I wrote recently about how excited I was to play my new Custodes army with the Emissaries Imperatus list that I blatantly swiped from a game at the Las Vegas Open.
I was very lucky to get an opportunity to play the list into a friend running a brand new Daemons army, and I learned a lot! Let’s dive right in.
Quick note: we are both picking these factions up, we’ll get our armies painted before too long!
The Lists
Jaden – Custodes
++ Arks of Omen Detachment (Imperium – Adeptus Custodes) [99 PL, 2,000pts, 2CP] ++
Arks of Omen Compulsory Type: Elites
Detachment Type / Shield Host: Adeptus Custodes, Emissaries Imperatus
Game Type: 5. Chapter Approved: Arks of Omen
+ HQ +
Shield-Captain in Allarus Terminator Armor [Relic -1 CP]:
– Balistus Grenade Launcher: Range 18, Assault D3, S5, AP -3 D1 Blast
– Castellan Axe (Shooting): Rapid Fire 1, S4, AP -1, D2
– Castellan Axe (Melee) : S+3, AP -2, D2
– Misericordia: Extra Attack, AP -2 D1
— Bane of Abominations: +1 to wound Characters, Monsters, and Vehicles in melee
— Praetorian Plate: +1 Toughness, Once per game Heroically Intervene anywhere on the map within 3″ of a friendly unit.Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike [Emperor’s Heroes -1 CP]:
– Interceptor Lance (Melee): S+2, AP -3, D2, +1 to Wound on Charge or Heroic Intervention
– Misericordia: Extra Attack, AP -2, D1
– Salvo Launcher (Ranged): Range 24, Heavy 1, S8, AP -4, D3+3
— Tip of the Spear: Re-roll wound rolls of 1 on charges or heroic interventions.
— Superior Creation: 5+ Feel No PainTrajann Valoris: Warlord Trait -1 CP
Watcher’s Axe (Shooting) Range 24, Rapid Fire 1, S5, AP -1, D2
Watcher’s Axe (Melee) Sx2, AP -3 D3
Misericordia: Extra Attack, AP-2, D1
— Master of Martial Strategy: Each time you spend a CP, get one back on a 5+ Additionally, once per battle you can re-arrange your Ka’tah order.
— Champion of the Imperium: 6″ Heroic Interventions, re-roll all hit rolls.
— Adamantine General: 5+ Feel No Pain
— Legendary Commander: Core models within 6″ can re-roll hit and wound rolls of 1
— Moment Shackle: Once per game, fight again, interrupt, or ignore a failed save.+ Troops +
Prosecutors [3 PL, 55pts]
4x Prosecutor [44pts]: 4x Boltgun
Prosecutor Sister Superior [11pts]: Boltgun
– Daughters of the Abyss: Cannot be targeted or affected by Psychic Powers, Subtract 1 from psychic tests taken within 18″, +1 to wound Daemons or Psykers.Sagittarum Custodians [13 PL, 250pts]
. 5x Sagittarum [250pts]:
— Adrastus Bolt Caliver (Bolt Volley) Range 36, Assault 3, S5, AP -2, D2
— Adrastus Bolt Caliver: (Disintegration Beam) Range 15, Assault 1, S5, AP -3, D3
When you choose to shoot with this weapon, choose either profile or both. If you select both, subtract 1 from the hit roll for all attacks.Sagittarum Custodians [13 PL, 250pts]
. 5x Sagittarum [250pts]:
— Adrastus Bolt Caliver (Bolt Volley) Range 36, Assault 3, S5, AP -2, D2
— Adrastus Bolt Caliver: (Disintegration Beam) Range 15, Assault 1, S5, AP -3, D3
When you choose to shoot with this weapon, choose either profile or both. If you select both, subtract 1 from the hit roll for all attacks.+ Elites +
Allarus Custodian
