2000 Black Heart and Cult of Strife

So, new codex, new list!

BATTALION (1058) - Black Heart

1x Archon, Agonizer, Blaster @91 WL (Labyrinthine Cunning)
1x Archon, Agonizer, Blaster @91, Writ of living muse
5x Incubi @80
1x Raider, DL @85

5x Kabalites, Blaster @47
Venom @65

5x Kabalites, Blaster @47
Venom @65

5x Kabalites, Blaster @47
Venom @65

1x Ravager, 3x DC @125
1x Ravager, 3x DC @125
1x Ravager, 3x DC @125


OUTRIDER (478) - Cult of Strife

1x Succubus, Agonizer @54  +1A drug,  Triptch Whip, exploding hits WT

12x Reavers, 4x Grav Talons @240 +1T drug

5x Scourges, 4x HWBL @92

5x Scourges, 4x HWBL @92


AIRWING (455) - Black Heart

1x Razorwing JF, 2x DL @145
1x Razorwing JF, 2x DL @145
1x Voidraven, Missiles @165

== 1991

8 CP, I will use on for the second artifact and one for Alliance of Agony

The Succubus will hitch a ride on the Archon/Incubi Rider. Most of the time the Writ of living muse Archon will sit back with the Ravagers so maybe I could drop his Blaster and buy a Blast Pistol for the WL or the Succubus and another Incubus

I don't have my codex yet so I hope I didn't mess up with points. I'm not so sure about the drugs. Do you guys think it will be best to swap them around? Or with +2A the Reavers would end up a bit on the overkill side?

My meta is mostly orks, nids, SM/SW and necrons (just friendly games, no tournaments) and the list is made mostly by units I'd like to field to have a "cool" army (Ravagers, Venoms, Incubi, the Raven + 2 RWJF wing, Reavers and Scourges) but one that I could win a game with too

Suggestions and comments are very appreciated

are <wych cult> units allowed to embark on <kabal> transports?

Yup, there is no restriction based on the Kabal, Cult or Coven

cool! Just checking

archons cant take blasters anymore, you could squeeze in a few extra scourges as ablative wounds

I believe they can take the weapon list from the index still via FAQ. So they should be able to take blasters.

Yes I'm using the Index for the Blasters

OK guys, here is the final draft:


Black Heart Battalion

- Archon, Agonizer, Blaster, PGL, Warlord (Labyrinthine Cunning) @94
- Archon, Agonizer, Blaster, Writ of the Living Muse @91
- 5x Incubi @80
- Raider, DL @85

- 5x Kabalite Warrior, Blaster @47
- Venom @65

- 5x Kabalite Warrior, Blaster @47
- Venom @65

- 5x Kabalite Warrior, Blaster @47
- Venom @65

- Ravager, 3x DC @125
- Ravager, 3x DC @125
- Ravager, 3x DC @125


Black Heart Air Wing

- Razorwing Jetfighter, 2x DL @145
- Razorwing Jetfighter, 2x DL @145
- Voidraven Bomber, 2x Void Lances, Missiles @165


Cult of the Red Grief Outrider Detachment

- Succubus, The Blood Glaive, Blast Pistol, +1S drug, Hyper-swift Reflexes WT @60

- 12x Reavers, 4x Grav-Talons, +1A drug @240

- 5x Scourges, 4x Haywire blaster @92

- 5x Scourges, 4x Haywire blaster @92


2000 / 2000 pts, 8 CP (2 used)
2000 / 2000 pts, 10 CP (2 used)

I'm gonna test it out tomorrow night against my friend Necrons!

So, the game went extremely well, maybe a bit too much for a friendly game

By turn 3 I almost wiped him out and he conceded

MVPs of the game:

1st) Reavers: on the first battle round they left 4 man standing in a unit of 20 warriors (that died automatically for morale) with their fly-over move after a bombing run by the Voidraven and then proceeded to engage and kill an Overlord in CC. On turn 2 another fly-over and CC almost killed another unit of 10 Warriors.

