Custom Cult, Abberrants and not paying for "Perfect Ambush"

[Gunnerside]

Inspired by the discussion in this thread: thetyranidhive.proboards.com/thread/57875/pauper-prince-aberrants , and a special thanks to murderfiesta for highlighting the combo for Custom Cult trait which this list.

Mainly intended for ITC missions.

Key concept:

• Custom Cult: "Innate Fighters" [reroll 1's on first round of combat] and "Devout Worshippers" [Reroll charges when within 3" of a Metamorph squad] 
  
• +2 to charge for Aberrants together with Insidious Mindwyrm WL-trait and Clamavus, a total of 7" charge with reroll.
  
• MSU Metamorph squad deployed outside of 12" to avoid Auspex Scans, at the same time giving Deep striking Aberrants/Acolytes rerollable charges
• 2x Aberrants with picks and 2x Hypermorphs with hammers in each squad
• The reroll 1's cult trait and Primus to increase to hit chances
  
• Bio-Dagger Sanctus with Amulet of the Voidwyrm gets to use "Perfect Ambush" for free, and tie up any units I want to prevent from doing overwatch.
• Bladed Cog Battalion with Ridge Runners and Neophytes to provide some ranged damage.
• 4AE Nexos to provide access to APGITM/Vect and CP regen
  
• Magus with 1CP "Cult's Psyche" to Cast 5+ FNP PA awakening power on Ridge Runners
• Clamavus with 1 CP "Commanding Amplification" aura range upgrade
• Abominant with 1 CP "The Gnarled fist" for "The Chosen One" aura range upgrade
• Aberrants and Rock saw Acolyte squad deployed with blips, and then use 1 CP with "They Came from below" to put them in Reserve to avoid Deep strike pint/unit number restrictions.
  
• With all upgrades the list only has 7 CP to spend (+ whatever the Nexos regens), but most Stratagems like "Raking Fire, "Overcharged Weaponry", "Genetic Lineage", "Back in to the shadows" and Slipping though the Shadows" are all 1 CP abilities, none deemed essential. relevant 2 CP stratagems are "Lying in wait" for the Flamer Acolyte squad, and "Devotion till death" and "Monstrous Vigour" for the aberrants when the situation calls for it. "Perfect Ambush" only used by the Acolyte flamer-bomb in instances where it needs to be used in t2 to clear critical screens (in combination with lying in wait).
  

So could this work? Comments and criticism welcome.

List:

++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Tyranids - Genestealer Cults) [65 PL, 1,156pts, 3CP] ++

+ Configuration [8CP] +

Battle-forged CP [3CP]

Cult Creed
. Other: Devout Worshippers, Innate Fighters

Detachment CP [5CP]

+ Stratagems [-3CP] +

Broodcoven [-1CP]

Grandsire's Gifts [-1CP]: 1 Extra Sacred Relic [-1CP]

Specialist Detachment: Anointed Throng [-1CP]

+ HQ [10 PL, 180pts, -2CP] +

Abominant [6 PL, 105pts, -2CP]: Stratagem: Field Commander [-1CP], Stratagem: The Gnarled Fist [-1CP], Warlord Trait: Insidious Mindwyrm

Primus [4 PL, 75pts]: Bonesword [3pts], Broodcoven Primus, Warlord Trait: Alien Majesty

+ Troops [21 PL, 298pts] +

Acolyte Hybrids [9 PL, 138pts]
. 9x Acolyte Hybrid [63pts]
. Acolyte Hybrid (Heavy Weapon) [17pts]: Autopistol, Heavy Rock Saw [10pts]
. Acolyte Hybrid (Heavy Weapon) [17pts]: Autopistol, Heavy Rock Saw [10pts]
. Acolyte Hybrid (Heavy Weapon) [17pts]: Autopistol, Heavy Rock Saw [10pts]
. Acolyte Hybrid (Heavy Weapon) [17pts]: Autopistol, Heavy Rock Saw [10pts]
. Acolyte Leader [7pts]: Autopistol, Cultist Knife

Acolyte Hybrids [9 PL, 120pts]
. 14x Acolyte Hybrid (Hand Flamer) [112pts]: 14x Hand Flamer [14pts]
. Acolyte Leader [8pts]: Cultist Knife, Hand Flamer [1pts]

Brood Brothers Infantry Squad [3 PL, 40pts]: Brood Brothers Leader [4pts]
. 9x Brood Brother [36pts]

+ Elites [34 PL, 678pts] +

Aberrants [14 PL, 294pts]
. 8x Aberrant (Pick) [224pts]: 8x Power Pick [72pts]
. 2x Aberrant Hypermorph (Hammer) [70pts]: 2x Heavy Power Hammer [32pts]