– Balistus Grenade Launcher: Range 18, Assault D3, S5, AP -3 D1 Blast
– Castellan Axe (Shooting): Rapid Fire 1, S4, AP -1, D2
– Castellan Axe (Melee) : S+3, AP -2, D2
– Misericordia: Extra Attack, AP -2 D1Allarus Custodian
– Balistus Grenade Launcher: Range 18, Assault D3, S5, AP -3 D1 Blast
– Castellan Axe (Shooting): Rapid Fire 1, S4, AP -1, D2
– Castellan Axe (Melee) : S+3, AP -2, D2
– Misericordia: Extra Attack, AP -2 D1Contemptor-Achillus Dreadnought:
Achillus Dreadspear (Melee) Sx2, AP -3, D3+3
Achillus Dreadspear (Shooting) Range 24, Heavy 2, S8, AP -2, D3
2x Twin Adrathic Destructor Range 18, Assault 2, S5, AP -3, D3
Stratagem: Eternal Penitent [-1CP]: +1 Attack, re-roll charge rolls or +1 to charges if you already can.Vexilus Praetor in Allarus Terminator Armor [Stratagem, The Emperor’s Heroes -1 CP]:
– Balistus Grenade Launcher: Range 18, Assault D3, S5, AP -3 D1 Blast
– Misericordia: Extra Attack, AP -2 D1
– Vexilla Magnifica (Aura): Friendly units within 6″ of this model gain the benefits of dense cover
(Emissaries Imperatus): Voice of the Emperor: Increase the range of Auras for this model by 3″ , add 1 to the leadership of units within 9″ of this model.+ Fast Attack +
Vertus Praetors
3x Praetor w/ Salvo Launcher & Misericordia
– Interceptor Lance (Melee): S+2, AP -3, D2, +1 to Wound on Charge or Heroic Intervention
– Misericordia: Extra Attack, AP -2, D1
– Salvo Launcher (Ranged): Range 24, Heavy 1, S8, AP -4, D3+3Vertus Praetors
3x Praetor w/ Salvo Launcher & Misericordia
– Interceptor Lance (Melee): S+2, AP -3, D2, +1 to Wound on Charge or Heroic Intervention
– Misericordia: Extra Attack, AP -2, D1
– Salvo Launcher (Ranged): Range 24, Heavy 1, S8, AP -4, D3+3++ Total: [99 PL, 2CP, 2,000pts] ++
Chris – Daemons
++ Arks of Omen Detachment (Chaos – Daemons) [101 PL, 2,000pts, 3CP] ++
+ HQ +
Be’lakor, Warlord
– Blade of Shadows (Piercing) S+4, AP-4, D3+3, ignores invulnerables
– Blade of Shadows (Sweeping) AP -3, D1, 2 attacks per.
— Pall of Despair: Warp Charge 7 – Roll 3d6 vs. the targets’ leadership, if greater can turn off actions, turn off aura abilities or force to fight last
— Shrouded Step – teleport a Daemon unit anywhere outside 9″ of an enemy model
– Has -1 to hit, wound, and damage
– Re-roll hit roll targeted command phase ability
– Re-roll 1s to hit auraBloodthirster:
– Great Axe of Khorne (relic)
— Strike: Sx2, AP -4, D3+3
— Sweep: AP -3 D2, 2 hits per attack
— Ignores hit and wound modifiers
— +1 Damage
– Hellfire Breath: Range 12, Assault D6, S5, Ap -2, D1
Indomitable Onslaught: This model cannot lose more than 8 wounds in a single phase.
Relentless Charge: d3 mortal wounds on a 2+ to an engaged unit at the end of the fight phase.Great Unclean One:
– Doomsday Bell: S+1, AP -1, D2
– Nurgling Claws: S2 AP 0 D1 Malefic 7
– Plague Flail: Range 7, Assault d6+3, S7, AP -3, D2
– Putrid Vomit: Range 12, Assault D6, S5, AP -2, D1, auto hits
— Virulant Blessing: WC 6 – Target Nurgle Core Daemon gets +1 damage to melee weapons
— Malodorous Pall: WC 8 – Target unit cannot perform actions and loses objective secured
Doomsday Bell: Return 1 plaguebearer core model to play or d3 if that unit is infantry.
