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So Ive heard some say the monolith is a waste of points now, and others say that the more the better. Whats the skinny on this for real dakka? I need to know the pros and cons so I can better build my Necrons when I get to that point

If the monolith is a waste of points then landraiders must be terrible, as landraiders are 15 points more without any upgrades whatsoever.

No, monoliths are not a waste of points. Warriors are a waste of points. The monolith is the toughest tank in the game outside of apocalypse. It has more abilities and special options that you can use in any giver turn or game than any other tank near its points cost or AV. Don't take three in every game, but usually it's a good idea to have at least one in 1000-1500pt games, and at least 2 in 1500+ games. The monolith is better than it ever has been in 5th edition, and so is even more worth its points now than before when it was merely beastly.

Monoliths are THE most overpowered, cheesy, indestructible, mighty and cheap vehicles EVER!

I hate them. They should be Apocalypse only, get rid of living metal and such.....You can't even glance them to death!

As such if you have any sense at all spam them for all you're worth. In a 1000pt list take 3 if you can fill the FOC! No-one will be able to destroy them (except Tau with HEAPS of railguns), so make sure your warriors are safe. The only way I ever beat my friend's (he took a monolith and a night bringer in a 1500pt game) was to focus on the warriors to force a phase out.

So take heaps of them but make sure you keep your warriors very safe. Also dont forget to portal them through the Monolith if they're in trouble. Monolith's are awesome.

Cons......well.........Perhaps a Monolith means less warriors for phase out? Or perhaps that now you can't afford a Nightbringer? Seriously go back and read the Monolith entry again they're so awesome it's unfair.

P.S. Notice how I capitalized the word Monolith every time? Yeah that's how good they are.

Sorry for the rant.

Monoliths are FANTASTIC, people only say they suck because they reduce your model count by like 11 warriors a piece, and necrons NEED model count. Seriously though, just put 3 monoliths in a box around your 2 squads of 10 warriors and lord and you have a fantastic army capable of frustrating almost all opponents. You can't glance them to death, meaning you need a S9 or higher weapon to beat them. Loyalist options are: lascannons and vindicators.

Everyone else is screwed. Bright lances, meltaguns, etc. all do NOTHING vs 'liths. Your best choice is vindicators, battle cannons, etc. Any form of S9-10 ordnance has a DECENT chance of getting a penetrating hit, but oher than that they're nigh-indestructible.

See? Listen to us we're awesome.

Monoliths and lots of 'em!

And then die when a stray earthshaker kills every footslogging model you have.

Seriously though, gotta strike a balance.

That's why you should split the warriors up into several smaller groups far apart. If they get into trouble the Monoliths can teleport them over. And you should prolly DS the Monolith next to any Basilisks anyway. You can take 'em.

Every one of you contradicted yourselves. "Monoliths are great, but they reduce your phase out count."

Kitzz: Want to know why a landraider is not a waste of points? It is filled with assault terminators.

Necrons have terribly weak troops. If you want a strong army, you should save your points and funds to load up on destroyers and heavy destroyers instead. Two 10-man warriors. Then immortals to taste.

Three monoliths at 1000 points? What happens when a single ordinance template phases out your army? This guy posted looking for actual advice.

I played 1850 Necron RTT w/ 1 Mono recently. It got offed in round 2 or 3 in 2 games and it was ignored in the other.

Nob Biker Mob took it out with a buncha power claws and a pair of dreads took it out. Both units in their separate games rolling 6's on the damage chart.

Overall though, even in a couple shooting rounds the mono did it's job. It killed units, blocked LOS for troops and destroyers and teleported a unit outta danger 1 time while distracting some of the heavier troops from my army.

Of note: it was the player that ignored my Mono that wiped me from the table. Probably easier to ignore 1 vs. 2+.

And I agree with the above. Once a LR is destroyed all your termies hop out for the most part uninjured. If your Monos are destroyed and you were planning on bringing a unit in from reserve through it... bye bye unit.

