Genestealer Cults – Purestrain Genestealers
MELEE WEAPONS | RANGE | A | WS | S | AP | D | |
| Cult claws and talons | |||||||
| Cult claws and talons | Melee | 4 | 2+ | 4 | -2 | 1 | |
ABILITIES
CORE: Deep Strike, Infiltrators
FACTION: Cult Ambush
Swift and Deadly: This unit is eligible to declare a charge in a turn in which it Advanced.
UNIT COMPOSITION
- 5-10 Purestrain Genestealers
| 5 models | 75 |
| 10 models | 140 |
KEYWORDS: INFANTRY; GREAT DEVOURER; PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS
FACTION KEYWORDS:
GENESTEALER CULTS
GENESTEALER CULTS
STRATAGEMS
COMMAND RE-ROLL
1CP
Core
C
INSANE BRAVERY
1CP
Core
C
FIRE OVERWATCH
1CP
Core
C
RAPID INGRESS
1CP
Core
C
HEROIC INTERVENTION
1CP
Core
C
COUNTEROFFENSIVE
2CP
Core
C
EVASIVE VANGUARD
1CP
Biosanctic Broodsurge – Strategic Ploy
BIO-HORROR REVELATION
1CP
Biosanctic Broodsurge – Strategic Ploy
STIMULATED BIO-SURGE
1CP
Biosanctic Broodsurge – Battle Tactic
GENE-TWISTED MUSCLE
1CP
Biosanctic Broodsurge – Battle Tactic
HYPER-METABOLIC VIGOUR
1CP
Biosanctic Broodsurge – Battle Tactic
COMMAND RE-ROLL
1CP
Boarding Actions – Epic Deed
BA
INSANE BRAVERY
1CP
Boarding Actions – Epic Deed
BA
EXPLOSIVE CLEARANCE
1CP
Boarding Actions – Battle Tactic
BA
COUNTER-OFFENSIVE
2CP
Boarding Actions – Strategic Ploy
BA
A DARK NETWORK
1CP
Brood Brother Auxilia – Strategic Ploy
SYMBIOTIC DESTRUCTION
1CP
Brood Brother Auxilia – Battle Tactic
DIVINE IMPERATIVE
1CP
Final Day – Battle Tactic
RESISTANCE TUNNELS
1CP
Final Day – Strategic Ploy
HYPERFEROCITY
1CP
Final Day – Battle Tactic
TUNNEL CRAWLERS
1CP
Host of Ascension – Strategic Ploy
COORDINATED TRAP
2CP
Host of Ascension – Battle Tactic
PRIMED AND READIED
2CP
Host of Ascension – Battle Tactic
A DEADLY SNARE
1CP
Host of Ascension – Strategic Ploy
RETURN TO THE SHADOWS
1CP
Host of Ascension – Strategic Ploy
HUNTING GROUNDS
1CP
Infestation Swarm – Strategic Ploy
HYPERADRENAL REFLEXES
1CP
Infestation Swarm – Battle Tactic
PERVASIVE DREAD
1CP
Infestation Swarm – Strategic Ploy
OUTFLANK
1CP
Infestation Swarm – Strategic Ploy
ALONG SHADOWED TRAILS
1CP
Outlander Claw – Strategic Ploy
LURK AND STRIKE
1CP
Purestrain Broodswarm Stratagem
CRAWLING HORROR
1CP
Purestrain Broodswarm Stratagem
INHUMAN REACTIONS
1CP
Purestrain Broodswarm Stratagem
LED BY
This unit can be led by the following unit:
DETACHMENT ABILITY
A Perfect Ambush
Hypermorphic Fury
Integrated Tactics
Half-Glimpsed Shadows
Enemy Within
Hordes of the Faithful
ENHANCEMENTS
Mark of the Star Children
DEEP STRIKE
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.
[LETHAL HITS]24.23
Many deadly weapons can inflict fatal injuries on any foe, no matter their resilience.
Each time an attack made with a [LETHAL HITS] weapon results in a critical hit, you can choose for that attack to automatically wound the target.Designer’s Note: Choosing to automatically wound the target means that no wound roll is made for that attack. You may decide against this, as it means that attack cannot result in a critical wound and so cannot trigger other abilities such as [DEVASTATING WOUNDS].
Before selecting targets for this weapon, select one of its profiles to make attacks with.
