamer rule. For a formation that's going to cost between 685 to 745 points minimum that extra 30 points is going to go a long way.
*'''Elimination Maniple''' - 2-3 Kataphron Destroyer squads are paired with 1-3 Kastelan maniples. If the Kastelan robots fire a Phosphor weapon and score an unsaved wound or a penetrating hit, then all Kataphrons gain Ignores Cover and +1 BS when firing at that unit.  HEAVY [[Dakka|DAKKA]]. Tau will weep bitter blueberry tears as you rip off their entire markerlight Schtick. 
**Don't be afraid to take a second Kastelan Maniple and a third Destroyer squad - just take enough other units to protect them and take care of tanks. Vanguards, maybe a squad of Sicarian Infiltrators...
*'''Numinous Conclave''' - 2-3 units of both sorts of Electro-Priests and they're buffing each other to the MAX. They gain ''Crusader''. If a Corpuscarii unit is within 6" of a Fulgurite unit, they gain +1 shot when shooting and a unit struck is "electrified". Then a Fulgurite unit that charges the same target gets to re-roll to-wounds. Only restriction: You have to field as many Corpuscarii ''units'' as you do Fulgurites. 
**The obvious use of this is to increase the amount of Instant Death your Fulgurites put out, though the buff to the Corpuscarii may well be better, seeing as it grants even more shots and thus hits to a unit that is all about cherry-tapping enemies to death with absolutely massive amounts of relatively weak hits.
*'''Holy Requisitioner''' - A Dominus joins 2-3 Kataphron Breacher squads and give them the ''Deep Strike'' rule, but the Tech-Priest never scatters so long as he arrives within 6" of an objective marker and the Breachers wont scatter if they arrive within 6" of the Tech-Priest. Also, they gain the ''Zealot'' and ''Counter-Attack'' special rules while within 6" of an objective marker. Keep in mind that they can still Deep Strike where ever and seperate, they just scatter normal.  Give them Torsion Cannons and if your opponents riptide doesn't have a toe in cover it's as good as dead.
**This formation can be easily used to take and hold otherwise difficult-to-secure objectives. For starter, you reroll your reserves check to appear from Deep Strike, so you have a rerollable 3+ for the entire formation to drop down on turn 2. Next, you can give your Dominus a Stasis field for 30 points, giving him a 2++ when he goes to ground. Also gives him WS/BS 0, but surround him with Kataphrons and he won't be charged anyway. Finally, get the Autocaduceus of Arkhan Land and give your crew IWND. How's that for a slice of fried gold?
**Adding Cawl to this formation instead of a Dominus gives him the speed he needs to get near the enemy battle line so that he can use his amazing meltagun. The re-roll on the reserve die also allows you for a pretty reliable turn two show-up. Cawl and the two Breacher units (who will not scatter when placed within 6" of Cawl) will pretty much decimate two to three vehicles with ease on the turn they come on board.
*'''Adeptus Mechanicus War Convocation (White Dwarf)''' - This here?  This is a massive fucking load.  You're grouping together a Battle Congregation, a Skitarii Battle Maniple, AND an Oathsworn detachment of Knights.  And what do you get for spending about $400 worth of models?  Army-wide usage of Canticles of the Omnissiah, a WT re-roll if your Dominus is a Warlord, and every unit gains immunity to Gets Hot. And '''FREE''' upgrades for all models.
**It must be adressed that this formation alone, while expensive in points and cash, was pretty much designed to sweep tournaments. Potentially 700 points of wargear for free? Check. Giving a rule that provides army-wide bonuses and gets stronger the more units you have to units that don't normally get it? Check. Immunity to BOTH reasons that speak against Plasma Calivers? Check. Enjoy your Vanguard with three Plasma Calivers, Omnispex, Arc Maul, Arc Pistol and Pater Radium for the same 100 points you'd normally pay for the stock unit and drink your opponent's tears. Also, remember that just because your Skitarii now have Canticles of the Omnissiah doesn't mean they lose their Doctrina Imperatives. 
** Just remember this is the BATTLE Maniple, not the normal Skitarii Maniple, so you can only have one unit of vanguards and rangers (so no spamming free plasma calivers) that receive these benefits.
**Little tidbit of info, after playtesting this formation-detatchment is fully capable of fighting and decimating other super-formations such as the Decurion and Craftworld Warhost. It won't be a landslide but trust me Necrons won't seem nearly as immortal when you are wielding the truly epic amount of firepower and even close-combat power this super detachment will give you. 
