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greetings all!

I used to play a lot back in the 2000s but had to stop in 2010 due to moving abroad for work, but after coming home a few years ago i recently rediscovered my passion and enjoyment of the hobby, with the majority of my old collection gone, i'm basically starting again form scratch. Ive gone with Admech, becuase i always liked the looked and lore of them and they weren't a playable army back when i collected in 3rd/4th ed.

anyway, so far have bought, built and painted a squad of Rangers and a trio of Kataphron for 2 troop choices (i only kinda understand the whole "battle-forged" thing at the moment, and i havne't coughed up for the 9th core book yet, so is that the same as it is in 8th?). I Also dont really have a "feel" for the game and what i unit can do form looking at its statline anymore.

I've built a few lists for 500, 750 and 1000 pts, as i dont know what the common games standards are anymore and i'd prefer to have a small list worked out so i;m not waiting months to get a working army together.

500 pt list

Tech Priest Dominus (75) w. Omnissian Axe(0), Macrostubber(0), Volkite Blaster(5). 80pts POW 5

10 Rangers (90) w. power sword (5), Arc Pistol (5), 1 Arquebus (10), Plasma caliver (10)
Omnispex (5) = 125 pts. POW 5
3x Kataphron breachers (75) w 3x heavy arc rifle (15) & arc claw (15) = 105 POW 5

5 Infiltrators (78) w. 5x power sword (50) &stubcarbine(0) = 138, POW 3

3 Serberys raiders (48)= 48 pts POW 2

Total 496 pts, POW 20.

I've gone with 2 up, 2 back plus a HQ for this. the rangers and the kataphrons can sit back and shoot while the cav can deny/dely one flank while the infiltratiors can either do the same on the other side or deep strike into gank something.


750 pts list

Tech Priest Dominus (75) w. Omnissian Axe(0), Macrostubber(0), Volkite Blaster(5). 80pts POW 5

10 Rangers (90) w. power sword (5), Arc Pistol(5), 2x Arquebus (20), Omnispex(5)= 125 pts. POW 5
10 Vanguard (90) w, taser goad (5), radium Pistol (0), 2x Plasma caliver(20),= 115 pts, POW 5
3x Kataphron breachers (75) w 3x heavy arc rifle (15) & arc claw (15)= 105 POW 5

5 Infiltrators (78) w. 5x power sword (50) &stubcarbine(0) = 138, POW 3

3 Serberys raiders (48)= 48 pts POW 2

5 Pteraxii Skystalker(85) w taser goad(5) =90 pts, POW 4
Total 749pts, POW 29.

I've added Vanguard squad with plasma guns to give me continuity and another ground holding unit, while swapping the rangers plasma gun for another Arquebus to enhance thier long range fire. the Pteraxii again give me movement, deep strike and short range firepower options to worry the enemey or exploit a bad deployment by them.


ADmech list Charlie (1000 pts)

Tech Priest Dominus (75) w. Omnissian Axe(0), Macrostubber(0), Volkite Blaster(5). 80pts POW 5

10 Rangers (90) w. power sword (5), Arc Pistol(5), 2x Arquebus (20), Omnispex(5)= 125 pts. POW 5
10 Vanguard (90) w, taser goad (5), radium Pistol (0), 2x Plasma caliver(20),= 115 pts, POW 5
3x Kataphron breachers (75) w 3x heavy arc rifle (15) & arc claw (15)= 105 POW 10

10 Infiltrators (156) w. 10x power sword (100) &stubcarbine(0) = 256 pts, POW 6

3 Serberys raiders (48)= 48 pts POW 2

5 Pteraxii Skystalker(85) w taser goad(5) =90 pts, POW 4

Skorpius disintegrator (115) w 3 stubbers (15) and ferrumite cannon 25): 155pts
Total 974 pts, POW 29.


for the 1000 point list i beefed up the inflitrator unit to 10 men, to give it more staying power (although i could split it into 2 5 man squads for no cost, if i think thats more flexible. the Skorpius hovertank is to add some anti-vehicle firepower to the list, though as i said i really dont have a feel of how a lot of these guns actally preform in real play, so i'm guessing.


so, what do you guys think? hopelessly unoptimised? good enough to pick up play? missing some vital element of the game? i would like to hear your constructive feedback and criticism. Also, what would you guys suggest as i expand the list to 1500 and 2000 pts?

The Detachment and Battle-forged rules are different than 8th, but your detachments are fine.

As to their contents, I see at least one big error: 10 Infiltrators should be 190 points in either configuration, not 256. Frankly, I also just wouldn't bother with Infiltrators. They're hilariously expensive right now, eating a huge price hike in 9th edition despite not being very good anyway. You also really don't need all those upgrades on the Skitarii sergeants. The Skitarii are awful in close combat, so if your upgrades matter then you've already done something wrong.

I think for beginner lists, just trying stuff out before you know what you like, these are mostly fine. However, I'd switch the Infiltrators for a more serious melee unit, such as Hoplites, Fulgerites, or Ruststalkers (but be warned, Ruststalkers aren't generally well regarded either, but I've had good performance from them).

9th edition is all about taking and holding objectives, which are scored at the start of the player's turn. This happens before you can move, so you have to be on the objective and weather your opponent for a turn. The most efficient way to score is with assault units. An assault unit can charge on to the objective, get two turns of fighting to take control of the objective (your assault phase and your opponent's), then score the objective at the start of your next turn.

ah, i see what i've done, i've double counted for the 5 point power swords on all of the lists, so they should be 25 and 50 points, not 50 and 100. that frees up a lot of points to do something with. i'll have to re-write the list a little to use those points.