06.03 Hazard Rolls
To make a hazard roll for a unit, roll one D6: on a 1-2, that roll fails and that unit suffers 1 mortal wound, or 3 mortal wounds instead if each model in that unit is a MONSTER/VEHICLE model. If more than one hazard roll is required for a unit, make all of those rolls simultaneously.
[HAZARDOUS]24.15
Weapons powered by unstable and dangerous energy sources pose a substantial risk to the wielder and those that stand beside them.
Each time a unit is selected to shoot or selected to fight, after that unit has resolved all of its attacks, make a number of hazard rolls (06.03) for that unit equal to the number of [HAZARDOUS] weapons you selected in the Select Weapons step.The GENESTEALER CULTS keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
Characters
Dedicated Transports
Fortifications
The INFANTRY keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
Characters
Battleline
Other
The GREAT DEVOURER keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
Characters
Battleline
03.04 Engagement
A model’s engagement range is the area of the battlefield within 2" horizontally and 5" vertically of it.
- While a friendly model is within engagement range of one or more enemy models, those models – and the units they belong to – are engaged with each other.
- While a unit contains no engaged models, that unit is unengaged.
WHAT IS ENGAGEMENT?
While opposing models are within each other’s engagement range, they are able to fight in vicious melee, so unless they are seeking to make melee attacks, models should keep out of their foes’ reach.
ENGAGEMENT
These two units have at least one model within 2" of the opposing unit, and are therefore engaged with each other.
ADVANCE MOVE09.06
MAXIMUM DISTANCE: Advance roll + your unit’s M characteristic.
ELIGIBLE IF: Your unit is on the battlefield and unengaged.EFFECT: Your unit moves as described in Moving (03).
BEFORE MOVING: Make an advance roll by rolling one D6.
AFTER MOVING:
- Your unit must be unengaged.
- Until the end of the turn, unless otherwise stated, your unit is not eligible to declare a charge or start an action.
Hit Roll
Make one hit roll for each attack dice by rolling one D6. For each result, check if it fails or is a hit by matching the first condition below that applies:
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CRITICAL HITS
Critical hits are still hits. In addition, other rules can be triggered by a critical hit, such as [LETHAL HITS] (24).Save Rolls
The opposing player resolves the following sequence:- Create Groups: Divide all models in the target unit into the following groups, as many times as required:
- One group for each CHARACTER model.
- One group for all other models with the same W, Sv and InSv characteristics.
- Allocation Order: Declare the order in which those groups will have attacks allocated to them, applying all of the following:
- If a non-CHARACTER group contains a model that has lost one or more wounds, that group must be first in the allocation order.
- No CHARACTER group can be earlier in the allocation order than a non-CHARACTER group.
- CHARACTER groups containing a model that has lost one or more wounds must be earlier in the allocation order than CHARACTER groups containing no wounded models.
- Make Save Rolls: The opposing player makes one save roll for each attack that wounded the target by rolling one D6.
[DEVASTATING WOUNDS]24.10
The most potent weapons strike with such power that they make a mockery of armour and can cleave through several foes.
Each time an attack made with a [DEVASTATING WOUNDS] weapon results in a critical wound, the attack sequence for that attack ends and the target unit suffers a number of mortal wounds equal to the D characteristic of that weapon. These are inflicted after resolving any normal damage inflicted by those attacks.Mortal wounds inflicted by [DEVASTATING WOUNDS] weapons can damage a maximum of one model for each critical wound; any remaining mortal wounds inflicted by that attack are lost.
Example: An attack made with a [DEVASTATING WOUNDS] weapon with a D characteristic of 3 results in a critical wound against an Intercessor Squad, so inflicts 3 mortal wounds. The first 2 mortal wounds are sufficient to destroy 1 Intercessor model, so the remaining mortal wound is lost.
Wound Roll
Make one wound roll for each hit by rolling one D6. For each result, check if it fails or is a wound by matching the first condition below that applies:
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CRITICAL WOUNDS
Critical wounds are still wounds. In addition, other rules can be triggered by a critical wound, such as [DEVASTATING WOUNDS] (24).COMMAND RE-ROLL15.02
1CP
Core Stratagem
A great commander can bend even the vagaries of fate and fortune to their will, the better to ensure victory.
WHEN: Any phase, just after you make one of the following rolls for a friendly unit or model:
TARGET: That unit or model.
EFFECT: You re-roll that roll. If you are rolling more than one dice together, select one of those dice to re-roll (excluding charge rolls, which you must re-roll in full).
