One of the benefits of sleeping for millions of years is that you get to dream up new ways to defeat your enemies. Now, as the Necrons prepare to reclaim the galaxy, they bring with them a host of tactics to unleash on the younger races who would dare to usurp them. Today, we’re taking a look at some of the Stratagems in their codex.
The new Necrons codex features a whopping 40 Stratagems that can be used in addition to the core ones in Warhammer 40,000 Core Rule Book, and these are split into six different categories. This makes it easier for you to keep track of the different Stratagems and when in game they are used – the same thing is happening to all of Stratagems in the new codexes.
Battle Tactic Stratagems
First up are the Battle Tactic Stratagems. Along with a return of some of the classics such as Dimensional Corridor and Extermination Protocols, comes the incredibly deadly Techno-oracular Targeting.
Use this when firing the transdimensional beamers from your Canoptek Wraiths at high-Toughness enemies and take advantage of that sweet -3 AP and 3 Damage.
Epic Deed Stratagems
If you were the Space Wolves, these Epic Deeds would each get a song sung in their praise. Necrons don’t have time for singing, they're too busy reclaiming the galaxy using Stratagems such as The Deathless Arise.
Play this when your Reanimation Protocols haven’t been as successful as you would have liked. Just when your opponent thinks they have an advantage, your dead Necrons return to the fray.
Requisition Stratagems
These are Stratagems that you use before a battle begins. Ever wanted to upgrade your Overlord to be the adjutant of their dynasty’s supreme ruler?
Use this on an Overlord before the battle and ensure that they always have two nearby units so you can give them both that bonus to their attack rolls. Don’t forget that, since it lasts until the next Command phase, it will affect both shooting and close-combat attacks!
Strategic Ploy Stratagems
Just in case all of the others weren’t quite strategic enough, there are the Strategic Ploy Stratagems. Fans of Canoptek Scarab Swarms (and frankly, who doesn’t love the little critters?) will be itching to use the Self-destruction Stratagem.
Play this Stratagem when your Scarabs are outnumbered and outclassed in combat, and you want to take some of your enemies down with you.
Alternatively, if you want to disrupt your opponent’s tactics with some disappearing and reappearing Ophydian Destroyers, use Burrowing Nightmares.
Employ this Stratagem when you need a late-game objective grab. It’s also great for eliciting a real double-take from your opponent. Yes, that unit was right there, and now it isn’t, where’s it going to be next?
Wargear Stratagems
Want to improve your wargear during a battle? Well, the Crypteks have thought of that with the Wargear Stratagems, such as Malevolent Arcing.
Use this when your enemy has clustered all of their forces together to give them a real shock.
Dynastic Stratagems
There is also a Stratagem for each of the six Necrons dynasties in the codex. Anyone who chooses to follow the Silent King and pledge allegiance to the Szarekhan can use the Empyric Damping Wargear Stratagem.
Implement this Stratagem when you wish to dismiss warp-spawned powers with the same contempt that the Silent King himself would.
Along with the new units detailed in the Necrons codex, these Stratagems will change the way that the army plays, giving you loads more options to deal with the horrors of the 41st Millennium. Codex: Necrons is available to pre-order from Saturday. In the meantime, grab yourself a squad of Triarch Praetorians so that you’re ready to awaken the slumbering hordes of Necrons for battle.