Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi, I've been collecting Tyranids and Genestealer cult for a long time and I recently decided I needed a new project, so I'm going to start a Necron army. However I have literally no idea how to use them (never played with them or against them). I want to start with something manageable, like a unit of 10 warriors, but I know that particular unit are being updated so I don't want to buy those until the new models are released. But, I want something to paint now. So I wonder if any Necron players on here could help me out by suggesting any units which you think fit the following:

1) Is an infantry unit (I don't want my first model to be something like a vehicle or character, I always start a new faction with something more rank-and-file)
2) Is a unit whose models you think are NOT likely to get updated in the new release (If they're not getting updated, I can just buy the unit now and get painting without worrying about a new sculpt coming along in a few weeks time)
3) Is a unit which is generally considered a fairly strong one competitive-wise, and likely will remain so in the new edition. I know this involves some guesswork, but I just want to avoid buying a complete dud of a unit which will have no competitive value.

I could do the research myself, but I'm lazy and I don't see much point studying the codex myself until 9th edition is released. I'd much rather read the codex once I've played a few games of 9th with my tyranids and I know the rules properly. Then I can decide what necron units to spend my money on as I build a 2k list. I just need something to get me started cos I'm itching to paint.

Tomb Blades, Deathmarks, Immortals, Lychguard, Triarch Praetorians. Of these, I'd say Immortals are an absolute must. They're a troop unit of more elite status, and have always had a place competitively. I don't see that changing.

Resin characters, Warriors/Scarabs, Destroyers, and the Monolith probably are going to get updates since they're either resin or pretty old, but the rest of the range is pretty safe.

A lot of stuff was done for the 5th edition codex (2011), but a fair amount of that was characters and vehicles.

That essentially leaves 2 dual kits (4 units) of infantry (most of which fall under elites)

Triarch Praetorians & Lychguard.
Both of these have downsides

Lychguard downside is that they're slow moving close combat units. 9th is.. unlikely to fix this (especially as there are a bunch of new close combat units to sell)

Triarch Praetorians are jump infantry, so a lot faster, but are explicitly not part of any dynasty, which causes problems (they get no subfaction benefit). On paper they should be good (fearless, durable, good strength, good AP), but they don't really impress people, and the many points adjustments seem to show that GW can't properly evaluate them.

Second Dual kit is the Deathmarks and Immortals
Deathmarks are elite, short range snipers... with fairly crappy guns and a clunky ambush rule. They cause additional mortal wounds on 6s, so if you like crit-fishing, they aren't the worst thing, but otherwise they're basically marines -1 (at primaris point costs, at least originally).

[Immortals] are troops and currently the go-to unit for Necrons. They can take tesla carbines or gauss blasters, and current math makes tesla better. Assault 2 and every 6 is 3 hits instead of 1. Blasters are rapid fire 1 and AP-2.
Mathematically, tesla currently wins. That might change, but it would be a pretty major and unexpected overhaul.
This is pretty much the winner when it comes to Necron infantry.

Competitively, Warriors and Flayed Ones don't even rate. We don't know if flayed ones are getting updated (they aren't in any of the photographs, but without a major rules overhaul, it doesn't matter)

----
TL,DR Immortals. Immortals with tesla carbines.
Pretty much the only infantry option that fits your criteria. Optionally blaster immortals as a small backup unit to hedge bets.

Some of the others might get fixed, but no guarantees

 AnomanderRake wrote:
Resin characters, Warriors/Scarabs, Destroyers, and the Monolith probably are going to get updates since they're either resin or pretty old, but the rest of the range is pretty safe.

We know for a fact that warriors and Monoliths absolutely are getting updates. There is no probably here.
New scarabs appear in one photo, and a new destroyer does as well, but it isn't clear if that's the new 'normal' destroy or a character version.

Most resin special characters will likely stay (with the obvious exception of Szeras, who's coming alongside Pariah). The resin lord is likely to be replaced by one of the new models pictured, and the resin overlord is already redundant twice over (overlord plastic kit and overlord from CCB/Annihilation Barge)

This is very helpful thanks guys. Immortals it is

For what its worth, I just had a 2000pt game with 40 Immortals being my only troops and they performed fantastically,definitely a bread-and-butter unit

Triarch Praetorians are jump infantry, so a lot faster, but are explicitly not part of any dynasty, which causes problems (they get no subfaction benefit). On paper they should be good (fearless, durable, good strength, good AP), but they don't really impress people, and the many points adjustments seem to show that GW can't properly evaluate them.

I'd not be suprised to see some sort of change to their subfaction come with 9th considering they're supposed to be the personal flunkies of the silent king

Marktoney wrote:
This is very helpful thanks guys. Immortals it is

I would also suggest picking up the Cryptek with Canoptek Cloak (The Plastic one)

Crypteks are very good and this is one of the newest sculpts, so it's not getting outdated.