Cult Mechanicus 7th Edition
Cult Mechanicus Tactical Summary as of 10-26-16
One of the best releases of 2015 was the Cult Mechanicus. The Cult Mechanicus was phase two of the Adeptus Mechanicus release. This long awaited faction arrived, with it some of the best looking models Games Workshop has ever produced. The Cult Mechanicus were also an opportunity to design an army like no other, and Games Workshop succeeded. You can see elements of Sisters of Battle, Imperial Guard, and Space Marines all going into the design of the Cult Mechanicus.
The result is a army that unlike the Skitarii can actually be fielded as a normal battle-forged army, but still works well with its Adeptus Mechanicus brothers. Sadly, the Cult Mechanicus like the Skitarii isn’t allowed any nuance, as one formation above all dominates Cult Mechanicus builds. The War Convocation with its free equipment makes taking any other Cult Mechanicus army obsolete. It is really sad, there are powerful lists to be had with the Cult Mechanicus, but the War Convocation is just too good. Now if we can imagine a world without War Convocation, we can look the Cult Mechanicus units without any tint.
The Kataphrons really stand out for the Cult Mechanicus with massive amounts of fire power and high toughness. The Tech-Priest Dominus is one of the best HQs with a host of trick equipment that can really throw off an opponent. Cult Mechanicus Canticles powers are great, but take a good general to know when to use what. Past the strong core of the Tech-Priest Dominus and Kataphrons the rest of the Cult Mechanicus units have a steep drop off, with only the Kastelan Robots having any redeeming qualities. Cult Mechanicus work best with the Skitarii, it is important you mix and match units to create an effective force.
There is assumption at some point we will see a unified codex for Adeptus Mechanicus and maybe the destruction of the War Convocation to help facilitate different list constructions for the Cult Mechanicus.
Below you find all the quick reference material you need to build an competitive or fluffy Cult Mechanicus army.
- Cult Mechanicus
- Combined Arms Detachment
- Allied Detachment
- Cult Mechanicus Battle Congregation Detachment
- Enginseer Congregation Detachment
- The Grand Convocation Detachment
As of 02-24-2017 Cult Mechanicus Detachments are…
- Combined Arms Detachment
- Allied Detachment Cult
- Mechanicus Battle Congregation
- Enginseer Congregation
- The Grand Convocation
(See tabs for details)
Combined Arms Detachment
Force Organization
Compulsory: 1 HQ, 2 Troops
Optional: 1 HQ, 4 Troops, 3 Elites, 3 FA, 3 HS, 1 Lord of War, 1 Fortification
Restrictions: All units chosen must have the same Faction (or have no Faction).
Command Benefits:
Ideal Mission Commander: If this Detachment is chosen as your Primary Detachment, you can choose to re-roll the result on the Warlord Trait table.
Objective Secured: All Troops units from this Detachment have the Objective Secured special rule. A unit with this special rule controls objectives even if an enemy scoring unit is within range of the objective marker, unless the enemy unit also has this special rule.
Source: Warhammer 40k 7th ed. Rule Book
Compulsory: 1 HQ, 1 Troop
Optional: 1 Troop, 1 Elite, 1 FA, 1 HS
Restrictions: This Detachment cannot be your Primary Detachment. Your Warlord can never be chosen from this Detachment. All units chosen must have the same Faction (or no Faction). All units chosen must have a different Faction to any of the units in your Primary Detachment (or no Faction).
Command Benefits:
Objective Secured: All Troops units from this Detachment have the Objective Secured special rule. A unit with this special rule controls objectives even if an enemy scoring unit is within range of the objective marker, unless the enemy unit also has this special rule.
Source: Warhammer 40k 7th ed. Rule Book
Force Organization
Compulsory: 1 HQ, 2 Troops
Optional: 6 Troops, 4 Elites, 2 Heavy Support, 1 Fortification
Restrictions: All units in this Detachment must have the Cult Mechanicus Faction (or have no Faction).
Command Benefits:
Tech-Adept: If this Detachment is your Primary Detachment, you can re-roll the result when rolling on the Warlord Traits table in Codex: Cult Mechanicus (see the Appendix).
