First attempt at a 9th edition list - Twisted Helix

[harrybo]

2000 points - Battalion - Twisted Helix - 9CP

Leaders of the cult - -1CP
Gene-Sire Gifts - -2CP

HQ
Patriarch - Familiar - Relic - Unwilling Orb - 150 - Warlord , Warlord Trait - Preternatural Speed , Psychic - Mass Hypnosis, Mind Control, Smite
Primus - 80 - Warlord Trait - Biomorph Adaption - Relic - Amulet of the Voidwyrm
Iconward - 75 - Warlord Trait - Alien Majesty

No Force Org Slot
Biophagus - Familiar - Alchemist Supreme (Acolyte Rock Saws Squad - Enhanced Resilience) - 65
Nexos - Relic - Cranial Inlay - 50

TROOPS
Acolytes x 15 - 6 x Rock Saws - A Trap Sprung - 210
Acolytes x 15 - 6 x Rock Cutters - 195
Acolytes x 15 - 15 x Hand Flamers - 162
Neophytes x 20 - Icon, 4 x Mining Lasers - 200
Neophytes x 20 - Icon, 4 x Mining Lasers - 200
Neophytes x 20 - Shotguns - A perfect Ambush - 135


FAST ATTACK
Atalan Jackals x 5 - 3 x Demo Charges, 1 x Wolf Quad (Heavy Stubber) - 99
Atalan Jackals x 5 - 3 x Demo Charges, 1 x Wolf Quad (Heavy Stubber) - 99

ELITES
Purestrain Genestealers x 10 - 140
Purestrain Genestealers x 10 - 140

Basic plan is to send the bikes out to try and cause a nuisance and claim midfield objectives, possibly blow something up or perform an action.
Neophytes form up around the Iconward and Primus to create a nice shooting block sitting on backfield objectives. Shotgun Neophytes will pop up and hopefully inflict some damage to some units.
One Purestrain unit will ambush, the other will start on the table with the Patriarch and hopefully survive first turn to make contact with the enemy. Patriarch will be nerfing one unit with psychic.
Acolytes with industrial weapons will ambush, one of which will charge with 3 dice and discard the lowest thanks to A Trap Sprung. Flamer acolytes pop up and flame, trigger exposed etc.
Biophagus just randomly buffs acolytes or purestrains as they benefit most from all of his buffs.
The Primus may surprise people with the boosted stat line and 4+ inv from the relic (Amulet) M7" S6 BONESWORD T5 A5 plus 1 from Toxin Claw, so not too shabby.

Any thoughts about how to improve this list would be very much appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[Hive Bahamut]

This is very similar to the list I have been running. Only 3 games in. A few things of note:

Walking Genestealers are dead Genestealers. Use Trucks for Purestrain Missiles (the Autocannons also double as Crossfire for ignore Overwatch/Set to Defend and Heroic Interventions.) If you are cheeky you can guide the third with "They Came From Below" combined with "Rapid Advance" for a Turn 1 charge that should be able to use Return to the Shadows to avoid retaliation.

The Biophagus, 5 Aberrants and Grinder just got the axe in my list, and replaced with 3 Ridgerunners.

Biophagus is excellent for 3 things:
FNP on Neophyte/Atalan blobs
Giving Patriarch exploding 6' and FNP AND giving up Ass.

Speaking of Patriarch, Bio-Alchemist is easily one of the strongest Traits in the book. My first game my Patriarch picked up 15 Gravis models solo. The next was around 7. Imo if you aren't using this trait don't even bother with Patriarch, as it is overcosted by a good 20-30 points.

What are the quads for? I can't find a way to include them as the gophers don't need shooting, apart from 1 or 2 demo charges, which for their points are the SAME cost as Heavy Stubber, and way worse. Also, at 6 man units the coherency tricks are minimalized, unless this is for the Nachmund secondary.

Primus should either be not killy at all and hanging out playing some vids with the Nexos (sending buffs ala Core) or given the "Hand of Aberrance" which is almost like a second Patriarch. 6A w/ wound on 2+ -2AP 3D is gnarly. No ++ makes harder to use, but you don't want a nerfbat Primus in combat. Buffing is their main purpose.

Still not an expert but with such a similar list it makes sense it would be very similar. Kelermorph also could really shine with those Wyrmtooths, in a list where surgical shooting could benefit.

Also,make sure to upgrade those Acolyte Sgts with Boneswords and Lashwhips, as they reroll for free that way, and nobody is missing an autopistol shot.

[harrybo]

Thanks for the advice Bahamut! I’ve taken several of the points you made and implemented them into the list.

Specifically dropping the quads and adding an extra biker so there’s still 6 models in each unit for actions, but a bit cheaper and easier to manoeuvre.

Also with the saved points given Lying in Wait to one of the genestealer units and the bonesword lashwhip combo on 2 of the acolytes leaders.

But I’ve kept the patriarch and primus as they were for now.

I had a game earlier (first of 9th edition!) and I’ll post about this shortly.