[2000] - Necrons - Final Draft before an event for review

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**Draco765**

There is an event coming up at huge area with tables already 6ft apart, masks, temp checks etc, and within my driving distance that I am planning on going to. A quick peek at those who have signed up on BCP and talk from their own discord it looks like the base will be Space Wolves, Iron Hands, Custodies, Ad-mech, at least one other Necron, maybe a Sisters, then a bunch of unknowns. I do know these are a much more competitive group so, the odd new player might be there, but with my luck I am usually going against the better players of the group.

But, before I knew that all of that information, I started working on this list. In a couple of test runs against a heavy melee World Eaters, a very gun happy Emperor's Children with Noise marines shooting twice a turn, and a Tau list that was not drone heavy or optimized. I was able to get at least 70pts each time and a high score of 91.

I was using the Objective secured trait for those test runs, but Obsec did not come into play as much as I would want. Was thinking of swapping to either the re-roll hit, re-roll wound, or the 6++ to all trait instead. Considering that most of my Re-roll stratagems were used in the Wounding of a model, kind of leaning to the re-roll a to wound, which is in this list now.

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Necrons) [101 PL, 11CP, 2,000pts] ++

Dynasty Choice: Circumstance of Awakening: Relentlessly Expansionist, Dynastic Tradition: Superior Artisans, Dynasty: <Custom>

Bound Creation

2x Cryptothrall

+ HQ +

Catacomb Command Barge: Gauss Cannon, Voltaic Staff, Warlord, Warlord Trait: Enduring Will

Technomancer: Arkana: Cryptogeometric Adjuster, Canoptek Cloak, Staff of Light

Technomancer: Canoptek Control Node, Dynastic Heirlooms [-1CP], Relic: Veil of Darkness, Staff of Light

+ Troops+

10x Immortals: Gauss Blaster

20x Necron Warriors: Gauss Flayer

10x Necron Warriors: Gauss Reaper

+ Elites [25 PL, 490pts] +

C'tan Shard of the Nightbringer: Power of the C'tan: Antimatter Meteor

Triarch Stalker: Heat Ray

+ Fast Attack +

5x Canoptek Scarab Swarms

5x Canoptek Scarab Swarms

+ Heavy Support +

Canoptek Doomstalker

Canoptek Doomstalker

+ Dedicated Transport +

Ghost Ark

Basic pre-game strategy is in four parts, which will adjust according to the mission and opponent.

Ghost ark/Cryptek with Cloak, Flayer Warriors and CCB work as a team. Moving up the board doing what they do best. Cryptek tries to stay close to the front of the line to hand out a -1 to hit on an enemy unit within 12", had 15 points that just did not fit anywhere else and this was the best arkana of that point level. No Res orb on the CCB as I am hoping to bring back enough models via Ghost ark and Technomancer's abilities. This combo gives back either 2d3 or d3+d6 for 1cp. The Reapers in the Ghost Ark come out when needed down the road.

1x Scarab unit and the Nightbringer go forth together - Scarabs to soak up any non-targeted Mortal wounds, while slowing down any enemy units so the Nightbringer can get the charge off. Using three powers a turn as much as he can.

1x Scarab unit goes with the Stalker - Similar idea as the Nightbringer group, the Scarabs keep any non-targeted Mortal wounds off the Stalker, slowing any aggressive melee units down, while the stalker moves up the board giving out the re-roll ones for anything the CDS want to target, then charging in to mop up any small units near it. - I did get permission from the T.O. to use the Quantum Deflection stratagem on the Stalker despite the lack of keywords.

CDS with the Technomancer/node and the Gauss Immortals form another team. Hold a back field objective. Once the CDS are either done with their primary job of popping high T units or are destroyed, the Technomancer and Immortals can Veil to a location where they are needed. With the Technomacer slowly bringing back any Immortals that might die.

The Thralls will stick with which ever Cryptek might need sniper protection, or move with the warrior mass to do Deploy Scramblers or Investigate sites if either of those might be a better secondary.

My secondary objectives have typically been Bring it Down, Grind them down and Purge the Vermin.

As for changes: by the date of the event, the best I could do is 10 more reaper warriors that I have yet to build/paint, but I do have pretty much everything of the old line available to swap out.

**wuestenfux**

Good luck with the event. Staying safe is the command of the time. And the US is not so successful these days. We have a lockdown here in Germany and meetings are restricted to either two households or 10 people. So events like yours are out of reach these days. The lockdown will eventually end in the new year.

To your list. What I'm missing are cc oriented units when the center of the board becomes contested.

**necron99**

wuestenfux wrote:
Good luck with the event. Staying safe is the command of the time. And the US is not so successful these days. We have a lockdown here in Germany and meetings are restricted to either two households or 10 people. So events like yours are out of reach these days. The lockdown will eventually end in the new year.

