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Ok, first off, I know that Genestealers are tough to get into close combat and are expensive for how 'vulnerable' they are vs ranged (esp. anything that Ignores Cover). I know that Flying Hive Tyrants, etc. are better, and if going horde, Gaunts are better, etc.

But for a FLUFFY / themed army comprised entirely of Genestealers ( with the exception of maybe a single Hive Tyrant for HQ, if using CAD ); what is the best combination of the following to use in a 2000 pt Maelstrom list?

CAD with Genestealer Troops and Hive Tyrant HQ (and if this, what size squads and how many Broodlords)
Shield of Baal - Deathwatch - Children of Cryptus
Tyranid Vanguard - Rising Leviathan - Broodlord's Hunting Pack (and if this, what size squads)
Tyranid Vanguard - Rising Leviathan - Manufactorum Genestealers (and if this, how many

I'm thinking all CAD because of ObSec., but then again, the Leviathan squads will let me start closer, as we are playing on Sector Imperialis with lots of Ruins. Then there's the question of whether MSU or larger squads and whether to include Broodlords in every squad or fewer Broodlords and more regular Stealers.

Thanks for the opinions!

Model up a Tyranid Prime as a Patriarch and you have a better HQ. That will give you options for Lictors too. Add in the Ymgarl Factor too and you have a fluffy HQ. I'd say two Broodlords minimum, with one of them in the Children of Cryptus. Then just max out on 8+ bug strong Genestealer squads with a Manufactorum as your 'first wave'. Depending on points of course. But you want some cheap units up front to die, then models with Talons and Glands and so on a bit behind to take less damage.

 SharkoutofWata wrote:
Model up a Tyranid Prime as a Patriarch and you have a better HQ. That will give you options for Lictors too. Add in the Ymgarl Factor too and you have a fluffy HQ. I'd say two Broodlords minimum, with one of them in the Children of Cryptus. Then just max out on 8+ bug strong Genestealer squads with a Manufactorum as your 'first wave'. Depending on points of course. But you want some cheap units up front to die, then models with Talons and Glands and so on a bit behind to take less damage.

Ahh good call on using a Prime as a Patriach, the Manufactorums Infiltrating as the first wave then following up with Cryptus and ObSec CAD.

Since Manufactorum is a fixed 3 squads, should I max them at 20 Stealers?

Edit - Scratch that last. Manufactorum is a fixed 5 x 5.

Manufactorum is a fixed 5 x 5 but you can still add broodlords, even if you can't add stealers.

I would do so. This gives you 5 broodlords in your opponent's backfield from turn 1 - a far more impressive threat - plus the ability to throw The Horror around with a will; pinning your opponent's core units makes genestealers work far better (use your lovely I6 on charging into cover and no overwatch to deal with), and the The Horror is quite good at doing that.

Pair with Deathleaper's assassin brood for double leadership-crippling fun and some S6 guys who can thock tanks easily.

I'm wondering if Deathleaper's will be worth it for the cost (as opposed to just getting more Stealers or Broodlords) as I will have limited Synapse, and it's only -1 Ld, and I'm trying to stick to pure Genestealers (or counts as Cult).

Well, Deathleaper is minus D3, and the extra Lictors get the minus one. Brokdlords can provide Synapse with Dominion. So that gives some options.

As long as you have a fairly dense battlefield, the Children can do a lot for you. I've thought more than once that chaos cultists with a hybrid as dark apostle would make a good build. And a magos as Sorcerer.

I've played a 1400 point or so list of mostly Genestealers recently and was happily surprised by the Manufactorum Genestealers. We tend to play dense and ruin filled tables so it was really nice. I also ran Deathleaper and some Lictors, and two Broodlords, also a Prime I believe. Run the Manufactorum broods, but make sure to use some form of Synapse creature so you can go to ground and then pop back up with Fearless. They become very resilient. I was not that keen on the Deathleaper brood, it ate a lot of fire but still died badly. You could also go classic 2nd/3rd edition and use a few shock screamer-killer Carnifex or Biovores. I think two Patriarchs by way of Prime rules is by far the best option. I was up against Necrons and they won but only barely, and only because my opponent's reanimation dice were on fire. Be prepared to be somewhat underwhelmed by the first wave, as Genestealers are now unfortunately about hitting in the second wave and winning there. But when you have fifty on the table they start to approach decent again.

Looks like I'm going to try:

Manufactorum 5 x 5 GS all with Broodlords
Children
CAD 4 x 8 GS all with Talons
Hive Tyrant, a Zoantrope, and some Hormugants (as Psychic Patriach, Magos with Cult Hybrids)

So that's some 65 Genestealers, 6 Broodlords and the HQ.

Edit - now if only I had a Limo

The rumors of Genestealer Cults hasn't quite died out yet. There's still hope for our leopard print pimp-mobiles.

Oh man. I am pretty sure they will ditch the leopard print pimp limo to up the grimdark. I hope they do a White Dwarf or Harlequin style update though, would be so sweet.

aushlo wrote:
Oh man. I am pretty sure they will ditch the leopard print pimp limo to up the grimdark. I hope they do a White Dwarf or Harlequin style update though, would be so sweet.

Doesn't have to stop you from painting it that way!

Step one: Aquire Delaque gangers.
Step two: Add big hair.
Step three: Paint Cultists thusly. I mean Delaque even have sunglasses.