The Cult of Destruction come in at minimum points cost at 275 points with 1 Warpsmith and 3 single Mutilators and Maxes at 1,380 points with 3 Warpsmiths and 15 Oblitorators (no marks). So can be either really cheap or really expensive, lets get into it.
The Cult of Destruction formation allows a Warpsmith from the formation to select a unit of Mutilators or Oblitorators at the start of the movement phase that is within 8". Mutilators get to attack twice in that Assault phase with 2 different weapons and Oblitorators get to shoot twice, at the same target, with two different weapons. In both cases the same weapons cannot be used in the next turn.
Also, both Mutilators and Oblitorators benefit from the free VotLW and the Hatred, yet not from the boon rolls and Warpsmiths need to remain so, so probably not going to be rolling from them on the Boons table either.
First up, Mutilators. The main problem I see with Mutilators is getting them into combat AND keeping a Warpsmith within 8" of them whilst being alive. Mutty's move far too slow and you can't deepstrike the Smithy in there with them, so you are most likely needing a Landraider to get there. This in itself holds a new FAQ problem. Rules quote, "At the start of the Chaos Space Marine movement phase..." is when the Smithy's special rule is used. Can it be used from inside a transport vehicle?
Overall the work to get a set of mutilators into combat and able to get the ritual off is a lot of work, or points, or both. In combat a set of three will do well with the double attacks, the problem then is going multiple rounds and having to switch to less optimal weapons.
Oblitorators. These ones are much easier to keep within 8" of a Warpsmith as they receive the ranged bonus's, the smithy can even sit in the squad, easy. They also get the benefit of the Shatter defences from the Smithy. Shooting twice a turn is good for them as it essentially doubles their damage output, however the ranges of the weapons makes this problematic.
The Lascannon and Plasma Cannon are the only shooters at 36" or more, everything else is under 24" so getting up to mid field to utilise the formation fully is going to be a hastle. Anyone else with a larger ranged gun and the ability to keep out of 24" range, so almost everybody. Again the deepstriking doesn't help the formation leaving the Warpsmith in the dust.
Setting up the Oblitorators on the 24" line, getting first turn and steam rolling straight up the field with all of them makes a nice gun wall should allow you to get into the 24" range you need to be effective.
Infiltrating the Oblitorators might work, using Huron Blackheart's warlord trait can get the Oblits in closer and a different unit can keep the smithy safe whilst he gets into 8" range.
Over all this formation has a lot of complications to make it work. With the slow moving units and the not so great weapon choices for the Oblitorators and the massive Mutilator problems throw the majority of this formation down the toilet in a competitive sense unless you find a way to make it work.
The only way I see this formation working is as a protection detail.
2 Smiths and 3 units of 2 Oblitorators with Mark of Nurgle lands you at 566 points, I'd stay away from maxing at 3 smithys with 3 units as it pops too close to the 1,000 point mark and we are not finished. Take a Crusader class Renegade Knight (or something just as massive) and castle them all up together. The Smiths shatter terrain pieces that your opponent is heavily using opening up the things inside for a pasting from the Crusader Knight, your Oblitorators keep the Smithy's alive and every turn the smithys give the Oblitorators the double shots. The Smithy's keep the Knight alive via hitting it with their repairs whilst the oblits keep anything dangerous away from the Knight.
Other than this scenario I don't see much play on this formation. 15 Oblitorators might make some milestones and curve ball some games because creating a list to fend off 15 of them isn't heard of, and 15 oblitorators are expensive.
No comments:
Post a Comment