The Entropic Knell: Command phase within 12, loses auras and counts as half as many models for securing objetives.Skulltaker:
– The Slayer Sword: S6 Ap -3 D3 Ignores Invulnerable Saves
Skulls for Khorne: Re-rolls hit and wound rolls against Characters.
Lord of Decapitations: Command Phase, one bloodletter unit gets +1 to hit rolls.+ Troops +
Bloodletters x10
– Hellblade: S5 AP -3 D2
Icon and Instrument: +1 Leadership, Ignores Combat Attrition ModifiersDaemonettes x10
– Piercing Claws: S4 Ap -2 D1
Icon and Instrument: +1 Leadership, Ignores Combat Attrition ModifiersNurglings x3
-Diseased Claws and Teeth: S2 AP 0 D1 ,6 to hit auto wounds
Forward DeploymentPlaguebearers x10
– Plaguesword: S4 Ap -2 D1, 6 to hit auto wounds
Icon and Instrument: +1 Leadership, Ignores Combat Attrition Modifiers+ Elites +
Exalted Flamer
– Fire of Tzeentch (blue):
Range 18, Assault 3, S9, AP -4 D3
– Fire of Tzeentch (pink):
Range 12, Assault 2d6, S5, AP-2, D1
Blazing Warpfire: Flamers within 6″ get +1 Strength on Flickering FlamesFlamers of Tzeentch x3
– Flickering Flames: Range 12, Assault d6+3, S5, AP -2, D1+ Fast Attack +
Plague Drones x3
– Foul Mouth Parts: S5 AP -2 D2 Malefic 2
– Plaguesword: S5 AP-2 D1, 6 to hit auto wounds
Death’s Heads: Range 12, Assault D3, AP -1 D1, Blast
Icon and Instrument: +1 Leadership, Ignores Combat Attrition ModifiersPlague Drones x3
– Foul Mouth Parts: S5 AP -2 D2 Malefic 2
– Plaguesword: S5 AP-2 D1, 6 to hit auto wounds
Death’s Heads: Range 12, Assault D3, AP -1 D1, Blast
Icon and Instrument: +1 Leadership, Ignores Combat Attrition Modifiers++ Total: [101 PL, 3CP, 2,000pts] ++
For this mission we ended up playing The Scouring from the Arks of Omen GT pack. This mission has five central objectives, none of which are in deployment zones, and a secondary mission objective where a unit can scan an objective with no enemy units on it in the movement phase and have it complete at the end of the turn for three additional primary points.
I lost the roll off and Chris opted to deploy second, so I was able to place the first piece of terrain.
After all the terrain was laid down, we chose secondaries and I picked Ka’tah order.
I took Behind Enemy Lines, Raise the Banners High, and Grind Them Down.
Chris slammed Reality Rebels and Despoilers of Reality, and then had to think a while before ultimately deciding on Assassinate.
For my Ka’tah I chose Conservai (Advance and Action/Action and Shoot) followed by Rendax (6s to hit Vehicles and Monsters Auto Wound/+1 Strength Against Vehicles and Monsters) and Kaptaris (No Re-Rolls against me/Roll off or prevent falling back).
From left to right, my deployment:
Vertus Praetors, Sagitarrum, Bike Captain, Trajan, Terminator Captain, Vexilus, Sagitarrum, Vertus Praetors, Achillus, Sisters of Silence.
I started the two Allarus Terminators in Deep Strike.
Bottom to top, Plaguebearers, Bloat Drones, Great Unclean One, More Bloat Drones, Flamers, Be’lakor, Skulltaker, Bloodletters, Daemonettes, Exalted Flamer, Bloodthirster
Chris won the roll off and we were off to the races!
Round 1
The Daemons moved up, and the Plaguebearers and Bloodletters started the special action for the Daemon secondary. The Nurglings began the Auspex Scan action for the mission.
