Genestealer Cults
Books
| Book | Kind | Edition | Version | Last update |
 Genestealer Cults | ||||
| Genestealer Cults | Codex | 10 | 1.2 | October 2024 |
 Astra Militarum | ||||
| Astra Militarum | Codex | 10 | 1.1 | March 2025 |
 Munitorum Field Manual | ||||
| Munitorum Field Manual | Expansion | 10 | 2.3 | March 2025 |
 Legends Field Manual | ||||
| Legends Field Manual | Expansion | 10 | 2.1 | March 2025 |
 Balance Dataslate | ||||
| Balance Dataslate | Rulebook | 10 | March 2025 | March 2025 |
| Legends: Astra Militarum | ||||
| Legends: Astra Militarum | Datasheet | 10 | February 2025 | |
 Black Library: Hell’s Last | ||||
| Black Library: Hell’s Last | Datasheet | 10 | February 2025 | |
 Imperial Armour: Astra Militarum | ||||
| Imperial Armour: Astra Militarum | Datasheet | 10 | February 2025 | |
 Grotmas Calendar: Genestealer Cults - Final Day | ||||
| Grotmas Calendar: Genestealer Cults - Final Day | Expansion | 10 | December 2024 | |
 Tyranids | ||||
| Tyranids | Codex | 10 | 1.2 | October 2024 |
 Boarding Actions | ||||
| Boarding Actions | Expansion | 10 | 1.0 | October 2024 |
| Legends: Genestealer Cults | ||||
| Legends: Genestealer Cults | Datasheet | 10 | September 2024 | |
FAQ
Codex: Genestealer Cults
| Q: | If I include Kasrkin units in my army using the rules for Brood Brothers, can I use their Warrior Elite ability to select an Order for them in my Command phase? |
| A: | Yes. |
| Q: | When I set up a unit using the Cult Ambush army rule without using a Cult Ambush marker, can I target that unit with the Tunnel Crawlers Stratagem? |
| A: | Yes. |
| Q: | If one of my CHARACTER models is destroyed, do I need to have another GENESTEALER CULTS CHARACTER model on the battlefield or in Reserves to use the Vengeance for the Martyr! Stratagem? |
| A: | Yes. |
| Q: | Can I use the PRIMUS’ Decoys and Misdirection ability if the Primus is embarked within a TRANSPORT? |
| A: | No. |
| Q: | Do I have to remove ‘unused’ Cult Ambush markers from the battlefield at the end of my opponent’s next Movement phase? |
| A: | No. |
| Q: | If I have no units in Cult Ambush, do I have to remove any remaining Cult Ambush markers from the battlefield? |
| A: | No. |
| Q: | If an enemy unit is set up within 9" of one or more Cult Ambush markers, are those markers removed from the battlefield? |
| A: | No. |
Introduction
The Detachment rule listed here will apply to either your whole army or to particular units within it. If any additional restrictions or benefits apply to a Detachment, they will be listed here. This can include additional units your army can include.
When mustering your army, your chosen Detachment enables you to upgrade CHARACTERS using the Enhancements listed here, as described in the Core Rules (see the Select Units step). If you are playing a Crusade battle, you can instead use the Renowned Heroes Requisition to give your CHARACTERS Enhancements, as described in the main Crusade rules.
Your chosen Detachment gives you access to the Stratagems listed here in addition to the Core Stratagems listed in the Core Rules. During the battle, you can spend Command points (CP) to use these Stratagems.
Army Rules
Cult Ambush
Genestealer Cults keep their fighting strength carefully hidden from their oppressors until the glorious Day of Ascension arrives. When they finally emerge to fight, it is after long years of meticulous planning, and with an intimate knowledge of the battlefield that grants them a tactical advantage. Even as battle rages, reinforcements slip from the shadows or spill up from the dark places below, called to war by the Broodmind.
If your Army Faction is GENESTEALER CULTS, you start the battle with a number of Resurgence points, depending on the battle size, as shown below.- Incursion: 6 Resurgence points
- Strike Force: 10 Resurgence points
- Onslaught: 14 Resurgence points
Each time a unit from your army is destroyed, if every model in that unit has this ability, you can spend the relevant number of Resurgence points shown below based on that unit’s Starting Strength.
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- Add a new unit to your army identical to your destroyed unit, in Cult Ambush, at its Starting Strength, with all of its wounds remaining and any [ONE SHOT] weapons those models are equipped with considered as not having been shot.
- Place one Cult Ambush marker (see below) anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 9" horizontally away from all enemy units (if this is not possible, no marker is placed).
Units in Cult Ambush
Cult Ambush is a type of Strategic Reserves. Units in Cult Ambush cannot be targeted with the Rapid Ingress Stratagem, but can be set up on the battlefield using a Cult Ambush marker as described below, or by following the rules for Strategic Reserves in a subsequent turn.
Cult Ambush Markers
Use a circular 32mm diameter marker for Cult Ambush markers. If an enemy model (excluding AIRCRAFT) ends any kind of move within 9" of a Cult Ambush marker you placed, that Cult Ambush marker is removed from the battlefield. At the end of the Reinforcements step of your opponent’s next Movement phase, for each of your Cult Ambush markers still on the battlefield, you can select one unit from your army that is in Cult Ambush and set up that unit using that Cult Ambush marker. To do so, set that unit up on the battlefield more than 9" horizontally away from all enemy units, with at least one model in that unit touching that Cult Ambush marker and all other models placed wholly within 3" of that Cult Ambush marker (that Cult Ambush marker is then removed from the battlefield).
Host of Ascension
A Perfect Ambush
The insidious broodkin of the cult lurk hidden within the shadows, tirelessly tracking their enemies as predatory beasts stalk their prey. Only when their position is perfect do they strike. Worming into the fight from hidden tunnels, ducts and sewers, they rise to engulf their victims in a hail of unexpected firepower and a flurry of stabbing blades and raking talons.
Each time a GENESTEALER CULTS unit from your army is set up on the battlefield as Reinforcements, until the end of your next Fight phase, weapons equipped by models in that unit have the [SUSTAINED HITS 1] and [IGNORES COVER] abilities.Enhancements
No matter how often the oppressors seek to trap or silence this leader, they always find themselves left empty-handed and foolish, their elusive quarry long gone. GENESTEALER CULTS model only. Once per turn, when an enemy unit ends a Normal, Advance or Fall Back move within 9" of the bearer’s unit, if the bearer’s unit is not within Engagement Range of any enemy units, it can make a Normal move of up to D6". |
Every oppressor has a weak spot. This savant of tactical analysis pinpoints fractured armour plates, exposed cabling or unshielded flesh with a glance and directs the cults fire to shatter the enemy’s greatest assets. GENESTEALER CULTS model only. Each time the bearer is set up on the battlefield as Reinforcements, until the end of your next Fight phase, ranged weapons equipped by models in the bearer’s unit have the [LETHAL HITS] ability. |
Infused with transcendent zeal, this insurrectionist and their chosen cultists are assured by telepathic whispers that they are the Star Childrens avatars and that now is the moment to strike. GENESTEALER CULTS model only. Once per battle, when the bearer’s unit declares a charge, the bearer can use this Enhancement. If it does, until the end of the phase, add 2 to Charge rolls made for the bearer’s unit. |
With an impulse of the Broodmind pulsing in their brain, this holy avenger stalks the battlefield, seeking to slay generals, preachers and all those the foe looks to for salvation and inspiration. GENESTEALER CULTS model only. Each time a model in the bearer’s unit makes an attack that targets a CHARACTER unit, add 1 to the Hit roll |
Stratagems
TARGET: Two GENESTEALER CULTS units from your army that have not been selected to shoot or fight this phase.
EFFECT: Select one enemy unit (if this Stratagem is used in the Fight phase, that enemy unit must be within Engagement Range of both of your units). Until the end of the phase, each time a model in either of your units makes an attack, it can only target that enemy unit (and only if it is an eligible target for that attack), and when resolving that attack, add 1 to the Wound roll.
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS units from your army that has not been selected to shoot or fight this phase.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, each time a model in your unit makes an attack, a Critical Hit is scored on an unmodified Hit roll of 5+, instead of only a 6.
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS unit from your army that is arriving using the Deep Strike ability this phase.
EFFECT: Your unit can be set up anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 6" horizontally away from all enemy units.
RESTRICTIONS: A unit targeted by this Stratagem is not eligible to declare a charge in the same turn.
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS BATTLELINE unit from your army in Cult Ambush.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, when setting your unit up using a Cult Ambush marker, set your unit up anywhere on the battlefield wholly within 6" of that Cult Ambush marker and not within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units.
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS INFANTRY unit from your army that was selected as the target of one or more of the attacking unit's attacks.
EFFECT: Remove your unit from the battlefield and place it into Strategic Reserves.
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS INFANTRY unit from your army that was selected as a target of that charge.
EFFECT: Roll one D6: on a 2-4, that enemy unit suffers D3 mortal wounds; on a 5+, that enemy unit suffers 3 mortal wounds.
Xenocreed Congregation
Unquestioning Fanaticism
Downtrodden by the oppressors for so long, a cult’s lowly broodkin are fanatically devoted to their leaders, for those hallowed individuals serve the Patriarchs will more directly. The masses draw upon energy reserves in their desire to heed their masters’ wishes, surging selflessly into the fray, ready to hurl themselves in harm’s way for the Patriarch’s chosen.
For each ACOLYTE HYBRIDS, HYBRID METAMORPHS and NEOPHYTE HYBRIDS unit from your army, while one or more CHARACTER models are leading that unit, you can re-roll Advance and Charge rolls made for it. If that CHARACTER model is a MAGUS, PRIMUS or ACOLYTE ICONWARD, that model has the Feel No Pain 3+ ability while leading that unit.Enhancements
This war leader carries a gift from their Patriarch: a talismanic shard of a chitinous claw, a vial of the liquid that seeps into the genesis pools or a psionic growth within the chosen one’s brain. Its form matters less than its effect, for it radiates an inspirational wave of the Broodmind that focuses the minds of the faithful on their duties to the cult above all else. MAGUS, PRIMUS or ACOLYTE ICONWARD model only. You can re-roll Battle-shock tests taken for the bearer’s unit. |
With vitriol and passion do the cult’s leaders castigate the foe’s champions, casting them as the most hated architects of oppression and inciting their comrades to murderous intent. MAGUS, PRIMUS or ACOLYTE ICONWARD model only. Each time a model in the bearer’s unit makes an attack that targets a CHARACTER unit, add 1 to the Hit roll and add 1 to the Wound roll. |
This agent of the Star Children is a living legend known amongst the entire cult. Their reputation as a spiritual orator, undefeated liberator or sanctified warden is mythic, and their very presence draws the faithful to their side for a chance to fight alongside them. MAGUS, PRIMUS or ACOLYTE ICONWARD model only. You start the battle with 2 additional Resurgence points. |
This insurgent is a font of aggressive encouragement. As some supernatural vitality their broodkin feel in their souls, the leader’s words and deeds rouse them with fresh energy and stir them to charge forth in blind fury. MAGUS, PRIMUS or ACOLYTE ICONWARD model only. The bearer’s unit is eligible to declare a charge in a turn in which it Advanced. |
Stratagems
TARGET: One other GENESTEALER CULTS CHARACTER model from your army.
EFFECT: Until the end of the battle, each time a friendly ACOLYTE HYBRIDS, Hybrid Metamorphs or Neophyte Hybrids model makes an attack that targets that enemy unit, re-roll a Hit roll of 1. If the destroyed model was a MAGUS, PRIMUS or ACOLYTE ICONWARD, you can re-roll the Hit roll instead.
