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Hey all so I finally got back into 40K and I've decided to go with genestealer cult.

I'm wondering what the thoughts are on the units now and how people like to load them out? I realise initial ideas might have changed since the FAQ

So what way do you run your neophytes and acolytes now? Are metamorphs better than the other acolyte choice?

Would love to hear your feedback

Also, are the heavy weapons teams, they count as 2 models even though only represented by one miniature correct?

Do people generally keep the neophytes weapons as stock?

And if it helps i dare say the majority of my games will be versus space marines. So many space marine players !

Been playing GSC since the book came out more or less. This is what I've picked up during that time. It's not the Gospel of GSC or anything, just how I tend to run mine.

Generally I have one Insurrection with a Brood Cycle, Patriarch, Magus, and a Subterranean Uprising, plus two CADs with two Patriarchs and two Acolyte squads each. I run mine in min squads without wargear, but you'll want to model up a few dudes with wargear for Telepathic Summons.

Neophytes are chiefly useful as fodder and tar-pits. They have few other talents. Never buy them anything wargear-wise - the only time they should have wargear is if they're being Summoned, in which case it's free. If I land my WC3 Summon and get 20 dudes I take two Seismic Cannons plus two Webbers or Grenade Launchers to taste (Webbers for infantry, GLs for vehicles/ bikes), plus a Leader with a Web Pistol and Power Maul. Neophyte HWTs are single models with two wounds that count as two models for transport capacity as far as I know, but I'd never use them because the Seismic Cannons are better than any of the HWT weapon choices.

Acolytes are the mainstay of your army; they're the dudes that do most of the killing and dying. Again, no wargear - they don't need it, since they're essentially Genestealers. I tend not to summon Acolytes; I don't feel their wargear options fill any role that Rending Claws don't already cover.

Metamorphs are slightly better Acolytes, but they fit in fewer slots so they're more difficult to spam. I take mine with a Metamorph Claw for the S6 and use them as "elite" gribblers to kill anything my Acolytes can't handle alone. If I'm summoning Morphs I'll either give them Whips or Claws depending on what I'm up against.

I don't like Purestrains, but other players have found a place in their heart for them. I run 5 in the Brood Cycle because I have to and that's it. I never summon them.

I can't think of any situation where I'd use Aberrants. GSC vehicles are quite poor too.

My general advice is to get used to RttS/ Cult Ambush as quickly as possible, because that's your army's bread and butter. Also get used to the idea that you can lose 80% of your army and still win games - if you're the kind of person who panics when casualties start piling up or hates sacrificing units, then GSC is not the army for you. Don't be afraid to charge your Acolytes and Metamorphs at anything - they can't stand up to shooting, but in CC they'll kill more or less anything, either by shredding it off the bat or by drowning it in bodies and grinding it down.

I just recently started a GSC army myself, though I've been reading a lot about them since they got their codex. Of late I've been going for small games around the 500pt area (sometimes going up to 1000pt) and a lot of the times in that sort of environment the Insurrection detachment's unit requirements become a bit too restrictive and inflexible to always play it, which means I've been writing a lot of lists around a CAD (which creates a very different experience than most people's insurrections). So there's that to keep in mind when considering my thoughts.

So, first off, you've got the Heavy Weapons Team a bit backwards: it counts as one model, but is represented by two 'human' miniatures (and a gun) on one base--or sometimes even as two separate miniatures which stay together and function as a single model (you get this with IG missile teams sometimes). Whether mounted on one big base or just kept together while on separate bases, those two men and their gun are one 2-wound, Bulky model for all game purposes. Two miniatures one model, if that makes sense.