Aberrants [14 PL, 294pts]
. 8x Aberrant (Pick) [224pts]: 8x Power Pick [72pts]
. 2x Aberrant Hypermorph (Hammer) [70pts]: 2x Heavy Power Hammer [32pts]

Hybrid Metamorphs [3 PL, 35pts]
. Hybrid Metamorph [7pts]: Autopistol, Metamorph Whip, Rending Claw
. Hybrid Metamorph [7pts]: Autopistol, Metamorph Whip, Rending Claw
. Hybrid Metamorph [7pts]: Autopistol, Metamorph Whip, Rending Claw
. Hybrid Metamorph [7pts]: Autopistol, Metamorph Whip, Rending Claw
. Metamorph Leader [7pts]: Autopistol, Metamorph Whip, Rending Claw

Sanctus [3 PL, 55pts]: Amulet of the Voidwyrm, Sanctus Bio-dagger

++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Tyranids - Genestealer Cults) [32 PL, 555pts, 4CP] ++

+ Configuration [5CP] +

Cult Creed: The Bladed Cog

Detachment CP [5CP]

+ HQ [8 PL, 150pts, -1CP] +

Jackal Alphus [4 PL, 70pts]

Magus [4 PL, 80pts, -1CP]: Power: Might From Beyond, Power: Undying Vigour, Stratagem: The Cult's Psyche [-1CP]

+ Troops [12 PL, 228pts] +

Neophyte Hybrids [4 PL, 76pts]
. 5x Neophyte Hybrid [25pts]
. 2x Neophyte Hybrid (Mining) [34pts]: 2x Mining Laser [24pts]
. 2x Neophyte Hybrid (Webber) [12pts]: 2x Webber [2pts]
. Neophyte Leader [5pts]: Autogun, Autopistol

Neophyte Hybrids [4 PL, 76pts]
. 5x Neophyte Hybrid [25pts]
. 2x Neophyte Hybrid (Mining) [34pts]: 2x Mining Laser [24pts]
. 2x Neophyte Hybrid (Webber) [12pts]: 2x Webber [2pts]
. Neophyte Leader [5pts]: Autogun, Autopistol

Neophyte Hybrids [4 PL, 76pts]
. 5x Neophyte Hybrid [25pts]
. 2x Neophyte Hybrid (Mining) [34pts]: 2x Mining Laser [24pts]
. 2x Neophyte Hybrid (Webber) [12pts]: 2x Webber [2pts]
. Neophyte Leader [5pts]: Autogun, Autopistol

+ Fast Attack [12 PL, 177pts] +

Achilles Ridgerunners [12 PL, 177pts]
. Achilles Ridgerunner [4 PL, 59pts]: Heavy Mining Laser [15pts], 2x Heavy Stubber [4pts], Spotter [5pts]
. Achilles Ridgerunner [4 PL, 59pts]: Heavy Mining Laser [15pts], 2x Heavy Stubber [4pts], Spotter [5pts]
. Achilles Ridgerunner [4 PL, 59pts]: Heavy Mining Laser [15pts], 2x Heavy Stubber [4pts], Spotter [5pts]

++ Vanguard Detachment +1CP (Tyranids - Genestealer Cults) [17 PL, 289pts, ] ++

+ Configuration [1CP] +

Cult Creed: None (Mixed Detachment)

Detachment CP [1CP]

+ HQ [8 PL, 137pts] +

Patriarch (Custom Cult, Innate Fighers, Devout Worshippers) [8 PL, 137pts]: Familiar [12pts], Power: Mass Hypnosis, Power: Mental Onslaught, Power: Might From Beyond, The Crouchling, Warlord

+ Elites [9 PL, 152pts, -1CP] +

Biophagus (Custom Cult, Innate Fighers, Devout Worshippers) [3 PL, 47pts]: Alchemicus Familiar [1 PL, 12pts]

Clamavus (Custom Cult, Innate Fighers, Devout Worshippers) [3 PL, 55pts, -1CP]: Stratagem: Commanding Amplification [-1CP]

Nexos (Four Armed Emperor) [3 PL, 50pts]

++ Total: [114 PL, 7CP, 2,000pts] ++

[No One]

So, I've got 2 main issues with this. The first is for the concept as a whole, at least at a tournament setting: 7" rerollables are good, but they are also eminently failable. If you want to win a tournament, you're setting yourself up for failure. Acolytes are at least only ~150 pts if they fail: aberrants are 300 pts. There is, of course, stuff you can do to get around this: e.g. PA if needed still, lurk if terrain permits and one fails.

And this comes back around to the other issue I have with your list: you're far too committed on this, and not letting yourself take advantage of opportunities, or have a fall back. You've spent 3 CP on extra range on your Characters: that could instead be a PA of an aberrant squad somewhere else. Or lurking and something else. Or Generations on an auspex to not lose an aberrant squad. Add to that: you've got 1 CP for clamavus upgrade, but abominant is still at 6" for the +1". There's some other things I'm not sure about e.g. magus/patriarch spells/strat/relic, the ridgerunners with no other vehicle/MC statline, and lack of iconward for banner option. But those are less holistic issues.