TARGET: One ACOLYTE HYBRIDS, HYBRID METAMORPHS or NEOPHYTE HYBRIDS unit from your army that has not been selected to fight this phase.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, improve the Attacks and Weapon Skill characteristics of melee weapons equipped by models (excluding CHARACTERS) in your unit by 1 and those weapons have the [HAZARDOUS] ability.
TARGET: One ACOLYTE HYBRIDS, HYBRID METAMORPHS or NEOPHYTE HYBRIDS unit from your army that has not declared a charge this phase.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, your unit is eligible to declare a charge in a turn in which it Advanced or Fell Back. When doing so, if it targets an enemy unit within Engagement Range of one or more friendly CHARACTER units, you can re-roll the Charge roll.
TARGET: One ACOLYTE HYBRIDS, HYBRID METAMORPHS or NEOPHYTE HYBRIDS unit from your army that has not been selected to shoot this phase.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, ranged weapons equipped by models in your unit have the [ASSAULT] ability.
TARGET: One ACOLYTE HYBRIDS, HYBRID METAMORPHS or NEOPHYTE HYBRIDS unit from your army in Cult Ambush.
EFFECT: This phase, you can set up your unit on the battlefield without using a Cult Ambush marker. When doing so, set up your unit anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 9" horizontally away from all enemy units, not within your opponent’s deployment zone, and wholly within 9" of one or more battlefield edges.
TARGET: One ACOLYTE HYBRIDS or NEOPHYTE HYBRIDS unit from your army that had one or more of its models destroyed as a result of the attacking unit's attacks.
EFFECT: Your unit can make a move of up to D6", but it unit must end that move as close as possible to the closest enemy unit (excluding AIRCRAFT), When doing so, models in your unit can be moved within Engagement Range of that enemy unit.
Biosanctic Broodsurge
Hypermorphic Fury
Little can assuage a Genestealer Cults least Human instincts, behaviours made even more ferocious under provocation. Stimulated by psionic pulses of the Broodmind or fuelled by alchemical concoctions delivered from alien grafts, impulses drive the blessed to acts of increased savagery.
Add 1 to Charge rolls made for ABERRANTS, BIOPHAGUS and PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS units from your army. In addition, each time such a unit is selected to fight, if it made a Charge move this turn, until the end of the phase, add 1 to the Attacks characteristic of melee weapons equipped by models in that unit.Enhancements
With alien senses and instincts augmented with hyper-adaptive gene-strands, this chosen of the cult leads the way deep into enemy lines, like a toxic barb working its way to the heart. ABOMINANT, BIOPHAGUS or PATRIARCH model only. Models in the bearer’s unit have the Infiltrators ability and, once per battle round, you can target the bearer’s unit with the Heroic Intervention Stratagem for 0CP, and can do so even if you have already targeted a different unit with that Stratagem this phase. |
The power of the Star Children flows through this creatures veins, their physiology showing unnatural gifts and lethal enhancements. ABOMINANT or PATRIARCH model only. Improve the Armour Penetration and Damage characteristics of melee weapons equipped by the bearer by 1. |
Though the truth may lie with cocktails of alchemical enzymes or xenos hormones triggering ferocious metabolic renewal, the cult’s masses see this nigh-immortal leader as a vessel of divine favour. ABOMINANT, BIOPHAGUS or PATRIARCH model only. In each Command phase, one model in the bearer’s unit regains 1 lost wound. |
An aura of palpable grandeur surrounds this individual, their mere presence a powerful stimulant to the nerve of their followers and a cowing nimbus to subjugate tyrannical foes. ABOMINANT, BIOPHAGUS or PATRIARCH model only. While an enemy unit is within Engagement Range of the bearer’s unit, subtract 1 from the Objective Control characteristic of models in that enemy unit (to a minimum of 1). |
Stratagems
TARGET: One PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit from your army in Cult Ambush.
EFFECT: Select one of those Cult Ambush markers. You can move that Cult Ambush marker up to 6". If that marker is still within 9" of one or more enemy units, it is removed from the battlefield; otherwise, until the end of the battle, you can only select PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS units from your army to be set up using that Cult Ambush marker.
TARGET: That destroyed CHARACTER model. You can use this Stratagem on that model even though it was just destroyed.
EFFECT: Roll one D6: on a 2+, that enemy unit suffers D3 mortal wounds. If that Character model is an ABOMINANT or PATRIARCH, that enemy unit suffers 2D3 mortal wounds instead.
TARGET: One ABERRANTS, BIOPHAGUS or PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit from your army that has not been selected to fight this phase.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, each time a model in your unit makes an attack that targets a MONSTER or VEHICLE, add 1 to the Wound roll.
TARGET: One ABERRANTS, BIOPHAGUS or PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit from your army that has not been selected to fight this phase.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, each time a model in your unit makes a Pile-in or Consolidation move, it can move up to 6" instead of up to 3". In addition, it does not need to end that move closer to the closest enemy model, provided it ends it as close as possible to the closest enemy unit.
TARGET: One ABERRANTS, BIOPHAGUS or PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit from your army that has not declared a charge this phase.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, each time your unit declares a charge, if the closest eligible enemy unit is selected as one of the targets of that charge, add 1 to the Charge roll for each selected target of that charge (including the closest eligible enemy unit), to a maximum of +3.
TARGET: One ABERRANTS, BIOPHAGUS or PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit from your army.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, each time an enemy unit within 9" of your unit is selected to shoot, it must take a Leadership test, subtracting 1 from the result. If that test is failed, until the end of the phase, each time a model in that enemy unit makes an attack that targets your unit, subtract 1 from the Hit roll.
Outlander Claw
Rapid Takeover
Whether forming loose clans of wandering nomads or militarised rapid-reaction corps, the cultists of Outlander Claws use their experience to launch assaults on prominent targets. Swiftly exploiting or rigging them with proximity charges, they can deny resources to the enemy without yoking themselves to a static defence.
While a GENESTEALER CULTS MOUNTED or GENESTEALER CULTS VEHICLE model from your army is not Battle-shocked, add 1 to its Objective Control characteristic. In addition, at the end of your Command phase, if one or more ATALAN JACKALS units from your army are within range of an objective marker you control, that objective marker remains under your control until your opponent’s Level of Control over that objective marker is greater than yours at the end of a phase.Enhancements
With a chilling focus enabling them to identify ideal firing positions at a glance, this frontier assassin leads their brood in a coiling evasion from their enemies that suddenly changes into a lunging strike back. GENESTEALER CULTS MOUNTED model only. The bearer’s unit is eligible to shoot in a turn in which it Fell Back. |
This parasitic, cybernetic implant allows its host to tap into the survey augurs and proximity detectors of the cults industrial transports. They use this leeched data to guide their comrades’ fire from vision slits and hatches, even at high speed. GENESTEALER CULTS model only. While the bearer is embarked within a TRANSPORT, each time that TRANSPORT is selected to shoot, until the end of the phase, improve the Ballistic Skill characteristic of ranged weapons equipped by that TRANSPORT as a result of the Firing Deck ability by 1. |
When they hit, these hand-crafted sniper bullets radiate with a supernatural aura redolent of the void’s numbing chill. Muscles seize, fingers cramp and thought slows as the sinister saturation takes effect. GENESTEALER CULTS MOUNTED model only. In your Shooting phase, after the bearer has shot, select one enemy unit hit by one or more of those attacks made with a cult sniper rifle. Until the start of your next Shooting phase, each time a model in that enemy unit makes an attack, subtract 1 from the Hit roll. |
An expert in rapid attacks from speeding vehicles, this veteran has drilled their insurrectionist cell, readying them to leap into the fray with stolen weapons blazing. GENESTEALER CULTS model only. Each time a model in the bearer’s unit makes a ranged attack, if it disembarked from a TRANSPORT this turn, you can re-roll the Hit roll. |
Stratagems
TARGET: One ATALAN JACKALS unit from your army in Cult Ambush.
EFFECT: Select one of those Cult Ambush markers. You can set up that Cult Ambush marker anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 9” horizontally away from all enemy units and wholly within 6" of one or more battlefield edges. Until the end of the battle, you can only select ATALAN JACKALS units from your army to set up using that Cult Ambush marker.
TARGET: One GOLIATH ROCKGRINDER or GOLIATH TRUCK unit from your army that was selected as the target of one or more of the attacking unit’s attacks.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, each time an attack targets your unit, subtract 1 from the Damage characteristic of that attack.
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS MOUNTED or GENESTEALER CULTS VEHICLE unit from your army that has not been selected to shoot this phase.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, ranged weapons equipped by models in your unit have the [LETHAL HITS] ability while targeting an enemy unit within 18".
TARGET: One ACHILLES RIDGERUNNERS or ATALAN JACKALS unit from your army that is within 9" of that enemy unit.
EFFECT: Your unit can make a Normal move of up to 6".
TARGET: One ACHILLES RIDGERUNNERS or ATALAN JACKALS unit from your army that was selected as the target of one or more of the attacking unit’s attacks.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, models in your unit have a 4+ invulnerable save.
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS MOUNTED or GENESTEALER CULTS VEHICLE unit from your army that is not within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units and is wholly within 9" of one or more battlefield edges.
EFFECT: Remove your unit from the battlefield and place it into Strategic Reserves.
Brood Brother Auxilia
Integrated Tactics
Coordinating with their militant allies via stolen vox equipment or signalling with cult icons, the insidious broodkin engulfs the hated foe in overlapping fields of fire.
Each time an ASTRA MILITARUM unit from your army (see below) is selected to shoot, you can select one enemy unit within 18" of and visible to that unit. If you do, until the end of the phase, models in that ASTRA MILITARUM unit can only target that enemy unit (and only if it is an eligible target) and that enemy unit is caught in overlapping fire. While an enemy unit is caught in overlapping fire, each time a GENESTEALER CULTS model from your army targets that enemy unit with a ranged attack, add 1 to the Hit roll.BROOD BROTHERS
You can include ASTRA MILITARUM units in your army, even though they do not have the GENESTEALER CULTS Faction keyword. The combined points cost of such units you can include in your army is:- Incursion: Up to 500 pts
- Strike Force: Up to 1000 pts
- Onslaught: Up to 1500 pts
Enhancements
With access to Imperial data-logs and servo-scry records, this cult leader feeds the stolen information to their professional allies, enabling them to immediately exploit weak points in the enemy. GENESTEALER CULTS INFANTRY model only. Once per turn, when a friendly ASTRA MILITARUM INFANTRY or ASTRA MILITARUM MOUNTED unit within 9" of the bearer is selected to shoot, the bearer can use this Enhancement. If it does, until the end of the phase, improve the Armour Penetration characteristic of ranged weapons equipped by models in that unit by 1. |
Whether through intensive cross-training with tainted officers or some symbiotic neuro-mimicry, this insurrectionist is adept in daring tactical manoeuvres. GENESTEALER CULTS INFANTRY model only. Once per turn, you can target a friendly GENESTEALER CULTS unit within 9" of the bearer with the Heroic Intervention Stratagem for 0CP. |
Hidden for years within a xeno-tainted regiment, this feted commander has returned to lead their guerrillas, donning once more the garb of the insurgent. Respected with reverent awe, they instil a disciplined professionalism and focus in their cult comrades. GENESTEALER CULTS INFANTRY model only. Improve the Leadership and Objective Control characteristics of models in the bearer’s unit by 1. |
Taking a righteous vindication in turning the oppressor’s tactics against them, this war leader coordinates their broodkins last-second fire into effective volleys to drive back the foe. GENESTEALER CULTS INFANTRY model only. Each time you target the bearer’s unit with the Fire Overwatch Stratagem, while resolving that Stratagem, hits are scored on unmodified Hit rolls of 5+. |
Stratagems
TARGET: One ASTRA MILITARUM VEHICLE unit from your army.