- Advance roll
- Charge roll
- Damage roll
- Hazard roll
- Hit roll
- Save roll
- Wound roll
- A roll to determine the number of attacks generated with a weapon.
TARGET: That unit or model.
EFFECT: You re-roll that roll. If you are rolling more than one dice together, select one of those dice to re-roll (excluding charge rolls, which you must re-roll in full).
01.07 Battle-shock Rolls
To make a battle-shock roll for a unit, its controlling player makes a leadership roll for it (see above).- If that roll succeeds, that unit does not become battle-shocked.
- If that roll fails, that unit, and each model in it, is battle-shocked.
While a unit is battle-shocked:
- The Objective Control (OC) characteristic of all of its models is modified to ‘-’ (02.02).
- Its controlling player cannot target that unit with stratagems (15).
- It is not eligible to start an action (16), and any action it has started cannot be completed.
BATTLEFIELD MORALE
The morale and organisation of troops can waver and break during battle. This is checked using battle-shock rolls, most commonly in the Command phase. Failing such a roll represents the unit’s courage faltering due to taking casualties or through other disruption, reducing its battlefield effectiveness. Similarly, some rules will require you to check a unit’s readiness by making a leadership roll.01.05.01 Automatically Successful/Passes/Hits/Wounds
When a dice roll or test is automatically successful or automatically passes/hits/wounds, do not roll the dice and instead move to the next step of the sequence for that roll as if the required result had been rolled. Any rules that take effect on a particular dice result or roll result do not take effect.Example: If a hit roll is automatically successful, move straight to the Wound Rolls step for that attack. Such a hit roll is not a critical hit.
Example: If a wound roll is automatically successful, move straight to the Save Rolls step for that attack. Such a wound roll is not a critical wound.
INSANE BRAVERY15.04
1CP
Core Stratagem
Indifferent to their own survival, these warriors hold their ground against seemingly impossible odds.
WHEN: Battle-shock step of your Command phase, just before you make a battle-shock roll for a friendly unit.
TARGET: That unit.
EFFECT: That battle-shock roll is automatically successful.
RESTRICTIONS: You cannot use this stratagem more than once per battle.
TARGET: That unit.
EFFECT: That battle-shock roll is automatically successful.
RESTRICTIONS: You cannot use this stratagem more than once per battle.
06.01 Visibility
Line of sight is used to determine visibility between models. For an observing model to have line of sight, it must be possible to draw an imaginary straight line, 1 mm wide, from any part of that model to any part of the model being observed. This line is the line of sight. While doing so, other models in the observing model’s unit and in the observed model’s unit are ignored.Other models and units can be either visible or fully visible to the observing model, as shown below. Note that terrain applies additional rules to visibility (13.07).
Model Visible
If any part of another model is visible to the observing model, that model is visible.
Model Fully Visible
If every part of another model that is facing the observing model is visible to the observing model (so the only thing blocking visibility to any part of that other model is that model itself), that model is fully visible.
Unit Visible
If one or more models in a unit are visible to the observing model, that unit is visible.
Unit Fully Visible
If every model in a unit is fully visible to the observing model, that unit is fully visible. When determining this, the observing model can see through other models in that unit.
SNAP SHOOTING15.09
ELIGIBLE IF: As stated in the rule allowing this shooting type.
EFFECT: Your unit shoots as described in Making Attacks (04).
WHILE SHOOTING:
EFFECT: Your unit shoots as described in Making Attacks (04).
WHILE SHOOTING:
- You can only target one visible enemy unit within 24" of your unit (and only if it is an eligible target).
- Each attack only hits on an unmodified hit roll of 6 (irrespective of the attacking weapon’s BS characteristic or any modifiers).
- You cannot re-roll hit rolls.
FIRE OVERWATCH15.08
1CP
Core Stratagem
A hail of fire can drive back advancing foes.
WHEN: End of your opponent’s Movement phase.
TARGET: One friendly unengaged unit (excluding TITANIC units).
EFFECT: Your unit shoots using snap shooting.
TARGET: One friendly unengaged unit (excluding TITANIC units).
EFFECT: Your unit shoots using snap shooting.
INGRESS MOVE20.04
SET-UP DISTANCE: 6"
ELIGIBLE IF: Your unit is in strategic reserves (excluding units that are embarked within TRANSPORTS that are themselves in strategic reserves).EFFECT: Your unit is set up as described in Set Up (03.02).
