1500 pts Kabal and Cult for a friendly match

I have a friendly game coming up, in which I will most likely play against a combination of Grey Knights and Sisters of Battle, 750 pts each. I have, thus far, only played 2 games in 8th edition, both at 1000 points. Thus, I have not yet been able to field my Cult units and am looking forward to seeing how they fare.
So first up, here's the list:


++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Aeldari - Drukhari) [57 PL, 1,089pts] ++

Detachment Type: Kabal of the Flayed Skull

+ HQ +
Archon [Legends]: Hatred Eternal, Huskblade, Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Splinter pistol, The Helm of Spite, Warlord

Archon [Legends]: Blaster [Legends], Venom Blade

+ Troops +
5 Kabalite Warriors
. 1 Blaster
. Sybarite: Blast Pistol

5 Kabalite Warriors
. 1 Blaster
. Sybarite: Blast Pistol

5 Kabalite Warriors
. 1 Blaster
. Sybarite: Blast Pistol

5 Kabalite Warriors
. 1 Shredder
. Sybarite: Splinter Rifle

10 Kabalite Warriors
. 1 Splinter Cannon
. 2 Shredders
. Sybarite: Splinter Rifle

10 Kabalite Warriors
. 1 Dark Lance
. 1 Blaster
. Sybarite: Splinter Rifle


+ Fast Attack +

5 Scourges
. 3 Haywire blasters
. Solarite: Shardcarbine

+ Dedicated Transport +

Raider: Disintegrator cannon, Splinter Racks
Raider: Dark Lance
Raider: Dark Lance
Raider: Dark Lance
Raider: Disintegrator cannon
Raider: Disintegrator cannon
Venom: Splinter Cannon, Splinter Cannon
Venom: Splinter Cannon, Splinter Cannon

++ Total: [57 PL, 1,249pts] ++

++ Patrol Detachment (Aeldari - Drukhari) [22 PL, 408pts] ++

Detachment Type: Cult of the Red Grief

+ HQ +
Succubus: Agoniser, Archite Glaive, Painbringer (Combat Drug), Precision Blows, The Triptych Whip, Warlord (Alliance of Agony+ Prizes from the Dark City)

+ Troops +
9 Wyches: Grave Lotus (Combat Drug)
. Hekatrix: Agoniser, Blast Pistol, Phantasm Grenade Launcher
. 1 Shardnet and impaler

9 Wyches: Adrenalight (Combat Drug)
. Hekatrix: Agoniser, Blast Pistol, Phantasm Grenade Launcher
. 1 Shardnet and impaler

++ Total: [22 PL, 248pts] ++[/b]

+++ Total points combined:1497 +++


The plan is to put the Huskblade- Archon into a Raider with one squad of Wyches and the Succubus into the other Raider with the second squad of Wyches. I am aware that the Wyches won't be able to benefit from the Archon's aura, but since I intend to keep all of my Kabal infantry inside their respective transports for as long as possible, I don't really mind. And I really want to field this model, even if there could be more competitive options. The PGL is still in the list since it is modelled that way. I am considering giving him the Helm of spite in order to be able to counter at least some GK psychic shenanigans.
I originally had 2 Sslyth and 2 Ur-Ghuls in the army, but I replaced them with more Kabalite Warriors and special weapons, since I doubt they'd have done all that much.
The Succubus will be getting her warlord trait and her artifact of cruelty via the two stratagems mentioned above.
The second Archon will join a 5 man squad of Kabalites with blaster and blast pistol and ride in a Raider with Dark Lance.
The Raider holding the anti infantry- squad of Kabalites and the Cult Raiders are equipped with Disintegrator cannons, whereas the remaining kabal Raiders are equipped with Dark Lances. The 5 man squad with Shredder will embark on a Venom.

I am aware that blast pistols are not the most competitive option, especially in Kabalite units flying around, but I felt like having the option to deal a bit more damage to vehicles up close can't hurt, especially in the two units of Wyches.

The Scourges only have 3 of the possible 4 special weapons due to the fact that I do not own any more.

The remaining (painted or almost painted) models I own are: 3 Sslyth, 4 Ur-Ghuls, 3 Wyches with Hydra Gauntlets, 5 Kabalite Warriors, one of which equipped with a blaster, 1 Archon and 1 Succubus.

I know it's just for a friendly, semi-serious game, but I'd still appreciate any feedback on the viability of the list.
Thanks in advance!


Edit: I removed the Raiders from the Cult Detachment and added them to the Kabal Detachment (the Raiders with Dissies), in order to give them the +3" movement for Flayed Skull.

You are completely dedicated to taking all those blast pistols, eh? If you drop them, you could be well on your way to turning the Cult Patrol into a Battalion (maybe drop the second splinter cannon on the Venoms to make up the difference). We have a lot of great stratagems (that are quite CP intensive), and the more CP the better.

You may want to keep the glave on the Succubus, since it will be more useful vs T3 sisters, and the multi damage could be helpful vs GK/vehicles. I find that HQ blast pistols sometimes work, but I would not trade the glave for it. Archons however loose out on nothing by taking the blast pistol (other than the points).

