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Hi everyone, do you think running a KT with Ruststalker infiltrators is a good idea?
Thanks in advance

A lot of players will say that Ruststalkers aren't very good. I think it is worth having a couple in your roster to give you some close combat options. They may not be in all, or even most, of your kill teams, but the times you do want them, you'll be glad they are there.

However, when it comes to buying kits, I think it is better to have two sets of Skitarii Ranger/Vanguard kits (so 20 models total) before add the Ruststalker one.

I personally wouldn't field an AdMech kill team without at least one Infiltrator, because they're the only melee capability that the faction has. They're a lot like Reivers, except they're probably ably better because they can take power swords. However, having as many plasma calivers and arc rifles as possible is probably a lot more important.

Ruststalkers are not bad, but they are a fairly expensive model that is a glass cannon. They lack AP, which seriously hurts. In combat, the ruststalker vs infiltrator is about tit for tat, as the power sword and taser goad output about as much damage as the chordclaw and transonic weapons. The big advantage is that the infiltrators have fairly decent guns so they are not stuck trying to constantly charge and fight.

A ruststalker princeps has potential against certain armies. Zealot for S6 mulches GEQ with poor saves and the mortal wounds help bypass things like harlequins and wytches. They also excel against tougher tyranids like lictors, genestealers, and warriors. Having 1-2 in your 20 man roster to help against these matchups is nice, but the infiltrators are far better as jacks of all trades. Against low save T4 and GEQ, the taser goad makes a powerful sub while the power sword allows them to deal with meq. Also having pistols they can be terrifying in subsequent shooting phases. The last big win is that the doctrina imperative for melee and the canticles to re roll 1's favor the taser goad the most, as it helps it find those 6+'s to get extra hits.

If I played either, I would run only the princeps as combat and/or zealot specialists. The ruststalker princeps in the roster with the blades+claw, and the infiltrator has both the taser goad and power sword loadout. This way, you have a couple of melee characters who are good at engaging any threat.

Thanks for the input everyone.
This was the list I was thinking of:-
Leader
Infiltrator priceps flechette blaster & taser goad
Specialists
Sicarian infiltrator
Flechette blaster & Taser goad- combat
Sicarian infiltrator
Stubcarbine & powersword- Zealot
Non Specialists
2× Sicarian infiltrators Flechette blaster & Taser goad
1× Sicarian infiltrator Stubacarbine & powersword.

I also want this to run with my sister's when they come out.

Don't take a princeps as a leader, leader should be a ranged CP battery. you want your princeps to be combat or zealot

Ok I can just swap him around

If you have multiple infiltrators, don’t put the specialisms on your princeps.

It’s tempting but it gives your opponent a target.

Option 1
Princeps with combat spec has 4 attacks
infiltrator with no spec has 2 attacks

Option 2
Princeps has 3 attacks
Infiltrator with combat has 3 attacks

With the first set up they go for the obvious target, the princeps to remove 4 attacks.

In the second set up, who do they take out? Either one still gives you 3 attacks.

The problem I have is if I take the priceps off leader then I need to add skitarri as leader.

Also, don't forget the "Lead By Example" tactic.

If you've got your leader as one of a group of melee specialists along with a combat specialist, chaining "Lead By Example" and "Up And At Em!" lets you fight with three models in a row, which is scary with anything but bloody terrifying with the Mechanicus' cybernetic ninja assassins.

Stubcarbines are great crowd control, too. A Mechanicus Kill Team tends to come loaded for bear with plasma calivers and arquebus, but the submachine pistols are good at flinging a lot of flesh wounds into a horde of gaunts, grots or cultists.

Thanks Locarno that’s definitely worth doing.
I will keep looking at it, will see how a full infiltrator list goes, if I can’t get it to work then I will have another look at it.

A pure sicarian assassin clade will look awesome, and should work to some degree.

If it has a weakness, it'll be struggling with any mission with a 'home' objective - having at least one skitarii to hold it tends to be useful and the bloody terrifying pairing of comms specialist with Omnispex and sniper specialist with Transuranic Arquebus gives you a great "but I don't want to fight that guy..." option.