AH...reading battle reports like that pains me. Why would you have units in Monolith reserve? Trying to Phase Out? Put them in normal reserve and walk them on the board!

On the subject of Monoliths, they help your Star God out in his goalie role, and keep the enemy from hiding in combat. Further, they are effectively a railgun (better vs. light vehicles, worse vs. AR 14) at vehicle popping, and can fire when stunned, and are immune (effectively) to glancing hits. Lastly, they have a big ole base, and can deep strike in safety. They are fantastic. Take 3.

Phase Out is something we've been liberated from by 5th edition. If you phase it means you are poor at using the Deceiver and your liths, or you messed up bringing in the warriors from the board edge.

P.S. Notice how I capitalized the word Monolith every time? Yeah that's how good they are. MadGod your hilarious


Im sure Ill end up buying one for sure. My plan really was to have a gun line of Necrons. Each unit supporting the other. And have a bunch of heavy destroyers to blast the pooh out of things. I do see why the Monolith can be such a bad ass in a game. I think this one will really have to be one of those "try it out for yourself" type of rolls. Im not really the spamming type of player. Taking 2 monoliths and a night bringer and spam the piss out of people isnt how I play. I like to play a good game, not a HAHAHAHAA!!!!! I hulk smashed you into the ground!!!!!
Thanks everyone

Seriously, every one yelling about having a 'high necron model count' is still playing 4th ed. Crons.

With liberal reserve rules in every mission Warriors are very easy to keep alive.

Monoliths provide Necrons with ranged firepower unavailible to any other unit choice. (Ordnance/template/MEQ killing)

They Block LoS, provide a CC escape if required, if you use a monolith correctly, it will keep your two minimum warrior squads safe the entire game. Always be sure to start warriors off the board in reserve, and bring them on the board far away from the baddies, behind blocked LOS of the lith, if something tries to hunt them down in CC, 'port them through the 'lith to safety and sick Big D on 'em.Using Monoliths and Warriors from reserves correctly makes phase out a non-issue.

40kenthusiast wrote:
Further, they are effectively a railgun

since when did rail guns have Str 9?

Any Way. Monoliths have 2 rolls; bringing Necrons back from the dead (and out of CC) and to block out the sun.

If you take an expensive unit of Immortals or Heavy Destroyers (and any IC joined) wouldn't it be nice to get a reroll on their WBB. With this in mind you want your Monolith with in 18" of said unit with its portal facing away from the action (if nothing else they can hide better this way).

Blocking out the sun. The monolith is a Huge great big lump 6" across and at least 10" tall. It is a mobile wall. Use it to push back infantry units and to block LOS to your models. Nearly nothing can hurt it and even then very little does more then -1 shot from the number it can fire from the gauss flux arc.

Particle whip is STR 9 with AP1 over the hole, and ordnance.

40KE is saying you get a similar AT role from the P-Whip.

Yes its STR is one lower, but it's ordnance so you roll 2D6 and pick the highest for penetration.

You could argue that the P-Whip is actually more effective that a RG, especially against AV 13 >

*answered*

See? We're all awesome get heaps of Monoliths! How are they not the best damn vehicle available?

Every one of you contradicted yourselves. "Monoliths are great, but they reduce your phase out count."

Kitzz: Want to know why a landraider is not a waste of points? It is filled with assault terminators.

Necrons have terribly weak troops. If you want a strong army, you should save your points and funds to load up on destroyers and heavy destroyers instead. Two 10-man warriors. Then immortals to taste.

Three monoliths at 1000 points? What happens when a single ordinance template phases out your army? This guy posted looking for actual advice.

Where's your advice pal? Youre advising Heavy destroyers over Monoliths? Read the Monolith page again. Then do it again. The read heavy destroyers (no capitals). There is LESS than no contest. Monoliths are THE best vehicle ANYWHERE outside of Apocalypse (also capitalized for coolness). That wasn't advice fearspect that was suicide.

