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I was hoping to start a discussion on the best loadout for Haemonculus from the supplement.
The Diabolical Playthings in the supplement are quite an interesting and in many ways powerful selection of relics. I think this is the first set of relics that pretty much only affect one HQ choice and they tell with their much more focused rules.
One issue I've had with them though is that taking the Relics and other close combat weapon options is that the Haemonculus starts to move toward Urien Rakarth's points costs and the general improvements over a stock Haemonculus.
There are six relics in total and in my opinion the three best are:
1. Syndriq's Sump
Tied cheapest and provides a choice of USR at the start of the controlling player's turn. You have the option of Fleet, It Will Not Die, Rampage and Poisoned (4+). This gives your Haemonculus a series of options each turn that I think would best serve those taken along with regular Dark Eldar. With this you can include a Haemonculus with Fleet in an Incubi squad or Wych Squad and not slow down that squad. The other options are somewhat useful though by Turn 3 the Haemonculus will have ITWND anyway. The Poisoned (4+) is probably wasted unless the Haemonculus just takes a Mind Phase Gauntlet which is one of the few weapon options without Poisoned by default.
2. The Panacea Perverted
Twice the cost of Syndriq's Sump but gives you ITWND (4+) from turn one as well as causing all all attacks with Poisoned to only wound on a 6+. Could be useful if you're taking the Webway and this was your Warlord. If you were likely to be taking Wounds on the Haemonculus early and looking for a method to restore wounds from as early as possible.
3. The Nightmare Doll
I love this Relic, if just for the fluff. But it provides a +1 the FNP as well as absorbing the first Wound with Instant Death and negating it. This will normally ensure the Haemonculus has a 4+ FNP but possibly a 3+ with the right Warlord Trait.
This is the same cost as a Webway Portal so your Haemonculus starts to get up there along with Urien who has considerable other benefits going for him.
The other three relics are from what I can see, somewhat poorer then the previous three.
1. The Vexator Mask
Same cost as Synriq's Sump for a reduction to the Haemonculus' opponent's initiative by 5 in a challenge. Not terrible but if really the Sump is a better choice imho for general usability.
2. The Khaidesi Haemovores
Same cost as the Sump and the Mask. Provides D6 S3 Ap - attacks (So still need to roll to hit) on top of his normal attacks at Initiative 10. This does provide an additional pile in which could be useful but otherwise it doesn't much of a benefit over the Sump or Mask.
3. The Orbs of Despair
The one misstep I think GW had with these Relics. I don't honestly see the use for these. More than twice the cost of the Sump (you see the benchmark I'm using?) for a S1 AP2 Instant Death Blast Grenade (8" range). I don't get it, only has the ability to wound T4 and lower and I am suspicious that the epub from Black Library is missing a couple of USRs.
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