EFFECT: Select one of those Cult Ambush markers. You can set up that Cult Ambush marker anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 9" horizontally away from all enemy units and wholly within 6" of your unit.
TARGET: That INFANTRY unit. You can use this Stratagem on that unit even though it was just destroyed.
EFFECT: Roll one D6: on a 3+, place one Cult Ambush marker anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 9" horizontally away from all enemy units (if this is not possible, no marker is placed) and add a new unit to your army identical to your destroyed unit, in Cult Ambush, at its Starting Strength, with all of its wounds remaining and any [ONE SHOT] weapons those models are equipped with considered as not having been shot.
RESTRICTIONS: You can only use this Stratagem once per battle.
TARGET: That ASTRA MILITARUM unit.
EFFECT: Select one enemy unit hit by one or more of those attacks. Until the end of the turn, that enemy unit cannot be targeted with the Fire Overwatch Stratagem and each time a GENESTEALER CULTS unit from your army selects that enemy unit as a target of a charge, you can re-roll the Charge roll.
TARGET: One ASTRA MILITARUM unit from your army.
EFFECT: Select one enemy unit within Engagement Range of one or more GENESTEALER CULTS units from your army. Until the end of the phase, your unit can make ranged attacks that target that enemy unit. If it does, after it has resolved those attacks, roll one D6 for each of those GENESTEALER CULTS units: on a 5+, the unit being rolled for suffers D3+1 mortal wounds.
TARGET: One ASTRA MILITARUM and one GENESTEALER CULTS unit from your army that have not been selected to shoot this phase.
EFFECT: Select one enemy unit that is visible to both of those selected units and within range of at least one ranged weapon from each of those units. Until the end of the phase, models in those units can only make attacks that target that enemy unit (and only if it is an eligible target). When doing so, each time such a model makes an attack, re-roll a Wound roll of 1.
TARGET: One ASTRA MILITARUM or GENESTEALER CULTS unit from your army (excluding MONSTERS and VEHICLES) within 12" of that enemy unit.
EFFECT: Your unit can make a Normal move of up to 6".
Final Day
Every Genestealer Cultist wishes to witness the Star Children’s arrival and ascend to join them in blessed oneness. They believe this will be a transcendent experience, a sublime reward for their devotion. The reality is altogether more hideous. As the Tyranids approach through the void, the utterly alien Hive Mind assimilates the more nuanced Broodmind of the cult. Many faithful die from psionic shock. Others are freed from Tyranid mind control only to go mad with horror as the truth is revealed. The rest become short-lived puppets for the first waves of Tyranid vanguard organisms descending on their world. Exerting its will to make them fight harder and move faster, the Hive Mind swiftly burns out these surviving faithful, harvesting each flicker of bioenergy to reinvigorate its more valuable Tyranid organisms.
Psionic Parasitism
With each tug on the synaptic leash, the Hive Mind drains more of its hapless worshippers.
At the end of your Movement phase, for each TYRANIDS SYNAPSE unit from your army, you can select one friendly GENESTEALER CULTS unit (excluding PURESTRAIN GENESTEALER and PATRIARCH units) and one friendly TYRANIDS unit each within 9" of and visible to that SYNAPSE unit. If you do, that GENESTEALER CULTS unit from your army suffers D3+1 mortal wounds and one model in the selected TYRANIDS unit regains up to that many lost wounds and until the start of your next Movement phase, each time a model in the selected TYRANIDS unit makes an attack, add 1 to the Hit roll.TYRANIDS units from your army have the following ability:
Catalyst (Aura): While an enemy unit is within 6" of this unit, each time a friendly GENESTEALER CULTS unit makes an attack that targets that enemy unit, add 1 to the Hit roll.
The Star Children’s Blessings
You can include TYRANIDS VANGUARD INVADER units (excluding AIRCRAFT, BROODLORD and GENESTEALERS units) in your army. The combined points cost of such units depends on your battle size:
- Incursion: Up to 500 pts
- Strike Force: Up to 1000 pts
- Onslaught: Up to 1500 pts
No TYRANIDS models from your army can be your WARLORD.
Enhancements
Invisible psionic tendrils drift around this bioform’s cranium, stabbing out to force alien demands into fragmenting hybrid minds and suck the bioenergy from them in merciless draughts. TYRANIDS model only. Each time the bearer would regain one or more lost wounds from the Psionic Parasitism Detachment rule, it regains up to twice that number of lost wounds instead. |
Though hollowing them out like acid, the insidious power of the Hive Mind blazes from this delirious fanatic and forces their enemies to recoil. GENESTEALER CULTS model only. Enemy units cannot use the Fire Overwatch Stratagem to shoot at the bearer’s unit. |
Adapted by the Hive Mind to lead the first invasion swarms, this leader organism’s bioweapons emphasise vicious shock assault and maximum bloodshed. WINGED HIVE TYRANT model only. Improve the Strength and Armour Penetration characteristics of melee weapons equipped by the bearer by 1. |
This cult leader’s powerful psyche has withstood Hive Mind integration better than most, at least for now. It even relays a crude approximation of synaptic signals to their underlings. Of course, this only makes them and their followers more selflessly obedient drones. GENESTEALER CULTS model only. Weapons equipped by models in the bearer’s unit have the [SUSTAINED HITS 1] ability while targeting an enemy unit within 6" of one or more friendly TYRANIDS units. |
Stratagems
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS unit from your army that has not been selected to fight this phase.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, each time a model in your unit makes an attack that targets an enemy unit, re-roll a Wound roll of 1. If one or more friendly TYRANIDS units are within 6" of that enemy unit, you can re-roll the Wound roll instead.
TARGET: One TYRANIDS unit from your army.
EFFECT: Until the start of your next Command phase, increase the range of your unit’s Catalyst ability by 3".
RESTRICTIONS: Each time you use this Stratagem, until the end of your next Command phase, you cannot use this Stratagem again.
TARGET: One TYRANIDS CHARACTER unit from your army that was destroyed by that enemy unit this phase. You can use this Stratagem on that unit even though it was just destroyed.
EFFECT: Until the end of the battle, each time a GENESTEALER CULTS model from your army makes an attack that targets that enemy unit, add 1 to the Hit roll and add 1 to the Wound roll.
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS unit from your army that has not declared a charge this phase.
EFFECT: Select one enemy unit within Engagement Range of one or more TYRANIDS units from your army. Until the end of the phase, each time your GENESTEALER CULTS unit declares a charge, if that enemy unit is one of the targets of that charge, add 1 to Charge rolls made for your unit and you can re-roll the Charge roll.
TARGET: One TYRANIDS unit from your army.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, your unit is eligible to shoot and declare a charge in a turn in which it Fell Back.
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS or TYRANIDS unit from your army that is not within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units.
EFFECT: Remove your unit from the battlefield and place it into Strategic Reserves.
Crusade Rules
In this section you’ll find additional rules for playing Crusade battles that are bespoke to GENESTEALER CULTS units.
GENESTEALER CULTS armies can attempt to achieve unique Agendas in addition to those found in other publications. These represent the factions unique goals and their particular methods of waging war.
PATH OF ASCENSION
The rules presented in this section represent the efforts of a Crusade force, having prepared and fought in the shadows, now attempting to openly assume control of a planet. Here you will find ways to create a world, methods by which you can assume control of it and unique rewards for doing so.
REQUISITIONS
GENESTEALER CULTS armies have access to a number of bespoke Requisitions in addition to those found in other publications.
In addition to the Crusade Relics presented in other publications, GENESTEALER CULTS CHARACTER models can claim one of the Crusade Relics found here.
BATTLE SCARS
Themed to the unique nature of the GENESTEALER CULTS, these Battle Scars represent long-lasting effects units from your Crusade force may come to carry.
BATTLE TRAITS
As they gain experience and prowess, GENESTEALER CULTS units in your Crusade force can be given one of the Battle Trails in this section instead of one presented elsewhere.
CRUSADE BADGES
Here you will find three Crusade Badges representing goals you can set yourself when campaigning with your Crusade force. Once one is achieved, you could set yourself a new goal, or take the opportunity to start a new Crusade force.
Agendas
If your Crusade army includes any GENESTEALER CULTS units, you can select Agendas from those presented here.Those who cannot be snatched away and infected with the gene-curse of the cult must be slain without mercy.
If your Crusade force is on a Path of Ascension, at the end of the battle, if your units gained a total of 3 or more XP from this Agenda, add 1 to your next Setback roll.
Those who have seen too much or possess the means to threaten the cult’s glorious Ascension must be swiftly dispatched to secure their silence.
If your Crusade force is on a Path of Ascension and the unit from your Crusade army that destroyed that CHARACTER unit contains a SANCTUS, LOCUS, KELERMORPH or JACKAL ALPHUS model, your Crusade force has silenced a detractor (make a note of this on your Order of Battle). You can then subtract 1 from your next Setback roll; when you do, remove the above note from your Order of Battle.
By extending the tendrils of the Broodmind into the psyche of the enemy, we will open their eyes and win allies to our cause
At the end of your turn, each of those selected units that is within 18" of your opponent’s battlefield edge gains 1XP. If your Crusade force is on a Path of Ascension, at the end of the battle, if your units gained a total of 2 or more XP from this Agenda, add 1 to your next Setback roll.
Plans must be made against any threats. Tunnels must be dug, supplies cached and traps set.
At the start of your next turn, each of those selected units that is still within the same terrain feature gains 2XP, and each unit that gains XP in this way is said to have Prepared that terrain feature.
If your Crusade force is on a Path of Ascension, at the end of the battle, if you Prepared 3 or more terrain features, your Crusade force is Prepared for the Ordeal (make a note of this on your Order of Battle). When fighting in the Great Ordeal, if your Crusade force is Prepared for the Ordeal, increase your starting number of Command points by 2. When your current Path of Ascension ends, your Crusade force is no longer Prepared for the Ordeal.
From heathen fane to hated fortification, all must be cast down.
In your Shooting phase, you can select one GENESTEALER CULTS BATTLELINE unit or REDUCTUS SABOTEUR unit from your Crusade army that is not Battle-shocked and is eligible to shoot. The unit you select must be within your opponent’s false temple and more than 3" away from all enemy units (excluding AIRCRAFT), and your opponent’s false temple must not have been Toppled (see below). Until the end of your turn, the selected units are not eligible to shoot or declare a charge.
At the start of your next Command phase, if the unit you selected is still within your opponent’s false temple, that false temple has been Toppled; until the end of the battle, true line of sight applies to that terrain feature instead of the visibility rules for RUINS, and the unit you selected gains 4XP.
Path of Ascension
When the Day of Ascension arrives, a Genestealer Cult strikes at its oppressors openly. By this time, its agents have infiltrated a world’s society, weakening institutions to help the cult’s broodkin to seize control of them through force. The cultists must be wary, remaining one step ahead of their foes lest the glorious Ascension be strangled before its moment of victory. When enough institutions are controlled, the world will belong to the Genestealer Cult. Success in such circumstances will earn the cult powerful Ascension rewards, but failure will bring about ignominy. Alternatively, a cult may choose to use what limited control they have secured to spread the Patriarch’s progeny and the cult’s creed to the stars.