To your list. What I'm missing are cc oriented units when the center of the board becomes contested.

Not to get political but yeah...we're idiots over here in the states. It's just embarrassing on so many levels...

**buddha**

How'd the event go?

**Draco765**

buddha wrote:
How'd the event go?

Has not happened yet, it is on the 5th of December. They have a request to upload a list early, but have extended the time limit to this next weekend (29th) so gave me more time for more testing.

So, I did more testing this past weekend. Had a hard time with "hold 2" style missions. Also tried my hand at secondaries that were based on actions, and found that I am not very good at knowing when to do them. I understand the concept, just putting it into action on the table was difficult for me. But, that is whey I keep testing.

New changes:
-Stalker
-1 Flayer warrior
+ 5x Deathmarks
+ Royal Warden: Rarefied Nobility -1cp - Thrall of the Silent King

The Deathmarks start on the table near the Cyrptek that is boosting the Doomstalkers. Helps scare off any characters that come near, and can still pop a stratagem to shoot back line deepstrikers before they have a chance to do anything. Does not kill the unit, but does put a dent in it as to lower the impact. This freed up the Immortals to go and take objectives.
Royal Warden helps one of the <CORE> units backup from a fight and shoot. Pretty good anti-2w model gun with good range. Thrall of the Silent King for extra range on both his abilities.
Dropped the Flayer Warriors to 19 for the points to make the above changes, does not change the tactics of the Flayer blob at all.

**Sasori**

I would consider adding the Veil to the Technomancer that is not babysitting the Doomstalkers. It's not going to do much on that one.

Do you have 20x Reaper Warriors? I've found in all my games so far for them to be significantly better than Flayer warriors. I usually keep a Veil character with them, which offers a ton of flexibility.

I'd also consider running Novokh, with all the infantry in this list. Having Warriors and Immortals being punchy in close combat has been huge for me. The stratagem can come in clutch, adding an extra attack plus the Novokh AP can end up causing a significant amount of damage from units that traditionally hit like paper.

I think removing the Stalker was the right call, 2x CDS should be more than enough for the current meta that's light on tanks.

**Xenomancers**

Draco765 wrote:
There is an event coming up at huge area with tables already 6ft apart, masks, temp checks etc, and within my driving distance that I am planning on going to. A quick peek at those who have signed up on BCP and talk from their own discord it looks like the base will be Space Wolves, Iron Hands, Custodies, Ad-mech, at least one other Necron, maybe a Sisters, then a bunch of unknowns. I do know these are a much more competitive group so, the odd new player might be there, but with my luck I am usually going against the better players of the group.

But, before I knew that all of that information, I started working on this list. In a couple of test runs against a heavy melee World Eaters, a very gun happy Emperor's Children with Noise marines shooting twice a turn, and a Tau list that was not drone heavy or optimized. I was able to get at least 70pts each time and a high score of 91.

I was using the Objective secured trait for those test runs, but Obsec did not come into play as much as I would want. Was thinking of swapping to either the re-roll hit, re-roll wound, or the 6++ to all trait instead. Considering that most of my Re-roll stratagems were used in the Wounding of a model, kind of leaning to the re-roll a to wound, which is in this list now.

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Necrons) [101 PL, 11CP, 2,000pts] ++

Dynasty Choice: Circumstance of Awakening: Relentlessly Expansionist, Dynastic Tradition: Superior Artisans, Dynasty: <Custom>

Bound Creation

2x Cryptothrall

+ HQ +

Catacomb Command Barge: Gauss Cannon, Voltaic Staff, Warlord, Warlord Trait: Enduring Will

Technomancer: Arkana: Cryptogeometric Adjuster, Canoptek Cloak, Staff of Light

Technomancer: Canoptek Control Node, Dynastic Heirlooms [-1CP], Relic: Veil of Darkness, Staff of Light

+ Troops+

10x Immortals: Gauss Blaster

20x Necron Warriors: Gauss Flayer

10x Necron Warriors: Gauss Reaper

+ Elites [25 PL, 490pts] +

C'tan Shard of the Nightbringer: Power of the C'tan: Antimatter Meteor

Triarch Stalker: Heat Ray

+ Fast Attack +

5x Canoptek Scarab Swarms

5x Canoptek Scarab Swarms

+ Heavy Support +

Canoptek Doomstalker

Canoptek Doomstalker

+ Dedicated Transport +

Ghost Ark

Basic pre-game strategy is in four parts, which will adjust according to the mission and opponent.

Ghost ark/Cryptek with Cloak, Flayer Warriors and CCB work as a team. Moving up the board doing what they do best. Cryptek tries to stay close to the front of the line to hand out a -1 to hit on an enemy unit within 12", had 15 points that just did not fit anywhere else and this was the best arkana of that point level. No Res orb on the CCB as I am hoping to bring back enough models via Ghost ark and Technomancer's abilities. This combo gives back either 2d3 or d3+d6 for 1cp. The Reapers in the Ghost Ark come out when needed down the road.

