Make Way Imperial Knights... The Noble Skitarii Cometh!

[Memento Of Prospero]

Evening gentlemen!

 

I have been questing for a home in 40k after 6 years of heresy,since 8th edition dropped. AD Mech has always been a top pick on my journey, so I am commiting to it.

 

I am going to attempt building a primarily skitarii force, and I would like advice in that regard. The Get Started are insane value, and skitarii can be also found in the forgebane and new killteam box.

 

Before I get rolling on the purchases, what would be a decent army core to work with? Where woukd you expand it to 2k points? Any particular forge worlds that shine? What stratagems do you rely on heavily to get the job done? Things like that.

 

Obviously I would continue and update this thread with my progress, and most likely pentiful failures ;)

[brother_b]

I only have 10 skitarii vanguard, and 5 rangers. I want to double those amounts. Last game my vanguard got shot off the table pretty easilly. I've also got enough bodies (bought 2 start collecting, Forgebane, etc) that I could potentially do the whole Skitari Hoplite now that FW has released their rules for 40K.

 

Either way, get lots, and understand that your skitarii are there to die for the more potent units like robots and onagers, etc.

 

The one stratagem that lets them shoot with a +1 or +2 is boss, as is the hold the ojbective stratagem. I'm sorry I don't remember their names.

 

Cheers, and welcome aboard, I love the Admech.

[DeStinyFiSh]

Get 2-3 Start Collecting boxes.

Then get an Enginseer as a cheap HQ option.

Then add other units to taste (recommended are Dakka Bots, Dragoons and Infiltrators).

 

I think the most potent Forgeworlds are:

Stygiies

Mars

Lucius

But others are nice as well. Just play as you wish, you can change from game to game. Ryza is fun to surprise your opponent with a CC based army. Graia is nice when fielding massed infantry.

[Trixie]

Stygies and Lucius have some great benefits including some very powerful movement/deployment abilities that Skitarii generally lack, mass infilitrate and deep strike are strong enough to build a list around.

 

Mars has a seriously strong HQ in the form of Cawl and combined with the dakka bots mentioned by destinyfish, Mars can put out a very powerful gunline.

 

Electropriests have awful models but they do have some powerful close range shooting and melee, getting them close enough is generally the problem but with Stygies or Lucius they really are worth considering.

[Tiger9gamer]

honestly skitarii are pretty great soldiers all things considered. they are scions with a 6+ invuln save, really good basic guns and great special weapons, and though they are a bit squishy they do some good work. Vanguard are great for close range shooting, and even better on the drop. I can say lucius's deep striking stratagem on a x3 plasma + omnispex squad is devastating with the protocol strategum and canticles to re-roll hit rolls of one. needs a bit of pre-planning, but having a squad come down, hitting on 2+ re-rolling 1's and ignoring cover is really hard to survive against for most targets, and the vanguard's basic rifle is still good enough to help kill tanks.

 

Lucius also provides defense against -1 shots, ignoring it completely, so it's really a win win. Stygies may have better protection outside of 12" (-1 to hit) but nothing can really take away the 4+ you got unless they fire the big guns at you. it also extends to your vehicles!

 

another good tactic is to run mass meatshield squads, either MSU or 10 mans. no special weapons on them to save points, but Always take an omnispex. ignoring cover is as good as having a -1 rend on your guns most of the time, and can prove to be  important when removing entrenched squads of guardsmen or marines. and though vanguard's guns are las gun strength, they have 3 shots each that do D2 on sixes and hit on a 3+. it's super powerful on most things.

[brother_b]

Stygies and Lucius have some great benefits including some very powerful movement/deployment abilities that Skitarii generally lack, mass infilitrate and deep strike are strong enough to build a list around.

 

Mars has a seriously strong HQ in the form of Cawl and combined with the dakka bots mentioned by destinyfish, Mars can put out a very powerful gunline.

 

Electropriests have awful models but they do have some powerful close range shooting and melee, getting them close enough is generally the problem but with Stygies or Lucius they really are worth considering.