I have not played GK or Sisters before, but have been keeping an eye on them thru various podcasts. I would very much recomend dropping the Dark Lances and replacing with Dissies. The weight of fire and flat D2 will be helpful vs units with invulnerable saves and multiple wounds.

Not sure how your list will fare against a Smite Spam type of enemy, but you have a lot of weak bodies to absorb the mind melting. Positioning will be key.

Otherwise just keep to the usual DE strategy of refused flanks and target priority. Use your movement to try and bait the enemy to deploy their forces in a spread out fashion, then use your movement to reposition and focus on one flank until its destroyed. All the while sacrificing those Kabalites/venoms to hold objectives. Dont run right at the enemy, wait for them to come to you before getting your Wyches out of their rides.

I thought about it and I agree that not taking the blast pistols is probably the more rational decision. I played around with the models I have available and came up with the following 2 battalion list:

++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Aeldari - Drukhari) ++

Detachment Type: Kabal of the Flayed Skull

+ HQ +
Archon: Hatred Eternal, Huskblade, Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Splinter pistol, The Helm of Spite, Warlord

Archon: Blaster [Legends], Venom Blade


+ Troops +

5 Kabalite Warriors
Blaster
Sybarite: Splinter Rifle

5 Kabalite Warriors
Blaster
Sybarite: Splinter Rifle

5 Kabalite Warriors
Blaster
Sybarite: Splinter Rifle

5 Kabalite Warriors
Blaster
Sybarite: Splinter Rifle

5 Kabalite Warriors
Blaster
Sybarite: Splinter Rifle

10 Kabalite Warriors
Splinter Cannon
Shredder
Sybarite: Splinter Rifle
Kabalite Warriors

+ Fast Attack +

5 Scourges
3x Haywire blaster
Solarite: Shardcarbine

+ Dedicated Transport +

Raider: Disintegrator cannon
Raider: Disintegrator cannon
Raider: Disintegrator cannon
Raider: Dark Lance
Raider: Dark Lance
Raider: Dark Lance
Venom: Splinter Cannon, Twin splinter rifle
Venom: Splinter Cannon, Twin splinter rifle

+++ Total Points Kabal: 1145 ++


++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Aeldari - Drukhari) ++

Detachment Type: Cult of the Red Grief

+ HQ +

Succubus: Agoniser, Archite Glaive, Painbringer (Combat Drug), Precision Blows, The Triptych Whip, Warlord (again, not the actual Warlord but using the stratagems)

Succubus: Agoniser, Archite Glaive, Serpentin (Combat Drug)

+ Troops +

8 Wyches: Adrenalight (Combat Drug)
Hekatrix: Blast Pistol, Hekatarii blade
1x Shardnet and impaler

8 Wyches: Hypex (Combat Drug)
Hekatrix: Blast Pistol, Hekatarii blade, Phantasm Grenade Launcher
1x Hydra Gauntlets

8 Wyches: Grave Lotus (Combat Drug)
Hekatrix: Blast Pistol, Hekatarii blade, Phantasm Grenade Launcher
1x Shardnet and impaler

+++ Total Points Cult: 356 +++

Overall Total Points: 1501

My thinking is that the second Succubus and the 6 man/ woman squad of Wyches with Shardnet and Impaler will be set up in the webway and deepstrike turn 2 or 3 to tie down potentially troublesome enemy units, the net making it close to impossible to fall back.
Other than that, I just opted for 5 MSC style blaster units to give me as many blasters as possible with the current set-up. I decided to keep the 3 Dark Lances, but we''ll see if that is the right choice. They do tend to be hit or miss.
And about your comment on the Archite Glaive: I never removed it- it has been there from the start. I wouldn't want to miss out on its damage potential.

I'm not 100% certain which stratagems I am going to use, but I'll definitely have a closer look to see what could be viable.

What do you guys think of this approach?

Im liking this revised list. Combined with the quality paint you have on those models, it should be a fun time win or loose.

My preference is for Dissies over Lances, but YMMV.

Why would you want to Deepstrike such a small squad of Wyches? I would imagine a large blob would do more damage, and make better use of stratagems such as -1 to hit and +2 cover save.

My bad about the Glave. Need to lay off the Adrenalight

I agree that a bigger unit would probably get more stuff done, but I also don't want to reduce the other two units all too much. And I don't own any more Wych models, so I don't have all that much to work with. Maybe I'll move one of the 9 Wyches to the Webway- squad just to give them at least a bit more oomph.
I know Dissies are outperforming Lances at the moment and the more I think of it the more I doubt that not fielding them makes all that much sense....

I dont think you "need" to DS a big blob of wyches. In fact, it may be a better idea to keep to the minimum squad size, if you are not planning on spending the CP to buff them up (and have a plan for those CP elsewhere).

5 man squad would be just as effective at forcing the enemy to screen their artillery/backfield as a 20 man squad.

True. However, being able to get a bunch of Grave Lotus Wyches with Hyperstimm Backlash and a Succubus to back them up into the enemy's backfield and mess up a tough unit does sound very tempting and could be a surprise which forces the enemy to react. Expecially if they have a Shardnet and Impaler, essentially tarpitting a unit and not going away that easily.
I think I'll stick to 3 units of 8, each supported by a character. I'll make sure to report once I've played them.