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I recently decided to get in to the hobby now that I'm more financially stable and in need of another hobby, I've picked the army I want after doing some research. Namely a three knight lance with admech as they look the coolest to me and while I've picked the 3 knights I want to use (Errant, Warden, Gallant) I'm at a loss as to what to use for the mechanicus.

I've read the core rulebook and I understand that I need to make detachments to get CP, but my issue is that I don't really know how to go about building the smaller admech army while having no experience with the detachment system.

Now I'm not looking for a step by step for an optimal army build. Rather I'm hoping for advice on specific things such as newbie traps that I should avoid, a bit more explanation on what counts as "1 troops," and some advice on what would be a good set of models to get first both to practice painting (I played Warhammer fantasy a VERY long time ago, as in 20+ years, and haven't touched model painting in ages) and get started on collecting an army.

Skitarii or Kataphrons are troops for admech. Note that a single box of skitarii can make 2 troop units, since they have a minimum squad size of 5.

I would recommend a battalion detachment. Two HQs, three Troops. 2x skitarii boxes, a techpriest enginseer, and a tecgpriest dominus would be great.

the_scotsman wrote:
Skitarii or Kataphrons are troops for admech. Note that a single box of skitarii can make 2 troop units, since they have a minimum squad size of 5.

I would recommend a battalion detachment. Two HQs, three Troops. 2x skitarii boxes, a techpriest enginseer, and a tecgpriest dominus would be great.

That's very helpful thank you. So start with those? I'll have to wait until the stores get their stock back in though.

For the knights, some magnetization can give you flexibility on your models. Also can I recommend a Crusader instead of an Errant?

Crazy Jay wrote:
For the knights, some magnetization can give you flexibility on your models. Also can I recommend a Crusader instead of an Errant?

I'll probably pick up that one to. I know the Errant is arguably the second worst, but it's also my favorite of all the Questoris patterns.

 Khalith wrote:

the_scotsman wrote:
Skitarii or Kataphrons are troops for admech. Note that a single box of skitarii can make 2 troop units, since they have a minimum squad size of 5.

I would recommend a battalion detachment. Two HQs, three Troops. 2x skitarii boxes, a techpriest enginseer, and a tecgpriest dominus would be great.

That's very helpful thank you. So start with those? I'll have to wait until the stores get their stock back in though.

Definitely start with those. I know the skitarii start collecting box is extremely good value if you want the Onager Dunecrawler tank (The tank is literally like 75$ and the SC box is 95$ for the tank, a box of skitarii, and a techpriest dominus) but it may not be the best if you're not looking to get the Dunecrawler.

The classic "I want to start admech" army purchase is 2x start collecting boxes, because it gets you an EXTREMELY functional detachment and saves you a huge amount on 2 dunecrawlers which typically form the core of any good admech army's anti-tank.

That...might be a good call here, but knights are fairly good at anti tank in melee. I don't know. Onagers are one of the single best things for smashing big tanks at super long range. But if you want the focus on the knights, then 2 boxes of skitarii, 1 Techpriest Dominus and 1 Enginseer are the better starting point.

Also, ebayers buy up the admech start collecting all the time. You should 100% ebay your techpriest dominus, you can get him for like 12 bucks off ebay vs like 30 from GW. You can also get something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Games-Workshop-40K-Warhammer-Skitarii-Start-Collecting-Box-Without-Dunecrawler/143597155722?epid=15007046652&hash=item216f0eb58a:g:9XsAAOSw9CNesa0P

Where someone has bought the SC just for the dunecrawler and is selling the rest of the box at a pretty significant discount.