IH/Mechanicum vs Necrons 750pts

[sparti67]

I am playing IH with Mechanicum allies.  Our first list must be 750 pts.  What should I expect from Necrons and what is a must for me to include in my build list?  Would you go plasma or graviton guns?  Would you include a Sicaran?

[Emperors Teeth]

I play against Necrons, usually with IG, but am taking my Iron Hands up against them soon. Straight off, you'll not likely get an effective Iron Hands and Mechanicum allies list at 750 points! 2 Troops & 1 HQ with a Legion is a minimum of just under 400 points, so I'd seriously consider sticking to one or the other.

 

At 750 points, whilst it's hard to pin down specifics, you can probably expect Annihilation Barges which throw out multiple Str7 shots (AP4) and a bunch of Necrons or Immortals who will be able to wear down tanks if given the chance. It's unlikely you'll have to worry about AV14 at that level, but remembr all his other vehicles start at AV13 until they take their first Penetrating hit.

 

Consider lots of infantry, as that -1 Str will really impare his warriors if they have to shoot your guys. Might even be worth abandoning vehicles completely and neuter one of the Necron Infantry's greatest assets. Orth in a Sicaran or a Kheres Mortis are viable options which I will take at 1k. You might need to pick one at 750... Orth counts as your HQ so prevents a less effective unit eating space in such a small game.

 

...I'll add more later but I gotta run!

[Hesh Kadesh]

Minimum cost is 350 for a Centurion and 2 10 man tac squads. Allies is 100 minimum for a Magos and Adsec Covenant means you've got 300pts left. Necrons are due to change, but at this level, they can be running around with 2 or even 3 flyers and rely on Gauss and warscythes for AT, but you need to have AA somewhere. A Kheres at 180 cuts into that quickly, without being a dead weight should he not take flyers. Failing that, an Icarian Thallax Cohort with 4 models gives you 4 S7 Rending shots for 200pts. If facing FMC's, then Rending and Shred become useful,,but Crons don't have FMC's, so the Kheres is best out of those two IMHO

 

as said, Orth is a cheap HQ if you are taking a Tank - a sicarian adds up quickly, but a BS5 4 shot autocannon is pretty good at this level still.

 

Orth 80

 

Kheres Mortis 180

 

Tac Squad 150

Tac Squad 150

 

Predator 75

 

Magos Dominus 65

 

Adsec Covenant, Rite of Pure Thought 50

 

750pts

 

This gives a fearless 10 man squad to draw firepower, 20 bolters for Fury of the Legion (so 40 shots), an Rending AA gun in case he pulls a monolith out, and a Predator to provide high strength shots. That is perhaps the best I can think of and still include some useful allies (the Dominus can still heal the tank/kheres)

[Emperors Teeth]

Had you considered, rather than paying the HQ tax for allies, using a Forge Lord as an HQ and having Castellax as Optional Heavy Support?

HQ
Forge Lord + Cortex Controller (100)

Troops
Tactical Squad (10 men) (150)
Tactical Squad (10 men) (150)

Elites
Contemptor Mortis + 2x Kheres Assault Cannon (180)

Heavy Support
2x Castellax battle-automata (170)

Total = 750 pts

 

You could march the whole lot up the field together, keeping the Forge Lord in a Tactical squad as he has no defensive upgrades. Ensure he is close to the Castellax and Dreadnought so he can nip over and effect repairs as needed. Shame he can't join the Castellax any more else that'd be a much better option.

[sparti67]

That's a nice list!  I put together this list as Mechanicum being the main force. 

 

HQ 105 pts

Magos Dominus – Cyber Familiar, Augury Scanner, plasma pistol

 

Troops

Adsecularis Covenant  (20)– Rite of Pure Thought, Las-Locks (80 pts)

 

Thallax Cohort (3) – lightning guns, 2 Multi Meltas, (165 pts)

 

Allies  Iron Hands

 

HQ 80pts

Orth

 

Troops

Legion Tactical Squad (10) – vox, plasma pistol (175 pts)

 

Heavy Support

Sicaran with lascannons (175 pts)

[Emperors Teeth]

I like what you did with Orth in the Allies. You can only have one multimelta in a unit of three Thallax (1 fancy weapon per 3 models), though. I wouldn't be able to resist using the Cybernetica list and fielding Castellax as scoring Troops in the Allies (that might be my 6th ed head talking, though).

 

The Tactical squad would benefit from a Vexilla and a Power weapon, combi-weapon or Artificer armour on the Sergeant more than the upgrades you listed, also.

[sparti67]

I like what you did with Orth in the Allies. You can only have one multimelta in a unit of three Thallax (1 fancy weapon per 3 models), though. I wouldn't be able to resist using the Cybernetica list and fielding Castellax as scoring Troops in the Allies (that might be my 6th ed head talking, though).

 

The Tactical squad would benefit from a Vexilla and a Power weapon, combi-weapon or Artificer armour on the Sergeant more than the upgrades you listed, also.

 

I thought about that with the Castellax.  Going against necrons and may need the bodies.