BEFORE MOVING: Your unit is set up as described in Set Up (03.02).
WHILE MOVING: Set up your unit wholly within the set-up distance of one or more battlefield edges and more than 8" horizontally from all enemy units.
- Before the Third Battle Round: While doing so, no models can be set up within your opponent’s deployment zone.
RAPID INGRESS15.07
1CP
Core Stratagem
Be it cunning strategy, potent technology or supernatural ritual, there are many means by which a commander may hasten their warriors’ onset.
WHEN: End of your opponent’s Movement phase.
TARGET: One friendly unit that is in strategic reserves (excluding AIRCRAFT).
EFFECT: Your unit makes an ingress move (20.04).
RESTRICTIONS: You cannot use this stratagem during the first battle round.
TARGET: One friendly unit that is in strategic reserves (excluding AIRCRAFT).
EFFECT: Your unit makes an ingress move (20.04).
RESTRICTIONS: You cannot use this stratagem during the first battle round.
HEROIC INTERVENTION15.11
1CP
Core Stratagem
Voices raised in furious war cries, your warriors surge forth to meet the enemy’s onslaught head-on.
WHEN: End of your opponent’s Charge phase.
TARGET: One friendly unengaged unit within 12" of one or more enemy units. You can only select a VEHICLE unit if it is a CHARACTER/WALKER unit.
EFFECT: Resolve a charge with your unit (11.02). While doing so, before making the charge roll, you must select one of the following modes:
TARGET: One friendly unengaged unit within 12" of one or more enemy units. You can only select a VEHICLE unit if it is a CHARACTER/WALKER unit.
EFFECT: Resolve a charge with your unit (11.02). While doing so, before making the charge roll, you must select one of the following modes:
- Leap to Defend: When selecting charge targets, you can only select enemy units that made a charge move this phase and are within the maximum distance.
+1CP
- Into the Fray:
- When making the charge roll, if the result is greater than 6 (after modifiers), change it to 6.
- When selecting charge targets, you can select any enemy units that are within 6" of your unit and within the maximum distance.
05.04.04 Destroyed
Throughout a battle, models will suffer damage, lose wounds and be destroyed. When every model in a unit has been destroyed, that unit is destroyed.When a model is destroyed, first resolve any rules that are triggered when it is destroyed, then it is removed from the battlefield. If any such rules apply, and if the model was destroyed as the result of an attack, unless otherwise stated, those rules are only resolved and that model is only removed after the attacking unit’s attacks have been resolved. Unless otherwise stated, destroyed models and units cannot use abilities or be selected or targeted by rules.
Some rules only trigger if an enemy model or unit was destroyed by you, or by a model or unit from your army. This means that the enemy model or unit was destroyed by an attack made by a model from your army, or by a player rule you have. Enemy models or units that are destroyed by any other means are not destroyed by you, or by a model or unit from your army.
FIGHTS FIRST24.13
Those possessed of lightning-fast reactions may strike before the opponent can react.
While every model in a unit has this ability, that unit is a Fights First unit.See the Resolve Fights First Combats step in the Fight phase (12.04).
COUNTEROFFENSIVE15.12
2CP
Core Stratagem
In close-quarters combat, the slightest hesitation can leave an opening for a swift foe to exploit.
WHEN: Fight step of your opponent’s Fight phase, just after an enemy unit has resolved its attacks.
TARGET: One friendly unit that is eligible to fight.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, your unit has the Fights First ability and it must be the next unit you select to fight (12.04).
TARGET: One friendly unit that is eligible to fight.
EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, your unit has the Fights First ability and it must be the next unit you select to fight (12.04).
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).
EVASIVE VANGUARD
1CP
Biosanctic Broodsurge – Strategic Ploy Stratagem
Adaptive and intelligent, the purest of a cult's broods can evade their foes to find new avenues of ingress.
WHEN: Any phase, just after an enemy unit ends a move within 9" of one or more of your Cult Ambush markers, before removing those markers from the battlefield.
TARGET: Select one of those Cult Ambush markers.
EFFECT: You can set up that Cult Ambush marker anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 9" horizontally away from all enemy units.
TARGET: Select one of those Cult Ambush markers.
EFFECT: You can set up that Cult Ambush marker anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 9" horizontally away from all enemy units.
