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So, they're back and I'm stoked. Before I decide what to buy, though, I need to think about what I want. This looks like a good start.

Cult Insurrection Detachment:

Lords of the Cult: 125 pts
Patriarch
-ML 2, 2 Familiars

Brood Cycle: 580 pts
Iconward:

5 Acolytes (plain):

5 Acolytes (plain):

5 Acolytes (plain):

10 Neophytes:
-Shotguns, 2 Grenade Launchers, and 2 Seismic Cannons

10 Neophytes:
-Shotguns, 2 Grenade Launchers, and 2 Seismic Cannons

10 Purestrain Genestealers:

5 Metamorphs:
-Metamorph Whips

Subterranean Uprising: 435 pts

Primus:

10 Metamorphs:
-Metamorph Claws

10 Acolytes:
-2 Rock Saws

10 Acolytes:
-2 Rock Saws

The Doting Throng: 325 pts

Magus:
-ML 2, 2 Familiars, the Crouchling

10 Acolytes:
-2 Rock Saws

5 Acolytes (plain)

5 Acolytes (plain)

CAD: 400 pts

HQ:
Patriarch:
-ML 2, 2 Familiars

Magus:
-ML 2, 2 Familiars

10 Neophytes:
-Shotguns, 2 Grenade Launchers, and 2 Seismic Cannons

10 Neophytes:
-Shotguns, 2 Grenade Launchers, and 2 Seismic Cannons

This is a relatively MSU list (you think?) relying on Cult Ambush. What a big surprise?

Currently have 10 points left over, but any suggestions, comments, criticisms, etc. would be appreciated. The entire point is to swarm the enemy. The bigger Acolytes and Metamorph units go after vehicles/walkers while the smaller ones harry. The tentacle Metamorphs exist primarily to try to engage heavily-armored or high-Initiative units.

I feel like you aren't taking enough advantage of the reinforcements rule with Return to the Shadows- many of those small units will get wiped with no hope of return. I would probably say migrate the Throng into the Brood Cycle to beef up the Acolyte squads. And put the Magus into a separate Command slot.

Highly recommend moving towards a First Curse, it's ultra deadly.

 Akrim wrote:
I feel like you aren't taking enough advantage of the reinforcements rule with Return to the Shadows- many of those small units will get wiped with no hope of return. I would probably say migrate the Throng into the Brood Cycle to beef up the Acolyte squads. And put the Magus into a separate Command slot.

Highly recommend moving towards a First Curse, it's ultra deadly.

First Curse is an entire waste of points, in my book. Getting +1 S or +1 armor for taking twenty Purestrains in a unit just doesn't cut it for me. To be honest, I prefer Acolytes to Purestrains for the points anyway.

Likewise, Cult Reinforcements is not something I'm planning on taking huge advantage of. I would much rather maximize my chances of getting decent and effective rolls than take large units that may not make an impact early on.

You'll be rewriting your book if you try it out; notice that they get Stealth & Shrouded Turn 1, and their stat line has an extra attack. If done right you couple it with the bonuses from the Iconward and you have a blender that can multi-assault the heart of and enemy force.

Not saying they're a god unit, but supported (from the HQ auras) its real good.

That's unfortunate you say that because the Reinforcements/Shadows are one of the major strengths of the book. You could alternatively pour more into the Subterranean formation, the double rolls are quite valuable.

Don't get me wrong, MSUs can have some value if you're playing ITC or Maelstrom but I would leave that to the Neos. Get the Acolytes in to do the killing.

I'd argue that besides kill points MSU is usually inherently stronger. You can always multi assault with MSU, and it makes your units tougher against enemy shooting (e.g. a unitoffire warriors that might have killed 10 acolytes can kill 5 at max).

With return from the shadows, I don't think MSU is worse either. You may have a lower chance of each individual unit getting the bonus, but you have more units that may potentially be able to use it.

I'm not saying I'd run all MSU - I'd use a couple of larger squads to escort important characters too, but most would be that way.

In my opinion, the acolytes and metamorphs with claws in a subterranean uprising are some of the strongest units in the codex. I'd agree that bulking out the subterranean uprising is the way to go. I'd lose a few seismic cannons and rock saws for more clawed metamorphs in this list.

 DoomMouse wrote:
I'd argue that besides kill points MSU is usually inherently stronger. You can always multi assault with MSU, and it makes your units tougher against enemy shooting (e.g. a unitoffire warriors that might have killed 10 acolytes can kill 5 at max).

With return from the shadows, I don't think MSU is worse either. You may have a lower chance of each individual unit getting the bonus, but you have more units that may potentially be able to use it.

I'm not saying I'd run all MSU - I'd use a couple of larger squads to escort important characters too, but most would be that way.

In my opinion, the acolytes and metamorphs with claws in a subterranean uprising are some of the strongest units in the codex. I'd agree that bulking out the subterranean uprising is the way to go. I'd lose a few seismic cannons and rock saws for more clawed metamorphs in this list.

More or less precisely. I have no problem losing a unit of 5 Acolytes if it means that a unit that can kill 10 wastes half their shooting.

Return to the Shadows is a trick. It's something that's useful when you're wounded or when you have your CAD units ready to go steal an objective, but let's be honest, people: sacrificing a turn to get D6 models back (with no guarantee of a decent placement) is foolish.

Now, I fully admit that the Subterranean Uprising is the strongest force in the Codex, which is why I have 10-strong in each unit. Clawed metamorphs are fantastic, except they really shine against high AV and/or Knights and the like. The Acolytes can do the same thing, but they also shine against just about everything else. Besides, if I added another unit of 10, I'd want another Primus...

I think if you are going Multi Detachment with a Subterranean Uprising, You should look at getting another Primus in there

Because the formation bonus applies to any Primus you have in your force, not just from that formation/detachment

GodDamUser wrote:
I think if you are going Multi Detachment with a Subterranean Uprising, You should look at getting another Primus in there

Because the formation bonus applies to any Primus you have in your force, not just from that formation/detachment

Seriously considered! The question is, drop the second Primarch for a Primus in one of the big Acolyte units (and add an Acolyte unit elsewhere) or get two extra Warp Tokens and a beefy unit?

I would personally drop the extra Magus (while his bonus applies to the throng units.. I feel the Patriarch is a better option)

put in a Primus

Split the 10 man Acolyte unit from the throng and put 5 of them into the Subterranean Uprising

GodDamUser wrote:
I would personally drop the extra Magus (while his bonus applies to the throng units.. I feel the Patriarch is a better option)

put in a Primus

Split the 10 man Acolyte unit from the throng and put 5 of them into the Subterranean Uprising

Real talk (sorry, dakka is blocked at work).

Is an extra attempt at getting a 6 on the chart worth losing 2 Warp Charges? Because that's the tradeoff there and it's really only useful T1 or so.

The extra roll is more than useful after T1 a big part of the GSC game is coming and going as a highly mobile force that can hit any objective or target.