 

I like the Fulgurites, personally! ;) Motive force!

[Kozz]

 

Stygies and Lucius have some great benefits including some very powerful movement/deployment abilities that Skitarii generally lack, mass infilitrate and deep strike are strong enough to build a list around.

 

Mars has a seriously strong HQ in the form of Cawl and combined with the dakka bots mentioned by destinyfish, Mars can put out a very powerful gunline.

 

Electropriests have awful models but they do have some powerful close range shooting and melee, getting them close enough is generally the problem but with Stygies or Lucius they really are worth considering.

 

I like the Fulgurites, personally! Motive force!

 

Ive been playing 10-20 Fulgerites ( Stygies VIII ) in most lists since the we got our Codex, can't say enough good things about them! In units of 10 its NOT impossible to hide them if you don't get the first turn ( especially with ITC Terrain rules, Ground level LOS blocking ) , and if you do.... it can be game changing. 

[Memento Of Prospero]

I would like to start by thanking you all for the great input! It's good to get a wealth of opinions on the topic ;)

 

I only have 10 skitarii vanguard, and 5 rangers. I want to double those amounts. Last game my vanguard got shot off the table pretty easilly. I've also got enough bodies (bought 2 start collecting, Forgebane, etc) that I could potentially do the whole Skitari Hoplite now that FW has released their rules for 40K.

 

Either way, get lots, and understand that your skitarii are there to die for the more potent units like robots and onagers, etc.

 

The one stratagem that lets them shoot with a +1 or +2 is boss, as is the hold the ojbective stratagem. I'm sorry I don't remember their names.

 

Cheers, and welcome aboard, I love the Admech.

 

Thank you for the welcome! I can't wait for the FW port of 30k skitarii as well! I don't expect to win on massed infantry in competitive play, but they will be supporting things like Sidonian dragoons, infiltrators, priests and Onagers. I just picked up the codex so I'll ding into the stratagems ASAP.

 

Get 2-3 Start Collecting boxes.

Then get an Enginseer as a cheap HQ option.

Then add other units to taste (recommended are Dakka Bots, Dragoons and Infiltrators).

 

I think the most potent Forgeworlds are:

Stygiies

Mars

Lucius

But others are nice as well. Just play as you wish, you can change from game to game. Ryza is fun to surprise your opponent with a CC based army. Graia is nice when fielding massed infantry.

 

I got 3 SC sets on the table as we speak. Going to work on getting my chicken count up ASAP. Speaking of Dakka bots, What's the break down for Breachers, Destroyers and Kastellans? I know Kastellans can dish out lots of pain, but what's the overall standing?

 

Stygies and Lucius have some great benefits including some very powerful movement/deployment abilities that Skitarii generally lack, mass infilitrate and deep strike are strong enough to build a list around.

 

Mars has a seriously strong HQ in the form of Cawl and combined with the dakka bots mentioned by destinyfish, Mars can put out a very powerful gunline.

 

Electropriests have awful models but they do have some powerful close range shooting and melee, getting them close enough is generally the problem but with Stygies or Lucius they really are worth considering.

 

Priests do seem like they need a reliable delivery method to do work. If I want to go down that road, I will have to pick the forgeworld accordingly for sure.

 

honestly skitarii are pretty great soldiers all things considered. they are scions with a 6+ invuln save, really good basic guns and great special weapons, and though they are a bit squishy they do some good work. Vanguard are great for close range shooting, and even better on the drop. I can say lucius's deep striking stratagem on a x3 plasma + omnispex squad is devastating with the protocol strategum and canticles to re-roll hit rolls of one. needs a bit of pre-planning, but having a squad come down, hitting on 2+ re-rolling 1's and ignoring cover is really hard to survive against for most targets, and the vanguard's basic rifle is still good enough to help kill tanks.

 

Lucius also provides defense against -1 shots, ignoring it completely, so it's really a win win. Stygies may have better protection outside of 12" (-1 to hit) but nothing can really take away the 4+ you got unless they fire the big guns at you. it also extends to your vehicles!