Now, Metamorphs vs. Acolytes. They have the same baseline stats, but Metamorphs are +1ppm for a +1WS upgrade (a single Metamorph Talon), making them WS5 if you keep the talon, which is nice when you're meleeing marine armies. However, you can get an icon for Acolytes to give them WS5 (and if the unit is large enough, it's less than 1ppm, though can be sniped out--but also replenished when ambushing). Metamorphs can take an icon, too, but WS6 is probably not going to affect your chances that much over WS5. However, if you buy Metamorph Claws your Metamorphs become S6 and can still use their rending claws!. Add in an icon and you're now WS5 on top of that. These guys hit like a freight train, crap out a ton of attacks, and can even shred a Knight if you've enough of them in the unit. But, 10 Metamorphs with claws and an Icon is 120pts, where as 10 Acolytes with an Icon is only 90pts--sure, only a 30pt difference, but in an army where bare-bones MSU squads can cost as low as 40pts and 'too many guys to kill' is your best defensive strategy, that 30pts could go a long way. Generally, I think Metamorphs are totally worth it, still.

As for Neophytes I use a unit of them to act as my Magus' pool of meatshields. I'm still on the fence about whether or not it's worth it to buy mining/heavy weapons for this particular squad, but I think having a couple flamers in the unit is a good idea. Other than guarding the Magus, however (or filling formation requirements) I think points should be spent on more/larger units of Acolytes rather than Neophytes. Equipping a 10man unit of Neophytes to actually be able to threaten anything will quickly double the unit's points, and to use those heavy weapons they need to stand still and not jump in and out of Ambush. And if they stay put in one spot on the table they'll start evaporating once your opponent feels threatened--and in this day and age of crazy things in the game, making it a unit of 20 won't improve the unit's survivability that much. Instead of spending points on Neophytes, you should spent warp charges on them instead. Our psykers are dirt-cheap, so you should easily be able to muster at least 1d6+4 warp charges. 3 charges and you can just drop down an entirely new 20-man blob of Neophytes on the table with whatever upgrades you like.

Conjure up a blob of 20 guys with seismic cannons, a lascannon, 2 flamers/launchers, an icon (for that lovely WS4) and a beefed up squad leader with a maul or something. The spell makes 'em Ambush in, so you're likely to get a chance to shoot at something and soften it up. Sure, your heavies are snap-firing, but you didn't pay any extra points for those anyways. If anybody survives to the next round then unload shotguns, decline to fire your heavies, and charge something to tie it up for a good chunk of the game (WS4 makes them actually kinda scary to some units, and a decent tarpit against most others). It's always handy to keep a bunch of Neophyte options (as well as other summon-able guys) handy. Since a lot of our weapon options are three, four, or five times as expensive as the men carrying them, it's often a good idea to spend points on bodies and just summon in the weapons you need.

Thanks so much for the in-depth replies so far guys. I think I have underestimated just how much of a horde army this is going to be. Just summoning an extra 20 neophytes is like.... a lot more stuff to buy haha.

Currently I only own, 2 boxes of neophytes. 1 box of acolytes. The HQ . box and got my hands on cheap 20 genestealers and patriarch.
Hoping to make another purchase in few weeks of up to £70 worth so looks like I will be wanting a few more boxes ofAcolytes?
This is going to get intense haha

Biadetic wrote:
Currently I only own, 2 boxes of neophytes. 1 box of acolytes. The HQ . box and got my hands on cheap 20 genestealers and patriarch.
Hoping to make another purchase in few weeks of up to £70 worth so looks like I will be wanting a few more boxes ofAcolytes?

That's a really good start. All those models will crop up in any all-infantry army you make, plus all three of the HQ models have their uses. I'd recommend maybe making an army list before buying anything else though, just so you get a sense of what you're looking for. I'd also proxy a few games with whatever models you have or can borrow, so you have an idea if the army is something you want to extend - it's 800 quid for an 1850pt force, which is a significant investment of time and effort, way too significant to make if you don't like the feel or flow of the army. GSC play very differently to anything else in 40k, so it's definitely worth trying before you buy.

If you want to use those Genestealers than a First Curse is worth a shot. It's not a bad formation, plus people really, **really** hate Genestealers so it will draw a **lot** of fire from your squishier dudes. I wouldn't build an army around Stealers though.

