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Hi everyone, I took a break after 6th, and having recently played a few small games with proxied models, I'm considering jumping back in. I really like the idea of a Genestealer Cult army, but I hate making decisions in a vacuum and I'm struggling to research options fast enough, so I'm asking for some help.

I'm envisioning a core of GC ambushing units supported by Primus' and Iconwards, some chimeras kitted out with flamers, and maybe a dozer-truck or two loaded with aberrants or genestealers. Supporting these core units, I'd like some of the heavier backfield vehicles from AM, along with some of the units I find to be more flavorful and interesting like psykers, ratling snipers, ogryn, maybe a techpriest, maybe a tank commander. For the Tyranid portion of the army, I'd like some of the larger workhorse bugs like tyrants, carnifexes, mawlocs, trygons, and/or harpies.

The local group plays primarily at 2k points, so I'd like to build for that, and as a somewhat competitive player, I'm looking to make smart decisions. To this end, I'd love to hear your opinions on the following:

1. What are the top strengths and weaknesses of each of the three armies I can pick from, in the context of how a GSC player can use them. (e.g. Nids keep their hive fleet bonus, AM do not.)
2. Which units in each army do you feel are your must-haves or auto-includes, from both a lore and math-hammer perspective?
3. Which units are traps? Which units look better on paper than they play on the table?
4. Which units end up being somewhat redundant and/or over-costed given the available options? Leman Rus' being slightly cheaper in AM than GSC as an example.
5. Rule of cool being a thing, what one unit, or combination of units, from each codex would make you smile upon seeing them together in an opponent's army?

Thanks in advance, I greatly appreciate any and all advice!

Filthy_Sanchez wrote:
Hi everyone, I took a break after 6th, and having recently played a few small games with proxied models, I'm considering jumping back in. I really like the idea of a Genestealer Cult army, but I hate making decisions in a vacuum and I'm struggling to research options fast enough, so I'm asking for some help.

I'm envisioning a core of GC ambushing units supported by Primus' and Iconwards, some chimeras kitted out with flamers, and maybe a dozer-truck or two loaded with aberrants or genestealers. Supporting these core units, I'd like some of the heavier backfield vehicles from AM, along with some of the units I find to be more flavorful and interesting like psykers, ratling snipers, ogryn, maybe a techpriest, maybe a tank commander. For the Tyranid portion of the army, I'd like some of the larger workhorse bugs like tyrants, carnifexes, mawlocs, trygons, and/or harpies.

The local group plays primarily at 2k points, so I'd like to build for that, and as a somewhat competitive player, I'm looking to make smart decisions. To this end, I'd love to hear your opinions on the following:

1. What are the top strengths and weaknesses of each of the three armies I can pick from, in the context of how a GSC player can use them. (e.g. Nids keep their hive fleet bonus, AM do not.)

Tyranids and AM are great armies on their own, and don’t require much outside support(unless you want it). GSC have a distinct weakness in Anti-Air, and generally rely on Purestrains for anti-armor with occasional Abberants for flavor. Until the GSC codex comes out you’ll he relying heavily on either army for the heavy lifting of your list.

2. Which units in each army do you feel are your must-haves or auto-includes, from both a lore and math-hammer perspective?

For Tyranids you have a lot of good options l(they’ve gotten a fairly strong, balanced codex this edition), but Hive Guard and Tyrannofexes would help shore up the ranged anti-armor weakness of GSC. You just need to keep in mind when you add Tyranids they need their babysitters(Neurothropes, Malanthropes, Hive Tyrants), and you’ll be paying a slight premium for their abilities to not directly help your GSC. I’m not as certain of AM as I’ve just recently started diving in myself, but they would usually be far more fluffy with a GSC detachment than a pure Tyranids force.

3. Which units are traps? Which units look better on paper than they play on the table?

For Tyranids the flying models are duds(Harpy, Hive Crone), as is the Trygon, Tervigon, and Mawloc. Tyrannocyte is fairly overpriced as well. If you run Broodlords they can have a hard time keeping up with your Genestealers, sometime making their buff aura useless. As for AM as I said before I’m not as familiar with their rules, but from what I understand they have few “dud” units.

4. Which units end up being somewhat redundant and/or over-costed given the available options? Leman Rus' being slightly cheaper in AM than GSC as an example.

