If you’ve been patiently hanging on for the release of the Genestealer Cults ever since the earliest teaser at the Vigilus Open Day, don’t worry – the wait is finally over. (Well, it will be next weekend, anyway!) Indeed, a monstrous haul of new Genestealer Cults characters, units and even a terrain piece will be up for pre-order next weekend, along with a codex packed with new background and rules. Let’s break it down.
This article was originally published on the Warhammer-community site.
Atalan Jackals
Jackals act as the eyes and ears of the Genestealer Cults. They ride a variety of rugged Atalan-class exploratory machines, of which the most common are dirtcycles and four-wheeled Wolfquads. These outriders are swift and skilled at evading enemy fire as they speed around the battlefield. The Wolfquads also offer the Jackal packs some handy fire support with a heavy weapon mount.
Jackal Alphus
A Jackal Alphus is far from just the leader of a cult’s Jackal packs – they can coordinate targeted strikes on priority threats and even take matters into their own hands with well-placed shots from their high-powered sniper rifle.
Locus
These mysterious, austere characters serve as bodyguards to their gene-sect’s Magus or other senior cult leaders. They are poised to strike at a moment’s notice should any threat to their master reveal itself, their actions so sudden and swift that their intended target often has little or no warning as to the Locus’ intervention – usually with terminal consequences.
Magus
This new miniature sees a Magus available separately for the first time. A Magus serves as the cult’s spiritual leader, fortifying the minds of their kin against the psychic influence of their enemies. Each Magus is a formidable psyker, wielding subtle Broodmind powers to confound their foes or galvanise their fellow cultists to frenzied acts of devotion.
Clamavus
To their fellow gene-sect members, the Clamavus is the spreader of truth – a hero who broadcasts the emancipatory creed of the cult far and wide. They use a scrambler array to thwart the enemy’s battleplans, all the while inspiring their kin with booming oratory amplified by their suit’s integrated proclamator hailer.
Sanctus
In order to meet their agenda or deter prying eyes from their clandestine activities, a Genestealer Cult must sometimes resort to less subtle forms of intervention by eliminating the problem directly. Whether by a sniper’s bullet or a knife in the dark, those assassinated for the survival of the cult will invariably have been the mark of a camo-cloaked Sanctus.
Nexos
A Nexos is a consummate strategist. By analysing and interpreting every subtle ebb and flow of battle, they can identify vulnerable positions for their kin to exploit, pointing out potential flanking routes and subterranean passages perfect for arranging sudden ambushes.
Tectonic Fragdrill
Tectonic Fragdrills can make a pinpoint assault on the most volatile parts of the planet’s crust, resulting in a localised earthquake. The Genestealer Cults have learned to harness these machines to cause maximum disruption to their foes on the battlefield.
Brood Brothers
Before their long-planned uprising, the third and fourth generation Neophyte cultists will often seek to infiltrate their world’s Planetary Defence Force and Astra Militarum regiments, providing the cult with trained soldiery to call upon when the time comes. This handy combined set features 10 Cadian Shock Troops, a 2-man Cadian heavy weapon team, and a Genestealer Cults Upgrade Frame with which to subvert them to your cause.
Codex: Genestealer Cults
The essential book for all fans of Genestealer Cults, featuring army background, miniatures showcases and all the rules you need to field your Genestealer Cults miniatures in games of Warhammer 40,000. The codex also comes with a card sheet containing 28 Cult Ambush markers and a 9″ range ruler, used when setting up Genestealer Cults in ambush.*
Codex: Genestealer Cults – Collector’s and Limited Editions
If you want to commemorate Ascension Day with a super-shiny version of the codex, there are not one but two to choose from! The Collector’s Edition includes the same content as the standard codex but is made with a soft-touch cover with artwork on front and back, black page edges and a black ribbon bookmark.
Meanwhile, the Limited Edition is designed to resemble a defaced Imperial book and is presented in a specially designed box containing exclusive gaming accessories.
Dice and Datacards
No codex launch would be complete without dice and datacards! The Genestealer Cults Dice set includes 20 grey dice with purple swirls and red pips, and featured the Genestealer Cults icon in place of the 1. The Datacards: Genestealer Cults pack features 71 handy reference cards, catering for all their Tactical Objectives, Stratagems and Broodmind psychic powers.
The Horus Heresy Primarchs – Corax: Lord of Shadow
A hardback edition of Guy Haley’s novel about the enigmatic primarch of the Raven Guard. During the Great Crusade, it falls to the Corax to humble the immense void-cities of the Carinae. Determined to bring these worlds into compliance, he unleashes the might of his Legion and a massive war host of the Imperial Army. But the lords of Carinae are well defended and without remorse.
That’s quite the launch, we’re sure you’ll agree! Let us know which of the new Genestealer Cults units you’re most looking forward to on the Warhammer 40,000 Facebook page.
* There will be more on this exciting new rules development over the coming days, so keep your eyes out!
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
Really curious about these Ambush changes.
My prediction is that at first people will flip out on an emotional reaction, then see the combos and realize it is extremely good.
Wrong again, Reece! I think you’ll find that as usual, the internet will take a measured response and wait to see the codex before jumping to conclusions and outcry.
lolol
This does not fill me with hope, lol
From the limited information that has been leaked so far, I would say this: Cult Ambush isn’t as much of a raw powerhouse as the current version, but there are much better options for tricksy play that will reward smart players. It’s going to create a very different kind of game against the army.
The new ambush looks really good. Being able to flex which units are where, as well as playing with the placement after the opponent moves for LOS shenanigans can be very strong vs. alpha strike armies. I’m also happy with the removal of random outcomes.
I want pretty much all of those. My poor bank account…
Between GSC getting a codex, Vigilus II hopefully giving some new options to a variety of different Chaos codexes, and the March FAQ hopefully adjusting points on some things that didn’t get touched in Chapter Approved, I would be really excited if the post-LVO meta looks different than the meta we will probably see at LVO. The diversity in the current meta is already pretty nice post-Chapter Approved, but a few more options and tweaks could make it excellent.
Yeah, I agree. The future of the game is quite bright.
I’m really crossing my fingers for Vigilus 2 to give some significant boosts to Chaos, especially Chaos Space Marines. I’d love to be able to bring my Emperor’s Children out more often.
I hope VII will give new stuff to CSM and Death Guard. Thousand Sons and Daemons would be nice too.
IMO Noise Marines are super underrated. An EC codex would be amazing.
I don’t mind the overhaul as long as it will feel less random and more controlled, even if it means losing straightforward gimmicks like the Primus bomb. The ambush is supposed to be a result of generations of planning and preparations, not decided by bone reading on the go.
I’ve been also playing GSC casually with motorized/mechanized focus, Mad Max style, and this release is way beyond my wildest dreams.
Yeah, as powerful as the Cult Ambush ability could be, there were games were it could completely screw you over, even with the Primus rolls and stratagems.
Something a bit less powerful, but more reliable might make the army a bit more tactical than just the luck of the roll.
Hey Reece, if this goes on pre-order next week then it will likely be released on February 9th. If that were to happen, would you have the new releases for sale on that day at the LVO?
Really? Symbol on the ones? I thought GW had learned, YOU PUT THE SYMBOL ON THE SIX!
They said they wanted them to match the last run of GSC dice, unfortunately.
This. Symbol on the six! How hard can it be, I’m not buying these dice.