1x Scarab unit and the Nightbringer go forth together - Scarabs to soak up any non-targeted Mortal wounds, while slowing down any enemy units so the Nightbringer can get the charge off. Using three powers a turn as much as he can.

1x Scarab unit goes with the Stalker - Similar idea as the Nightbringer group, the Scarabs keep any non-targeted Mortal wounds off the Stalker, slowing any aggressive melee units down, while the stalker moves up the board giving out the re-roll ones for anything the CDS want to target, then charging in to mop up any small units near it. - I did get permission from the T.O. to use the Quantum Deflection stratagem on the Stalker despite the lack of keywords.

CDS with the Technomancer/node and the Gauss Immortals form another team. Hold a back field objective. Once the CDS are either done with their primary job of popping high T units or are destroyed, the Technomancer and Immortals can Veil to a location where they are needed. With the Technomacer slowly bringing back any Immortals that might die.

The Thralls will stick with which ever Cryptek might need sniper protection, or move with the warrior mass to do Deploy Scramblers or Investigate sites if either of those might be a better secondary.

My secondary objectives have typically been Bring it Down, Grind them down and Purge the Vermin.

As for changes: by the date of the event, the best I could do is 10 more reaper warriors that I have yet to build/paint, but I do have pretty much everything of the old line available to swap out.

I'd make a few changes here.
#1 I would take a chronomancer (with the hard hitting staff) with veil over the technomancer with cloak, 5++ on the warriors is essential (proxy the plasmamancer model). I'd also drop the cryptothralls. Upgrade to a Heavy Gauss for the Triarch Stalker(IMO is the is only weapon choice). A good archana you could take would be the +1 armor via cover save (any crptec can take this).

The doom stalkers with a cyrptec is a pretty huge investment and I don't think its worth it unless you are taking 3. Way better off with doomsday archs IMO.

Thats what I would do.

In any case I think the night bringer is really over rated. 9" threat range is pretty sad for a 350 point model and trust me I understand how brtual he is in CC. Ultimately though they always struggle to get their points back and they suck up CP like a mofo. I've had 2 heads up games against crons now vs 1 and 2 ctans and I took monolith in both games. Literally obliterated both armies. Ctan just doesn't provide enough IMO. Should be more like 280 points. 350 is absurd.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Sasori wrote:
I would consider adding the Veil to the Technomancer that is not babysitting the Doomstalkers. It's not going to do much on that one.

Do you have 20x Reaper Warriors? I've found in all my games so far for them to be significantly better than Flayer warriors. I usually keep a Veil character with them, which offers a ton of flexibility.

I'd also consider running Novokh, with all the infantry in this list. Having Warriors and Immortals being punchy in close combat has been huge for me. The stratagem can come in clutch, adding an extra attack plus the Novokh AP can end up causing a significant amount of damage from units that traditionally hit like paper.

I think removing the Stalker was the right call, 2x CDS should be more than enough for the current meta that's light on tanks.

Triach stalker is a massive force multiplier on our most durable vehical platform and it has decent melee ability. Just my opinion but why would you ever not take one? It's just great. I didn't realize it initially but vehicals with blast weapons are bad choices - they can't shoot them into melee. Triachs can and they hit hard in shooting. On average probably harder than a doomstalker - plus require 0 support whilst giving you global rr1's. I've been running 2 and I see not reason not to add a 3rd except for the fact I'd have to lower the strength of other import units to do it. So I do great with 2.

Totally agree on the flayers though. Reapers only. I always consider taking 1 shot with a rapid fire weapon a failure and the reaper can also advance for up to 17" threat range (with the right buffs) so it is far and above the better choice.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Draco765 wrote:
buddha wrote:
How'd the event go?

Has not happened yet, it is on the 5th of December. They have a request to upload a list early, but have extended the time limit to this next weekend (29th) so gave me more time for more testing.

So, I did more testing this past weekend. Had a hard time with "hold 2" style missions. Also tried my hand at secondaries that were based on actions, and found that I am not very good at knowing when to do them. I understand the concept, just putting it into action on the table was difficult for me. But, that is whey I keep testing.

New changes:
-Stalker
-1 Flayer warrior
+ 5x Deathmarks
+ Royal Warden: Rarefied Nobility -1cp - Thrall of the Silent King

The Deathmarks start on the table near the Cyrptek that is boosting the Doomstalkers. Helps scare off any characters that come near, and can still pop a stratagem to shoot back line deepstrikers before they have a chance to do anything. Does not kill the unit, but does put a dent in it as to lower the impact. This freed up the Immortals to go and take objectives.
Royal Warden helps one of the <CORE> units backup from a fight and shoot. Pretty good anti-2w model gun with good range. Thrall of the Silent King for extra range on both his abilities.
Dropped the Flayer Warriors to 19 for the points to make the above changes, does not change the tactics of the Flayer blob at all.