2nd) Haywire blaster Scourges: they killed the Catacomb Command Barge Warlord after dropping in in it's backfield on my first turn after he left and open area by moving his force toward mine. Then on the second round they crippled a Monolith that was killed by one Ravager

3rd) DC Ravager : they worked extremely well against anything I shoot them at (Ghost Arks, Immortals, the Necron Guard dudes, the Monolith) especially while in range of the Living Muse Archon

Do archons auras work whilst embarked on transports?

Also very good list but I was thinking of using my voidraven in the Wych Cult of strife to use the strategies to shoot again if it destroys a unit since it doesn’t really get much of a buff being in the black heart Kabal apart from FNP unless close to an Archon

Scumbag wrote:

Do archons auras work whilst embarked on transports?

Also very good list but I was thinking of using my voidraven in the Wych Cult of strife to use the strategies to shoot again if it destroys a unit since it doesn’t really get much of a buff being in the black heart Kabal apart from FNP unless close to an Archon

No, they do not unfortunately

Scumbag wrote:

Do archons auras work whilst embarked on transports?

Also very good list but I was thinking of using my voidraven in the Wych Cult of strife to use the strategies to shoot again if it destroys a unit since it doesn’t really get much of a buff being in the black heart Kabal apart from FNP unless close to an Archon

No, they don't. They have to be on the table (for using Labyrinthine Cunning too)

The FNP on vehicles is good, I've saved 2/3 wounds across the two turns we played. You also have to consider that, in my list, it give you the equivalent of 100pts of Spirit Stones for free

EDIT:

I'll probably move the Writ of the Living Muse on the Warlord Archon as he have to be on the table anyway to use Cunning

I'm also thinking to switch drugs on my Cult units giving my Reavers the +1T one and my Succubus the +1A

I'd like my Reavers to survive a bit longer AND not to wipe my the enemy unit in my turn so the improved toughness and reduced attacks could do the trick.

I'm not 100% sure with is better for the Succubus between keeping the +1S or replacing it with the now free +1A

What do you guys think?

Here is a revised list:

Black Heart Battalion

- Archon, Agonizer, Writ of the Living Muse, Warlord (Labyrinthine Cunning) @74
- Archon, Agonizer, PGL, Blaster @94
- Sslyth @27
- 5x Incubi @80
- Raider, DL @85

- 5x Kabalite Warrior, Blaster @47
- Venom @65

- 5x Kabalite Warrior, Blaster @47
- Venom @65

- 5x Kabalite Warrior, Blaster @47
- Venom @65

- Ravager, 3x DC @125
- Ravager, 3x DC @125
- Ravager, 3x DC @125


Black Heart Air Wing

- Razorwing Jetfighter, 2x DL @145
- Razorwing Jetfighter, 2x DL @145
- Voidraven Bomber, 2x Void Lances, Missiles @165


Cult of the Red Grief Outrider Detachment

- Succubus, The Blood Glaive, +1A drug, Hyper-swift Reflexes WT @50

- 12x Reavers, 4x Grav-Talons, +1T drug @240

- 5x Scourges, 4x Haywire blaster @92

- 5x Scourges, 4x Haywire blaster @92


2000 / 2000 pts, 10 CP (2 used)

Since my warlord must be on the table to use Labyrinthine Cunning, I've given him Living Muse to leave the other Archon (and his blaster) safely on the Rider. Since my warlord is now going to be exposed, I've added a Sslyth to soak in some wounds from snipers and to literally cover his back while my army advance. Maybe 2 Sslyth will be better but I'm not so sure I could justify the points for it

I've also moved the drugs around, going for the +1T for the Reavers and the +1A for the Succubus

I'm using the exact same set up for my Red Grief Outriders too. -3 Reavers because I don't have the models.

You even run my favourite 3x 3 Dissie Ravagers. We have similar styles, it seems.

Question, has the +1 T ever helped you not get wiped? It feels like if I ever let my bikes get caught my opponent focuses them down pretty easily, T5 or not.

+1 A on the Succubus is obviously good. But so is 7 Str, 8 Potentially if you use the Stratagem. So if it keeps going on like this I might lean towards +1 A on the reavers over the T.

