December Detachment Review: Haloscreed Battle Clade

The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and Admech got a detachment which makes my heart tingle.

In news that nobody expected, the Admech detachment is the best so far and it’s not even close. I’m going to jump right into it, the Omnissiah demands it.

The detachment ability is Noospheric Transference which lets you pick as the start of your command phase two units (in a strike force game, which let’s be honest, is all we care about) and give them the Halo Override keyword. You then pick one of four abilities, and those two units gain the effects. The effects are as follows:

Electromotive Energisation: +2 Move
Microactuator Bracing: +1 Toughness
Predation Protocols: Advance and Charge
Muted Servomotors: Gain the Stealth ability

These are all, really good.

You know what’s even better?

At no point does it say you have to pick an Admech model for this ability. So if you ally in, I don’t know, Canis Rex, You’re about to have a real good time. At time of writing at least. Who knows if this is an oversight, I hope not, but it likely is.

Hunter Cohort is dead, long live Haloscreed Battle Clade

Enhancements

The detachment only keeps being more sicko mode the deeper in you get by the way. Brace yourself.

Transoracular Dyad Wafers (who the fuck named this) is 30 points. Expensive. You put it on a Datasmith who is leading Kastelan Robots. The unit gets Doctrina Imperatives (Big) and has the Halo Override keyword. It just can’t be selected as a unit which gets Halo Override in your command phase, and I mean, why would you. The robots can now advance and charge, and shoot with the conqueror imperative. They can even get an addition +2 move from a stratagem later. This is honestly fucked. S+

Cognitive Reinforcement is a big ol’ 35 points and puts the unit in both Conqueror and Protector Imperatives for the whole game. You’re taking this every list, S+

Sanctified Ordnance is 10 points and lets you add 6″ to weapons in the bearers unit. You also get to re-roll hazardous tests. Kataphron Breachers go BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. A+

Inloaded Lethality is 15 points and goes on a Manipulus or Dominus. You add 3 attacks to their melee weapon and 1 damage. How did they make a smash priest?? It’s cheap enough that you’ll take it when low on points. This is so based. B+

Yeah, these made me smile while reading and writing this. Just going to leave my Admech codex at home, this PDF is my new codex.

Stratagems

This part isn’t as crazy, but it’s still really good. Really, really good.

Eradication Protocols is in the shooting or fight phase and lets you re-roll wound-rolls of 1. Both hit and wound if you have the Halo Override keyword. It’s cool on big things like Skorpius Disintegrators and Onager Dunecrawlers where the heavy keyword plus imperatives let them hit on 2’s. Probably the weakest stratagem, you’ll likely rarely use it. B-

Targeting Override shoot or fight phase critical hits on 5’s. This is the best stratagem bar none. Kataphrons with lethal from a Manipulus. Chicken Walker sustained hits. Blows my mind how good this is. You’re using it every turn. A+

Neural Overload lets you pick a unit from your army and give them a Halo Override ability. It doesn’t have to be the same ability you’ve selected in your command phase. This means you can have 3 (or even four units with Transoracular Dyad Wafers) under the effects of Halo Override. Kick ass. Even better, you can instead pick a unit which already has the Halo Override keyword, deal D3 mortal wounds to them, and then pick a second ability for them to have. Use it every game, A+

Aggressive Impulse lets you charge after getting out of a Skorpius Dunerider which moved. You need to select the Dunerider before it moves, so sequencing is important. I don’t know how practical this is in Admech but 10 Ruststalkers getting out of the boat with +2 advance is pretty fun. B+

Guided Retreat is fall back and shoot. If you’re Halo Override you can re-roll desperate escapes. Fall back and shoot in an army with Kataphrons is based and very useful. A+

Analytical Divination is a D6″ redeploy for Adeptus Mechanicus Infantry after an enemy unit finishes a fall back, advance or normal move within 9″ of the unit. If you have Halo Override it’s flat 6″, adding to the list of armies which redeploy better than Aeldari. I hate my life. This strat can’t be used on Kataphron units, which is fair but sad. It’s good. B+

“Please play Adeptus Mechanicus” – Games Workshop, probably

Lists

This week I have Scotty and Mr Jeremy as my Admech expert, and me, because I actually play this one. Hell yeah.

Josh Abuses 5+ Crits

CHARACTERS

Skitarii Marshal (35 points)
• 1x Control stave
1x Mechanicus pistol

Tech-Priest Manipulus (60 points)
• 1x Magnarail lance
1x Omnissian staff

Tech-Priest Manipulus (60 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Magnarail lance
1x Omnissian staff

BATTLELINE

Skitarii Vanguard (95 points)
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Radium carbine
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Radium carbine

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Skorpius Dunerider (85 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Cognis heavy stubber array

OTHER DATASHEETS

Kataphron Breachers (320 points)
• 6x Kataphron Breacher
• 6x Heavy arc rifle
6x Hydraulic claw

Onager Dunecrawler (155 points)
• 1x Dunecrawler legs
1x Eradication beamer

Pteraxii Skystalkers (70 points)
• 1x Pteraxii Skystalker Alpha
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Taser goad
• 4x Pteraxii Skystalker
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Flechette carbine

Sicarian Infiltrators (70 points)
• 1x Sicarian Infiltrator Princeps
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Taser goad
• 4x Sicarian Infiltrator
• 4x Flechette blaster
4x Taser goad

Sydonian Dragoons with Taser Lances (210 points)
• 3x Sydonian Dragoon
• 3x Phosphor serpenta
3x Taser lance

You’re taking Conitive Reinforcement and Sanctified Ordnance on your Manipulus’s here. Then spamming 5+ crits on yoru chicken walkers and Kataphrons. The Dragoons are a sick alpha strike with +2 move, or even a good defensive brick with the +1 tough. You can do some goofy stuff with this.

