Last week, we treated you to a glimpse of the exciting future that awaits the Genestealer Cults in the form of a preview of a brand-new character, the Biophagus. Today. we’ve got another sneak preview for you, and it’s an absolute belter – the Achilles Ridgerunner!
This article was originally published on the Warhammer-community site.
What are Achilles Ridgerunners?
Achilles Ridgerunners are traditionally employed by mining guilds and geological surveyors as exploration vehicles. Their pilots range into hazardous frontier environments to scan for promising resource deposits and communicate their location back to base.
Although not specifically designed for military use, like so many of the utilitarian machines favoured by the Genestealer Cults, these rugged vehicles have proven remarkably effective as outriders and scout vehicles.
The heavy mining lasers mounted on the Achilles Ridgerunners are typically used to unearth rich seams of valuable minerals and rare metals, but these powerful beams can just as easily be utilised to sear through the armoured hulls of vehicles or other high-value targets of choice. As is their practice, the warriors of the Genestealer Cults have learned to supplement this fearsome weapon with additional firepower in the form of heavy stubbers.
Outriders of the Insurrection
On the battlefield, Achilles Ridgerunners act as excellent vanguard strike vehicles, able to put the enemy on the back foot right from the start with their Scout Vehicle ability:
The vehicle is armed with a pair of heavy stubbers, but its primary armament of heavy mining laser can be switched out for a missile launcher or even a heavy mortar.
Each Achilles Ridgerunner also has repurposed surveying equipment as standard, the default option being flare launchers, which offer a handy mix of self-preservation and a burst of speed for a nearby unit of Cult Bikers.
Instead of flare launchers, you can customise your Ridgerunners with a survey augur that robs the enemy of cover, or a spotter who increases the range of the vehicle’s ranged weapons.
If you like the idea of driving around in a rugged off-road vehicle alongside a swarm of bikers, all the while blasting targets into slag with an industrial-grade laser (or your explosive delivery system of choice), don’t worry – you won’t have long to wait. After all, Ascension Day is almost upon us, and the Genestealer Cults will soon be getting their clawed hands on all manner of cool new units like the Achilles Ridgerunner.
Until then, why not kickstart your collection with a bang with some Genestealer Cults Neophytes and Acolyte Hybrids, or reinforce your existing host with a Genestealer Cults Leman Russ for some hefty fire support?
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
Damn, this looks sweet. Looks like the ranks of my Cult will be expanding soon.
Looks like the neophyte in the turret is a woman – awesome to see female sculpts for GSC
I can’t even deal with how awesome this release is looking to be. Such great stuff!
Looks pretty sweet. Will have to see the stats though. Especially for the mining laser and heavy mortar.
Mortar is my biggest interest. A small vehicle with a 9″ Scout move can position itself quite well without needing to move, combine that with ignores cover and a decent mortar, we’re cooking with gas.
Yeah, that’s the big draw for me as well. Not just would it be handy in-game, but it’s a very realistic use for a light vehicle as well. Always like it when those happen to match up.
It seems a bit weird that it makes bikes automatically advance 6″ when every bike in the game already does it.
The model is cool though
These are, admittedly, the first Bikes in the game where the riders don’t have superhuman senses/reflexes and/or no sense of self-preservation whatsoever. Seems reasonable that they might generally ride a bit more carefully than Space Marines, Aeldari, or Orks.