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In the Exterminatus book, there's a C'tan formation featuring a C'tan Shard and an item that buffs the shard's toughness,

Are these now unusable because the Shard has been binned? Or do people apply them to Transcendent C'tan instead?

From an absolutely strict RAW, there is no unit called 'C'tan Shard' and so the formation isn't usable.

On the other hand, 99% of players shouldn't have a problem with it using one of the new C'tans (C'tan Shard of the Nightbringer or C'tan Shard of the Deceiver). Exterminatus was released when the current Necron codex would have already been written (Exterminatus even used pictures of the new Necron Lord model). The two books were released two months apart (December 2014-February 2015). Basically, RAI the formation to work with the C'tan rules released two months later. Also, *massive* TFG move to say that you can't use rules that you paid £45 for only two months after the release date.

Yeah RaW it doesn't work. RaI were we're not sure what C'tans it is supposed to work with. Personally it seems obvious it is supposed to work with Transcendent C'tan as that is the direct replacement unit, I'm less comfortable with using the 2 special Character C'tans with it. Discuss with your group/pray for an FAQ.

Remember that that the Exterminatus book and those rules came before the new codex dropped as a "preview" of sorts. They did not want to let that cat out of the bag that they were bringing back named CTans. I would say that the RAI is that any CTan is useable as long as you cost it appropriately. It's really the only logical reason why Ctan was left ambiguous. If people don't let you play it then their Win At All Cost jerks who'll give you a bad game anyway.

I agree with Naaris, it seems quite obvious that it should work. It came out just before the new codex, surely nobody could reason they'd release a formation knowing they'd make it unusable two months later?

That said, the formation with a shard of the nightbringer is crazy powerful... most armies can't really deal with it I think. Maybe in melee, but that doesn't stop it from using its shooting phase special rules (as it is not a weapon, it doesn't even roll to hit).