Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hello all!

I'm looking to pick up a new 40k army, and I'm looking to avoid the more main-stream forces.

Having had a look at the various armies out there, I'm starting to consider the Witch Hunters.

Are they a viable army ($$$ cost aside)? I'm not overly concerned with the cost of the army - more I'm wondering if they can be made competitive (but I'm not looking for OTT either...)

What does Dakka think?

Mark Parker just won best general with them at one of the larger tournaments. Last year, another user here pulled 5th place at the Vegas GT with them.

You don't hear much about them, because they're not that common, but sisters have a lot of strengths in 5th ed. Cheap access to meltaguns and flamers (and the ability to take two per unit), eviscerators are no longer any worse than powerfists, Sisters are point-for-point one of the best troop choices in the game, and exorcists don't suffer from any of the new vehicle move&shoot restrictions (plus are AP1). The Book of St Lucius is among the best, if not the best, piece of 5-point wargear in the game. Add in faith, once you learn to use it right, and it's actually a very strong army.

I have seen some pretty good witch hunter armies made if you get the right stuff. you have to make sure you have something to back up your SOB because their toughness won't match up to some of the other armies you will be playing. They have some really cool heavy support choices that will make them fight like they aren't girls. If you can get close enough then the immolator will destroy squads with it's heavy flamer. The HQ choices are also good and strong. The lord on the throne of judgement will be an awesome leader for your army, or any other of their HQs. If you play around with them and learn how to use their tactics and squads then they could be as competitive as any other army. Maybe also look into the Daemonhunters. Hope this helps!

One thing they do lack are powerful, effecient close combat units. Like Reed07 said, I'd look into the Daemonhunter and Space Marine codicies and take some CC allied units from there. Some Greyknight Terminators in a Landraider would add huge support close quarters shooting army.

One thing they do lack are powerful, effecient close combat units. Like Reed07 said, I'd look into the Daemonhunter and Space Marine codicies and take some CC allied units from there. Some Greyknight Terminators in a Landraider would add huge support close quarters shooting army.

*points to seraphim* ummmmm, what? use a faith point and your sister superior gets s6 with an eviscerator. use another and the squad gets 3+ invulnerable. It's not exactly hard to get 10+ faith points in an army, especially with martyrdom from a canoness.

*points to repentia*

*points to CC WH armies using penitent engines and flaggelants*

You just have to manage to control the fact that half your units will have rage on any given turn.

Fluffy, and genius fun, even to be on the wrong end of (especially that flamers on the engines pretty much have to burn your own guys if they're in the way.)

What would a reasonable balanced list look like for a starter army? Say, 1000 points?

I am about to field a 1000 point pure SOB force in a local "gotta be painted" league..

Currently running...
Palatine with 5 celestian retinue (F, HF, SS with power sword) in a Immolator with TL HF..

Celestians - 6 (F, HF, SS with SB) in Immolator with TL MM

Retributors -6 (3x Melta, SS with SB, 2 troops) in Immolator with TL MM

2 Squads of sisters - 10 (F, HF, SS with CS/BP, 7 sis) in Rhinos..

comes in at 1011 pts.. 5 faith..

I think I will do pretty good.. but worry about needing some CC troops past the Palatine..

Muchly appreciated. Gives me an idea as to where to start

A Sisters army does stink in close combat, unless you are against an army that is worse (eg Guard, Tau). Sure, some of the units in the list sound nasty, but they are just too expensive and fragile for what they do.

You can ally Grey Knights for close combat support, but Sisters cannot take Space Marine support. On the other hand, Space Marines can take Sisters as allies.

At 1000 points, I field this:

Canoness
Bolt Pistol
Book of St Lucius
Cloak of St Aspira
Evicerator
Jump Pack
Mantle of Ophelia
131pts

Celestian Squad
Veteran Sister Superior /w Book of St Lucius
2 x Boltgun
2 x Meltagun
Immolator /w Extra Armour and Smoke Launchers
178pts

Battle Sisters Squad
Veteran Sister Superior /w Book of St Lucius
7 x Boltgun
Flamer
Heavy Flamer
Rhino /w Extra Armour and Smoke Launchers
205pts

Battle Sisters Squad
Veteran Sister Superior /w Book of St Lucius
7 x Boltgun
Flamer
Heavy Flamer
Rhino /w Extra Armour and Smoke Launchers
205pts

Exorcist
Extra Armour
140pts

Exorcist
Extra Armour
140pts