Tsol wrote:
So I was literally writing up a 5000 word heavy review of Admech currently to post here and on a couple other forums as well as give 1d4chan my input. As I have played about 45 games of Admech thus far (pure) and about twice that much in 8th overall.

However, all of it is almost moot with these new updates. So I'll give an abridged version as to not have fully wasted my time and maybe this info will help some of you. This info is also for Pure Admech, not soup. And by no means is perfect. I have played alot of 8th and alot of Admech, but I am by no means perfect and my views are subject to local META; which is Chaos, Necrons, 1ksons, Space Marines, Orks and Eldar.

----HQs----
TPD. Overall, as an individual not bad, not great. As a synergy character (by comparision to other armies he is crap) but his relative hardyness and decent melee/shooting makes him okay. If he was a flat 100pts. I'd say he'd be in the sweet spot.

Cawl: exactly what he is. Great. If you have the points, no reason not too. Just be careful about hard hitting stuff. He can shrug off small arms better than most, but like most things, powerfists or Laz cannons will ruin his day.

--**NEW**--
Tech Priest- First impressions (Have not used him as an HQ yet, just found out about this yesterday). I fear he will not get a points reduction simply due to being moved to an HQ slot. However, if he turns out to get a points reduction, and in my humble opinion he should be exactly 40pts and kept as is. With one exception, he should be able to repair all Admech units, not just vehicles, like the Dominus. As many people have figured out, if this HQ is 40pts, or even 50 pts, the entire META of the army will radically change. I am already planning on running two or three forge worlds with a TPD and 1-2 tech priests to split my army up into multiple detachments and have them specialize into roles.

---Troops---
Breacahers:
So close yet so far from being an awesome unit. Cover/canticles makes these guys are to move, but will fall victim to Lazcannon/other heavy hitters making this unit only viable if there is target saturation avaiable. Otherwise, focus fire and heavy weapons will turn this overpriced unit into robot parts. If they knocked these guys down to 150 for Haywire/claw. I'd take 3 squads. Make the Torsion cannons/claw 175 and I might cry from joy, if they made the torsion 20pts and the arc free. I would be even so bold to make their hydralic claw cost the same as the arc. Why? Its objectivly worse, but its high risk and low reward can be offset by its fluff. The Hydralic claw needs AP-2 and it can compete with the arc, if it were free/same cost. As is, I can never recommend it, -1 to hit making its pilthy 2 attacks hit on 5s on such an expensive unit really makes me wonder if it was a typo uncaught. Unless you know you are going to be attacking buildings ignore this weapon. If the codex adjusts it, I'll revisit it. Otherwise, stay away.

--Destroyers---
Expensive, somewhat fragile unit, cover is a MUST on these. These also benefit the most from a TPD, Canticles or Cawl or any other reroll or to hit boon. They are overpriced, but dish out enough firepower to make them worth it, if you place them in a sound tactical manner. Heavy Grav, despite being nerf is still excellent at what it does. Turning all heavy infantry into molten goop. This squad will melt effectively anything that is not a vehical in one volley. Or two if the dice gods are against you. I would love to see a slight price drop in these, just to make them more viable. I'd be happy with the base unit just coming down 5 pts: from 35 to 30 or knocking the Grav cannon to 20-25 instead of 30. Phospher blaster... I don't want to say its crap... So I wont. Take the flamers. Which I think is about right, though my fanboy wants them a solid 10pts not 11.

Plasma: Good. I hardly ever use these though, for two major reasons, I hate the d6 shots; simply too unreliable for such an expensive unit and the Grav is better for my local META. Though Plasma seems to be king this edition, so I will not say anything bad against them. I'd like to see their points cost down to 20, or even 25... But thats me being nit picky. They suffer all the same problems listed above but are just kitted out for different targets. Your mileage may vary.

Cognis Flamers: Good. A bit pricey, but good. They are extra reassurance flame throwers, and as so are good.

Overall, this unit despite its obscene costs (two units of 3 is the costs of an Imperial Knight...) These awesome looking models can actually be viable. Have their Grav target Terminators or power armor or even monstrous creatures and watch it do work.

**NEW** If these units get a points reduction combined with the forgeworld Lucius and canticles. These units may become
some of the hardest hitting and tough aplhastrike or even just teleporting gunplatforms int he game.