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The Path Begins
If your Crusade force includes a PATRIARCH, PRIMUS or MAGUS model and is not otherwise on a Path of Ascension, it can begin a Path of Ascension.When your cult begins a Path of Ascension, you must first create the world your cult will attempt to assume control of. To do so, you must first determine its classification; you can randomly generate one by rolling one D6 and consulting the classifications shown on the left, or you can select the classification that best represents the type of world you would like your cult to assume control of.
Each classification of world has various institutions. These are the layers of society your cult can attack in order to assume control of that world. Once you have determined your worlds classification and institutions, you should name your world and begin a Path of Ascension Tracker for it.
Next, choose which institution your uprising has already infiltrated, from those shown below. This represents the hidden activities of your cult’s more insidious members to gain an advantage in a particular sector. Make a note of this on your Order of Battle.
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Walking the Path
Before each battle, if you do not already control three institutions, select one of your worlds three institutions to attack. You cannot select an institution you already control and have received the benefit from. After each battle, walk the Path of Ascension as shown below.Exploit Advantage
If your uprising has infiltrated your target institution, each unit that was part of your Crusade army and survived the battle gains 1XP.Gain Ascension Points
Roll one D6 and apply the modifiers below: on a 4-7, you earn 1 Ascension point; on an 8+, you earn 2 Ascension points.
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Gain Control
If you have fewer than 3 Ascension points, skip this step.If you have 3 Ascension points, spend all 3 to increase your Control count by 1. If you have a target institution, you gain control of that institution.
Then, if your Control count is 4, you win a Glorious Ascension victory. Otherwise, you either gain the Controlled Institution benefit that matches your target institution (see right) or 1 Requisition point.
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Setback
The enemy are closing in, and the uprising might not be going entirely to plan. Make a Setback roll by rolling 2D6, applying the modifiers below: on a 13+, you have been set back, triggering the Great Ordeal.
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Propagate
You can skip this step. If you do not, you can attempt to accelerate your uprising by making a Propagation roll. To do so, roll one D6 and add your Control count to the result: on a 5+, increase your Propagation count by 1 and, if your Control count is higher than 0, reduce your Control count by 1.Then, if your Propagation count is 5, you win a Seed the Stars victory.
Glorious Ascension
Ascension on this world has succeeded, and the cult has crushed their oppressors. As the cult ready the world for the Star Children, new horizons beckon.
If your Control count reaches 4, you win a Glorious Ascension victory! You have claimed this world by crushing its defences, casting invaders back and seizing control of the oppressors’ institutions.You can select one PATRIARCH model from your Order of Battle to gain 2XP. In addition, you can claim a permanent Ascension reward for your Crusade force based on the classification of world you have assumed control of, as shown below.
Then set your Ascension points, Propagation count and Control count to 0. If you start a new Path of Ascension after winning a Glorious Ascension victory, select two infiltrated institutions for your uprising, instead of one.
Seed the Stars
Though some areas remain controlled by the oppressors, the cult has outmanoeuvred its foes to ensure the Patriarch’s legacy spreads to other worlds.
If your Propagation count reaches 5, you win a Seed the Stars victory! Your cult’s influence spreads far beyond your world, bringing the word of the Star Children to a benighted galaxy.You can select up to three GENESTEALER CULTS CHARACTER units from your Order of Battle to gain 2XP each.
Then set your Ascension points, Propagation count and Control count to 0. If you start a new Path of Ascension after winning a Seed the Stars victory, select two infiltrated institutions for your uprising, instead of one.
ASCENSION REWARDS
Hive World Strength of the Masses: After each Crusade battle, each BATTLELINE unit that was part of your Crusade army and survived the battle gains 1XP. |
Forge World Prized Acquisition: Each time you add a VEHICLE unit to your Order of Battle, that unit gains 6XP (and therefore gains the Blooded Rank); select one Battle Honour for it as normal. |
Cardinal World Will of the Faithful: After each Crusade battle, you can ignore your first failed Out of Action test. |
Fortress World Looted Armoury: When a unit from your Crusade force gains the Weapon Modifications Battle Honour, you can roll 3D6 (instead of 2D6) to randomly determine three Weapon Modifications for the weapon to gain. |
Agri/Mining World Hard Graft: After each Crusade battle, roll one D6: on a 4+, you gain 1 additional Requisition point. |
Frontier/Feudal World Cult of Personality: Each time you select a unit to be Marked for Greatness, that unit gains 1 additional XP. |
Each time you claim an Ascension reward, add it to the Information section of your Order of Battle. After mustering your Crusade army for each battle, for the purposes of determining Crusade Blessings, add 1 to your total Crusade points for that battle for each Ascension reward your Crusade force has.
The Great Ordeal
The cult’s foes are closing in. Perhaps they have won a stinging victory, killed cult agents, found its caches or razed its hideouts. The cult preaches this is a test of faith and orders a final, overwhelming assault.
If you have been set back, you must fight in the Great Ordeal. The Great Ordeal is a Crusade battle in which your cult makes a final, fanatical effort to crush their circling foes and take the world in a show of faith worthy of the Star Children. Make sure you find a suitable opponent for such a momentous event!When you fight in the Great Ordeal, your cult fights with zealous fury, but is not as prepared as it could be. As such, for that battle, the following rules are in effect:
Zealous Fury
Each time you take a Battle-shock test for a GENESTEALER CULTS unit from your Crusade army, add your Control count to the result of that test.
Persecuted
Your opponent starts the battle with a number of CP based on your Control count and the battle size, as specified in the table below.
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Prepared
If your Crusade force is Prepared for the Ordeal, you start the battle with 2CP.
If you lose the Great Ordeal battle, you must abandon your current Path of Ascension (see bellow).
If you win the Great Ordeal battle, you have won a Great Ordeal victory! You can select one PATRIARCH unit from your Order of Battle to gain 2XP. In addition, you can claim a permanent Ascension reward for your Crusade force based on the classification of world you have assumed control of.
Then set your Ascension points, Propagation count and Control count to 0 and you can start a new Path of Ascension.
The Cycle Begins Anew
Many of the faithful have fallen, but the cult’s core survives. Whether it escapes to infest a new world or slinks into the shadows to re-grow, the cult will rise anew.
You may find that your attempt to infiltrate and assume control of a world is proving to be unsuccessful. In such cases, before or after a battle, you can abandon your current Path of Ascension. Equally, if you lose the Great Ordeal battle, you must abandon your current Path of Ascension.Each time you abandon your current Path of Ascension, that Path of Ascension ends and you must select one of the following Ignominies:
- Each PATRIARCH, PRIMUS and MAGUS model from your Order of Battle gains a Battle Scar. You can only select this Ignominy if at least one model would gain a Battle Scar.
- Remove one Ascension reward from your Order of Battle
Then set your Ascension points, Propagation count and Control count to 0 and you can start a new Path of Ascension.
Requisitions
If your Crusade army includes any GENESTEALER CULTS units, you can spend Requisition points (RPs) on any of the following Requisitions.As the Genestealer Curse spreads and the brood grows, so new leaders emerge from the brood cycle already possessed of inherent knowledge and martial skill.
Just as important as grand strategy is the tactical approach to every individual engagement, from the most meagre skirmish to grand offensives and onslaughts. All must be planned with equal cunning and determination in order for the cult to emerge victorious.
Lying in Wait: Use this ability when you set up an INFANTRY unit, other than during the Deploy Armies step. When you do, you can set that unit up anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 3" horizontally away from all enemy units. Until the end of the turn, that unit is not eligible to declare a charge.
A Trap Sprung: Use this ability when you set up a unit, other than during the Deploy Armies step. When you do, until the end of the turn, when you make a Charge roll for that unit, roll one additional dice, then discard one of the dice.
Perfect Ambush: Use this ability when you set up a unit, other than during the Deploy Armies step. When you do, select one enemy unit within 12" of and visible to that unit. Until the end of the turn, the unit you selected cannot have the Benefit of Cover.
Suitably heroic and bloody deeds can win a brood the status offolk heroes in the eyes of their fellows. 'The faithful idolise such icons of the revolution, seeking to emulate their deeds of canny daring.
Each time a unit that is beloved of the cult gains 1 or more XP in a Crusade battle and survives that battle, after that battle, roll one D6 for each other unit from your Crusade army that survived that battle: on a 6, the unit you rolled for gains 1XP.
Only one unit from your Crusade army can be beloved of the cult at the same time; each time you use this Requisition, first remove that upgrade from any other unit from your army that has it, and subtract 1 from that previously upgraded unit’s Crusade points.
Through tireless effort and keen foresight, a localised victory for the cult can be exploited to open new doors and generate fresh opportunities for the faithful.
- You won that battle.
- Every Agenda you selected for that battle was a Genestealer Cults Agenda.
- GENESTEALER CULTS units from your Crusade army earned XP from each of those Agendas.
For all the lives it may cost to subjugate an entire world, still the ranks of the faithful are swelled by such conquests as the blessings spread through the populace.
- Add 1 to your next Propagation roll.
- Add 1 to your next Setback roll.
As the brood cycle turns and turns again, each new fifth generation spawns Purestrain Genestealers to act as living weapons and vectors of transmission for the cult.
You cannot purchase this Requisition if doing so would cause your total Power Level to exceed your Crusade forces Supply Limit.
Crusade Relics
When a GENESTEALER CULTS CHARACTER model gains a Crusade Relic, you can select one of the Crusade Relics presented here.Artificer Relics
The Pervasion Veil is, at first glance, merely a tattered cloak that even the most destitute vagrant might cast aside as worthless. Yet one who dons it seems to fade somehow into the shadows, their image flickering half-seen in every dark corner, there in peripheral sight then gone as quickly as it was glimpsed.
INFANTRY model (excluding PATRIARCH models) only.Add 3" to the bearers Move characteristic, and the bearer gains the following ability:
Pervasion Veil: Once per battle, at the end of any phase, provided this model is not leading a unit, it can use this ability. If it does, remove it from the battlefield and set it up again anywhere on the battlefield more than 9" horizontally away from all enemy units.
Some myths say this blade is a literal claw, lengthening from the bearer’s flesh; others that it is the chitinous spur of a martyred Metamorph. Whatever the truth, the Vector Talon whispers with a cluttering sibilance of its own and twitches when it touches prey, finding weakness and digging into it.
Improve the Armour Penetration and Damage characteristics of melee weapons equipped by the bearer by 1.Antiquity Relics
This cranial device enhances the host’s integration with the Broodmind, granting them a truly alien perspective and devotion - but at a cost.
Improve the Leadership characteristic of models in the bearer’s unit by 2. Each time the bearer’s unit fails a Leadership test, the bearer suffers 1 mortal wound.This info-wafer records the last days of the survivors of Magorra, a system conquered by simultaneous Genestealer Cult uprisings on every world. Its revelations serve to offer great strategic insights.
Each time you select the bearer’s unit as the target of a Battle Tactic Stratagem, you can select one other unit within 12" of the bearer’s unit that is also an eligible target for that Stratagem; that selected unit is also affected by that Stratagem.Legendary Relics
Stitched together from the tattered remains of enemy banners, then dyed and daubed over with cult sigils, this banner stands as a testament to the conviction and savage conquests of the cult.
ACOLYTE ICONWARD model only. While a friendly GENESTEALER CULTS INFANTRY or GENESTEALER CULTS MOUNTED unit is within 6" of the bearer, add 1 to the Attacks characteristic of melee weapons equipped by models in that unit.Cult artificers, working to revelatory fever dreams fuelled by the Broodmind, created this psycho-empathic projector. Small enough to conceal within its bearer’s robes, it emits an irresistible psionic pulse that wears down mental fortitude. The faithless in its reach begin to question their every conviction: every truth they hold and every belief they cleave to.