06.02 Mortal Wounds
Some attacks or rules inflict mortal wounds on units. Each time a unit suffers one or more mortal wounds, its controlling player must resolve the following sequence for each of those mortal wounds, until either all of them have been inflicted or that unit is destroyed:- Select Model: Select one model in that unit by following the first instruction below that applies:
If a non-CHARACTER model in that unit has lost one or more wounds, you must select that model. Otherwise, if that unit contains one or more non-CHARACTER models, you must select one of those models. Otherwise, if one or more CHARACTER models in that unit have lost one or more wounds, you must select one of those models. Otherwise, you must select one CHARACTER model in that unit. - Resolve Damage: The selected model loses 1 wound. If this reduces that model’s remaining wounds to 0, it is destroyed.
MORTAL WOUNDS AND NORMAL DAMAGE
When resolving attack dice, if those attacks inflict a mixture of both mortal wounds and normal damage, resolve all of the normal damage first, then resolve all of the mortal wounds.
FALL-BACK MOVE09.07
MAXIMUM DISTANCE: Your unit’s M characteristic.
ELIGIBLE IF: Your unit is engaged.EFFECT: Your unit moves as described in Moving (03).
BEFORE MOVING: Select fall-back mode:
- Ordered Retreat: If your unit is not battle-shocked, you can select this mode.
- Desperate Escape: Otherwise, you must select this mode. Make a hazard roll for each model in your unit (06.03).
- Desperate Escape: Each model that is moved can be moved through enemy models.
- Your unit must be unengaged.
- Until the end of the turn, unless otherwise stated, your unit is not eligible to shoot, declare a charge or start an action.
- Desperate Escape: If your unit is not battle-shocked, you must make a battle-shock roll for your unit (01.07).
COMMAND RE-ROLL
1CP
Boarding Actions – Epic Deed Stratagem
A great commander can bend even the vagaries of fate and fortune to their will, the better to ensure victory.
WHEN: Any phase, just after you have made a Hit roll, a Wound roll, a Damage roll, a saving throw, an Advance roll, a Charge roll, a Desperate Escape test, a Hazardous test, or just after you have rolled the dice to determine the number of attacks made with a weapon, for an attack, model or unit from your army.
TARGET: That unit or model from your army.
EFFECT: You re-roll that roll, test or saving throw.
TARGET: That unit or model from your army.
EFFECT: You re-roll that roll, test or saving throw.
INSANE BRAVERY
1CP
Boarding Actions – Epic Deed Stratagem
Indifferent to their own survival, these warriors hold their ground against seemingly impossible odds.
WHEN: Battle-shock step of your Command phase, just after you have failed a Battle-shock test taken for a unit from your army.
TARGET: The unit from your army that Battle-shock test was just taken for (even though your Battle-shocked units cannot normally be affected by your Stratagems).
EFFECT: Your unit is treated as having passed that test instead, and is not Battle-shocked as a result.
TARGET: The unit from your army that Battle-shock test was just taken for (even though your Battle-shocked units cannot normally be affected by your Stratagems).
EFFECT: Your unit is treated as having passed that test instead, and is not Battle-shocked as a result.
[BLAST]24.05
High-explosive rounds can fell several warriors in a single blast, but firing them too close to comrades is unwise.
Each time you gather attack dice for a [BLAST] weapon, add one additional attack dice for every five models that were in the target unit in the Select Targets step (rounding down).If this ability takes the form [BLAST X], each time you gather attack dice for such a weapon, add X additional attack dice for every five models that were in the target unit in the Select Targets step (rounding down) instead.
Example: If a [BLAST 2] weapon with an A characteristic of 3 targets a unit containing 12 models, you would gather four additional attack dice for that weapon (for a total of seven for that weapon).
EXPLOSIVE CLEARANCE
1CP
Boarding Actions – Battle Tactic Stratagem
A well-placed explosive munition in confined shipboard spaces can cause bloody carnage.
WHEN: Your Shooting phase.
TARGET: One unit from your army that has not been selected to shoot this phase.
EFFECT: Select one model in your unit that is equipped with a weapon with the [BLAST] ability. Until the end of the phase, when determining how many models are in the target unit for the purpose of that ability, include models that are not visible to the attacking model. In addition, attacks made with that weapon can be allocated to models that are not visible to the attacking model.
TARGET: One unit from your army that has not been selected to shoot this phase.
EFFECT: Select one model in your unit that is equipped with a weapon with the [BLAST] ability. Until the end of the phase, when determining how many models are in the target unit for the purpose of that ability, include models that are not visible to the attacking model. In addition, attacks made with that weapon can be allocated to models that are not visible to the attacking model.