Cool! Glad to find like minded players

The DC Ravagers were awesome, especially with the Living Muse Archon nearby. One of them helped me to take down that T8 Monolith, another killed his Cryptek (that was guarding an objective) in one volley (and without the Archon help)

I've not yet played with the new list but I think that improving the Reavers resilience is mandatory. One of them died in my opponent first round of shooting and four more in the second round, between normal shooting and over-watch so at the end of turn 2 almost half the unit was gone. And since they performed so well I think they have gone up in the target priority list in my group

Maybe I could keep them out of the battlefield and webway them in but I will lose an Eviscerating Flyby in this way. What will you do to protect them more?

Yea, once your friends realise what Reavers can do if ignored, they shoot straight to the top priority spot.

I've been toying with the idea of giving them blasters and playing around cover/LOS with Fire and Fade instead of committing them immediately like I usually do. Then they could zip around later on for objectives/hunting wounded units.

If you use them that way they don't benefit too much from the +1 A until you decide to charge though. Plus, it's hard to resist the temptation to try for some turn one Eviscerating Flyby's and assaults.

Also I don't really think WWP is much good unless you're dropping maxed out Hellion/Wych squads.

Yeah, Eviscerating Flyby + Red Grief is a combo made in heaven. Using it to target bubble-wrapped characters could be fun too

As they are climbing my opponents priority chart, I'd like to keep them cheap, so no blasters for me (and, also, I've got darklight covered by other units in the list)

They could take advantage of their reputation by acting as a distraction unit maybe

I really think the Reavers are one of our best units right now and I'm glad of it owning a ton of them lol

Garion wrote:

As they are climbing my opponents priority chart, I'd like to keep them cheap, so no blasters for me (and, also, I've got darklight covered by other units in the list)

Yea I've changed my mind about the Blasters. Keeping them cheap and suicidal is your best bet

Got a 3000 vs 1500+1500 game planned with a couple of friend so I'm expanding my original list by adding a 1000p of Covens:

Black Heart Battalion

- Archon, Agonizer, Writ of the Living Muse, Warlord (Labyrinthine Cunning) @74
- Archon, Agonizer, PGL, Blaster @94
- Sslyth @27
- 5x Incubi @80
- Raider, DL @85

- 5x Kabalite Warrior, Blaster @47
- Venom @65

- 5x Kabalite Warrior, Blaster @47
- Venom @65

- 5x Kabalite Warrior, Blaster @47
- Venom @65

- Ravager, 3x DC @125
- Ravager, 3x DC @125
- Ravager, 3x DC @125


Black Heart Air Wing

- Razorwing Jetfighter, 2x DL @145
- Razorwing Jetfighter, 2x DL @145
- Voidraven Bomber, 2x Void Lances, Missiles @165


Cult of the Red Grief Outrider Detachment

- Succubus, The Blood Glaive, +1A drug, Hyper-swift Reflexes WT @50

- 12x Reavers, 4x Grav-Talons, +1T drug @240

- 5x Scourges, 4x Haywire blaster @92

- 5x Scourges, 4x Haywire blaster @92


Prophets of Flesh Battalion (+5cp)

- Urien Rakarth, Diabolical Soothsayer WT @90
- Haemonculus, Splinter Pistol, Electrocorrosive Whip, The Vexator Mask @76
- Haemonculus, Splinter Pistol, Electrocorrosive Whip @76

- 10x Wracks, 2x Ossefactors, Venom Blade @106
- 10x Wracks, 2x Ossefactors, Venom Blade @106
- 10x Wracks, 2x Ossefactors, @104

- 7x Grotesques, Flesh gauntlet, Monstrous cleaver @245

- Talos, Macro-scalpel, Chain-flails, 2x Haywire blasters @98
- Talos, Macro-scalpel, Chain-flails, 2x Haywire blasters @98

2999 / 3000 pts, 15 + D3 CP (3 used)

My opponents force will probably be something like SM + Orks or SM + Necrons. The idea is to walk the coven up the field using them to screen my other units, scare my opponents and charge everything in range while shooting things up with the Ossefactors and HWBLs

Am I too reckless?

Slogging coven detachments do great but Grots and Talos are a lot better than Wracks. The extra CP from a battalion is cool and all but I think you'll find you'll do a lot more work with 3-4 Talos+Cronos and 10+ Grots rather than a full 30 Wracks. Units of 10 are great with the Prophets of Flesh Stratagem but having so many isn't the best for Covens, imo.