There's two ways you can go about buying up Acolytes and Metamorphs - either buy the Aco box, which has demolition charges and CCW arms, or the Morphs box, which has talons and no CCWs. Both boxes contain saws, drills etc, plus wargear gumpf for the Leader. I'd go for the Morphs myself, since it's easier to convert the Morph talons to hold a CCW than it is to turn a CCW arm into a Morph Claw. Something to think about when next buying stuff.

"Intense" isn't the word I'd use - "annoying" and "expensive" I'd go for, but then again I'm a super-lazy modeller and painter lol

Thanks for the tips! I think an army list is what I should definitely aim for! However I have no plans on spending a fortune at once just to play big point games. My friends and I are going to take it piecemeal and play smaller point games and built.up over time. So with that in mind am I best giving my neophytes extra warhead in the mean time? Which ones are worth it I I have to pick and pay the points for them?

I do have magnets but that would be a lot of work haha

Biadetic wrote:
Thanks for the tips! I think an army list is what I should definitely aim for! However I have no plans on spending a fortune at once just to play big point games. My friends and I are going to take it piecemeal and play smaller point games and built.up over time. So with that in mind am I best giving my neophytes extra warhead in the mean time? Which ones are worth it I I have to pick and pay the points for them?

Neophytes are bad at everything except dying in place of Acolytes and Metamorphs - you still need to have them because they're your chaff, but I haven't honestly found a single load-out that makes them effective outside of the one I use for Summoned units. The Summoned squads get it free - a bought Neophyte squad with 20 models, 2 Seismics, 2 Webbers, and a Leader with Web Pistol and Power Maul will cost you 190pts, which is far, far too expensive for a squad of Neophytes.

If you proxy those Genestealers plus a couple of extra models (or even stuff like cotton spools or other small, model-sized objects) as Acolytes and Metamorphs, you could put together a reasonable 750pt Cult Insurrection army which would give you a good feel for how the army works. GSC scales pretty well - the army runs much the same at 500pts as it does at 2000pts, so you'll know if you want to carry on with them or ebay everything after a game or three. Give it a couple of games before you decide though - they're a difficult army to get used to and they're not especially forgiving of mistakes, but once you get to know them they're immensely satisfying to play and can take on just about anything.

What is a cult insurrection army? I'm looking at the formations in the book and incan only see the subterranean uprising?

You'll find the Cult Insurrection detachment just before the Wargear section. The page is titled "Forces of the Genestealer Cults" if you're using the epub Codex.

Ah yes I found it. Ah the rules seem Pretty cool! Thank you.

I was wondering. When it says (maybe I'm a different rule ) that that unit must infiltrate and use the cult ambush special rule, what does this mean? Doesn't cult ambush mean you have to roll on the table from reserves to come in at all?

Cult Ambush lets you roll of the table when ever you come in from reserves or Infiltrate.

Keep in mind the transports do not have the Cult Ambush special rule. Which means, depending on how you read the rule, you cannot deploy inside a transport or cannot even take transports.

Thanks for the heads up !

So until I get a lot more stuff and play larger games, I really won't be buying more neophytes for the sole purpose of summoning until I have amassed a load more minis for the army, how should I equip them? I'm thinking just with the aforementioned cannons and webbers and sergeant and even just play them casually as simple no wargear units until I buy more to build as normal at a future date and build the new ones as normal stock and let these current ones become the summonee's ?

Biadetic wrote:When it says (maybe I'm a different rule ) that that unit must infiltrate and use the cult ambush special rule, what does this mean? Doesn't cult ambush mean you have to roll on the table from reserves to come in at all?

Cult Ambush allows any units that can Infiltrate to roll on the Cult Ambush table instead of Infiltrating or deploying normally, and also allows units that arrive from reserve to roll on the Cult Ambush table instead of just walking on from the board edge like they usually would. You're not obliged to use it (unless the unit is part of a Subterranean Uprising formation), but 99% of the time it's a good idea to do so.