While an enemy BATTLELINE unit is within 9" of the bearer’s unit, worsen the Leadership characteristic of models in that enemy unit by 1, and subtract 1 from the Objective Control characteristic of models in that enemy unit (to a minimum of 0).Battle Scars
When a GENESTEALER CULTS CHARACTER model gains a Battle Scar, you can use the table presented here to determine which Battle Scar that model has gained.Battle ScarsD6
Failing the Star Children has consequences, with ostracism from the ranks of the faithful being amongst the worst.
Even those bolstered by the Broodmind can forget the teachings of their faith in the heat of battle.
Neural trauma has weakened this revolutionary’s mind, causing them to freeze in moments of crisis.
Debilitating mutations afflict this warrior, their part-alien anatomy turning against them.
- Subtract 1 from the Toughness characteristic of this model.
- Worsen the Weapon Skill and Ballistic Skill characteristics of weapons equipped by this model by 1.
Left angry and in pain from their wounds, this warrior must fight constantly not to give in to monstrous and mindless ferocity.
One too many defeats have seen this warrior slip down the invisible psychic hierarchy asserted through the Broodmind.
- This model cannot be attached to a unit that has another model attached to it, and no other models can be attached to a unit this model is attached to.
- At the start of the Fight phase, if this model’s unit is within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units and within 9" of one or more other friendly GENESTEALER CULTS CHARACTER units that are also within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units, this model’s unit is not eligible to fight until after those other friendly GENESTEALER CULTS CHARACTER units that are eligible to fight have done so.
Battle Traits
When a GENESTEALER CULTS unit gains a Battle Trait, you can use one of the tables presented here to determine which Battle Trait that unit has gained.INFANTRY UnitsD6
Experience has taught this brood the best ways in which to exploit the landscape around them for cover and concealment.
These warriors are practised in defending even the most ruined structures, be they bunkers or fallen hab-stacks.
Filled with hatred for their oppressors and enemies, these warriors are only too happy to rise up in violent rebellion.
MOUNTED AND VEHICLE UnitsD6
Those who pilot light vehicles into battle soon learn to jink, swerve and use their own dust clouds for concealment.
There are advantages to having underhive engine-fixers and outcast mechanists amongst the faithful, as the many blasphemous upgrades on cult combat vehicles attest.
Bolting on extra armour is a wise precaution when fresh armoured vehicles are in short supply.
THE GENE-BLESSEDD6
PATRIARCH, PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS, ACOLYTE HYBRIDS and HYBRID METAMORPHS units onlyAs final ascension looms, the mightiest and most genetically alien of the cult exhibit the blessings of inhumanly swift reactions and almost animalistic savagery in battle.
No mere Human could possibly dodge their enemies’ blows with such bewildering, horribly insectile speed and precision.
Even amongst the inner circle of the cult, some display a predatory eagerness to tear into their enemies.
CHARACTER MODELSD6
Command of the faithful comes as naturally to this revolutionary orator as breathing.
This cult agent draws strength from the Broodmind, becoming an avatar of destruction in the presence of the faithful.
This folk hero and their followers have fought so long together for the cause that they are now inseparable comrades.
Crusade Badges
When your Crusade force accomplishes specific long-term goals, you can earn the Crusade badges shown below, representing your warriors’ successes over many battles.Uprising Hero
The cult’s broods hail you as a folk hero of the creed, and under your leadership, the broodkin’s devoted insurrectionists have proven worthy of their holy task. With each victory in the name of the Star Children, their prophesied arrival draws ever nearer. The oppressors who have dared to stand in your path - though they have struck down many loyal servants of the cult - now lie bloody and broken. Yet this is only the beginning. There are many more who might greet the Star Children, awaiting only the breaking of their shackles and the opening of their eyes to new truths.
Propagator of Liberation
You are the architect of Ascension. The oppressors of one world after another have fallen to your masterful strategies and labyrinthine ploys. More than that, you have seeded the cult’s creed and the Patriarch’s progeny into the heavenly domains and wrested spaceports, ships and crews from the faithless to take the Star Childrens blessings still further. Now is not the moment to rest, for the divine labour cannot be laid down until the chains wielded by every tyrannical overlord lie broken with them.
- You have successfully completed three Paths of Ascension.
- You have won at least one Glorious Ascension victory.
- You have won at least six battles
Saint of Ascension
Your Claws and gene-sects now march or incubate across entire systems and stellar trading routes. The oppressors’ religion is shown to be a hollow sham as the holiness of the Star Children declares its triumphs at every stage, from the whispered hiss to the clarion call of battle. You are truly a vessel of angelic divinity!
- You have successfully completed five Paths of Ascension, on at least three different classifications of world.
- You have won at least one Seed the Stars victory, one Glorious Ascension victory and one Great Ordeal victory.
- You have won at least 10 battles.
- A CHARACTER from your Crusade force has reached Legendary rank.
Path Of Ascension Tracker
Download blank Path Of Ascension Tracker:
Boarding Actions
Introduction
Within the following pages you will find numerous Boarding Actions Detachments that can be used in your Boarding Actions games. Each lists which units you can include in your army, any modifications to those units’ army rule as presented in their Codex or Index, a Detachment rule unique to that Detachment, and a number of Enhancements and Stratagems that you can use.A keyword that will be shared by all units in your army.
MUSTERING RULES
Which units you are allowed to include in your army.
FORMING BOARDING SQUADS
Any additional rules that will apply in the missions Form Boarding Squads step. Note that not all Detachments will have these.
RULES ADAPTATIONS
Some units will be unable to use certain abilities in Boarding Actions battles. Where this is the case, these units and their relevant abilities will be listed here.
Due to the distinct nature of close-quarters battle in Boarding Actions, most army rules require some modifications to their effects. Where this is the case, these will be described here.
DETACHMENT RULE
Each faction will have a number of different Detachments to choose from, each with its own Detachment rule to reflect the unique fighting methods of such forces.
ENHANCEMENTS
Further Enhancements that you can give to CHARACTER models from your army, beyond those(Boarding Actions Enhancments), will be found here.
STRATAGEMS
Additional Stratagems that you can use, in addition to those (Boarding Actions Stratagems), will be found here.
Cult Unveiled
Many Genestealer Cults seek to spread beyond their birth worlds by smuggling broods of the faithful onto departing voidships. Though cunning, some such cult cells are discovered before they reach their destinations. In such circumstances, they will fight furiously to overtake their host vessel entirely.
Mustering a Boarding Patrol
You can include up to one of the following units:You can include up to two of the following units (duplicates are not allowed):
You can include up to three of each of the following units:
- ACOLYTE HYBRIDS WITH AUTOPISTOLS (5 or 10 models)
- NEOPHYTE HYBRIDS (10 models)
- ACOLYTE HYBRIDS WITH HAND FLAMERS (5 or 10 models)
Forming Boarding Squads
- Do not split NEOPHYTE HYBRIDS units into separate units in the Form Boarding Squads step.
Rules Adaptations
- GENESTEALER CULTS units lose the Deep Strike ability.
- The ACOLYTE HYBRIDS WITH AUTOPISTOLS unit loses the Claimed for the Cult ability.
- The ACOLYTE ICONWARD model loses the Summon the Cult ability.
- The NEOPHYTE HYBRIDS unit loses the A Plan Generations in the Making ability.
- The PRIMUS model loses the Decoys and Misdirection ability.
Insidious Ambushers
Genestealer Cults survive and spread through a combination of stealth and sudden, decisive violence. These traits make them especially nightmarish foes to face in the confines of a voidship, where they spring seemingly from nowhere to attack.
Units from your army with the Cult Ambush ability lose that ability and GENESTEALER CULTS units from your army gain this one.In the Deploy Armies step, your opponent must set up their entire army before you set up any of your units. If both players have a rule that allows them to do this, both players set up their units normally.
Detachment Rule
Harassing Fire
Focusing on hit-and-fade tactics to wear their enemies down, the guerrilla fighters of the cult hammer the foe with swift volleys before vanishing back behind closing hatches.
At the encl of your Shooting phase, you can select one GENESTEALER CULTS unit from your army that is not within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units. If you do, that unit can attempt to operate one open Hatchway it is within 1" of (if there is one), and can then make a Normal move of up to 3" (regardless of whether it attempted to operate a Hatchway or not). Until the end of the turn, that unit is not eligible to declare a charge.Enhancements
Master Saboteur This cult leader is skilled in the arts of covert sabotage, and has pre-emptively employed these skills against a key strategic target on this deck. The first lime in the battle that your opponent’s army Secures an objective marker while the bearer is on the battlefield, roll one D6: on a 3+, that objective marker is not Secured by your opponent’s army. |
Primary Detonator A chunky technological device with a deviant machine spirit and an array of triggers, this jury-rigged detonator connects to multiple explosive charges laced through this deck. By pumping one of the triggers, its wielder can set off a powerful detonation. Once per battle, when an enemy unit opens a closed Hatchway, if the bearer is on the battlefield, it can use this Enhancement. If it does, roll one D6: on a 3-4, that enemy unit suffers 1 mortal wound; on a 5+, that enemy unit suffers 2 mortal wounds. |
Stratagems
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS unit from your army.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, your unit is eligible to shoot in a turn in which it Fell Back.
TARGET: One NEOPHYTE HYBRIDS unit from your army that is in Reserves.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, models in your unit have the Deep Strike ability.
RESTRICTIONS: You can only use this Stratagem once.
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS unit from your army that has not been selected to shoot this phase.
EFFECT: Select one enemy unit within Engagement Range of one or more friendly GENESTEALER CULTS units. Until the end of the phase, your unit can make ranged attacks that target that enemy unit. If it does, after your unit has finished making those attacks, roll one D6 for each of those friendly units: on a 2-4, that friendly unit suffers 1 mortal wound; on a 5+, that friendly unit suffers 2 mortal wounds.
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS unit from your army that was selected as the target of one or more of the attacking unit's attacks.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, each time an attack targets your unit, if the attacking model is not within 3", subtract 1 from the Hit roll.
Genespawn Onslaught
Unleashed by a voidborne cult as a deadly boarding spearhead, or boiling up from the depths of a host vessel as the first blow struck by a cult rising in its underdecks, this tide of horrors crushes all before it. Blessed by the Star Children, these favoured of the cult can be relied upon to wreak absolute havoc.
Mustering a Boarding Patrol
You can include up to two of the following units (duplicates are not allowed):You can include up to two of the following unit:
- ABERRANTS (5 or 10 models)
- HYBRID METAMORPHS (5 or 10 models)
Rules Adaptations
- GENESTEALER CULTS units lose the Deep Strike ability.
- The HYBRID METAMORPHS unit loses the Brood Surge ability.
Insidious Ambushers
Genestealer Cults survive and spread through a combination of stealth and sudden, decisive violence. These traits make them especially nightmarish foes to face in the confines of a voidship, where they spring seemingly from nowhere to attack.
Units from your army with the Cult Ambush ability lose that ability and GENESTEALER CULTS units from your army gain this one.In the Deploy Armies step, your opponent must set up their entire army before you set up any of your units. If both players have a rule that allows them to do this, both players set up their units normally.
Detachment Rule
Blessed Visages
To the faithful of the cult, these warriors appear as the blessed and beatific chosen of the Star Children. To all others they are grotesque hybrid horrors whose unnatural aspect triggers repulsion and aversion in equal measure.