5 deathmarks doesn't even average a mortal wound. Meanwhile it's pretty easy to wipe the unit and they wont even get reanimations being a 5 man. IMO not a great choice. 10 deathmarks can get some work done - 5 might as well be none though. Maybe even 20 or 30 in a list with silent king I have considered. Will report back on that when I try it.

**Draco765**

This ended up being the list I submitted for the event tomorrow:

Battalion Detachment [103 PL, 11CP, 2,000pts]

Dynasty Choice: Szarekhan

Catacomb Command Barge: Gauss Cannon, Relic: Voltaic Staff, Staff of Light, Warlord, Warlord Trait: Enduring Will
Technomancer: Canoptek Cloak, Dynastic Heirlooms, Relic: Veil of Darkness
2x Cryptothrall

10x Immortals: Gauss Blaster
20x Necron Warrior (Gauss Reaper)
10x Necron Warrior (Gauss Flayer)

C'tan Shard of the Nightbringer: Power of the C'tan: Antimatter Meteor
5x Deathmark

6x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
5x Canoptek Scarab Swarm

3x Lokhust Heavy Destroyer (Gauss Destructor)
3x Lokhust Heavy Destroyer (Gauss Destructor)

Ghost Ark

The final BCP list lock had these armies represented:

2x Space wolves
2x Adeptus Mechanicus
2x Necon (includes me)
2x Harlequins
Custodes
Dark Angels
Ultramarines
Imperial Knights
Death Guard
Dark Angels
Thousand Sons/Emperor's Children CSM
Genestealers/Tyranid
White Scars
Khorne Daemons
Nurgle Daemon/Chaos Space Marine
Adeptus Titanticus (yes, they are playing a Warhound and nothing else)

**abaddonsdrummer**

Not sure if it's too late for you to change your list now, but the squads of Heavy Destroyers should be changed into 3 squads of 2; gives higher benefit from Szarekhan trait (rerolling potentially 1/2 wounds as opposed to 1/3), covering more board area for threats and making your opponent over-commit to taking them down. MSU is king with Szarekhan.

**Draco765**

abaddonsdrummer wrote:
Not sure if it's too late for you to change your list now, but the squads of Heavy Destroyers should be changed into 3 squads of 2; gives higher benefit from Szarekhan trait (rerolling potentially 1/2 wounds as opposed to 1/3), covering more board area for threats and making your opponent over-commit to taking them down. MSU is king with Szarekhan.

Well, as it turned out, the majority of things I could shoot with the LHDs, had a 4++ save (or given one via a strat), which the opponent made most of them, and then the next turn the units were either turned into a single model or gone. If they were units of 2, they would have been deleted anyway. The only thing they out right destroyed was a Drop pod.

I was up against:

Adeptus Mechanicus - I won
Dark Angels - I lost
Harlequins - I lost

All of them ended turn 3 due to the time limit (2.5h) with the games I lost, the next turn would have been my big come back turn.

If I go back to another event of theirs, I will need a faster earlier scoring list, this one is much more Long Game style where my biggest point rounds are turn 4/5.

The CCB and the Nightbringer did earn their points back every time. Ghost ark either I played it too conservatively or it got blasted by Haywire to easily. I did play the scarabs aggressively, and they mostly did their jobs. The Immortals were really resilient, standing up against things that should have killed them because of the T5.

**Oaka**

Thanks for the notes. My Necron opponent has found the same with heavy destroyers- I tend to destroy them pretty quickly, which I blame on the durability of the troops. It seems like the destroyers are actually easier to kill than warriors. When his army only includes one vehicle it also gets taken down pretty quickly, similar to your experience with the ghost ark. Haywire being the reason, as well, as the bonuses they get against vehicles just puts a big bullseye on that single model. That's actually keeping him from being excited about a Silent King list with lots of infantry, as he'd be the only vehicle.

The 3-turn games is unfortunate, but not unexpected. Our 1500 point games at home are taking over 3 hours- I have a feeling I would not be prepared for a tournament yet in regards to game length. Scoring all your objectives and using all your CPs in turns 2 and 3 is probably going to be the way to approach a tournament list.

**Draco765**

Forgot to add the impact that the 5 man Deathmarks had. I did deploy them on the table normally and they did some pop shots at units they could see each turn.

Them being around still made the opponents hide their characters more and the Dark Angel player considered safer places to drop his Drop Pod and teleporting terminators, which were in less than perfect spots and keeping his Sammael (which was one of his while we stand we fight secondary) out of their line of sight.