 

another good tactic is to run mass meatshield squads, either MSU or 10 mans. no special weapons on them to save points, but Always take an omnispex. ignoring cover is as good as having a -1 rend on your guns most of the time, and can prove to be  important when removing entrenched squads of guardsmen or marines. and though vanguard's guns are las gun strength, they have 3 shots each that do D2 on sixes and hit on a 3+. it's super powerful on most things.

 

I had not considered the D2 on 6s for the vanguards! Have you had success running lots of plasma? Seems expensive, but it looks like it can punch a hole in light to medium targets well. Lucius does seem pretty meta ish because of the -1 to hit for sure.

[DeStinyFiSh]

 

I got 3 SC sets on the table as we speak. Going to work on getting my chicken count up ASAP. Speaking of Dakka bots, What's the break down for Breachers, Destroyers and Kastellans? I know Kastellans can dish out lots of pain, but what's the overall standing?

 

 

Priests do seem like they need a reliable delivery method to do work. If I want to go down that road, I will have to pick the forgeworld accordingly for sure.

 

I had not considered the D2 on 6s for the vanguards! Have you had success running lots of plasma? Seems expensive, but it looks like it can punch a hole in light to medium targets well. Lucius does seem pretty meta ish because of the -1 to hit for sure.

 

 

I like the Kataphrons, but they are not the best unit around. They are kind of fragile because of the bad save (Destroyers more than Breachers). On the other hand they can hurt a lot, which makes them a high priority target. With Shroudpsalm / Cover and Acquisition at any cost Stratagem you can keep them alive much longer.

Oh, and when fielding a Gunline with Dakka Bots I always try to get 4 Destroyers with me for Elemination Volley. But they are no must have unit at all if you want to max out your list.

 

Regarding the Priests you are right, you need to get them delivered savely. Stygies and Lucius are the obvious options, but you can also hold them back to counter charge (only when you know you are facing a CC army). Other options are the FW Drill or play Graia for a 5++, 5+++ followed by a 6++++ .  This means only about 37% of (D1) wounds will get a kill.

 

Regarding Plasma on Vanguard:

I prefere taking a plasma gun here and there, getting 3 Plasma on 1 unit is to much points in my oppinion. Just 1 gun is enough to be a threat to nearly everything without sticking a "kill me sign" on your unit.

One exception is Lucius. It is pretty cool to get down 2x10 Vanguard with 3 Plasma and Omnispex each into your opponents face... but it is also nice to bring down 20 Corpuscarii ... or 10 Infiltators with Wrath of Mars... there are options !

[Charlo]

I ran my Vanguard as Metallica at the 40k doubles purely to keep them speedy and cap objectives and it was rather refreshing!

 

Getting to move 6"+D6" every turn and still unload Rad Carbine shots at full efficiency was great and helped me play some tricks by keeping the Vanguard further back than normal to begin with only to unexpectedly surge forward. Even little squads of 5 put out a respectable 15 shots. This also lets them keep up with Speedy Dragoons.

 

Taking it further the Metallica Warlord Trait lets units within 6" of the Warlord fallback and shoot at a -1 penalty (still re-rolling 1s to hit because Dominus aura!) so your Onagers can't even be tied up in CC if the Dominus is around.

 

Only shame is the unique Stratagem, Deafening Assault, is very lackluster - simply forcing -1Ld to enemies within 6" of one unit. Same with the Relic, it's just a Servo Arm that hits at S12 and 3D but can only hit once.

[Vel'Cona]

Welcome to the Omnissiah's fold M_O_P! :)  (best initials ever, btw).

 

Your 3 SC boxes should do well to start with, as a full battery of (hopefully magnetized) Onagers gives you a broad array of fire support options.  My personal favourite is the Neutron Laser though there's an argument to be made for most of the loadouts.  Skitarii in general are middle-of-the-road as far as Troops choices go, with decent firepower but high cost for what they do.  They're a bit pants in melee, too.  I prefer Rangers to save points and fill out Battalions for CP farming, though Vanguard are obviously more dangerous if you can get them within 18" in nearly one piece.  Kataphrons in either flavour took a bit of a nerf in 8th, with Breachers coming out roughly on top thanks to their durability.  Destroyers can be dangerous but they're incredibly vulnerable to multiwound S6+ shooting and assault.

