The Necrons certainly aren’t planning to take the intrusion of the Space Marines into their tomb complexes lying down in Kill Team: Pariah Nexus. In fact, they’re unleashing some of their most powerful wargear and the super-advanced technology of the Crypteks upon any who dare to trespass. Anyone who’s read our Necron Kill Team focus will be familiar with how they play, but let’s take a look at some of their new and upgraded rules.
New datasheets
One of the first things you’ll notice when leafing through the Pariah Nexus book is the number of new Kill Team datasheets available to the Necrons. Gone is the Cryptek option from Kill Team: Commanders, but it’s been replaced by no less than four alternatives.
The Plasmancer, Psychomancer, Chronomancer, and Technomancer represent different orders of Cryptek, and each brings their own unique skills and arcane technology to bear, should you include them.
A new Commander also joins the action in the form of the Royal Warden, which made its Necron debut in Indomitus. If you’re after some brutal ranged firepower, the Royal Warden’s relic gauss blaster will do you proud.
The Royal Warden and all four varieties of Cryptek share the Living Metal ability of the Overlord, ensuring that they’ll outlast all but the most sustained or hardest-hitting attacks.
Some existing datasheets have been reworked, too. For example, Lychguard and Triarch Praetorians (previously featured in Kill Team: Elites) now come with a formidable 3 Attacks apiece, which is especially lethal considering the effectiveness of their melee weapons.
Powered-up weaponry
Speaking of Necron weapons, it's not just the datasheets that have had an overhaul. Some of their wargear is now more potent than ever, matching the enhanced profiles that you’ll be familiar with from their codex. In addition to the brand new gauss reaper option for Necron Warriors, the four Crypteks come with a veritable arsenal of deadly wargear between them.
If you’re looking forward to unleashing the Flayed Ones from the Pariah Nexus set, you’ll be pleased to know that their flayer claws now have a welcome, armour-piercing edge.
Dynastic Codes designed for domination
While the Dynastic Codes of the Necrons were mentioned in previous Kill Team publications, this is the first time they have rules associated with each of their main sub-factions. For example, if you like the idea of setting up in a strong position and blasting your opponents to pieces without having to worry about all that manoeuvring nonsense, Nihilakh is a match made in (the War of) Heaven.
More tactics than ever
Pariah Nexus comes with a whopping 29 Tactics for your Necrons to use, some old, many new. With such a variety to choose from, you can take advantage of almost any situation if you have a Command Point or two to spare.
Sometimes, though, the simple options are the best. Take Superior Inheritance – it can give the edge when you need it, enabling even a humble Necron Warrior to fell multiple enemies or double down with its firepower on a single, tougher target.
Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team Pariah Nexus is up for pre-order this weekend. If you intend to reclaim the galaxy with your Necrons one skirmish battlefield at a time, grab a set and you’ll be better equipped than ever before!