**Keep in mind that this formation is incredibly expensive points-wise, clocking in at 1240 points barebones (and there is no reason to take this formation barebones). Fortunately, it's made up of a bunch of smaller formations, each of which can be used seperately.
** Not overkill enough for you ? Take one -or more- pair of Haemotrope reactor and enjoy your 18 plasma blast and 12 (minimum) large blast without frying your tin men every two shots (reactor rules specifies that "any plasma weapons as defined in the BRB may supercharge", the only difference Mechanicus plasma weapons get is the number of shots fired, so it totally work).
*'''Cohort Mechanicus (Web Bundle)''' - Similar to the House Terryn formation, this one is a super-crazy formation that allies together Skitarii and Cult Mechanicus again. You need to grab 1 of every unit, 2 Kastelans, 2 Dunecrawlers, and 3 Dunestriders/Balistarii.  Buying all this lets you use BOTH Canticles and Doctrina Imperatives across the entire army (with every model counting towards the Canticles and Doctrina) while your Dominus (if he's the Warlord) gains access to both Skitarii and CultMech WTs (meaning you can get to overwatch on BS4 with goddamn Kataphrons.  But the biggest kicker?  A Brand-New Canticle AND Imperative! Both of each you can only use once (no recycling effects)
**''Blessing of Binharic Deliverance'': 1-3 models get a 6+ invul, 4-7 models give a 5+ Invul, and 8+ models give a 4+ Invul.  Pretty much your prime defense against anything that'll wipe out your goons.
**''Executioner Extremis (Primus)'': Everyone gets +3 BS/WS.  WHAT. THE. FUCK.  Play this, and you'll have anything you want for that turn.  Wanna dodge missiles?  DONE!  Wanna wipe off a big enemy?  It's happening!
**This formation clocks at 1885 points barebones and 3000 points with reasonable upgrades.
*'''Eradication Cohort (Adeptus Mechanicus Battleforce)'''- Another mixed formation, showing that splitting AdMech into 2 codices was a [[Fail|good idea]]. Take one Sydonian Dragoon, a Kastelan Maniple, and one unit of Kataphron Destroyers, Fulgurite Electro - Priests and Sicarian Infiltrators. When any unit in this formation scores a glance/pen/wound on a unit during the phase, the rest get ''Preferred Enemy'' on that unit until the end of the phase. It's okay, nothing too shiny, PE lasting on one phase is kinda underwhelming because you can't shoot someone with your Kastelans and then charge the sorry sobs with your infiltrators (although combining the firepower of Kastelans and Destroyers on those MEQ will ruin their day, guaranteed). But hey, you got yourself a nice chunk of models on a discount!
*'''Conclave Aquisitorius (Fall of Cadia)''' - Basically the AdMech Decurion. You take Belisarius Cawl, 1-3 Skitarii Battle Maniples (three form a War Cohort instead), 1 Holy Requisitioner, up to five Imperial Knights (3+ form a Baronial Court instead), and optionally a single Cohort Cybernetica and/or a Numinous Conclave. You get Canticles for everything, Master-crafted weapons for every Character, and army-wide Doctrina Imperatives if you somehow manage to fill out all slots. Kind of meh with regards to the number of actually good units, since you are forced to buy Ruststalkers and Kataphron Breachers, but you only have a single squad of both Skitarii Vanguard and Rangers per Battle Maniple, so you are forced to rely on Electro-Priests and Knights to engage the enemy. On the other hand, the Canticle buffs, especially if you use Cawl's, can just make up for that.

===Imperial Agents===
*'''Enginseer Congregation:''' 1 Techpriest plus a unit of Servitors. They gain the Canticles of the Omnissiah special rule, and count as the Cult Mechanicus Faction for determining allies. Literally a small formation to take to supplement a larger imperial force like Space Marines. This detachment is also a solid way to boost the number of units for Canticles effect in small point value games as well as being a cheaper option for camping objectives. Haemotrope generator fun to be had as well.
**On the other hand, think of how good the stealth and shrouded canticle can be with these cheap ICs. Imagine a 1500pt guard army could be with two max conscript squads and platoons, as well as four techpriests with a single servitor each. You have on any given turn, four 50 man squads with 4+ cover in the open. Order them up with the mandatory ccs and pcs and watch the four blob-stars wreck most opponents faces. Season with ministorum priests, adeptus astra telepathica psykers, and tanks to perfection.