 

Kastelan Robots are a solid "carry" unit that can do melee or shooting depending on equip, but they're also crazy expensive and rather slow.  Units of 4 are solid for anchoring your line but make sure to invest in a Cybernetica Datasmith unless swapping Protocols isn't something you plan to use.

 

HQ is obviously the weakest link for AdMech, with our options either being cheap but mostly useless Enginseers or the overpriced but decent Techpriest Dominus.  Belisarius Cawl is OFC a powerful choice but the Mars-only restriction is a problem (at least, for me it is).

[Tiger9gamer]

I would like to start by thanking you all for the great input! It's good to get a wealth of opinions on the topic

 

 

honestly skitarii are pretty great soldiers all things considered. they are scions with a 6+ invuln save, really good basic guns and great special weapons, and though they are a bit squishy they do some good work. Vanguard are great for close range shooting, and even better on the drop. I can say lucius's deep striking stratagem on a x3 plasma + omnispex squad is devastating with the protocol strategum and canticles to re-roll hit rolls of one. needs a bit of pre-planning, but having a squad come down, hitting on 2+ re-rolling 1's and ignoring cover is really hard to survive against for most targets, and the vanguard's basic rifle is still good enough to help kill tanks.

 

Lucius also provides defense against -1 shots, ignoring it completely, so it's really a win win. Stygies may have better protection outside of 12" (-1 to hit) but nothing can really take away the 4+ you got unless they fire the big guns at you. it also extends to your vehicles!

 

another good tactic is to run mass meatshield squads, either MSU or 10 mans. no special weapons on them to save points, but Always take an omnispex. ignoring cover is as good as having a -1 rend on your guns most of the time, and can prove to be  important when removing entrenched squads of guardsmen or marines. and though vanguard's guns are las gun strength, they have 3 shots each that do D2 on sixes and hit on a 3+. it's super powerful on most things.

 

I had not considered the D2 on 6s for the vanguards! Have you had success running lots of plasma? Seems expensive, but it looks like it can punch a hole in light to medium targets well. Lucius does seem pretty meta ish because of the -1 to hit for sure.

 

considering I only have 3 plasma calvaliers built since Arc weapons were so dang good last edition... I wouldn't say a lot of plasma, but a good amount. It gives enough mid-damage shots to finish off tanks that you're neutron lasers missed / didn't kill, and helps get into those hard to reach areas. plasma destroyers are also great models for this, and have enough range to sit in back with a dominus to add more firepower from the back.

 

only tried deepstriking electropriests once but they were fun as well. problem with lucius is that our teleports eat up a lot of Cp's if we super focus on it, so I tend to only run one suped up squad made for flying and dying.

 

I second other people talking neutron lasers, always run 3 of them at most, two at least. 

[brother_b]

I consider the skitarii plasma guys basically fire and forget weapons. The way I've played them their TPD usually hangs back with heavier weapons for the re roll buff. That leaves my little zealous rad warriors on their own. I just try and target that juicy unit before they're killed or kill them selves!

[Memento Of Prospero]

So I have purchased some dakka bots (4) and I am ready to start list building. Considering the advice previously received, here is what it amounts to thus far; critique and utter destruction of perceived weakness is yearned for:

 

List for 2,000 points

 

++ Brigade Detachment +12CP (Imperium - Adeptus Mechanicus) [126 PL, 1992pts] ++

 

Forge World: Stygies VIII

 

+ HQ +

 

Tech-Priest Dominus [7 PL, 127pts]: Eradication Ray, Macrostubber, Omnissian Axe

 

Tech-Priest Enginseer [3 PL, 47pts]: Omnissian Axe, Servo-arm

 