I think the rule you're reading is for the Subterranean Uprising formation. There it says the unit must infiltrate and deploy by Cult Ambush. What that means is you can't hold those units in reserve, nor deploy normally, nor even Infiltrate them following the usual Infiltrate ruels - they **have** to roll on the Cult Ambush table at deployment and abide by the result (though note that just because you **can** put a unit within 6" of an enemy, doesn't mean you **have** to). However, they got to roll 2d6 on the table and pick the result they want.

As for the Neophytes, I'd build the ones you have as basic vanilla dudes and buy summoning-specific models later, once you've decided you want to continue with the army.

Okay fantastic advice so far thanks !
Managed to get a good deal on a bunch of neophytes so looks like the boxes I have will be for making those special summoned models after all! Woohoo.

On the topic of building, I noticed that you can buy a box of metamorph acolytes and a different box that just says hybrid acolytes. Are these the same box?? I ask because the box I bought just say hybrid acolyte on it but on the back it shows that you can buy as metamorphs or hybrids. :S

The Acolyte box can be built as either Acolyte or Metamorphs. While Neophytes are your shooting Troop units the Acolytes are your melee Troop units.

Metamorphs are your Elite melee and have a few unique things about them. First, you can mix and match their weapons with in a unit. You don't need to give all of them the same weapon upgrades if you don't want to. Also the weapon upgrades do not need to be used to get the bonus. So if you take the Lash Whip upgrade then you get +3 I and can still use your Rending Claw. Same goes for the +2 S claw. Note: if your going for what you see is what you get, you will need multiple boxes. You don't get enough bits to represent all the weapons for the Metamorphs in one box so if you build Acolytes save your Metamorph bits..

You are going to need both to run the one Core Formation but you will want a lot of Acolytes

 BBAP wrote:


There's two ways you can go about buying up Acolytes and Metamorphs - either buy the Aco box, which has demolition charges and CCW arms, or the Morphs box, which has talons and no CCWs. Both boxes contain saws, drills etc, plus wargear gumpf for the Leader. I'd go for the Morphs myself, since it's easier to convert the Morph talons to hold a CCW than it is to turn a CCW arm into a Morph Claw. Something to think about when next buying stuff.

"Intense" isn't the word I'd use - "annoying" and "expensive" I'd go for, but then again I'm a super-lazy modeller and painter lol

So the boxes actually have different contents? That's really good to know since on the site each tells you it can make either squad. Now I know to actually get a morph box when I want a morph unit instead of being able to grab whatever's in stock.

Jacksmiles wrote:

 BBAP wrote:


There's two ways you can go about buying up Acolytes and Metamorphs - either buy the Aco box, which has demolition charges and CCW arms, or the Morphs box, which has talons and no CCWs. Both boxes contain saws, drills etc, plus wargear gumpf for the Leader. I'd go for the Morphs myself, since it's easier to convert the Morph talons to hold a CCW than it is to turn a CCW arm into a Morph Claw. Something to think about when next buying stuff.

"Intense" isn't the word I'd use - "annoying" and "expensive" I'd go for, but then again I'm a super-lazy modeller and painter lol

So the boxes actually have different contents? That's really good to know since on the site each tells you it can make either squad. Now I know to actually get a morph box when I want a morph unit instead of being able to grab whatever's in stock.

This is incorrect. the Acolyte box and the Metamorph box are the same box. You choose what you want to build then use the corresponding bits for the unit. Which ever you choose I suggest you keep the weapon/upgrade bits from the unbuilt unit for future upgrade options

Is that right? I was told by the GW sales-monkey that the Acolyte box doesn't give you claws or whips, just a couple of wargear options for the Acolyte Leader, plus Blasting Charges and a couple more saws and drills. I don't recall coming across any blasting charges in my Morphs box, but I could be wrong.