Tyranid Genestealers are generally inferior to Purestrains, although if you’re going for a Stealershock list they can be useful to fill out detachments as they’re troops. Termagants/Hormagaunts have their uses, but you’ll pretty much be better off using Neophytes outside of specific builds(Termagant Bomb) or uses(Hormagaunt hordes to tie up multiple enemy ranged units).

5. Rule of cool being a thing, what one unit, or combination of units, from each codex would make you smile upon seeing them together in an opponent's army?

Genestealers and Broodlords as shock troops of a larger infestation, and armies of Russes bearing GSC icons imo.

If you go to the tactics forum, there is a thread dedicated to Genecult tactics. There are threads for Tyranids and Astra Militarum as well if you have more specific questions for those particular armies.

Thank you Hero, I appreciate the advice.

I put together a preliminary list, but I'd still love to hear more thoughts on how I can trim fat, and stuff more wounds / dakka into the list.
The GSC has two Primus which each escort a unit of genestealers onto the board via Cult Ambush, while the three neophyte teams camp objectives and/or drive around in the Chimeras.
The Tyranid portion has the Neurothrope to buff the Carnis and escort them up the field while the Biovores plink at infantry.
For the AM, the ratlings camp midfield and take pot-shots at enemy characters, and the psyker buffs the two Leman Rus, while the techpriest spends his time healing the tanks.


++ Spearhead Detachment +1CP (Tyranids) [20 PL, 392pts] ++
Hive Fleet: Kraken

+ HQ +
Neurothrope [4 PL, 70pts]: Power: Catalyst, Warlord, Warlord Trait: Adaptive Biology

+ Heavy Support +
Biovores [2 PL, 50pts]: Biovore
Biovores [2 PL, 50pts]: Biovore
Carnifexes [12 PL, 222pts]
. Carnifex: 2x Monstrous Scything Talons, Adrenal Glands, Bone Mace, Spore Cysts, Toxin Sacs, Tusks
. Carnifex: 2x Monstrous Scything Talons, Adrenal Glands, Bone Mace, Spore Cysts, Toxin Sacs, Tusks


++ Vanguard Detachment +1CP (Imperium - Astra Militarum) [28 PL, 582pts] ++
Regimental Doctrine: Brood Brothers

+ HQ +
Primaris Psyker [2 PL, 46pts]: Force Stave, Nightshroud, Psychic Barrier

+ Elites +
Ratlings [2 PL, 45pts]. 5x Ratling: 5x Sniper Rifle
Ratlings [2 PL, 45pts]. 5x Ratling: 5x Sniper Rifle
Tech-Priest Enginseer [2 PL, 42pts]: Servo-arm

+ Heavy Support +
Leman Russ Battle Tanks [20 PL, 404pts]
. Leman Russ Battle Tank: Battle Cannon, Hunter-Killer Missile, Lascannon, Plasma Cannons, Storm Bolter
. Leman Russ Battle Tank: Battle Cannon, Hunter-Killer Missile, Lascannon, Plasma Cannons, Storm Bolter


++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Tyranids - Genestealer Cults) [62 PL, 1025pts] ++

+ HQ +
Primus [4 PL, 76pts]: Bonesword
Primus [4 PL, 76pts]: Bonesword

+ Troops +
Neophyte Hybrids [5 PL, 50pts]: 9x Neophyte Hybrid. Neophyte Leader: Autogun, Autopistol
Neophyte Hybrids [5 PL, 50pts]: 9x Neophyte Hybrid. Neophyte Leader: Autogun, Autopistol
Neophyte Hybrids [5 PL, 50pts]: 9x Neophyte Hybrid. Neophyte Leader: Autogun, Autopistol

+ Elites +
Purestrain Genestealers [12 PL, 210pts]: 14x Purestrain Genestealer
Purestrain Genestealers [12 PL, 210pts]: 14x Purestrain Genestealer

+ Dedicated Transport +
Cult Chimera [5 PL, 101pts]: Heavy Bolter, Heavy Stubber, Multi-laser
Cult Chimera [5 PL, 101pts]: Heavy Bolter, Heavy Stubber, Multi-laser
Cult Chimera [5 PL, 101pts]: Heavy Bolter, Heavy Stubber, Multi-laser

++ Total: [110 PL, 1999pts] ++

List looks alright to me. Only advice I might give is drop the Toxin Sacs on the fexes, drop a Biovore to buff up your Purestrain numbers, and add a couple Grenade Launchers or Flamers to your neophytes. Biovores aren’t bad, but if you’re going for a mixed force they can replaced with more Purestrains.