I've heard that Ruststalkers were sub-optimal as well, but i do note they are significantly cheaper points wise. intresting. I might go with them instead. those points could be used elsewhere.

i'll get back to you. and thank you for the feedback.

Ruststalkers' best quality is how efficient they are in points per wound. I think they're great at jumping on an objective with Acquisition At All Costs and hanging on to cap it. Still, if you want to have the best starting experience, I'd aim for Fulgerites first. They kill anything they touch, and can be monsterously durable.

I'd hold off on Pteraxii as an early purchase. Neither version is seeing much play, and they're not likely to be a core part of your army. Better to invest in more central stuff that you'll use all the time.

I also recommend looking into Duneriders. You definitely want one to carry your Fulgerites or Hoplites, and you probably want one for your Vanguard so they can actually reach objectives. Honestly, the Disintegrator isn't doing too hot in 9th with the point increase. You should magnetize the kit anyway, and swap it to a Dunerider for now.

The big units that are seeing consistent play are Ironstriders, Dunecrawlers, and Kastelan Robots. If you did something like:

Dominus
10 Vanguard, 2 Plasma
10 Rangers, 2 Arquebus
3 Breachers
10 Fulgerites
Dunerider
2 Kastelan Robots, 3 Phosphor Blasters each

That would make a pretty well rounded 1000 point list. Then you can branch out to whichever unit you like most.

cool, thanks for the continuing advise.

just a quick question, i know the cybernetica datasmith is included in the Kastelan box, and intended to be used with the bots. Did you leave him off on purpose or was it just a oversight? i only ask in case its a "dont bother with him, hes no good" or something, and i can use those points elsewhere (i could squeeze a 5 man vanguard or ranger squad in for his points), or in case he really is vital to using the Kastelan robots properly.

Nah, people generally don't bother including one. I don't use Robots myself, but the consensus is move the Robots into position then use the Stratagem to change their programming. They can never move after that point, but if you position them correctly they can be a real pain.

He does make for a decent Tech Priest Enginseer, though.

The one important note that I'm realizing now is that 1000pt list doesn't have a whole lot of anti-tank. You'll definitely want to run the army as a Mars Forgeworld for their canticle from the Engine War book. It gives +1 S to all heavy weapons, which pushes Kataphrons and Kastelans up to wounding typical vehicles on 5's to 4's. You'll probably have to pick that canticle on the first turn, then spend CP to pick it again the following turn to ensure you kill their vehicles.

ok, 1000 point list:

Tech Priest Dominus (75) w. Omnissian Axe(0), Macrostubber(0), Volkite Blaster(5). 80pts POW 5
10 Rangers (90) w. Arc Pistol(5), 2x Arquebus (20), Omnispex(5)= 120 pts. POW 5
10 Vanguard (90) w) 2x Plasma caliver (20), omnispex (5),= 115 pts, POW 5
3x Kataphron breachers (75) w 3x heavy arc rifle (15) & arc claw (15)= 105 POW 5
10 Fulgerites (170) = 170 points, POW 8
Dunerider (80) with twin stubber (10) and two stubbers (10)= 100 pts, POW 5.
2 Kastelan Robots (160) w. 3 Phosphor Blasters each (90) = 250points, POW 12
3 Serberys raiders (48)= 48 pts POW 2
TOTAL 988 points, POW 47.

I'm tempted to try and fit another arquebus or plasma caviler in but that would require me to buy a 3rd box of skitarii, and that extra gun is not really worth 28 quid.

Out of interest, is the consensus on arc rilfes that they are neither fish nor fowl? (IE sub-optimual choice at eitehr long or short range compared to thier more expensive alternates). im temped to build one for the vanguard but i feel like i'd just be doing it to soak up points than for real benefit.

i've also added ther serbery raiders back in, as you and others have mentioned they can be usful in the screening/delay role like i originally intended, and at 48 points for a squad of 3 its not really a great loss if they aren't super-effective.

i'm not sure about the omnispex upgrades, are they useful? i dont really have a feel how likely my targets will be getting benefit of cover otherwise.

going to paint and assemble the datasmith, obviously, and probs use him as a enginseer like you suggested as i expand (my next purchase on top of this list would be the iornstrider, not sure if lascannon or Autocannon).

That looks like a fine list. You've picked up the key optimizations already. The Omnispex really isn't very useful. The Rangers and Vanguard aren't your damage power-houses in the first place. Also, the Omnispex ignores cover bonuses to saves, but cover can provide other bonuses in 9th. So it just won't do anything in a lot of games.

That being said, there are plenty of subfaction bonuses that say "units have the benefit of cover to their saving throws against attacks from >12" away". They're not super popular in the competitive meta, but your local meta may vary. In that case, I have seen it taken on 5 man Ranger teams with 2 Arquebuses.

Likewise, the Arc Rifle just doesn't line up with anybody's weapon profiles. Situations where you could make it useful are far enough outside common practice to be contrived. Which is a shame because they're probably my favourite looking infantry weapon.

As for Ironstriders, obviously you should magnetize all your stuff, but the autocannons are the go-to right now. Lascannons are gaining in popularity as the meta becomes more durable, so we'll see what it's like in 6 months.