Vanguard: become my most common unit, but seriously struggling to keep competitive. Too expensive, both base and weapon upgrades (looking at you plasma calv). They're 4+ save when in cover/canticles makes them not just die to a stiff breeze, but even laz guns will wear these guys down with realtive ease. If GW makes them about 8 pts per model and knocks down the plasma cav to 10-12 pts, these guys will suddenly be really good. Especially with these new forge world traits. That 6+++ FNP thingyish, would do these models wonders. In a perfect forge world, the Aphas would have two wounds.
That being said, these guys throw out a crapton of shots. Have excellent weapon options Arc Rife is wholly underused. For 4pts this is an auto include unless you explicitly want that plasma. A 10 man squad of these mooks, with 3 arc rifles and an omispex or data-tether (depends on their job), are a fansatic little objective holder or harassing unit and a decent screen (if only they were cheaper!!).
Aplha: Kit him out for role.
Maul: Great overall weapon, no weakness only good.
Goad: High strength, No AP. Situational, take this if you know you'll be fighint not space marines or equivelent.
Arc Pistol: Always. Unless you have the Alpha keep his carbine.
Arc Rifle: Arguably best weapon in the faction due to its super duper low points. Take them, S6 AP-1 Rapid Fire 1. Why the heck not!?!?
Plasma: Good... But unintuitive. You want these models to run, says so in the codex, but running and shooting this weapon on overcharge is a big no no. This weapon needs a buff or point reduction. Give it 3 shots and keep the point cost or drop the points. As of right now, its not bad, but its arguably the least point efficient plasma gun in the game currently. Which is super odd, considering this is the mechanicus...
Sniper: Don't.

Despite what many people say, these guys often perform better in groups of 10.

Rangers, outside of being a extra wounds for snipers are possibly the worst unit in the codex. Yes, even worse than the combat servitors. In and of themselves they are not bad but simply not worth their points. As above, 8pts ideally with some sort of buff; like all to wound rolls of 6 are AP-2 would go along way to making these guys compete with Vanguard, who are the same cost, have some defensive uses (rad armor) and nearly triple the firepower.
Alpha: Keep stock rife.
Snipers: Use this unit as extra wounds for said snipers. Just a minor add tid bit. A 10 man unit with 3 snipers, can either do wonders or will attract far too much attention. I've seen it do both.
Arc Rifles: Actually has pretty good snyergy here, though I still recommend these with Vanguard over Rangers, but I think this may be the best weapon for this unit.
Plasma: situational, if you know you'll be close within first or second turn, this may not be a bad choice. Though I'd recommend Arc rifles over these.
Rangers, in my opinion, have taken the worst brunt in the codex out of our whole line. They went from an excellent troop choice to sniper bodies. They can still perform however, rerolls of 1 to hit and a soft rend make them annoying to your opponents due to their long range. Ideally, two five man squads with a sniper or two plopped into a good tactical position can really help your army. A 10 man squad with 3 arc rifles in center field or camping on an objective can also be very useful. But that is about all they can do well, other units will fill any other rolls they might take better.

---Elites---
DiscoSticks: Most improved. Arugably one of the best counter charge units in the game currently. Many people forget they have a 5+++ which makes them almost as hardy as Nurgle deamons. When position cleverly, they will completly deter your opponents from would be great charge or deepstrike. Or not as good but still tactically useful, your opponents will be sure to focus fire these guys to death to allow them to deepstrike or charge. I will skip out on in detail explaining why they are so good, but their statline alone should give you all the reasons you need. Point wise, I think they are spot on. Any cheaper and they'd be broken. Any more expensive and I'm not sure if I'd take more than one squad.

Always take at least 10. 5 would be good, but they will be shot.

Jazz Hands: Great. Thought Vanguard are too squish and don't like their stregth 3? Well these are for you. Have all the same rules and boons as Disco sticks but can drown ANY unit in firepower. Give them a rerolls to hit with Cawl and laugh as you dish out 50 hits from a 10 man squad. TPD and/or canticles help these mooks out nicely. Their short range is their only weak point. Position them to either defend a unit/area or go super aggresive with them and give your enemy target saturation to avoid them being focus fired on.
Point wise, again, I think they are perfect. Always take at least 10, more may be better but situational and will draw more fire if you take more than 10.

