Editing Genestealer Cult (section)

==Tabletop (40k Army, 7th Edition and up)==
[[File:Inquisitor-hybrid.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Uh? What do you mean Inquisitors don't have [[StarCraft|an additional set of wing-claws]]?]]

A very small range of really terrible looking Genestealer Cult minis were produced during 1st/2nd Edition, and the legendary 2nd Edition Tyranid Codex also featured a Cult army list. However, the vast updates wrought by 3rd Edition in 1998 basically eliminated Genestealer Cults as a playable force. As a result, while the Genestealer Cults were a frequent mention in the lore they were completely absent from the tabletop for nearly two decades (aside from the Genestealers themselves, of course).

This all changed in 2016. First, Deathwatch: Overkill started us out with rules and models for cultists, in this case various hybrids wielding mining equipment led by a Genestealer patriarch, with hybrid preachers and enforcers. Finally, near the end of 7th Edition, long-suffering Genestealer Cult fans (yes, all three of them!) were finally rewarded with a beautiful new range of minis and a brand new Codex, chock full of disturbing and characterful units. And there was much rejoicing.

Cults get a super-genestealer called a [[Patriarch]], the progenitor of the cult, as the main HQ choice. There's also the [[Magus]], acting as the cult's psyker, and the Primus, their version of a general/champion. You also get regular genestealers, though they're actually much better than Tyranid genestealers as they're hardier and stealthier. The troops themselves are roughly similar to Chaos Cultists, with [[Neophyte Hybrid]]s being armed with guns and improvised equipment, while [[Acolyte Hybrid]]s are better in close combat. The Cult can also steal Guard vehicles, namely the [[Leman Russ Battle Tank]], [[Chimera Transport|Chimera]], and [[Sentinel]], as well as their version of a Technical called the [[Goliath Truck]]. You can also just straight up steal Guardsmen and field them as Neophyte Hybrids. All cult members specialize in ambushing opponents, and get major bonuses from their leaders. In addition, cult leaders benefit from the Unquestioning Loyalty rule, meaning so long as you have enough meatshields nearby you can keep them alive. Furthermore, Acolytes, Neophytes, and Brood Brothers are all dirt cheap, and can easily be taken in large numbers rivalling the IG and Orks.

Genestealer Cults are able to ally with Tyranid detachments (though, as mentioned before, they're not Battle Brothers as the Tyranids view their cultists as dessert rather than the main course). Curiously, they can also ally with Guardsmen, as a way to represent the fact that they will infiltrate Guardsman/PDF forces prior to the invasion, so if you feel so inclined, you can augment your forces with ''even more'' Guard vehicles.