Each time an enemy unit declares a charge that targets one or more GENESTEALER CULTS units from your army, that enemy unit must take a Leadership test. If failed, until the end of the turn, each time a model in that enemy unit makes an attack, subtract 1 from the Hit roll.Enhancements
Spiteful Imp This Abominant’s familiar is of an especially vicious breed. Not content to lead its lumpen companion into the fight, it also exploits enemies’fearful distraction to strike barbed blows of its own. ABOMINANT model only. Each time an enemy unit opens a Hatchway, if the bearer is within 1" of that Hatchway, roll one D6: on a 3-4, that enemy unit suffers 1 mortal wound; on a 5+, that enemy unit suffers 2 mortal wounds. |
Miasmic Fumes So potent are the bubbling toxins and tinctures carried into battle by the Biophagus that they choke the ship’s corridors with gene-corrosive fumes that choke foes and obscure their bearer from view. BIOPHAGUS model only. Each time an attack targets the bearer, subtract 1 from the Hit roll and subtract 1 from the Wound roll. |
Stratagems
TARGET: That GENESTEALER CULTS unit.
EFFECT: If your unit is not within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units, until the end of the phase, each time your unit Consolidates, models in your unit can end that move as close as possible to the nearest Hatchway instead of the nearest visible enemy unit. Your unit can then attempt to operate that Hatchway.
TARGET: One ABOMINANT or ABERRANTS unit from your army that has not been selected to move this phase and has not declared a charge this phase.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, when makinga Normal, Advance or Charge move, your unit can move through a single closed Hatchway as if it was open. When doing so, that Hatchway is opened and cannot be closed for the rest of the battle. This can allow that unit to declare a charge against enemy units that are not visible to it, but to do so those enemy units must be within 1" of that Hatchway and wholly on the opposite side of it from your unit.
RESTRICTIONS: You can only use this Stratagem once per turn.
TARGET: That HYBRID METAMORPHS unit.
EFFECT: Select one objective marker you control that your unit is within range of. That objective marker is Secured by your army.
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS unit from your army that is within 9" of and visible to that enemy unit.
EFFECT: That enemy unit must take a Leadership test, subtracting 1 from the result: if failed, that enemy unit does not perform that Tactical Manoeuvre and it cannot perform anotherTactical Manoeuvre this turn (but can otherwise act normally).
Infestation Swarm
Many doomed voidships have been infested by Genestealers, their corridors and crawlways transformed into the hunting grounds and brood-lairs of monstrous vanguard organisms. Such infestations prove nightmarishly deadly to any unwise enough to board these apparent derelicts.
Mustering a Boarding Patrol
When selecting this Detachment, you must select either the TYRANIDS or GENESTEALER CULTS keyword.If you selected TYRANIDS, you can include up to three of the following unit:
- GENESTEALERS (5 or 10 models).
If you selected GENESTEALER CULTS, you can include up to three of the following unit:
- PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS (5 or 10 models)
Rules Adaptations
- GENESTEALERS and PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS units can perform the Secure Site Tactical Manoeuvre as if they had the BATTLELINE keyword.
- The PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit loses the Swift and Deadly ability.
- All models lose the Deep Strike ability.
Auspex Ghosts
All the enemy see are half-glimpsed darting shadows, or partial returns of contact blips on sensor-screens. At least, that is, until the Genestealers are in position to pounce...
Units from your army with the SYNAPSE or Cult Ambush abilities replace those abilities with this one.In the Deploy Armies step, your opponent must set up their entire army before you set up any of your units. If both players have a rule that allows them to do this, both players set up their units normally.
Detachment Rule
Half-Glimpsed Shadows
Possessed of alien cunning and unnatural stealth, Genestealers are able to fade back into the shadows or crawl across ceilings or under deck-plates, the better to evade notice by their prey.
Each time a ranged attack targets a GREAT DEVOURER unit from your army, if the attacking model is not within 6" of that unit, subtract 1 from the Hit roll.Enhancements
Stalking Menace Soon after this nightmarish predator vanishes from sight, its victims feel the hot reek of its breath upon the napes of their necks in the instant before it strikes. Once per battle, at the end of your opponent’s Fight phase, if the bearer is not within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units, it can use this Enhancement. If it does, remove the bearer from the battlefield and place it into Strategic Reserves. It will arrive back on the battlefield in the Reinforcements step of your next Movement phase as if it had the Deep Strike ability. If this is not possible, the bearer is destroyed. When the bearer is set back up on the battlefield, until the end of the turn, it cannot declare a charge. |
Psi-spoor Sensitivity Able to taste its prey’s terrified mental signatures like pheromones, there is nowhere to hide from this beast. Each time the bearer declares a charge, it can target enemy units that are not visible to it. |
Stratagems
TARGET: One GREAT DEVOURER unit from your army that was selected as the target of one or more of the attacking unit’s attacks.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, models in your unit have a 4+ invulnerable save.
TARGET: That GREAT DEVOURER unit.
EFFECT: In your opponent’s next Command phase, each enemy unit on the battlefield must take a Battle-shock test, subtracting 1 from the result. This Stratagem cannot cause a unit to take two Battle-shock tests in the same phase.
TARGET: That GREAT DEVOURER unit.
EFFECT: Your unit can make a Normal move of up to 3", provided at least one of its models ends that move on the opposite side of that Hatchway from when your unit opened it.
TARGET: One GENESTEALERS or PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit from your army that is wholly within an Entry Zone.
EFFECT: Remove your unit from the battlefield and place it into Strategic Reserves. It will arrive back on the battlefield in the Reinforcements step of your next Movement phase. When doing so, if it was within one of your Entry Zones when it was removed, it must be set up wholly within another one of your Entry Zones. If it was within one of your opponent’s Entry Zones when it was removed, it must be set up wholly within another one of your opponent’s Entry Zones instead. If this is not possible, your unit is destroyed.
The ASTRA MILITARUM keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
and others...
The OFFICER keyword is used in the following Astra Militarum datasheets:
The TRANSPORT keyword is used in the following Astra Militarum datasheets:
Rapid fire weapons are capable of long-ranged precision shots or controlled bursts at nearby targets.
Weapons with [RAPID FIRE X] in their profile are known as Rapid Fire weapons. Each time such a weapon targets a unit within half that weapon’s range, the Attacks characteristic of that weapon is increased by the amount denoted by ‘x’.- [RAPID FIRE X]: Increase the Attacks by ‘x’ when targeting units within half range.
Raised and trained to instil unwavering obedience, officers of the Imperial Guard command authority and respect, and issue orders with imperious bellows that cut through the clamour of war.
OFFICER models can issue Orders in your Command phase and at the end of a phase in which they disembarked from a TRANSPORT or were set up on the battlefield.
Until the start of your next Command phase, the unit you selected is affected by that Order. Unless otherwise stated, a unit can only be affected by one Order at a time (any Order subsequently issued to that unit replaces the current one). Orders cannot be issued to Battle-shocked units, and if a unit being affected by an Order becomes Battle-shocked, that Order ceases to affect that unit.
Only ASTRA MILITARUM models gain the benefit of an Order issued to their unit.
Move! Move! Move! M +3" |
Fix Bayonets! WS +1 |
Take Aim! BS +1 |
First Rank, Fire! Second Rank, Fire! A +1 |
Take Cover! SV +1 |
Duty and Honour! LD +1 OC +1 |
- Incursion: Up to 500 pts
- Strike Force: Up to 1000 pts
- Onslaught: Up to 1500 pts
Genestealer Cults keep their fighting strength carefully hidden from their oppressors until the glorious Day of Ascension arrives. When they finally emerge to fight, it is after long years of meticulous planning, and with an intimate knowledge of the battlefield that grants them a tactical advantage. Even as battle rages, reinforcements slip from the shadows or spill up from the dark places below, called to war by the Broodmind.
If your Army Faction is , you start the battle with a number of Resurgence points, depending on the battle size, as shown below.- Incursion: 6 Resurgence points
- Strike Force: 10 Resurgence points
- Onslaught: 14 Resurgence points
Each time a unit from your army is destroyed, if every model in that unit has this ability, you can spend the relevant number of Resurgence points shown below based on that unit’s Starting Strength.
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- Add a new unit to your army identical to your destroyed unit, in Cult Ambush, at its Starting Strength, with all of its wounds remaining and any [ONE SHOT] weapons those models are equipped with considered as not having been shot.
- Place one Cult Ambush marker (see below) anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 9" horizontally away from all enemy units (if this is not possible, no marker is placed).
Units in Cult Ambush
Cult Ambush is a type of Strategic Reserves. Units in Cult Ambush cannot be targeted with the Rapid Ingress Stratagem, but can be set up on the battlefield using a Cult Ambush marker as described below, or by following the rules for Strategic Reserves in a subsequent turn.
Cult Ambush Markers
Use a circular 32mm diameter marker for Cult Ambush markers. If an enemy model (excluding AIRCRAFT) ends any kind of move within 9" of a Cult Ambush marker you placed, that Cult Ambush marker is removed from the battlefield. At the end of the Reinforcements step of your opponent’s next Movement phase, for each of your Cult Ambush markers still on the battlefield, you can select one unit from your army that is in Cult Ambush and set up that unit using that Cult Ambush marker. To do so, set that unit up on the battlefield more than 9" horizontally away from all enemy units, with at least one model in that unit touching that Cult Ambush marker and all other models placed wholly within 3" of that Cult Ambush marker (that Cult Ambush marker is then removed from the battlefield).
Some units make their way to battle via tunnelling, teleportation, high-altitude descent or other extraordinary means that allow them to appear suddenly in the thick of the fighting.
During the Declare Battle Formations step, if every model in a unit has this ability, you can set it up in Reserves instead of setting it up on the battlefield. If you do, in the Reinforcements step of one of your Movement phases you can set up this unit anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 9" horizontally away from all enemy models. If a unit with the Deep Strike ability arrives from Strategic Reserves, the controlling player can choose for that unit to be set up either using the rules for Strategic Reserves or using the Deep Strike ability.- Unit can be set up in Reserves instead of on the battlefield.
- Unit can be set up in your Reinforcements step, more than 9" horizontally away from all enemy models.
TARGET: One unit from your army that is arriving using the Deep Strike ability this phase.
EFFECT: Your unit can be set up anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 6" horizontally away from all enemy units.
RESTRICTIONS: A unit targeted by this Stratagem is not eligible to declare a charge in the same turn.
Note that CHARACTERS cannot use their Aura Abilities while %000015069performing actions%.
The ASTRA MILITARUM and CHARACTER keywords are used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
The ACOLYTE HYBRIDS keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
An unmodified Hit roll of 6 is called a Critical Hit and is always successful. An unmodified Hit roll of 1 always fails. A Hit roll can never be modified by more than -1 or +1.
- Hit Roll (Ranged Attack): A hit is scored if the D6 result equals or exceeds that attack’s BS.
- Hit Roll (Melee Attack): A hit is scored if the D6 result equals or exceeds that attack’s WS.
- Critical Hit: Unmodified Hit roll of 6. Always successful.
- An unmodified Hit roll of 1 always fails.
- A Hit roll can never be modified by more than -1 or +1.
TARGET: One other CHARACTER model from your army.
EFFECT: Until the end of the battle, each time a friendly ACOLYTE HYBRIDS, Hybrid Metamorphs or Neophyte Hybrids model makes an attack that targets that enemy unit, re-roll a Hit roll of 1. If the destroyed model was a MAGUS, PRIMUS or ACOLYTE ICONWARD, you can re-roll the Hit roll instead.
- A unit can embark within a friendly TRANSPORT if all of its models end a Normal, Advance or Fall Back move within 3" of that TRANSPORT.
- A unit cannot embark and disembark in the same phase.