COUNTER-OFFENSIVE
2CP
Boarding Actions – Strategic Ploy Stratagem
In close-quarters combat, the slightest hesitation can leave an opening for a swift foe to exploit.
WHEN: Fight phase, just after an enemy unit has fought.
TARGET: One unit from your army that is within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units and that has not already been selected to fight this phase.
EFFECT: Your unit fights next.
TARGET: One unit from your army that is within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units and that has not already been selected to fight this phase.
EFFECT: Your unit fights next.
The ASTRA MILITARUM keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
Characters
Fortifications
Other
and others...
The MONSTER keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
Dedicated Transports
The VEHICLE keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
Fortifications
Other
and others...
NORMAL MOVE09.05
MAXIMUM DISTANCE: Your unit’s M characteristic.
ELIGIBLE IF: Your unit is on the battlefield and unengaged.EFFECT: Your unit moves as described in Moving (03).
AFTER MOVING: Your unit must be unengaged.
A DARK NETWORK
1CP
Brood Brother Auxilia – Strategic Ploy Stratagem
Forewarned of the enemy's sudden onset by spies in their ranks or by the Brood Brothers' own strategos, the cult’s faithful evade potential catastrophe.
WHEN: Reinforcements step of your opponent’s Movement phase, just after an enemy unit is set up on the battlefield from Reserves.
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".
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".
SYMBIOTIC DESTRUCTION
1CP
Brood Brother Auxilia – Battle Tactic Stratagem
As the Broodmind coordinates their timing, martial and insurrectionist comrades target their chosen victims in volleys of mutually supportive firepower.
WHEN: Your Shooting phase.
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 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.
The TYRANIDS keyword is used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
Characters
Battleline
Dedicated Transports
DIVINE IMPERATIVE
1CP
Final Day – Battle Tactic Stratagem
Cultists dash madly into the fighting without a care for their survival, drawn onward to aid the vanguard organisms by a will they cannot resist.
WHEN: Your Charge phase, when a friendly GENESTEALER CULTS unit within 12" of a friendly engaged TYRANIDS unit declares a charge.
TARGET: That GENESTEALER CULTS unit.
EFFECT:
TARGET: That GENESTEALER CULTS unit.
EFFECT:
- Your unit has +1 to charge rolls.
- You can use this part of this stratagem. If you do:
- Your unit can re-roll charge rolls.
- Your unit must end that charge move engaged with an enemy unit engaged with that friendly TYRANIDS unit.
RESISTANCE TUNNELS
1CP
Final Day – Strategic Ploy Stratagem
Never again will the tunnel networks of the cult provide secret roads for hopeful and idealistic freedom fighters. Yet they can still serve one last time as a means by which the Tyranids and their surviving worshippers can vanish from the battlefield only to strike again elsewhere.
WHEN: End of your opponent’s Fight phase.
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.
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.
HYPERFEROCITY
1CP
Final Day – Battle Tactic Stratagem
Goaded by the newly ascendant Hive Mind, the cultists fight with greater fury even as their muscles tear and organs rupture under the strain.
WHEN: Fight phase.
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 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.
01.06 Leadership Rolls
To make a leadership roll for a unit, its controlling player rolls 2D6: if the result is equal to or greater than one or more of the Ld characteristics in that unit, that roll succeeds. Otherwise, that roll fails. The rule that instructed you to make that leadership roll will describe the effects of that roll succeeding or failing.
TUNNEL CRAWLERS
1CP
Host of Ascension – Strategic Ploy Stratagem
The cult can expertly assail seemingly impregnable enemy positions.
WHEN: Your Movement phase.
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 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.
COORDINATED TRAP
2CP
Host of Ascension – Battle Tactic Stratagem
A tenet of guerrilla warfare is the concentration of even inferior firepower to inflict maximum harm.
WHEN: The start of your Shooting phase or the start of the Fight phase.
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: 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.
PRIMED AND READIED
2CP
Host of Ascension – Battle Tactic Stratagem
The broodkin have been trained and equipped for this moment, with weapons readied for Ascension.
WHEN: Your Shooting phase or the Fight phase.
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 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.
The GENESTEALER CULTS and INFANTRY keywords are used in the following Genestealer Cults datasheets:
A DEADLY SNARE
1CP
Host of Ascension – Strategic Ploy Stratagem
An enemy's fervour to strike down the faithful of the cult can be turned against them, luring the foe into a region laced with hidden traps and primed explosives.