P.S. Notice how I capitalized the word Monolith every time? Yeah that's how good they are. MadGod your hilarious

Thanks King. Wanna be my friend?

Monoliths play a crucial role in 5th edition Necron Armies. They provide AT, and help screen your warriors from assault. for 235 points, they are a steal.

Lol sure why not.


Also I wouldnt take 3. Maybe two if the game was big enough. But most of my games are the 1500 or less size. Not enough time, most of the time, to do any bigger.

Madgod wrote:See? We're all awesome get heaps of Monoliths! How are they not the best damn vehicle available?

Every one of you contradicted yourselves. "Monoliths are great, but they reduce your phase out count."

Kitzz: Want to know why a landraider is not a waste of points? It is filled with assault terminators.

Necrons have terribly weak troops. If you want a strong army, you should save your points and funds to load up on destroyers and heavy destroyers instead. Two 10-man warriors. Then immortals to taste.

Three monoliths at 1000 points? What happens when a single ordinance template phases out your army? This guy posted looking for actual advice.

Where's your advice pal? Youre advising Heavy destroyers over Monoliths? Read the Monolith page again. Then do it again. The read heavy destroyers (no capitals). There is LESS than no contest. Monoliths are THE best vehicle ANYWHERE outside of Apocalypse (also capitalized for coolness). That wasn't advice fearspect that was suicide.

P.S. Notice how I capitalized the word Monolith every time? Yeah that's how good they are. MadGod your hilarious

Thanks King. Wanna be my friend?

Thank you for completely swaying my opinion by your argument based on capitalization. And coolness. I mistakenly thought (I know, my reading comprehension needs work...) that the OP was asking whether or not monoliths are a waste of points (they are), and by extention, how those points would be better used. My mistake.

Based on the tenets of coolness and awesomeness, you should buy as many monoliths as you can afford (unless you are one of the precious few out there that does not think that a model that looks like that ghostbusters lunchbox you had in elementary school looks 'cool').

Thank you for completely swaying my opinion by your argument based on capitalization. And coolness. I mistakenly thought (I know, my reading comprehension needs work...) that the OP was asking whether or not monoliths are a waste of points (they are), and by extention, how those points would be better used. My mistake.

Based on the tenets of coolness and awesomeness, you should buy as many monoliths as you can afford (unless you are one of the precious few out there that does not think that a model that looks like that ghostbusters lunchbox you had in elementary school looks 'cool').

As a fan of wantonly overused sarcasm I admire your argument. As a fan of winning games I think it's laughable. If you really want me to tell you why rather than letting you realise why Monolith's are awesome yourself then here's some.

Firstly, Meltas. Only 1 D6 so no penetration. Lascannons. 6's to penetrate, then 5+ to destroy. Power Fist? No Strength bonus allowed. Chain Fist? See above. Brightlance? No dice there either, it's STILL AV14. Railguns? If you're lucky with BS3.

Maybe you can glance it to death? No dice there, the big gun can't be destroyed.

What about attacking? A S10 AP3 Large Blast Ordnance weapon (AP1 on the hole)? Gauss flux arcs (whatever they are) help too. Sounds pretty good to me. What about you?

You can DS it almost anywhere as people move out of its way. Anything less than S9 is practically useless. It allows you to teleport you troops next to it for safety which can win the game for you.

Any army that isn't super shooty or else brings things especially for it is screwed. It is an almost indestructible tank with one of the best guns in vanilla W40k. Plus lotsa small ones.

Seriously man, why don't you listen, read up on the Monolith and stop trying to sell him second best.

P.S. Read your own posts he wanted game based info not model based opinion stuff. I've given mine, where's yours?

@ Madgod, I agree in principled but there's one or two mistakes.

1) Power Fist. Do get a Strength bonus but unless your an ork thats only st8. Chain Fist work but don't get the extra D6e.