The TRANSPORT keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
The CHARACTER keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
There are several categories of Battle Honours that can be bestowed upon a unit, such as Battle Traits, Weapon Modifications and Crusade Relics. Other categories of Battle Honour may be found in other publications. Each time a unit gains a Battle Honour, you can select from any category.
- Once a unit gains enough XP it will gain a rank.
- Only CHARACTER units can gain the Heroic or Legendary ranks.
- Each time a unit gains a rank, it can gain a Battle Honour.
- There are several categories of Battle Honours, which include:
- Battle Traits: New skills and abilities.
- Weapon Modifications: Upgrade an item of wargear.
- Crusade Relic: Gain a rare and powerful artefact.
- Each time a unit gains a Battle Honour, increase its Crusade points total by 1 (or by 2 if TITANIC).
The greatest warriors, most cunning tacticians and seers lead their armies to war possessed of hard-won skills and powerful artefacts that mark them out as legendary commanders.
You can select one Enhancement that unit has access to (if using this Requisition when that unit gains a rank, this is instead of it gaining a Battle Honour). When doing so, that unit has access to any Enhancements described within any Detachment rules that it could use, even though you have not yet started to muster your army and so have not selected any Detachment rules yet.
If the selected Enhancement replaces a weapon that is a Crusade Relic or a weapon upgraded by Weapon Modifications, that Crusade Relic or Weapon Modifications are lost. Recalculate the unit’s points value as a result of gaining this Enhancement and update its Crusade card. You cannot make any changes that would cause you to exceed your Supply Limit.
This Requisition costs 1RP plus 1 additional RP for each other Enhancement that your Order of Battle contains (to a maximum of 3RP).
TARGET: One unit from your army that is in Reserves.
EFFECT: Your unit can arrive on the battlefield as if it were the Reinforcements step of your Movement phase, and if every model in that unit has the Deep Strike ability, you can set that unit up as described in the Deep Strike ability (even though it is not your Movement phase).
RESTRICTIONS: You cannot use this Stratagem to enable a unit to arrive on the battlefield during a battle round it would not normally be able to do so in.
Some weapons strike in a flurry of blows, tearing the foe apart with relentless ferocity.
Weapons with [SUSTAINED HITS X] in their profile are known as Sustained Hits weapons. Each time an attack is made with such a weapon, if a Critical Hit is rolled, that attack scores a number of additional hits on the target as denoted by ‘x’.- [SUSTAINED HITS X]: Each Critical Hit scores ‘x’ additional hits on the target.
Some weapons are designed to root enemy formations out of entrenched positions.
Weapons with [IGNORES COVER] in their profile are known as Ignores Cover weapons. Each time an attack is made with such a weapon, the target cannot have the Benefit of Cover against that attack.- Normal Move: Models move up to M".
- Cannot move within Engagement Range of any enemy models.
- Advance Move: Models move up to M+D6".
- Cannot move within Engagement Range of any enemy models.
- Units that Advance cannot shoot or charge this turn.
A unit cannot shoot or declare a charge in the same turn that it Fell Back.
Desperate Escape Tests
Unlike when making other types of move, models can move over enemy models when making a Fall Back move as if those enemy models were not there, but you must take a Desperate Escape test for each model that will do so (excluding models that are TITANIC or can FLY) before any models in that unit are moved. In addition, if a unit is Battle-shocked when it is selected to Fall Back, you must take a Desperate Escape test for every model in that unit before any are moved.
- Fall Back Move: Models move up to M".
- Units that Fall Back cannot shoot or declare a charge in the same turn.
- Models can move over enemy models when Falling Back, but you must take Desperate Escape tests for them before they do so (excluding models that are TITANIC or can FLY).
- If a Battle-shocked unit is selected to Fall Back, take a Desperate Escape test for every model in that unit.
- Desperate Escape Test: Roll one D6. On a 1-2, one model from that unit is destroyed.
Models cannot be set up or end a Normal, Advance or Fall Back move within Engagement Range of any enemy models. If for any reason a model cannot meet this condition, that model is destroyed.
- Engagement Range: Within 1" horizontally and 5" vertically.
- Models cannot be set up or end a Normal, Advance or Fall Back move within Engagement Range of any enemy models.
Some weapons can inflict fatal injuries on any foe, no matter their resilience.
Weapons with [LETHAL HITS] in their profile are known as Lethal Hits weapons. Each time an attack is made with such a weapon, a Critical Hit automatically wounds the target.You then make a Charge roll for the charging unit by rolling 2D6. The result is the maximum number of inches each model in that unit can be moved if a Charge move is possible. For a Charge move to be possible, the Charge roll must be sufficient to enable the charging unit to end that move:
- Within Engagement Range of every unit that you selected as a target of the charge.
- Without moving within Engagement Range of any enemy units that were not a target of the charge.
- In Unit Coherency.
- Charge Roll: 2D6".
- Targets of a charge must be within 12" but do not need to be visible.
- If the distance rolled is insufficient to move within Engagement Range of all targets while maintaining Unit Coherency, the charge fails.
- Cannot move within Engagement Range of any unit that was not a target of the charge.
- If the charge is successful, each model makes a Charge move less than or equal to the Charge roll, and must move into base-to-base contact with an enemy model if possible.
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If the result of the Wound roll is greater than or equal to the required number shown in the table above, then that Wound roll is successful and scores one wound against the target unit. Otherwise, the attack fails and the attack sequence ends.
An unmodified Wound roll of 6 is called a Critical Wound and is always successful. An unmodified Wound roll of 1 always fails. A Wound roll can never be modified by more than -1 or +1.
- Critical Wound: Unmodified Wound roll of 6. Always successful.
- An unmodified Wound roll of 1 always fails.
- A Wound roll can never be modified by more than -1 or +1.
Weapons powered by unstable and dangerous energy sources pose a substantial risk to the wielder every time they are used.
Weapons with [HAZARDOUS] in their profile are known as Hazardous weapons. Each time a unit is selected to shoot or fight, after that unit has resolved all of its attacks, for each Hazardous weapon that targets were selected for when resolving those attacks, that unit must take one Hazardous test. To do so, roll one D6: on a 1, that test is failed. For each failed test you must resolve the following sequence (resolve each failed test one at a time):- If possible, select one model in that unit that has lost one or more wounds and is equipped with one or more Hazardous weapons.
- Otherwise, if possible, select one model in that unit (excluding CHARACTER models) equipped with one or more Hazardous weapons.
- Otherwise, select one CHARACTER model in that unit equipped with one or more Hazardous weapons.
If a unit from a player’s army is selected as the target of the Fire Overwatch Stratagem in their opponent’s Charge phase, any mortal wounds inflicted by Hazardous tests are allocated after the charging unit has ended its Charge move.
- After a unit shoots or fights, roll one Hazardous test (one D6) for each Hazardous weapon used. For each 1, a model equipped with a hazardous weapon suffers 3 mortal wounds, that must be allocated to the selected model.
- A Critical Wound inflicts mortal wounds equal to the weapon’s Damage characteristic, instead of any normal damage.
Some attacks are so powerful that no armour or force field can withstand their fury.
Some rules inflict mortal wounds on units. Each time mortal wounds are inflicted on a unit, each of those mortal wounds inflicts one point of damage to that unit, and they are always applied one at a time. Each mortal wound is allocated to a model in the same manner as allocating an attack. Excess damage from mortal wounds is not lost if the damage can be allocated to another model. Instead, keep allocating damage to another model in the target unit until either all the damage has been allocated or the target unit is destroyed.If an attack inflicts mortal wounds in addition to any normal damage, do not make a Wound roll or saving throw (including invulnerable saving throws) against those mortal wounds. If those mortal wounds are inflicted by an attack that has the [PRECISION] ability, the attacking model’s controlling player can allocate those mortal wounds to a CHARACTER model in that unit.
If mortal wounds are being inflicted as a result of the [HAZARDOUS] ability or by an attack with the [DEVASTATING WOUNDS] ability that scored a Critical Wound, each time those mortal wounds are allocated to a model, if that model is destroyed as a result of those mortal wounds, the remaining mortal wounds from that attack are lost, just as with a normal attack.
If, when a unit is selected to shoot or fight, one or more of its attacks can inflict mortal wounds on the target, resolve any normal damage inflicted by the attacking unit’s attacks on that target before inflicting any mortal wounds on that target. If an attack inflicts mortal wounds in addition to any normal damage, but the normal damage is subsequently saved, the target unit still suffers those mortal wounds, as described above.
- Each mortal wound inflicted on a unit causes one model in that unit to lose one wound.
- Unless the source of the mortal wounds is the [HAZARDOUS] ability or an attack with the [DEVASTATING WOUNDS] ability, damage from mortal wounds is not lost if it can be allocated to another model.
- No saving throws can be made against mortal wounds.
- Mortal wounds inflicted by attacks always apply after any normal damage, even if that damage was saved.
Some warriors refuse to be laid low, even by what should be fatal wounds.
Some models have ‘Feel No Pain x+’ listed in their abilities. Each time a model with this ability suffers damage and so would lose a wound (including wounds lost due to mortal wounds), roll one D6: if the result is greater than or equal to the number denoted by ‘x’, that wound is ignored and is not lost. If a model has more than one Feel No Pain ability, you can only use one of those abilities each time that model suffers damage and so would lose a wound.- Feel No Pain x+: Each time this model would lose a wound, roll one D6: if the result equals or exceeds ‘x’, that wound is not lost.
While a unit is Battle-shocked:
- The Objective Control characteristic of all of its models is 0.
- If it Falls Back, you must take a Desperate Escape test for every model in that unit.
- Its controlling player cannot use Stratagems to affect that unit.
Once you have taken Battle-shock tests for all of your units that require them, your Command phase ends and you progress to your Movement phase.
In this step, if for any reason a unit is forced to take a Battle-shock test for being below its Starting Strength, unless otherwise stated, that unit does not also have to take a Battle-shock test for being Below Half-strength. While a unit is Battle-shocked, all models in that unit are also Battle-shocked.
- Take a Battle-shock test for each unit from your army on the battlefield that is Below Half-strength.
- Roll 2D6: if the result is greater than or equal to the unit’s Leadership, the test is passed. Otherwise, the unit is Battle-shocked until the start of your next Command phase.
- Battle-shocked units have an OC of 0 and their controlling player cannot use Stratagems to affect them.
- Battle-shocked units must take Desperate Escape tests if they Fall Back.
Assault weapons fire so indiscriminately that they can be shot from the hip as warriors dash forward.
Weapons with [ASSAULT] in their profile are known as Assault weapons. If a unit that Advanced this turn contains any models equipped with Assault weapons, it is still eligible to shoot in this turn’s Shooting phase. When such a unit is selected to shoot, you can only resolve attacks using Assault weapons its models are equipped with.- Can be shot even if the bearer’s unit Advanced.
Many armies employ reconnaissance units who can sit concealed, waiting for the right moment to strike.
During deployment, if every model in a unit has this ability, then when you set it up, it can be set up anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 9" horizontally away from the enemy deployment zone and all enemy models.Many warriors thunder headlong into combat, using the impetus of their charge to bring swift death to their foes.
Each time a unit makes a Charge move, until the end of the turn, that unit has the Fights First ability.TARGET: One unit from your army that is within 6" of that enemy unit and would be eligible to declare a charge against that enemy unit if it were your Charge phase.
EFFECT: Your unit now declares a charge that targets only that enemy unit, and you resolve that charge as if it were your Charge phase.
RESTRICTIONS: You can only select a VEHICLE unit from your army if it is a WALKER. Note that even if this charge is successful, your unit does not receive any Charge bonus this turn.