Tech-Priest Enginseer [3 PL, 47pts]: Omnissian Axe, Servo-arm

 

+ Troops +

 

Skitarii Rangers [7 PL, 72pts]: Enhanced data-tether
. Ranger (Transuranic Arquebus): Transuranic arquebus
. Ranger Alpha: Galvanic rifle
. 4x Skitarii Ranger

 

Skitarii Rangers [7 PL, 72pts]: Enhanced data-tether
. Ranger (Transuranic Arquebus): Transuranic arquebus
. Ranger Alpha: Galvanic rifle
. 4x Skitarii Ranger

 

Skitarii Rangers [7 PL, 72pts]: Enhanced data-tether
. Ranger (Transuranic Arquebus): Transuranic arquebus
. Ranger Alpha: Galvanic rifle
. 4x Skitarii Ranger

 

Skitarii Rangers [7 PL, 104pts]: Enhanced data-tether
. 2x Ranger (Transuranic Arquebus): 2x Transuranic arquebus
. Ranger Alpha: Galvanic rifle
. 4x Skitarii Ranger

 

Skitarii Vanguards [4 PL, 45pts]: Enhanced data-tether, 4x Skitarii Vanguard
. Vanguard Alpha: Radium Carbine

 

Skitarii Vanguards [4 PL, 45pts]: Enhanced data-tether, 4x Skitarii Vanguard
. Vanguard Alpha: Radium Carbine

 

Skitarii Vanguards [4 PL, 45pts]: Enhanced data-tether, 4x Skitarii Vanguard
. Vanguard Alpha: Radium Carbine

 

Skitarii Vanguards [4 PL, 45pts]: Enhanced data-tether, 4x Skitarii Vanguard
. Vanguard Alpha: Radium Carbine

 

+ Elites +

 

Corpuscarii  Electro-Priests [6 PL, 140pts]: 10x Corpuscarii Electro-Priest

 

Cybernetica Datasmith [3 PL, 44pts]: Gamma pistol, Power fist

 

Sicarian Infiltrators [6 PL, 110pts]
. Infiltrator Princeps
. . Flechette blaster & Taser goad: Flechette Blaster, Taser goad
. 4x Sicarian Infiltrator (Flechette/Taser): 4x Flechette Blaster, 4x Taser goad

 

+ Fast Attack +

 

Ironstrider Ballistarii [4 PL, 95pts]
. Ironstrider Ballistarius: Twin Cognis Lascannon

 

Sydonian Dragoons [6 PL, 136pts]
. Sydonian Dragoon: Taser lance
. Sydonian Dragoon: Taser lance

 

Sydonian Dragoons [6 PL, 136pts]
. Sydonian Dragoon: Taser lance
. Sydonian Dragoon: Taser lance

 

+ Heavy Support +

 

Kastelan Robots [24 PL, 330pts]
. Kastelan Robot: Heavy Phosphor blaster
. . Heavy phosphor blasters: 2x Heavy Phosphor blaster
. Kastelan Robot: Heavy Phosphor blaster
. . Heavy phosphor blasters: 2x Heavy Phosphor blaster
. Kastelan Robot: Heavy Phosphor blaster
. . Heavy phosphor blasters: 2x Heavy Phosphor blaster

 

Onager Dunecrawler [7 PL, 140pts]
. Neutron laser & cognis heavy Stubber: Cognis heavy stubber, Neutron Laser

 

Onager Dunecrawler [7 PL, 140pts]
. Neutron laser & cognis heavy Stubber: Cognis heavy stubber, Neutron Laser

++ Total: [126 PL, 1992pts] ++

[DeStinyFiSh]

I don't think the Data Tethers are worth it on units that size... I think in a 5 man unit 1 Arc Rifle for 4 points is a better investment. There wont be much left of a 5 man unit of Skitarii that is worth savon through moral.

[Memento Of Prospero]

Would you suggest bulking up 2 of the units to make better use of the stratagem? I recon I will have enough CP to power through about 4 turns of spamming it.

[DeStinyFiSh]

What Stratagem do you mean?