[Gunnerside]

Thank you, that is valuable feed back. By removing the 1 CP character upgrades for extended auras, and additional spell for Magus- the list goes to 10CP (9CP effectively with "They came from below" being used in virtually every match when revealing blips). I see your point on using PA to ensure critical charges being made, and I think having 9 CP to spend, together with the general 2+ change w/reroll should do it.

Regarding the Ridge Runners: I am considering dropping them and adding more Neophyte squads, but I do like to have the range to securing turn 1 "kill 1+", and generally providing ranged fire to deal with Impulsors and flyers which can't be efficiently be dealt with by CC units. Psychic Awakening has also given Ridge Runners some prettty good cheap stratagems which imo amplify their usefulness. Would the increased board control of more Neophytes outweigh the range benefit of the Ridge Runners?

Another point is that I find myself running out of time when playing with a chess clock, and I think the inherent benefit of fewer units might be a practical consideration for this as well. Got any experience or thoughts on this?

[No One]

Gunnerside said:

Regarding the Ridge Runners: I am considering dropping them and adding more Neophyte squads, but I do like to have the range to securing turn 1 "kill 1+", and generally providing ranged fire to deal with Impulsors and flyers which can't be efficiently be dealt with by CC units. Psychic Awakening has also given Ridge Runners some prettty good cheap stratagems which imo amplify their usefulness. Would the increased board control of more Neophytes outweigh the range benefit of the Ridge Runners?

Another point is that I find myself running out of time when playing with a chess clock, and I think the inherent benefit of fewer units might be a practical consideration for this as well. Got any experience or thoughts on this?

I haven't played much with a clock. But one of the times I did, I timed out T4, so...yeah, that's valid (still drew though, but neither of us were really familiar with ITC/new secondaries).

What I do for the T1 pressure/lower unit count is HG. Ridgerunners...my concern is they'll die too quick to get value unless you go 1st. And even then, the output is just OK I think, and you don't have much to take advantage of the strong defensive statline (for the points). Which is why I like hive guard: still able to be effective in most match ups, rather than being exposed as the sole target of anti-tank guns.

[Gunnerside]

Mar 17, 2020 11:22:36 GMT No One said:

Gunnerside said:

Regarding the Ridge Runners: I am considering dropping them and adding more Neophyte squads, but I do like to have the range to securing turn 1 "kill 1+", and generally providing ranged fire to deal with Impulsors and flyers which can't be efficiently be dealt with by CC units. Psychic Awakening has also given Ridge Runners some prettty good cheap stratagems which imo amplify their usefulness. Would the increased board control of more Neophytes outweigh the range benefit of the Ridge Runners?

Another point is that I find myself running out of time when playing with a chess clock, and I think the inherent benefit of fewer units might be a practical consideration for this as well. Got any experience or thoughts on this?

I haven't played much with a clock. But one of the times I did, I timed out T4, so...yeah, that's valid (still drew though, but neither of us were really familiar with ITC/new secondaries).

What I do for the T1 pressure/lower unit count is HG. Ridgerunners...my concern is they'll die too quick to get value unless you go 1st. And even then, the output is just OK I think, and you don't have much to take advantage of the strong defensive statline (for the points). Which is why I like hive guard: still able to be effective in most match ups, rather than being exposed as the sole target of anti-tank guns.

I share your concern for the Ridge runners being targeted T1. My hope is to use board distance and terrain to mitigate this, i.e if I can hide 2/3 ridge runners in the unit behind cover, then I'll be sure to pick off the visible one first so the remaining vehicles might be untargetable. I also consider changing the setup to 1x Flare launchers 2x spotters and use the Flare launcher to tank any T1 hit before I can cast the Bladed Cog Psychic Awakeinging 5+ FNP spell. 

I do not really have any experience or models to run a Tyranid detachment. What's your recommendation for set up for running the Hive Guard?

[No One]

Gunnerside said:

I do not really have any experience or models to run a Tyranid detachment. What's your recommendation for set up for running the Hive Guard?

That's fair: I run 2 neuros (symbiostorm, and cat/onslaught/scream depending on terrain and match up) for buffs and general smite duties on anything being too aggressive, or for midgame if I can screen with GSC. Then min-ish terms and rippers for screens and objectives. It's a nice and self contained little package.

[LordPathos]

I'm gonna look into this idea a little more thoroughly. My original vision for my GSC was to skip all the bikes and vehicles and just flood the board with the hybrids, the more Nid side of the GSC. The Metamorph trait got me excited because I really want to use them. I'm just a sucker for Twisted Helix.