I’m extremely excited to play an Admech army that had rules in mind while being written. I don’t own any rust stalkers though, so that made me sad.

Jeremy the Fun Polices Thoughts and List

Brother really brought a Skatros, huh?

CHARACTERS

Sydonian Skatros (50 points)
• 1x Mechanicus pistol
1x Radium jezzail
1x Sydonian feet
Cognitive Reinforcement 35 pts

Tech-Priest Manipulus (60 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Magnarail lance
1x Omnissian staff
Sanctified Ordnance 10 pts

Tech-Priest Manipulus (60 points)
• 1x Magnarail lance
1x Omnissian staff

BATTLELINE

Skitarii Rangers (85 points)
• 1x Skitarii Ranger Alpha
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Galvanic rifle
• 9x Skitarii Ranger
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
6x Galvanic rifle
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
1x Transuranic arquebus

Skitarii Vanguard (95 points)
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Radium carbine
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Radium carbine

OTHER DATASHEETS

Kataphron Breachers (320 points)
• 6x Kataphron Breacher
• 6x Heavy arc rifle
6x Hydraulic claw

Pteraxii Skystalkers (70 points)
• 1x Pteraxii Skystalker Alpha
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Taser goad
• 4x Pteraxii Skystalker
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Flechette carbine

Serberys Raiders (60 points)
• 1x Serberys Raider Alpha
• 1x Cavalry sabre and clawed limbs
1x Galvanic carbine
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 2x Serberys Raider
• 2x Cavalry sabre and clawed limbs
2x Galvanic carbine

Sicarian Infiltrators (70 points)
• 1x Sicarian Infiltrator Princeps
• 1x Power weapon
1x Stubcarbine
• 4x Sicarian Infiltrator
• 4x Power weapon
4x Stubcarbine

Sicarian Ruststalkers (150 points)
• 1x Sicarian Ruststalker Princeps
• 1x Transonic blades and chordclaw
• 9x Sicarian Ruststalker
• 9x Transonic razor and chordclaw

“Detachment is good. Has about every toolkit you would likely want in an ad mech detachment. Gives a lot of love to units who haven’t been given much appreciation in 10th

Knights getting the halo drive is certainly an oversight and will be FAQ’ed out.

Also it’s a better Detachment to run robots in than cybernetica.”

Scotty “I sent Josh an entire review” Bee’s Thoughts and list

Scotty sent me, I shit you not, an entire review of the detachment. When I ask you to submit me one or two paragraphs on your thoughts about the detachment, be like Scotty.

I had two choices. Either cut down what he sent me by over half and incentivize less effort in the future, which would be dumb of me. Or upload the document he sent me so you can read his unfiltered thoughts. So I chose the second option, obviously. Enjoy and thanks to Scotty.

ScottyThoughts Download

As for his list:

CHARACTERS

Cybernetica Datasmith (35 points)
• 1x Mechanicus pistol
1x Power fist

Tech-Priest Manipulus (60 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Magnarail lance
1x Omnissian staff

Tech-Priest Manipulus (60 points)
• 1x Magnarail lance
1x Omnissian staff

BATTLELINE

Skitarii Rangers (85 points)
• 1x Skitarii Ranger Alpha
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Galvanic rifle
• 9x Skitarii Ranger
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Galvanic rifle

Skitarii Vanguard (95 points)
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Radium carbine
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Radium carbine

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Skorpius Dunerider (85 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Cognis heavy stubber array

OTHER DATASHEETS

Kastelan Robots (380 points)
• 4x Kastelan Robot
• 4x Incendine combustor
4x Twin Kastelan fist

Kataphron Breachers (320 points)
• 6x Kataphron Breacher
• 6x Heavy arc rifle
6x Hydraulic claw

Kataphron Destroyers (210 points)
• 6x Kataphron Destroyer
• 6x Close combat weapon
6x Heavy grav-cannon
6x Phosphor blaster

Onager Dunecrawler (155 points)
• 1x Dunecrawler legs
1x Eradication beamer

Pteraxii Skystalkers (140 points)
• 1x Pteraxii Skystalker Alpha
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Taser goad
• 9x Pteraxii Skystalker
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Flechette carbine

Sicarian Ruststalkers (150 points)
• 1x Sicarian Ruststalker Princeps
• 1x Transonic razor and chordclaw
• 9x Sicarian Ruststalker
• 9x Transonic razor and chordclaw

The enhancements are the same as mine, with the obvious addition of the robot brick from hell. Hell yeah.

Thanks Scotty. You’re a real one.

Final Thoughts

If you don’t play this as an Admech player you’re bad.

Please play this.

Some Christmas gifts do come early.

Tomorrow Necrons (boo) so stay tuned.

With all the blessings of the machine, be safe, drink water, see you tomorrow.