Necrons already have that “inevitable doom” vibe, and yet this adds new ways to play it. So, if you like swapping Detachments, this is a buffet.
Additionally, the focus here is the metal tide marching behind Nekrosor Ammentar. However, it is not just one Detachment, because you get multiple flavors of murder. This summary of the article breaks down what the Necrons are bringing, and why it rules.
Pantheon of Woe: Run Multiple C’tan and Let Reality Come Apart
If you saw the beefed up C’tan datasheets and thought “I want all of them,” Pantheon of Woe is built for you. So, the Detachment leans hard into NECRONS MONSTER units, which basically means your star gods and other big horrors. Additionally, it treats their presence like a physics problem for your opponent.
The Detachment rule is Cosmic Distortion, and it gives your MONSTER units an aura called Distortion Fields. While enemies are within 6 inches of a MONSTER, they count as unravelling. Therefore, any attack targeting those enemies gets an extra point of Armour Penetration. That is nasty, because it quietly upgrades everything around your monsters, not just the monsters themselves.
Then it gets even meaner. At the start of each phase, each of your MONSTER units can choose to suffer 3 mortal wounds. However, if it does, its aura range jumps from 6 inches to 9 inches for the phase. So, you are basically paying blood to widen the blender, and that feels very C’tan.
Because herding multiple shards is obviously a terrible idea, the Detachment makes you leash them. So, unlike normal Detachments, the Enhancements here are mandatory upgrades. However, the announcement makes it clear this is not a punishment. Instead, it is the fun part.
Quantum Goad is for the Nightbringer, and it lets it charge even after it Advanced. So, the spooky scythe gets an extra gear, and that is horrifying. Meanwhile, Animus Damper is for the Void Dragon, and it bullies enemy Vehicles in their own Shooting phase. Once per turn, you pick a visible Vehicle, it takes a Leadership test, and then it suffers a hit penalty. Additionally, if it fails, it also eats a wound penalty. So, your opponent’s tank suddenly feels like it is firing through a nightmare.
The Stratagems play into the same reality tearing theme. Mass Transmogrification triggers when one of your MONSTER units destroys an enemy unit in shooting or melee. Then you pick a nearby friendly Necrons unit that is not a monster. If the destroyed enemy was unravelling at the start of the phase, your chosen unit gets Reanimation Protocols to kick in. So, you turn enemy losses into Necron repairs, which is extremely on brand.
Disharmonisation Cascade is the other highlight, and it is wonderfully petty. When a NECRONS MONSTER model dies, you can pop this before the Deadly Demise roll. Then, for the rest of the phase, its Deadly Demise mortal wounds trigger on a 3+ instead of only on a 6. Therefore, if your shard gets punched out, it can still explode like a grudge.
Cursed Legion: Destroyers, More Strength, and Zero Chill
If Pantheon of Woe is cosmic horror, Cursed Legion is pure meat grinder. So, it is Nekrosor Ammentar’s kind of Detachment, and it exists to make Destroyers delete things efficiently. Additionally, it is not framed as wild rage. Instead, it is methodical annihilation, which is somehow worse.
The Detachment rule, Cold Fervour, starts by giving all DESTROYER CULT models +2 Strength on their weapons. Therefore, your melee and shooting from Destroyers hit a whole new breakpoint tier. Then it adds a ripple effect. The first time each turn a Destroyer Cult unit destroys an enemy unit or knocks it below half strength, the rest of your Necrons get infected by the madness. So, until end of turn, friendly NECRONS models gain +2 Strength too, except for Destroyers, Monsters, and Titanic models. That means your “normal” units suddenly swing way above their weight for a turn.
There is also an Enhancement called the Destroyer Ankh, and it is basically “convert this Overlord into a problem.” It can go on an Overlord or a Catacomb Command Barge. Then it gives the bearer the DESTROYER CULT keyword. Additionally, it adds 2 inches of Move to the bearer’s unit, and it adds 2 attacks to the bearer’s melee weapons. With the Detachment strength bonus stacked on top, that is a brutal upgrade.
The writeup even jokes it makes a regular Overlord hit almost as hard as Roboute Guilliman, which is hilarious. However, it also tells you the intent. This Detachment wants characters and punch units to crash into something and keep going.
The Stratagems match the theme, because they are simple and violent. Methodical Murder gives a unit Sustained Hits 1 for a phase, in either shooting or fighting. So, you just roll more hits and remove more models. Meanwhile, Unnatural Aggression is the nasty surprise tool. At the end of your opponent’s Charge phase, one of your eligible Necron units within 6 inches can declare a charge as if it were your Charge phase. However, even if it makes the charge, it does not get charge bonuses. Still, it is basically a “you came close, so now you die” button.
Cryptek Conclave Tease and What Comes Next
Not everything gets shown yet. So, the Cryptek Conclave is held back for release day, although the name already tells you the vibe. Additionally, there is a small tease that you can hand out Anti-Infantry 3+ when units shoot, which sounds extremely spicy.
These Detachments are also headed to the free faction packs soon, alongside the other 500 Worlds additions. So, you will not be locked out if you are using the packs. Then the teaser points forward, because tomorrow’s focus shifts to Space Marines. Additionally, it calls out a classic answer to Necron nonsense, the Drop Pod assault.
Summary
Pantheon of Woe is for players who want multiple C’tan on the table and want the battlefield to warp around them. So, you get an AP boosting aura, optional self damage to widen it, mandatory shard bindings, and Stratagems that reanimate allies or turn dead monsters into bombs. Meanwhile, Cursed Legion is for players who want Destroyers to hit like trucks and then make the rest of the army hit harder too. Additionally, it hands you a turbo charged Overlord option and a nasty counter charge trick.
If you love Necrons that feel aggressive instead of purely slow and inevitable, this is a great direction. Therefore, the only real question is which flavor of terror you want to lead with.
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