[frosteldar]

I believe it's the stratagem which gives a Skitarii unit +1 to hit when shooting or +2 to hit if they have a Data Tether.

[DeStinyFiSh]

Well, Skitarii already hit on a 3+, so the +1 for the Stratagem without the Tether is enough to let you hit on 2+. The Tether only helps when you get a negative modifier in addition.

[Memento Of Prospero]

What Stratagem do you mean?

 

 

I believe it's the stratagem which gives a Skitarii unit +1 to hit when shooting or +2 to hit if they have a Data Tether.

 

Yeah, Protector and Conqueror imperatives. The melee one will be used on the Dragoons and the shooting on on whichever unit needs to put in most work (and can benefit from the increase to proc tresholds)

Well, Skitarii already hit on a 3+, so the +1 for the Stratagem without the Tether is enough to let you hit on 2+. The Tether only helps when you get a negative modifier in addition.

 

It also impacts weapons that generate additional hits on results of 6+, bringing them to 4+ dice rolls.

[Clingy]

I’m all honesty I would ditch the brigade. If your playing for fun keep it but it’s quite restrictive.

 

Example being how you’ve split your dragoons. If you have the goads exploding on 4+ a squad of 4 hits like a truck. Group them up. Ditch the data smith. Depending on how attached you are to the ironstrider considering adding that as a 5th dragoon as part of the same squad. Infiltrators outside of Mars forgeworld tactics do very little. Wrath of Mars on a 10 man squad can be nice for some horde clearance or mortal wounding chipping on bigger targets. I would probably shelf them and add to the electro priest squad. Another 10 to make it a 20 man squad.

 

It’s a tricky one cause if you’ve got the models you obviously want to use them. Main thing to consider is robots and infiltrators benefit from being mars forgeworld. Electropriests, dragoons fit stygies perfectly. If your prepared to add to your list I would double down on priests and dragoons. Star units of the army.

 

Have fun with whatever you decide

[brother_b]

Infiltrators with Stygies is great because they're just one more close in unit for your opponent to worry about.

 

Clingy had great advice though.

[Memento Of Prospero]

If I go for a battalion + vanguard or outrider, I could then get the best of both worlds? One Mars detachment and one Stygies?

[DeStinyFiSh]

If I go for a battalion + vanguard or outrider, I could then get the best of both worlds? One Mars detachment and one Stygies?

 

Yes, it is best to split different units to different detachments, but for me this feels like power gaming / minmaxing...

 

Skip the Brigade for now. Yes, you have a ton of CP, but 1 CP on the close combat Doctrina is not as good on a 3 man unit of Dragoons than it is on a 6 man unit. The shooty Doctrina is better on a 10 man unit of Vanguard with Plasma weapons than it is on a barebone 5 man unit. I hope that makes sense...

 

Lately my lists are 2 Battalions most of the time. That gives you 13 CP to play with, which should be plenty. It also makes list- building more flexible.

For example you can make a gunline detachment with

1 Dominus

1 Enginseer

1 Unit Destroyer

2 Units Ranger

Dakka Bots

 

and another Detachment for moving up the field with

1 Dominus

1 Enginseer

3 Units Vanguard

Dragoons, Fist Bots, E-Priests etc.

 

But to be honest, I think it makes no sense to plan a 2000 point list from start. I guess most of the time people will have their first games as soon as the army hits 1000 points. And with the first games you get the first experience, a feeling for how the army works, what you like and so on.

So with models you have got, get some games and then continue as you fancy

[Memento Of Prospero]

Thanks for the solid advice. This is more about planning ahead purchases than setting in stone a list, since my budget is tight at the moment. I want to avoid pitfall units I might not want early on.

 

I see what you mean by choosing the right unit for the Forgeworld.

 

I already have Dakka Bots and all the skutarii vanguard/rangers I could want and just got a unit of electro priests today; should probably focus on Mars over Stygies for now.

 

A unut of 3 destroyers will make the bots shine, I am thinking plasma could be useful even though I am not Ryza.