WHEN: Your opponent’s Charge phase, just after an enemy unit declares a charge.
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.
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.
RETURN TO THE SHADOWS
1CP
Host of Ascension – Strategic Ploy Stratagem
With their task of drawing the oppressors' fire complete, the surviving cultists melt away, ready to strike again.
WHEN: End of your opponent’s Fight phase.
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS INFANTRY 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.
TARGET: One GENESTEALER CULTS INFANTRY 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.
ALONG SHADOWED TRAILS
1CP
Outlander Claw – Strategic Ploy Stratagem
With raw speed and subtle misdirection, Atalan Jackals outflank those who believe them trapped.
WHEN: Any phase, just after an enemy unit ends a move within 9" of one or more of your Cult Ambush markers.
TARGET: Select one of those Cult Ambush markers.
EFFECT: You can set up that Cult Ambush marker anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 8" horizontally away from all enemy units.
TARGET: Select one of those Cult Ambush markers.
EFFECT: You can set up that Cult Ambush marker anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 8" horizontally away from all enemy units.
A Perfect Ambush
Host of Ascension Detachment
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.Integrated Tactics
Brood Brother Auxilia Detachment
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.Army List
Datasheets collatedCharacters
Battleline
Fortifications
Other
INFILTRATORS24.20
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, it can be set up anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 8" horizontally from your opponent’s deployment zone and all enemy units.HUNTING GROUNDS
1CP
Infestation Swarm – Strategic Ploy Stratagem
Genestealers on the hunt are relentless, squirming through hatches before they have even half opened.
WHEN: Your Movement phase, just after a GREAT DEVOURER unit from your army opens a Hatchway.
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: 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.
HYPERADRENAL REFLEXES
1CP
Infestation Swarm – Battle Tactic Stratagem
Goaded by the biostimulants surging through their bodies, these warrior organisms evade their enemies'attacks with unbelievable swiftness.
WHEN: Fight phase, just after an enemy unit has selected its targets.
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: 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.
PERVASIVE DREAD
1CP
Infestation Swarm – Strategic Ploy Stratagem
With the death of their leader, the surviving prey feel an ominous sense of doom press down upon them, heightened by subtle psionic assault.
WHEN: Fight phase, just after the enemy WARLORD is destroyed (and is not returned to the battlefield) by a GREAT DEVOURER unit from your army.
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: 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.
Half-Glimpsed Shadows
Infestation Swarm Detachment
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.13.09 Hidden
A model is hidden while all of the following apply to it:- That model has the INFANTRY/BEASTS/SWARM keyword and is within a terrain area that contains one or more dense terrain features.
- That model’s unit did not make one or more ranged attacks during this turn or during the previous turn.
BIO-HORROR REVELATION
1CP
Biosanctic Broodsurge – Strategic Ploy Stratagem
Face to face with hideous genetic monstrosities, their full horror can shake even the most stoic soul.
WHEN: Start of your opponent's Shooting phase.
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.
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.
STIMULATED BIO-SURGE
1CP
Biosanctic Broodsurge – Battle Tactic Stratagem
Triggered by xenos bio-stimms flooding their bodies, when the cult’s predators spring their trap, the jaws close inescapably.
WHEN: Your Charge phase.
TARGET: One ABERRANTS, BIOPHAGUS or PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit from your army that has not declared a charge this phase.
EFFECT: Your unit has +2 to charge rolls.
TARGET: One ABERRANTS, BIOPHAGUS or PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit from your army that has not declared a charge this phase.
EFFECT: Your unit has +2 to charge rolls.
GENE-TWISTED MUSCLE
1CP
Biosanctic Broodsurge – Battle Tactic Stratagem
The raw strength of those infused with the Patriarch’s distilled power is undeniable when directed against the foe’s hulking tools of tyranny.
WHEN: Fight phase.
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 an attack that targets a MONSTER or VEHICLE, add 1 to the Wound roll.
CONSOLIDATION MOVE12.08
MAXIMUM DISTANCE: 3"
ELIGIBLE IF: It is the Fight phase and your unit was eligible to fight this phase.EFFECT: Your unit moves as described in Moving (03).
BEFORE MOVING: Select consolidation mode:
- Ongoing Consolidation:If your unit is engaged, you must select this mode and select every enemy unit it is engaged with.