Divine Chorus: If your army includes one or more Detachments with this special rule, you can, once per game, choose to re-use a Canticle of the Omnissiah (see the Appendix) that your army has already used earlier in the game.
Source: Codex: Cult Mechanicus
Force Organization
Compulsory: 1 HQ
Optional: 1 Elite
Restrictions: The HQ unit chose in this Detachment mustbea Tech-Priest Enginseer, and te Elite unit chosen in this Detachment must be a unit of Servitors. All units from this Detachment must have the Cult Mechanicus Faction.
Command Benefits:
Canticles of the Omnssiah: Units from this Detachment Have Canticles of the Omnissiah special rule.
Source: Codex:Imperial Agents
The Grand Convocation Detachment
Force Organization
Compulsory: 2 HQ, 4 Troops
Optional: 0-2 HQ, 4+ Troops, 6 Elites, 6 FA, 6 HS, 3 Lord of War
Restrictions: This Detachment must include at least four Troops choices and two HQ choices. It may include up to two more HQ choices and any number of additional Troops choices, as well as up to 6 Elites, 6 Fast Attack and 6 Heavy Support choices, and up to 3 Lord of War choices, in any combination. This Detachment must also include units that have at least two different Factions.
The Grand Convocation Army List divides the units available into several categories, according to their Battlefield Role. You must use the profiles, points costs, equipment, options, special rules and any Dedicated Transports available to each unit as described on their datasheet.
- Belisarius Cawl, Enginseer, Tech-Priest Dominus
- Kataphron Breachers, Kataphron Destroyers, Skitarii Rangers, Skitarii Vanguard
- Corpuscarii Electro-Priests, Fulgurite Electro-Priests, Sicarian Infiltrators, Sicarian Ruststalkers
- Sydonian Dragoons
- Kastellan Robot Maniple, Ironstrider Ballistarii, Onager Dunecrawlers
- Knight Crusader, Knight Errant, Knight Gallant, Knight Paladin, Knight Warden
Command Benefits:
Agents of the Adeptus Mechanicus: All vehicles in this Detachment have the It Will Not Die special rule. In addition, all vehicles in the Detachment that are within 6″ of an HQ choice from this Detachment at the start of the turn have the Power of the Machine Spirit special rule until the start of your next turn.
Chosen of the Omnissiah: If this Detachment is chosen as your Primary Detachment, you can choose to re-roll the result on the Warlord Trait table.
Noospheric Choir: If this Detachment’s Force Organisation Chart contains the maximum number of units (excluding Troops), then all units in the Detachment have the Canticles of the Omnissiah special rule
Source: Gathering Storm Fall of Cadia
- Arcana Mechanicum
(See tabs for details)
Anzion’s Pseudogenetor 15 pts:
Range -, Str 4, AP 5, Type: Melee, Shred
Mask of the Alpha Dominus 15 pts:
The bearer can use the Mask of the Alpha Dominus at any time to instantly change the Battle Protocol of a friendly Kastelan Robot Maniple or Cohort Cybernetica Formation within 12? of the bearer. The new Battle Protocol becomes active immediately. However, the unit or Formation cannot use the Battle Protocol that they changed from for the rest of the battle.
The Scryerskull Perspicatus 25 pts:
At the start of each of your turns, a model with the Scryerskull Perspicatus can choose either to identify a single Mysterious Objective or to scry an enemy vehicle anywhere on the battlefield. If you choose to scry a vehicle, any friendly units with the Cult Mechanicus or Skitarii Faction re-roll failed armour penetration rolls against that vehicle, and can choose to re-roll glancing hits scored on it in an attempt to instead get a penetrating hit, until the start of your next turn.
Autocaduceus of Arkhan Land 30 pts:
The bearer of the Autocaduceus of Arkhan Land, and his unit, have the It Will Not Die special rule.
Raiment of the Technomartyr 30 pts:
The Raiment of the Technomartyr confers a 2+ Armour Save. Furthermore, all ranged weapons carried by models with the Cult Mechanicus or Skitarii Faction in the bearer’s unit have the Cognis Weapons special rule. Cognis Weapons = When a model makes Snap Shots (including Overwatch) with a weapon that has the Cognis Weapons special rule, its Ballistic Skill is counted as being 2 instead of 1. If a Flamer weapon with this special rule fires Overwatch using the Wall of Death rule, it automatically inflicts 3 hits rather than D3.
Uncreator Gauntlet 35 pts:
A model equipped with the Uncreator Gauntlet can use it in the Fight sub-phase instead of making its normal close combat attacks. To do so, nominate a vehicle model (friend or foe) in base contact with the bearer. If you choose an enemy vehicle, roll To Hit with a single Attack. If the attack hits, or if you chose a friendly vehicle, roll a D6 and consult the Uncreator Gauntlet table.
As of 10-25-16
The next section features all the various Formations each faction has. Expand each Formation for detailed information for, including (red highlighted) links to shopping lists for each Formation.
Cohort Cybernetica Formation
Requirements: 1 Tech-Priest Dominus, 2 Kastelan Robot Maniple Units
Restrictions: All models in this Formation must be fielded as a single unit, even though this is not normally allowed. The Formation’s Tech-Priest Dominus cannot leave this unit. This Formation counts as three units for the purposes of Canticles of the Omnissiah until it is completely destroyed, and counts as three units for the purposes of Victory Points when it is completely destroyed.
Special Rules:
Adept of the Cybernetica: This Formation’s Tech-Priest Dominus counts as a CyberneticaDatasmith for the purposes of the Kastelan Battle Protocols special rule. Furthermore, as long as this Tech-Priest Dominus has not been removed as a casualty, any Kastelan Battle Protocol that you choose at the end of your turn takes effect immediately for all Kastelan Robots in this Formation.
Targeting Override: In the Shooting phase, any number of this Formation’s Cybernetica Datasmiths and/or the Tech-Priest Dominus can choose to direct the fire of one of this Formation’s Kastelan Robots instead of shooting. For each model that does so, one of this Formation’s Kastelan Robots can shoot at a different target to the rest of the unit.
Source: Codex: Cult Mechanicus
Elimination Maniples Formation
Elimination Maniples Formation
Requirements: 2-3 Kataphron Destroyers Units, 1-3 Kastelan Robot Maniple Units
Restrictions: None
Special Rules:
Elimination Volley: If a Kastelan Robot from this Formation scores one or more unsaved Wounds, glancing hits or penetrating hits on an enemy unit with a weapon that has the Luminagen special rule, all Kataphron Destroyer units from this Formation that target the same enemy unit add 1 to their Ballistic Skill characteristic and their weapons gain the Ignores Cover special rule until the end of that phase.
Source: Codex: Cult Mechanicus
Numinous Conclave Formation
Requirements: 2-3 Fulgurite Electro-Priest Units 2-3, Corpuscarii Electro-Priest Units
Restrictions: You must have an equal number of each type of unit in this Formation.
Special Rules: Crusader.
The Corpuscarii Giveth: Models in a unit of Corpuscarii Electro-Priests from this Formation that is within 6? of one or more units of Fulgurite Electro-Priests from this Formation fire 1 additional shot with their electrostatic gauntlets when making shooting attacks. Enemy units that suffer one or more unsaved Wounds from these shooting attacks are said to be ‘Electrified’ until the end of the Assault phase.
The Fulgurites Taketh Away: Units of Fulgurite Electro-Priests from this Formation re-roll failed To Wound rolls when fighting with their electroleech.
Source: Codex: Cult Mechanicus
Holy Requisitioner Formation
Requirements: 1 Tech-Priest Dominus, 2-3 Kataphron Breacher Units
Restrictions: None
Special Rules: Deep Strike.
Apparition Extremis: All models in this Formation must be placed in Deep Strike Reserve. When making Reserve Rolls, make a single roll for the entire Formation, which you can choose to re-roll. On a successful Reserve Roll, all of the units in the Formation arrive from Reserve. The Formation’s Tech-Priest Dominus must be placed first, but does not scatter when he Deep Strikes, so long as he is placed within 6? of an Objective Marker. This Formation’s Kataphron Breachers do not scatter when they Deep Strike, so long as they are placed within 6? of this Formation’s Tech-Priest Dominus.
Inhuman Avarice: While they are within 6? of an Objective Marker, units of Kataphron Breachers from this Formation have the Counter-attack and Zealot special rules.
Source: Codex: Cult Mechanicus
Dominus Maniple Formation
Requirements: 1 Dominus, 1 Skitarii Vanguard Unit, 1 Onagar Dunecrawler
Restrictions: None
Special Rules:
Targeting Data Upload: At the start of your Shooting phase, pick an enemy unit within 18? and line of sight of this Formation’s Tech-Priest Dominus. For the rest of the phase, units from the Dominus Maniple can re-roll failed To Hit rolls against the enemy unit that you pick
Source: Start Collecting: Skitarii
Cohort Mechanicus Formation
Restrictions: A Cohort Mechanicus must include either 3 Sydonian Dragoons or 3 Ironstrider Ballistarii
Special Rules:
Alpha-Primus: If this Formation’s Tech-Priest Dominus is your Warlord, you can generate his Warlord Trait from the Warlord Trait table in either Codex: Skitarii or Codex: Cult Mechanicus.
The Primus Canticle: All units in a Cohort Mechanicus have the Canticle of the Omnissiah special rule (see Codex: Cult Mechancus), even though they do not have the Cult Mechanicus Faction. In addition, if your army contains a Cohort Mechanicus, you can use the following Canticle of the Omnissiah in addition to those listed in Codex: Cult Mechanicus. This Canticle can never be used more than once in the same battle.
Blessings of the Binharic Deliverance: Roll D6 1-3 All friendly models with the Canticles of the Omnissiah special rule have a 6+ Invulnerable save, 4-7 All friendly models with the Canticles of the Omnissiah special rule have a 5+ Invulnerable save 8 + All friendly models with the Canticles of the Omnissiah special rule have a 4+ Invulnerable save.
The Primus Imperative: All units in a Cohort Mechanicus have the Doctrina Imperatives special rule (see Codex: Skitarii), even though they do not have the Skitarii Faction. In addition, if your army contains a Cohort Mechanicus, you can use the following Doctrina Imperative in addition to those listed in Codex: Skitarii. This Imperative can never be used more than once on the same battle.
Executioner Extremis: Until the start of your next turn, all friendly models with the Doctrina Imperatives special rule add 3 to both their Ballistic Skill and Weapon Skill characteristics.
Source: Webstore Exclusive: Cohort Mechanicus
The War Convocation Formation
Restrictions: None.
Special Rules:
The Machine Brotherhood of Mars: All units in this formation have the Canticles of the Omnissiah special rule (see Codex: Cult Mechanicus), even though they do not all have the Cult Mechanicus Faction.
Alpha-Dominus: If this Formation’s Tech-Priest Dominus is your Warlord, you can re-roll the result when rolling on the Warlord Traits table in Codex: Cult Mechanicus.
Might of the Adeptus Mechanicus: All weapon and wargear options taken by units in this Formation, including any Relics of Mars or Arcana Mechanicum, are free. Furthermore, all weapons with the Gets Hot special rule carried by a model in this Formation no longer has the Gets Hot special rule.
Source: White Dwarf: Issue 69
Eradication Cohort Formation
Restrictions: None.
Special Rules:
Surgical Percision: If an Eradication Cohort unit inflicts any unsaved wounds or any glancing or penetrating hits upon an enemy unit, then for the remainder of the phase all other units from this Formation gain Preferred Enemy special rule when targeting that enemy unit.
Conclave Acquisitorius Formation
Conclave Acquisitorius Formation
Requirements: Belisarius Cawl, 1-2 Battle Maniples Formation or 1 War Cohort Formation, 1 Holy Requisitioner Formation, 0-1 Cohort Cybernetica Formation, 0-1 Numinous Conclave Formation, 1-2 Imperial Knights or 1 Baronial Court
Restrictions: None.
Special Rules: Canticles of the Omnissiah.
Armoury of the Archmagos: During army selection, each Character from a Conclave Acquisitorius may upgrade one of their weapons (including one purchased as an upgrade, but not including a relic or equivalent) to have the Master-crafted special rule.
Synchronised Data Network: If the Conclave Acquisitorius contains the maximum number of units, then all units in this Formation gain the Doctrina Imperatives special rule
Source: Gathering Storm Fall of Cadia
Below are any links to any buying guides, product reviews, or tactical articles related to the Cult Mechanicus.
