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Where to start with Ad Mech: 500 points to 700


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Hi, so I'm joining an escalation league at my local GW, and have always been interested in AdMech.

 

The league starts at 500 points then jumps to 700 and so forth until we hit 1500. What should I start with? The only limit is no allies until week 3.

 

Having never played Ad Mech, I like most of the models and would be happy fiddling with most of them.

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Welcome to the well oiled machine of the Omnissiah. We are hungry to help as many frequent our beloved halls but not many talk :tongue.:

 

First question we need to know as it radically determines how your army will start. How much are you willing to spend?

 

If you are on a budget the Start collecting set will get you 70% the way there but if cost is no issue and competitiveness is your wheelhouse then "Stay a while and listen"...

Edited by Black_Knight
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2x Start Collecting plus an Enginseer is a solid very solid base and for a good price. You will always field Skitarii, Tech Priests and Onagers.

From that point onwards you can buy whatever you want. Maybe the new transport, Drogoons, Robots or some Servitors. Or just more Skitarii :wink:

This. 2x SC + enginseer results in a battallion detachment with good (and an optionally cheap) HQ, base amount of troops, and two pretty good medium tanks. No dead weight in there (except for maybe the second dominus) and good for any forgeworld you may choose.

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As an addendum to the above, when building the skitarii put the arquebus on rangers and plasma on vanguard. Arc rifles can go where you like. From my 2 start collecting boxes, I built 10 rangers with 2 arquebus and 10 vanguard with 2 arc rifles and 2 plasma. Built in squads of 5, so 2 vanguard and 2 ranger Alphas.

If you're in the UK, element games do a starter set of SC box, Infiltrator/Ruststalker box and Kastellan Robots for about a £100. That's where I started and added a 2nd SC box. Magnetise the onager to take neutron laser, eradication beamer and icarus array. You'll probably only ever use the Icarus and Neutron laser.

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Double rusty 17 with a neutron Onager will be about 450

 

I am not sure the phare "rusty 17" is helpfull for a beginner without explanation :wink:

Rusty 17 means 3x5 Skitarii (Rangers most of the time) and 2x Enginseers. This is just 165 points for a full Battalion granting you 5 CP.

 

However, I think this is rubbish at 500 points since you dont have much to spend the CP for. It also requires 4 Enginseers.

 

With 2 Start collecting and an Enginseer 500 points could look like this:

 

++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Imperium - Adeptus Mechanicus) [36 PL, 496pts] ++

 

+ No Force Org Slot +

 

Forge World Choice

 

+ HQ +

 

Tech-Priest Dominus [7 PL, 90pts]: Macrostubber, Volkite Blaster

 

Tech-Priest Enginseer [3 PL, 30pts]

 

+ Troops +

 

Skitarii Rangers [4 PL, 43pts]

. Ranger Alpha: Galvanic Rifle

. 2x Skitarii Ranger

. 2x Skitarii Ranger (Arc Rifle): 2x Arc Rifle

 

Skitarii Vanguards [4 PL, 51pts]

. 3x Skitarii Vanguard

. Skitarii Vanguard (Plasma Caliver): Plasma Caliver

. Vanguard Alpha: Radium Carbine

 

Skitarii Vanguards [4 PL, 51pts]

. 3x Skitarii Vanguard

. Skitarii Vanguard (Plasma Caliver): Plasma Caliver

. Vanguard Alpha: Radium Carbine

 

+ Heavy Support +

 

Onager Dunecrawler [7 PL, 119pts]: Broad Spectrum Data-tether, Cognis Heavy Stubber

. Neutron Laser and Cognis Heavy Stubber: Cognis Heavy Stubber, Neutron Laser

 

Onager Dunecrawler [7 PL, 112pts]: Broad Spectrum Data-tether, Cognis Heavy Stubber, Icarus Array

 

++ Total: [36 PL, 496pts] ++

 

Nex step can be everything you like. Breachers, Destroyer, Robots, Chicken Walker, Infiltrators, the new Transport, Tank, more Skitarii, a third Onager, E-Priests. There is nothing bad in our Codex except Ruststalkers... unfortunatley, since they look amazing.