The Great Unclean One advanced to get more things in Psychic range. Be’lakor hid behind the building with the Flamers, and the Bloodthirster led the charge on the far flank.
In the psychic phase, Be’lakor teleported the flamers into the backfield, the the Great Unclean One gave the bottom Bloat Drones +1 Damage. He also stripped Obsec and the ability to do actions from the bottom unit of Sagitarrum.
The shooting phase was fairly anemic, with the Flamers doing a total of 2 damage to one Sagitarrum. The combination of -1 to hit because of Dense Cover and the +1 save due to Light Cover kept the unit very well alive.
On my turn, I had grand ambitions of starting banners on a bunch of objectives, maybe knocking his Plaguebearers off the back one with some bikes, and doing a little damage to his Great Unclean One.
In my Command Phase, I spend 2 CP to put the bottom unit of Sagitarrum into Rendax stance 1, and the rest of my army moves into Conservai. I opt to be in both stances at once as Conservai is the favored Ka’tah of the Emissaries Imperatus.
With that in mind, the Sisters move up and raise a Banner in the top zone, the middle Sagitarrum advance and raise a Banner in the middle zone, and the bottom side of the table sees an Advance from the Sagitarrum who can’t do actions at all this turn, as well as one from Trajann (who also raises a Banner) and the Vexilor.
I make a mistake here and start the Auspex Scan with the Dreadnought instead of the Vexilor – the Dreadnought doesn’t have the Martial Ka’tah keyword, so it doesn’t benefit from Conservai, so I’ve effectively forfeited its shooting.
The bottom side Vertus Praetors move up to threaten the back zone, and the middle ones and the Bike Captain advance to be in charge range of the Great Unclean One. In the back, my Shield Captain in Terminator Armor moves threateningly towards the Flamers.
In my shooting phase, the bottom unit of Sagittarum put 14 damage into the Great Unclean One thanks to the sixes auto wounding from Rendax.
After that, the second unit and a unit of Vertus Praetors shoot it the rest of the way to death easily.
Thanks to that incredible burst of firepower, I am able to charge into the top unit of Bloat Drones and obliterate them, and then charge into the unit of Plaguebearers with my other unit of Vertus Praetors and nearly kill them off as well.
My Shield Captains both whiff, killing only 2 Flamers and 1.5 Nurglings between the two.
At the end of the round, I’ve scored Grind Them Down and three on the mission secondary. Chris has scored three on the mission secondary, as well as three on Reality Rebels.
Round 2:
Chris has quite the counterpunch coming for me. First, two actions finish off and he scores 8 points on Despoilers of Reality. He also scores 8 on Primary.
Next, he brings his Daemonettes menacingly close to the top objective and threatens my Sagitarrum with the Bloodthirster. Be’lakor comes out to fight the bikes, and the Skulltaker does as well.
His Flamer falls back, and the Exalted Flamer comes out where Be’lakor can teleport it. His remaining unit of Bloat Drones come back to take a shot at my Vexilus.
Be’lakor fails both of his Psychic abilities, and then the Exalted Flamer does a single damage to a Praetor.
The charge phase is monstrous, though, and the Daemonettes make their charge through a Tanglefoot Grenade, the Skulltaker makes it to the Bikes, and Be’lakor gets to both the Shield Captain and the Praetors.
I opt to heroically intervene Trajann into the unit of Bloat Drones that charged the Vexilus, and my teleporting Shield Captain Terminator uses his once per game to heroically intervene into the Skulltaker.
With fight first everywhere, the Skulltaker opts to fight the Shield Captain, who dies miserably. Trajann takes out two of the Bloat Drones next, and then Be’lakor puts all of his attacks into the Shield Captain on Bike, who also dies miserably. I decide to get cute and use the fight phase movement to disengage from Be’lakor by piling the bikes into his Skulltaker, kill him, and then consolidate closer to the Nurglings (but not into melee with them).
The Bloodthirster wipes the floor with the Sagitarrum through the transhuman stratagem (it was close actually, one more 4+ save and I’d have had one left), and the Daemonettes lose two models and then kill all of the Sisters.