2) Railguns are normaly TL and if your shooting at a monolith i see no reason not to spend some marker lights and boost the BS up to BS5.

3)Partical whip is A S9 AP3 Large Blast Ordnance weapon (AP1 on the hole)

4) It can be destroyed without even being shot at. Just force Phase out. (which is why i always give people odd looks when they spam them in small games)


Should be noted that Melta weapons can still kill a monolith you just need to roll really well. AP1 gives you +1 on the damage table. I've often killed monoliths with heavy melta fire. 10 fire dragons with tank hunter (which also works) can't be ignored (odds 2/27 each or roughly 50% with 10)


All that being said taking monoliths will cause a headache for most players, as they are tough S.O.B

Nobz get str8. A boss gets STR10. Just to nitpick lol

Seriously tho I should of stated in my Necron inquiries that I DONT PLAY TOURNAMENTS and therefore dont care about how useless they are in a tournament setting. I think having more then 1 or 2 (if its a big ass game) is a waste simply because of phase out. Still tho, there are ALOT of pros in taking a Monolith. Sure its not invincible, but it is damn hard to kill one.

Fearspect- seriously who would take something just because someone JOKINGLY make a reference about a certain unit.

A Monolith is less points than LR, with better armour and pretty much similar weaponry, eg Particle Whip=Lascannon, Gauss Flux Arc=Heavy Bolter

Particle whip is NOT good anti-tank. Necron doesn't have anti-tank anymore in 5e. Best they have is heavy destroyers and it still doesn't make them a good unit, but they still need to be taken to deal with mech.

A smart player facing many monoliths should be able to easily phase them out. You can't just say you are going to hide your warriors and keep them in reserves and now they can't get phased out anymore. They are going to get assaulted by mech armies and they are going to phase out!


Automatically Appended Next Post:

phantommaster wrote:A Monolith is less points than LR, with better armour and pretty much similar weaponry, eg Particle Whip=Lascannon, Gauss Flux Arc=Heavy Bolter

Except land raiders get to transport scary units. Nobody would be taking them if they just sat there and shot their guns.

Skip, you are really wrong. Particle whip is STR 9, ordnance, with AP 1 over the hole.

So, you end up with STR 9, plus 2D6 pick the highest for Pen. With a +1 to the damage table.

That's a pretty effective tank buster....

KingCracker wrote:Nobz get str8. A boss gets STR10. Just to nitpick lol

You are forgetting Furious charge, Nobs gets strength 9 (4*2+1)

Okay, THIS shows you why 'Liths rock. you can forget about % of points, how much they shoot, and all the other yak yak.

A monolith (especially combined wth big D)will keep 'Crons alive from what threatens them the most, dangerous CC units.



Okay, see the top shot? It doesn't matter how many Gauss Blasters/Cannons you have, or how many scarabs you take. You WILL be stuck in CC turn 2 against Mech CC armys. Sure, you might down their transports, but they are going to jump out with enough gusto to steam roll your elite shooty guys AND you multi wound scarabs because of all the STR 6< CC weps .

See the second pic? Now you have a chance, your gunnies shoot through the holes the 'Liths leave, but NOT ENOUGH space for enemies to walk through. You shoot down all the transports, and Big D goes after the Nob Bikers. Now you might not be in CC even by turn 3! Which against Mech orks, pretty much means you've won.

Now, just invert this style when set up against gunnie armys. March your shooty stuff behind the liths until you are in an optimal alpha strike position. Jump out from behind the liths and saturate his zone with targets, unleash Big D and watch the chips fall.

I thought 300 taught people not to rush their whole CC army through a little tunnel?

SsevenN wrote:

???!?! what are you doing you place your lith diagonally! It covers nearly 8.5" (that's 40% more)

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Tri-against CC armies I'm not trying to be 100% obscured, I'm trying to force them to charge from a specific point.

Against a SHOOTY army liths work better diagonally, but against CC you can leave nice big LOS peeps holes to shoot through, and that's more valuble.