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Yep, this is the best entry. Still leaves 5 vanguard/rangers and a dominus for escalating points and alternate loadouts, and is a solid base of everything with a minimum of boxes. And yes, pretty much everything except for rusties is viable.

 

As for the rangers/vanguard - the only optical difference besides weaponry is the head. I for one used ranger heads for everyone (I don't like the vanguard pot helmets) besides the alphas. That way, all special weapons fit ranger AND vanguard, no magnetizing/building more models. All of our (3) special weapons are good, so that's an option. For alpha options - the stock guns are usually the best (and free), yet magnetizing both arms is truly easy - all options have arm and shoulder integrated, a lot easier than marine's hands or even DGs monopose wargear.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I too, am tempted to start AdMech. I like stealth, so keeping it Stygies. Some units just make more sense to me than others.

 

Rangers, yes, 5 with an Arquebus, just camping out, great. Now the Vanguard, I like the Rad Saturation rule, these I think would be good as 10 in a transport with 2 Plasma Calivers. Get them in close, and let them unload 24 radium shots, and 4 plasma shots on an enemy unit.

 

I like the Dragoons, especially as Stygies, because -2 to hit is sweet. It drops to -1 inside of 12 inches, but still nice. Does that -1 to hit mean that overwatch automatically misses unless there is a rule where 6s automatically hit, like the Orks, or you get +1 to Overwatch?

 

Ironstriders, I think I would take individually, with the BSDT and have it sit near Rangers with Arquebuses. Not sure if the +1Ld, combined with -1 to hit would make taking them in units of 10 worth it. Would it be?

 

For elites, I am torn between Infiltrators and Electro priests. I could see them as a sweet one-two punch, Infiltrators attack first, severely weaken the enemy, and the fulgurites finish them off to get 3++ all game. Now that there is a decent transport option, the fulgurites can get to combat.

 

I really like the Belleros on the Skorpius Distintegrator. It should average about 6 shots, that will wound GEQ on 2+, and reduce their save by 1. Plus, it can move and shoot? Nice!

 

The Onager is nice, and I like the Icarus Array, as it is the only ADA the AdMech currently have. But, what about for a second Onager, what is the best load out? I already plan to run 2 Ironstriders with the Lascannons, so should I go for more anti armor, or what?

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Stygies is a good choice, the hit modifier will be handy against a lot of enemys.

 

Rangers, Vanguard and Dragoons are very solid.

Regarding the big sniper opinions are split. I like it, but I am not a competative player. It is one of the strongest sniper weapon in the game, but don't expect any wonders, it is still just 1 shot that might miss or not wound.

 

Ironstriders are not very popular I think. The output is good and they are very mobile, with some Stratagems you can even shoot without penalty after running up the board at full speed. However, they are kind of fragile and lack the -1 to hit cloud of the dragoons. I would recommend using them in 1 man units, everything else is just a too juicy target.

 

Infiltrators and E-Priests are both solid choices but with different roles. If you lack mobility go for Infiltrators. If you are not Lucius they are the only deep strike option besides the FW Drill. E-Priests hit much harder, but they have to get to the opponent first. Maybe they will reach the enemy lines ones because they don't look that scary, but no opponent will let that happen a second time.

 

The Disintegrator is nice and both weapons seem valid options, but there is little in game experience yet I guess.

 

Onagers are one of my backbone units most of the time, they perform very good. Icarus and Neutron are the best options. If you feel good against tanks (and those nasty Renegade Knights creeping around) then taking a second Icarus is a good thing. If you want more punch then go for the Neutron Laser.

I personally like taking 3 Onagers, 2 with Neutron and 1 with Icarus. If you roll bad a single Neutronager might fail, so a second one to back up is a good idea. But this might change, maybe I will tend to a Ferumite Disintegrator instead of a third Onager in future... or maybe 3 Onagers and 2 or 3 Disintegrators :whistling:

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