The Bikes on the bottom right eviscerate the remaining two Plaguebearers, and Chris spends all his Warp-Storm points to heal up his models before the turn ends.
I’ve dropped the Banner from the top left zone, but I still have the center and bottom left so I score two on that this turn and hop my whole army into Rendax stance one. I also score 12 on Primary as the bikes count as six models for controlling the center objective.
I deep strike the two Allarus Terminators into Chris’ deployment zone, and send bikes menacingly at Be’lakor.
I manage to knock the big Daemon down to about 5 wounds in shooting, and as Chris has no CP to interrupt I fling all six bikes at him and kill him with the first unit. The second unit piles into the Nurglings and kills one of them as well, leaving the second on 1 wound.
Critically, the Dreadnought also failed to kill every Daemonette, so I fail to score Grind Them Down as Chris killed Sagitarrum and two Captains and the Sisters of Silence, and I killed Be’lakor, Plaguebearers, and Bloat Drones as well as the Skulltaker.
At the end of the round, I score 4 on Behind Enemy Lines, 2 on Banners, and nothing on the mission specific objective. Chris scored 3 on Reality Rebels and 3 on the Auspex Scan from his Bloodletters handing out behind the big building. He also scored six on Assassinate.
Round 3:
With a few models left, Chris sends the Bloodthirster at both units of Vertus Praetors, and leaves 2 in one unit and 1 in the other.
I am able to use the Heroic Intervention Stratagem with the Dreadnought to finish off his Daemonettes and take back the zone at the top.
On my turn, I spend more CP to put the Sagitarrum into Rendax stance 1 again and drop his Bloodthirster to 12 wounds.
This round, I scored 12 on Primary, 4 on Behind Enemy Lines, Grind Them Down, and 2 on Banners. I also scanned the bottom right objective with my Terminator for 3 more Primary.
Chris scored 8 on Primary and 3 on Reality Rebels.
Round 4:
The Bloodthirster finishes off the bike units completely on Chris’ turn, and I am able to turn around and kill off the Bloodthirster with a combination of Rendax Sagitarrum and Trajann charging to seal the deal.
The Dreadnought fights through the Exalted Flamer, the Flamer, and the last Nurgling to hold that zone forever.
End Result:
With that, we called it and talked through round 5. Chris would score 1 more point on Reality Rebels and I would get a few more points on Banners, max Behind Enemy Lines, and max out Primary. When the tabulation happened, we found ourselves with 91 points for me and 67 for Chris.
Lessons Learned:
Most of the things I thought the list would do really well, it did really well. Behind Enemy Lines is a super strong secondary for this list, as is Banners. They scored max and 13 points respectively for me. Grind Them Down is going to be a lot more hit or miss, and I would like to be able to take a kill objective more often than that I suspect.
I was really impressed with the Sagittarum, with the one unit that survived the whole game doing close to 50 wounds to big models across the four rounds they took shots. I’ve seen a suggestion to find 50 points to put in one more and make the units 3/3/5 which I kind of love as well.
Overall, the list was an absolute blast to play. Every aspect worked like I expected it would, and the always fight first the list has access to makes it really able to take advantage of the intricate fight phase movement. I think I have a lot of practice ahead of me to make the most of both that aspect of the game and the careful layering of auras – both things I haven’t had to worry about very much as a Chaos Knight player – but the list is already making me excited to play it again and I hope to get another game soon.
With more models painted.
On Chris’ end, he’s going to be redesigning the list a bit. He wants to find 30 points to give the Great Unclean One a -1 damage exaltation, and he thinks that the Bloat Drones might not be the answer he’s looking for when it comes to fast things moving around. Discussion of Flesh Hounds or Shriekers making it into the list happened after the game, and we’re set out to convert him a Fluxmaster so that he can use a Psychic secondary instead of having to rely on Assassinate or something of the like. The two Daemon secondaries are great, but the third slot was really rough for that list.