These guys move well with Vanguard running up the field.

Servitors: Dont. They could have been great. Even at 8pts a model (servo arm) these things could have been useful. But at 12 pts... Just put the points elsewhere. Hopfully the codex will do 1 of two things. 1: Make them 8 pts with servo arm, then they could be useful. 2: change the equipment they can take and its restrictions.

**NEW** with teleportation, these mooks with Multimeltas plus a techpriest in conjunction with a point reduction can finally give us that deep strike melta attack we've been needing that every other army has.

Datasmith: Exactly what he is. Okay at combat but just a powerful baby sitter for your robots. I'd like to see him maybe just 10 points cheaper and be able to work with servitors and I'd think he could be really useful. Even more so, if he could repair other units. I'd happily keep his point costs the same if he could repair any admech units.

Infiltrators: Good. Used to be our only deepstrike, still good. Almost spot on in points. I'd prefer a soft point reduction or a slight bump in survivability. A 5++ would go a long way for these guys (what they used to have). Both options are good, simply kit them out for whatever task you want to them to handle.
Goads: good for light armored but still competent at exploding hits and overwhelming high armor.
Swords: Powerswords. Yes please.

Both variants do very well with canticles,primarily due to their all around good nature, their high output of attacks both melee and range allow for lots of dice and potential damage. +1 Strength makes you wound T3 models on 2s with goads and makes your power swords wound marines on 3s. Rerolls of 1 to range/melee just good to have.

These are a must have strategically, however with new codex and teleportation, they may lose their most important feature: deepstrike. I mean, you take them for deepstrike, if you have other options, you may not want to take these anymore. Overall, I will contradict myself here a bit. They are worth taking. If you can get the charge off or need something to take a backfield objective, they are decent glass cannons and are fairly quick and can handle most enemy types that are MC or Vehicles.

Ruststalkers: Don't. I have tried. I really have, have used both variants about a dozen times and only twice have they ever done anything useful. You will amost always be better served by infiltrators. The transonic razor and blade are sadly just garbage. The chordclaw is really the only thing that ever did anything when I used them. That being said, you're better off taking Discosticks for mortal wounds and counter charging and your better off with infiltrators at regualr damage dealing and mobility. This is, in my opinion, the most confusing and pointless unit in the codex. Mind you I say pointless, not bad. Just take something else. Hopefully the Codex will change the Transonic blades as currently they are the worst weapon in the codex.

The damn things don't even have an AP of 1!!!

I am super bitter about them because I love their models. I have 20 of them... 10 of each. Got them in 7th and am just sad to see how poor they have become...

---Fast Attack:---
I have nothing of importance to add here. I never use the walkers. I only own 1 of them, and it gets blown up first turn every time. I suspect 2 or 3 of them would fair better. The reason I do not have any is fiscal more than anything else.

--Heavy Support--

Dunecrawler: Excellent unit. Appropriatly costed. Hard hitting and can take ah it. An improved or comperable Leman Russ albeit not as fast.
All weapons on this thing are pretty worthwhile except the phosher blaster. The platform is too costly to justify that weapon being on it. If it were free or only like 5pts for the Dunecrawler, I'd change my mind. The stars here though Nuetraon Laser and Icarus array. Both excellent and both good at really everything. This thing is an embarresment of riches. I recommend taking 3 of any varation of your choice. The Cognis heavy stubbor is over costed though, but it is nice to have 3-6 extra shots comining off the thing.

Robits: Good. But expensive. Overall a strong unit in both melee and range based on what you kit it out with. Obviously range is its most popular form, but they also do very well in melee. Their fists are not to be ignored.

Ageis: My personal favorite mode. 2+/4++ and the retaliation of 5++. This mode may lack the Dakka or the Choppa of the other two, but my opponets best weapons to kill these things (Lazcannons) don't bother shooting them if I have this up. Meaning, they can just do whatever they want with near impunity. Keep a datamsith nearby though, you will probably want to change these things protocal at some point. Also, few things will annoy your opponent more than seeing on of these jerkwagons recover d3 wounds.

There ya go. My last several month of 40 some games as Admech. This was much longer originally and in a proper essay format for ease of reading, but with the new info of the codex out, I shortened it up. Everything I've said is now subject to change.