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I'm trying to finalize a 1500pt list before I go out and start purchasing this new army. At first I was looking to go unbound and pure destroyer cult, but it seems in the current format of the codex, the Decurion is a must follow to be competitive. What I need help now, is rounding out my HQ choice for the Decurion. Do I do a stock Overlord? What about the named HQs? Here's the list:

Decurion: (817pts)

HQ -
Troop 1 - Immortals (x5) w gauss in Night Scythe
Troop 2 - Warriors (x10) in Ghost Ark
Troop 3 - Warriors (x10) in Ghost Ark
Fast 1 - Tomb Blades (x6) w Shieldvanes & Nebuloscope

Destroyer Cult: (515pts)

D-Lord - Warscythe & Phase Shifter
Destroyers (x3)
Destroyers (x3)
Destroyers (x3)

Total: 1332pts

Few questions for those of you out there: Which HQ should I use in the decurion (stock Overlord or special)? Does the troops in the decurion have objective secured? Or because it is its own structure, it doesn't? Depending on how many points my HQ is, should I add some Heavy-Ds to the Cult formation to get some range beyond 24"?

Thanks for the advise!]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673153.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673153.page GMT HQ. He helps the Destroyer Cult and Nightscythe by providing a warlord trait on turn two that will give you bonuses to reserve rolls (if you choose to deep strike with the Destroyer Cult).

The Troops are not objective secured in a Decurion. They only get what the Decurion detachment and Reclemation Legion gives them. Objective Secured is usually only found on Combined Arms Detachments.

You should definitely try to add some Heavy Ds to your cult. You have a lot of points invested in your Decurion's troops that I think are wasted. I would reduce the Ghost Arks to 1 and attach Zahndrekh to the other. The footslogging Warriors would be re-enforced by the Ghost Ark while Zahndrekh will give them rerolls of 1 on RP. If your oponent tries to take down Zahndrekh and the Warriors then it will largely be a waste of time as they're extremely resilient and you can switch to a warlord trait to prevent them from being swept in combat. With the points from the Ghost Ark you can add a couple Heavy Ds.

I'm also not sold on needing a Night Scythe. One Night Scythe alone is going to get cut down by anti-air hard. In a Decurion doesn't need much anti-air because they're so darn resilient. A flying Hive Tyrant will only manage to kill 1 Destroyer per turn. You should be able to ignore air targets for the most part (shoot at them with warriors if they have nothing else to shoot) and control the ground. This would free up more points for Heavy Ds or more Tomb Blades.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673333.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673333.page GMT
Decurion

HQ - Orikan the Diviner
Troop 1 - Immortals (x5) w gauss
Troop 2 - Warriors (x20), Ghost Ark
Troop 3 - Warriors (x10)
Fast 1 - Tomb Blades (x10) w Shieldvanes, Particle Beamers & Nebuloscopes
Elite 1 - Flayed Ones (x7)

Destroyer Cult: (515pts)

D-Lord - Warscythe & Phase Shifter
Destroyers (x3)
Destroyers (x3)
Destroyers (x3)

Total: 1496

So, in this list, you have Orikan parked in a blob with 4+ armor saves re-rolling 1's and 4+ RP; with a Ghost Ark parked behind regen-ing those that still somehow manage to die.

Your Tomb Blades are more effective here. Firstly, there's more of them and secondly they have Particle Beamers which will stack the wounds high.

The flayed ones just give your D-lord some pals to deep strike with. They're ablative wounds and extra attacks if they survive into combat.

No AA in this version, but as the previous poster said, you don't need it.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673418.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673418.page GMT
Here is what I have now:

Decurion: (832pts)

Zahndrekh
Immortals (x5) w gauss
Warriors (x10) in Ghost Ark
Warriors (x10)
Tomb Blades (x6) w Shieldvanes & Nebuloscope
Scarabs (x5)

Destroyer Cult: (665pts)

D-Lord - Warscythe & Phase Shifter
Destroyers (x3)
Destroyers (x3)
Destroyers (x3)
Heavy Destroyers (x3)

Total: 1497pts

From your advice, I'd stick Zahn in with the footslogging warriors with the Ghost Ark in support. I added the 5 scarabs, as since I'll be starting this army new, it will save me some extra costs by utilizing the box set to the best of my ability (also hence, keeping just 20 warriors). The scarabs will hopefully be a tar pit, and with their entropic strike, at least get their points back (just hope I don't come across any templates).

I boosted the Destroyer Cult to have 3 Heavy Destroyers to add a bit of ranged punch.

Some follow up questions:

What would be the best way to utilize the 5 immortals? Just have them sit on a home objective?
Just a tactic idea, sticking the Veil of Darkness relic on the D-Lord (or Zahn if he is allowed), and when an opponent is close to assault, I pull the whole squad away to safety. Is that a valid idea?

Thanks!]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673503.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673503.page GMT RP. It will help against instant death, but not totally needed IMO since you have the ark resurrecting.

10x tomb blades is way too many for a single squad. Too large a foot print. two squads of 5 is more playable. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673515.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673515.page GMT
The thought is, drop the Scarabs and the Heavy Destroyers, then add either a Monolith, or possibly a C'tan?

Thoughts on that? What is better for the point value?

Quick note on the Tomb Blades, from what I've read, I believe they are the best value for the points, but I don't want to get cheesy and just completely overload on them. A squad of 6 should suffice.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673538.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673538.page GMT
I hear ya on not wanting to bring too much cheese but Tomb Blades are decidedly not cheesy. They're not wraiths; no one is going to hate on you for taking 10 instead of 6. Good point on the two squads of 5 though PartNinja. As for Orikan, it's not the buff that the army needs; you're right. I recommended him because he's dirt cheap and turns into CC beastmode sooner than later.

Keep the Heavy D's.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673615.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673615.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673798.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/640186/7673798.page GMT