That said screening Wracks are pretty nice. To keep the battalion, i'd say drop one unit of ten and split another into 2 units of 5. Then cut one Haemy and use the points for more Talos and Grots.

With the models I currently own I could bring the Grots up to 8 and the Taloi to 3

What do you guys think about the Ossefactors? Also, 1 unit of 3 Taloi or 3 units of 1 Talos ? With a single unit it will be easier to stay in Urien bubble but with 3 units I have the option to split them up around the field. I'm also having doubts about losing the extra attack on them in favor of the chain-flails

So, here is the revised Coven battalion:


Prophets of Flesh Battalion Detachment +5CP

- Urien Rakarth, Diabolical Soothsayer WT @90
- Haemonculus, Electrocorrosive whip, Splinter Pistol, The Vexator Mask @76

- 10x Wracks, Venom Blade @92
- 10x Wracks, Venom Blade @92
- 8x Wracks, Agoniser @76

- 8x Grotesques, Flesh Gauntlet / Monstrous cleaver @280

- Talos, Chain-Flails, Macro-Scalpel, 2x Haywire blaster @98
- Talos, Chain-Flails, Macro-Scalpel, 2x Haywire blaster @98
- Talos, Chain-Flails, Macro-Scalpel, 2x Haywire blaster @98

That's better, I'd say.

Ossefactors are nice to add once you've exhausted most/all other upgrades on other units. They're useful and cheap but aren't critical to the unit's role, at least not in the same way that the Blaster is critical for MSU Warriors.

As to the Talos units, I think 1 unit of 3 is the general consensus. It helps with keeping in the bubble, moving them a little faster with Fire and Fade and making better use of Stratagems in general. Also, when assaulting you're going to want at least 2 charging the same thing anyway, since the Talos isn't quite as scary in CC as you might think if they go in alone. The biggest reason to run them as 3 separate units is when you're trying to get a Spearhead, imo.

Also now that I look at the list, are you sure about the Black Heart Airwing? One of the biggest benefits of it is access to AoV but you already have Black Heart elsewhere. 6+ FNP is great and all but I'd seriously consider Flayed Skull, Ignoring Cover and Extra Movement is really solid. Even Obsidian Rose extra range can be a nice offensive boost, albeit to a lesser degree.

Garion wrote:

Here is a revised list:

Black Heart Battalion

- Archon, Agonizer, Writ of the Living Muse, Warlord (Labyrinthine Cunning) @74
- Archon, Agonizer, PGL, Blaster @94
- Sslyth @27
- 5x Incubi @80
- Raider, DL @85

- 5x Kabalite Warrior, Blaster @47
- Venom @65

- 5x Kabalite Warrior, Blaster @47
- Venom @65

- 5x Kabalite Warrior, Blaster @47
- Venom @65

- Ravager, 3x DC @125
- Ravager, 3x DC @125
- Ravager, 3x DC @125


Black Heart Air Wing

- Razorwing Jetfighter, 2x DL @145
- Razorwing Jetfighter, 2x DL @145
- Voidraven Bomber, 2x Void Lances, Missiles @165


Cult of the Red Grief Outrider Detachment

- Succubus, The Blood Glaive, +1A drug, Hyper-swift Reflexes WT @50

- 12x Reavers, 4x Grav-Talons, +1T drug @240

- 5x Scourges, 4x Haywire blaster @92

- 5x Scourges, 4x Haywire blaster @92


2000 / 2000 pts, 10 CP (2 used)

Since my warlord must be on the table to use Labyrinthine Cunning, I've given him Living Muse to leave the other Archon (and his blaster) safely on the Rider. Since my warlord is now going to be exposed, I've added a Sslyth to soak in some wounds from snipers and to literally cover his back while my army advance. Maybe 2 Sslyth will be better but I'm not so sure I could justify the points for it

I've also moved the drugs around, going for the +1T for the Reavers and the +1A for the Succubus

I like this list a lot! Really similar to how I like to run them.

Some curious questions.
-How do the Incubi work for you? Compared to a unit of whyches for example.
-Also how affected do you feel that you are by the new FAQ? Keep scourges and screaming jets boats in the sky until you can shoot on the drop?