- Engaging Consolidation:Otherwise, if your unit is within 3" of one or more enemy units, you must select this mode and select one or more of those enemy units.
- Objective Consolidation:Otherwise, if your unit is within 3" of one or more objectives, you must select this mode and select one of those objectives.
- Ongoing Consolidation:Models in base-contact with one or more enemy models cannot be moved. Each model that is moved must end its move closer to the closest selected enemy unit, and engaged with it if possible.
- Engaging Consolidation:Each model that is moved must end its move closer to the closest selected enemy unit, and engaged with it if possible.
- Objective Consolidation:Each model that is moved must end its move within range of the selected objective if possible, or closer to it if not.
- Ongoing Consolidation:Each model that started this move engaged with an enemy unit must still be engaged with that enemy unit.
- Engaging Consolidation:Your unit must be engaged with all of the selected enemy units. If one or more enemy units engaged with your unit have not been selected to fight this phase, your opponent must select each of those units, one at a time; when each is selected, it becomes eligible to fight and is selected to fight (12.04).
- Objective Consolidation:Your unit must be within range of the selected objective.
HYPER-METABOLIC VIGOUR
1CP
Biosanctic Broodsurge – Battle Tactic Stratagem
Evidence of the bio-horror taint in their veins, the most blessed of a cult exhibit an inhuman swiftness.
WHEN: Fight phase.
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 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.
Hypermorphic Fury
Biosanctic Broodsurge Detachment
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.OUTFLANK
1CP
Infestation Swarm – Strategic Ploy Stratagem
Swarms of Genestealers crawl through vents and ducts as they seek to outflank their prey.
WHEN: End of your opponent’s Fight phase.
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.
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.
LURK AND STRIKE
1CP
Purestrain Broodswarm Stratagem
Any sign these vicious aliens are trying to flee is but misdirection as they slip away from their attackers only to pounce once again upon unsuspecting prey.
WHEN: Your Movement phase, when a friendly PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit is selected to make a fall-back move.
TARGET: That PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit.
EFFECT: That move does not prevent your unit from being eligible to declare a charge.
TARGET: That PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit.
EFFECT: That move does not prevent your unit from being eligible to declare a charge.
CRAWLING HORROR
1CP
Purestrain Broodswarm Stratagem
Genestealers can constrict themselves into grotesquely narrow spaces, can crawl across vertical surfaces and hang from ceilings in utter silence, and are rarely seen by their prey before it is altogether too late.
WHEN: Start of your opponent’s Movement phase.
TARGET: One friendly PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit.
EFFECT: Your unit has -6" detection range until the end of the turn.
TARGET: One friendly PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit.
EFFECT: Your unit has -6" detection range until the end of the turn.
INHUMAN REACTIONS
1CP
Purestrain Broodswarm Stratagem
Purestrain Genestealers think and move with horrifying swiftness, darting through the smoke and shadow of the battlefield, remaining always a few steps ahead of their prey.
WHEN: Your opponent’s Movement phase, when an enemy unit ends a move within 8" of a friendly unengaged PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit.
TARGET: That PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit.
EFFECT: Your unit can make a normal move of up to D3+3".
TARGET: That PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit.
EFFECT: Your unit can make a normal move of up to D3+3".
Enemy Within
Purestrain Broodswarm Detachment
Genestealers on the hunt combine malevolent cunning and inhuman agility to strike and fade again and again, until their prey are reduced to panicked disarray.
At the end of your opponent’s Fight phase, friendly unengaged PURESTRAIN GENESTEALER units can be placed in strategic reserves.This detachment has the PURESTRAIN tag and cannot be taken with another PURESTRAIN detachment.
Hordes of the Faithful
Xenocult Masses Detachment
More and yet more Neophytes surge from tunnel mouths, mine entrances and derelict fortifications, drowning the foe in a tide of fanatical killers.
In your Command phase, if a friendly NEOPHYTE HYBRIDS unit is within a terrain area, that unit heals 3 wounds.This detachment has the HOSTS tag and cannot be taken with another HOSTS detachment.
Purestrain Broodswarm Detachment
Spontaneous biomorphs amongst this brood of Purestrains render them bigger, stronger, and mark them out as surely being the chosen of the Star Children themselves.
PURESTRAIN GENESTEALERS unit only. This unit has:
- +1 T.
- 4+ Sv.
- This unit’s melee attacks have +1 S.