Each time a model makes a Pile-in move, it must end that move closer to the closest enemy model. If it can also end that move in base-to-base contact with one or more enemy models while still satisfying all of the conditions above, it must do so. The controlling player chooses the order in which to move their models.
- Pile-in Move: Up to 3".
- Every model that moves must end closer to the closest enemy model, and in base-to-base contact with an enemy model if possible. The unit must end in Unit Coherency and within Engagement Range of at least one enemy unit (or no models can Pile In).
If a unit can end its Consolidation within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units, then each time one of its models makes a Consolidation move, it must end that move closer to the closest enemy model. If it can also end that move in base-to-base contact with one or more enemy models while still satisfying all of the conditions above, it must do so. The controlling player chooses the order in which to move their models.
- Consolidation Move: Up to 3".
- Every model that moves must end closer to the closest enemy model, and in base-to-base contact with an enemy model if possible. The unit must end in Unit Coherency and within Engagement Range of at least one enemy unit if possible.
- If the above is not possible, each model can move towards the closest objective marker, but this must result in the unit being within range of it and in Unit Coherency.
- If the above is also not possible, no models can Consolidate.
The MOUNTED keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
The and VEHICLE keywords are used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
When setting objective markers up on the battlefield, place them so they are centred on the point specified by the mission. When measuring distances to and from objective markers, measure to and from the closest part of them. Models can move over objective markers as if they were not there, but they cannot end a move on top of an objective marker.
At the start of the battle, each objective marker on the battlefield is said to be contested, and so is not controlled by either player. To control an objective marker, a player will first need to move models within range of it. A model is within range of an objective marker if it is within 3" horizontally and 5" vertically of that objective marker.
Every model has an Objective Control (OC) characteristic listed on its datasheet. To determine a player’s Level of Control over an objective marker, add together the OC characteristics of all the models from that player’s army that are within range of that objective marker. A player will control an objective marker at the end of any phase or turn if their Level of Control over it is greater than their opponent’s. If both players have the same Level of Control over an objective marker, that objective marker is contested.
- A model is within range of an objective marker if within 3" horizontally and 5" vertically.
- Level of Control: Add together the OC characteristics of all of a player’s models within range of the objective marker.
- An objective marker is controlled by the player with the highest Level of Control over it (in a tie, it is contested).
- Models cannot end a move on top of an objective marker.
Some transports have firing hatches, ports or platforms from which embarked passengers can shoot.
Some TRANSPORT models have ‘Firing Deck x’ listed in their abilities. Each time such a model is selected to shoot in the Shooting phase, you can select up to ‘x’ models embarked within it whose units have not already shot this phase. Then, for each of those embarked models, you can select one ranged weapon that embarked model is equipped with (excluding weapons with the [ONE SHOT] ability). Until that TRANSPORT model has resolved all of its attacks, it counts as being equipped with all of the weapons you selected in this way, in addition to its other weapons. Until the end of the phase, those selected models’ units are not eligible to shoot.- Firing Deck ‘x’: Each time this TRANSPORT shoots, select one weapon (excluding weapons with the [ONE SHOT] ability) from up to ‘x’ models embarked within it whose units have not shot this phase; this TRANSPORT counts as being equipped with those weapons as well. Until the end of the phase, those selected models’ units are not eligible to shoot.
The MOUNTED and CHARACTER keywords are used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
When a unit disembarks from a TRANSPORT model, set it up on the battlefield so that it is wholly within 3" of that TRANSPORT model and not within Engagement Range of any enemy models. If, for any reason, a disembarking model cannot be set up, that model’s unit cannot disembark.
Units that disembark from a TRANSPORT model that either Remained Stationary this phase or has not yet made a Normal, Advance or Fall Back move this phase can then act normally (make a Normal move, Advance, shoot, declare a charge, fight, etc.) in the remainder of the turn. Such a disembarking unit cannot choose to Remain Stationary.
Units that disembark from a TRANSPORT model that made a Normal move this phase count as having made a Normal move themselves; they cannot move further during this phase. Such a unit also cannot declare a charge in the same turn, but can otherwise act normally in the remainder of the turn.
Units cannot disembark from a TRANSPORT model that either Advanced or Fell Back this turn.
- Units that start your Movement phase embarked within a TRANSPORT can disembark this phase, provided their TRANSPORT has not Advanced or Fallen Back.
- If a unit disembarks before its TRANSPORT moves, it can act normally.
- If a unit disembarks after its TRANSPORT moves, it cannot move or charge this turn, but can otherwise act normally.
- Disembarking units must be set up wholly within 3" of their TRANSPORT and not within Engagement Range of any enemy models (or the unit cannot disembark).
- Units that disembark this turn cannot Remain Stationary.
Whether shielded by force fields, enveloped in mystical energies or simply possessed of preternatural senses and lightning-fast reflexes, some warriors are protected by more than mere physical armour.
Some models have an invulnerable save listed on their datasheet. Each time an attack is allocated to a model with an invulnerable save, the controlling player must choose to use either that model’s Save characteristic or its invulnerable save, but not both. If a model has more than one invulnerable save, it can only use one of them – choose which it will use.Unlike armour saving throws (which use a model’s Save characteristic), invulnerable saving throws are never modified by an attack’s Armour Penetration characteristic, but otherwise follow the normal rules for saving throws.
- Invulnerable Save: Never modified by an attack’s AP.
- The controlling player can choose to use either a model’s invulnerable save or its Save characteristic.
The ASTRA MILITARUM and INFANTRY keywords are used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
The MOUNTED and ASTRA MILITARUM keywords are used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
TARGET: One unit from your army that is within 24" of that enemy unit and that would be eligible to shoot if it were your Shooting phase.
EFFECT: If that enemy unit is visible to your unit, your unit can shoot that enemy unit as if it were your Shooting phase.
RESTRICTIONS: You cannot target a TITANIC unit with this Stratagem. Until the end of the phase, each time a model in your unit makes a ranged attack, an unmodified Hit roll of 6 is required to score a hit, irrespective of the attacking weapon’s Ballistic Skill or any modifiers. You can only use this Stratagem once per turn.
The ASTRA MILITARUM and VEHICLE keywords are used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
The INFANTRY and REGIMENT keywords are used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
The ARTILLERY keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
The MONSTER keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
The VEHICLE keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
The TYRANIDS and SYNAPSE keywords are used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
The keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
The TYRANIDS keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
The TYRANIDS and VANGUARD INVADER keywords are used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
With each tug on the synaptic leash, the Hive Mind drains more of its hapless worshippers.
At the end of your Movement phase, for each TYRANIDS SYNAPSE unit from your army, you can select one friendly unit (excluding PURESTRAIN GENESTEALER and PATRIARCH units) and one friendly TYRANIDS unit each within 9" of and visible to that SYNAPSE unit. If you do, that unit from your army suffers D3+1 mortal wounds and one model in the selected TYRANIDS unit regains up to that many lost wounds and until the start of your next Movement phase, each time a model in the selected TYRANIDS unit makes an attack, add 1 to the Hit roll.TYRANIDS units from your army have the following ability:
Catalyst (Aura): While an enemy unit is within 6" of this unit, each time a friendly unit makes an attack that targets that enemy unit, add 1 to the Hit roll.
The Star Children’s Blessings
You can include TYRANIDS VANGUARD INVADER units (excluding AIRCRAFT, BROODLORD and GENESTEALERS units) in your army. The combined points cost of such units depends on your battle size:
- Incursion: Up to 500 pts
- Strike Force: Up to 1000 pts
- Onslaught: Up to 1500 pts
No TYRANIDS models from your army can be your WARLORD.
The TYRANIDS and CHARACTER keywords are used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
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The changing nature of the war zone and the demands from high command necessitate the opening of arms caches and wargear vaults to ensure your warriors face the enemy with the most effective killing tools.
The INFANTRY keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
As wars grind on into deadlier phases, vital missions require larger numbers of troops. Embedding warriors into experienced formations is an intensive and costly exercise, but the victories that result speak for themselves.
This Requisition costs 1RP plus 1 additional RP for every 2 Battle Honours the unit has, rounding up (to a maximum of 4RP).
Information uncovered by your forces has revealed the growing importance of this war zone and the increasing threat posed by enemies. In response, high command has acceded to your urgent request for reinforcements.
If you have 3 Ascension points, spend all 3 to increase your Control count by 1. If you have a target institution, you gain control of that institution.
Then, if your Control count is 4, you win a Glorious Ascension victory. Otherwise, you either gain the Controlled Institution benefit that matches your target institution (see right) or 1 Requisition point.
The BATTLELINE keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
Plans must be made against any threats. Tunnels must be dug, supplies cached and traps set.
At the start of your next turn, each of those selected units that is still within the same terrain feature gains 2XP, and each unit that gains XP in this way is said to have Prepared that terrain feature.
If your Crusade force is on a Path of Ascension, at the end of the battle, if you Prepared 3 or more terrain features, your Crusade force is Prepared for the Ordeal (make a note of this on your Order of Battle). When fighting in the Great Ordeal, if your Crusade force is Prepared for the Ordeal, increase your starting number of Command points by 2. When your current Path of Ascension ends, your Crusade force is no longer Prepared for the Ordeal.
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Then, if your Propagation count is 5, you win a Seed the Stars victory.
Shattered ruins and twisted wreckage afford much-needed shelter from enemy salvoes. Even heavily armoured warriors unfazed by small arms fire are thankful for such cover when foes bring their biggest guns to bear.
Models can sometimes gain a measure of protection from terrain features. The rules below detail the conditions under which a terrain feature confers the Benefit of Cover on a model.Each time a ranged attack is allocated to a model that has the Benefit of Cover, add 1 to the saving throw made for that attack (excluding invulnerable saving throws). Models with a Save characteristic of 3+ or better cannot have the Benefit of Cover against attacks with an Armour Penetration characteristic of 0. Multiple instances of the Benefit of Cover are not cumulative – a model cannot benefit from this rule more than once at any one time.
- Benefit of Cover: Add 1 to armour saving throws against ranged attacks.
- Does not apply to models with a Save of 3+ or better against attacks with an AP of 0.
- Multiple instances are not cumulative.
The CHARACTER and INFANTRY keywords are used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
The Starting Strength of an Attached unit is equal to the combined Starting Strengths of all of its units (i.e. the number of models in the Leader unit added to the number of models in the Bodyguard unit). If either the Leader unit or the Bodyguard unit in an Attached unit is destroyed, the Starting Strength of the remaining unit is changed to be equal to its original Starting Strength.
For the purposes of rules that are triggered when a unit is destroyed, such rules are still triggered when one of the individual units that made up an Attached unit is destroyed (the Leader or the Bodyguard unit).
Some warriors attack with blinding speed, landing their blows before their foes can react.
Units with this ability that are eligible to fight do so in the Fights First step, provided every model in the unit has this ability.If the result is greater than or equal to the Save characteristic of the model the attack was allocated to, then that saving throw is successful and the attack sequence ends. Otherwise, that saving throw fails and that model suffers damage.
An unmodified saving throw of 1 always fails. A saving throw can never be improved by more than +1.
- Saving Throw: Roll one D6 and modify by the attack’s AP. If the result is less than the Save of the model being rolled for, the saving throw is failed and that model suffers damage. Otherwise, that attack is saved.
- An unmodified saving throw of 1 always fails.
- A saving throw can never be improved by more than +1.
The SYNAPSE keyword is used in the following Tyranids datasheets:
The GREAT DEVOURER keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets: