Psyker "scores" based on various factors

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

So, I was getting stomped by Kairos earlier, when I had a thought. Who's the best psyker of them all? So I came up with a few rules to determine this in a point system, as follows:

1. Each Discipline, cast, deny and learn a psyker has counts for 1 point each.

2. Each ability a model has that affects or is affected by the psyker phase counts for 1 or 2 points, decided per ability.

3. Every 10 wounds is a point.

4. The C'tan count as psykers for this; having Powers of the C'tan means they don't get any Deny points, but they also get 1 point for being unable to be denied.

5. I decided I'd only look at named characters (plus the Neurothrope, basic Librarian and Weirdboy) because frankly, it'd take way too long to do all of them. Addendum: I have way too much time, so I've decided to break this rule horribly.

6. Bought upgrades don't count. Space Wolves Psychic Hoods, Lord of Change Rods of Sorcery, etc.

Any complaints or tweaks to this system, I'd like to hear. It's not a perfect system, but I'd say it gives a rough idea of what each psyker can do relative to others.

 

= PSYKER TIER LIST =

Aetos'rau'keres (Forge World) - 18 (Cast III, Deny III, Learn III, Disciplines I, Bracketed Bonus (1 point), Greater Smite Range Bonus (3 points), >20 wounds, Mantle of Twisted Fates (2 points))

Magnus The Red - 17 (Cast III, Deny III, Learn III, Disciplines III, >10 wounds, Conditional FNP vs. Perils (1 point), Smite+ (1 point), Psyker Reroll (1 point), Bracketed Deny (1 point))
Kairos Fateweaver - 16 (Cast III, Deny III, Learn VI, Disciplines I, Bracketed Bonus (1 point), Smite Range Bonus (1 point), >10 wounds)
Eldrad Ulthran - 14 (Cast III, Deny II, Learn III, Disciplines I, Runes of Fate (Learn score x2), Conditional Bonus (1 point), Psyker Reroll (1 point))
Ahzek Ahriman - 11 (Cast III, Deny III, Learn III, Disciplines II)

Scabeiathrax (Forge World) - 11 (Cast III, Deny III, Learn II, Disciplines I, >20 wounds)
Rotigus - 11 (Cast II, Deny II, Learn III, Disciplines I, Deluge of Nurgle (1 point), >10 wounds)
Zarakynel (Forge World) - 11 (Cast III, Deny III, Learn II, Disciplines I, >20 wounds)
Tigurius - 10 (Cast II, Deny II, Learn III, Disciplines I, Hood of Hellfire (2 points))
Njal Stormcaller - 10 (Cast II, Deny II, Learn III, Disciplines I, Lord of Tempests (1 point), Psychic Hood (1 point))
Grand Master Voldus - 10 (Cast III, Deny III, Learn III, Disciplines I)

Sevrin Loth (Forge World) - 10 (Cast II, Deny III, Learn II, Disciplines I, Psychic Hood (1 point), Bane of the Damned (1 point))

Necrosius the Undying (Forge World) - 9 (Cast II, Deny III, Learn III, Disciplines I)
Mephiston - 9 (Cast II, Deny II, Learn III, Psychic Hood, Disciplines I)

Lord of Change (generic) - 9 (Cast II, Deny II, Learn III, Disciplines I, Bracketed Bonus (1 point))

Ahazra Redth (Forge World) - 9 (Cast II, Deny II, Learn II, Disciplines I, Psychic Hood (1 point), Talisman of Sundered Souls (1 point))
Ezekiel - 9 (Cast II, Deny II, Learn III, Psychic Hood, Disciplines I)
Mortarion - 9 (Cast II, Deny III, Learn III, Disciplines I)

Hector Rex (Forge World) - 8 (Cast II, Deny III, Learn II, Disciplines I)

Daemon Prince (Thousand Sons) - 8 (Cast II, Deny I, Learn II, Disciplines III)

Exalted Sorcerer - 7 (Cast II, Deny I, Learn II, Disciplines II)
Kaldor Draigo - 7 (Cast II, Deny II, Learn II, Disciplines I)

Librarian Dreadnought - 7 (Cast II, Deny I, Learn II, Disciplines I, Psychic Hood)

Basic/Primaris/Vanguard/Terminator Librarian - 7 (Cast II, Deny I, Learn II, Disciplines I, Psychic Hood)

Malignant Plaguecaster - 7 (Cast II, Deny I, Learn II, Disciplines I, Pestilential Fallout (1 point))

Great Unclean One (generic) - 7 (Cast II, Deny I, Learn II, Disciplines I, Putrid Offering (1 point))

Basic/Primaris/Vanguard/Terminator Rune Priest - 6 (Cast II, Deny I, Learn II, Disciplines I)

Basic/Terminator Sorcerer - 6 (Cast II, Deny I, Learn II, Disciplines I)
Typhus - 6 (Cast II, Deny I, Learn II, Disciplines I)
Be'lakor - 6 (Cast II, Deny I, Learn II, Disciplines I)

Keeper of Secrets - 6 (Cast II, Deny I, Learn II, Disciplines I)
Neurothrope - 6 (Cast II, Deny I, Learn I, Disciplines I, Warp Siphon (1 point))
Huron Blackheart - 5 (Cast I, Deny I, Learn I, The Hamadrya (1 point), Disciplines I)
Castellan Crowe - 5 (Cast II, Deny I, Learn I, Disciplines I)
The Deceiver - 5 (Cast I, Deny 0, Learn II, Disciplines I, Powers of the C'tan (1 point))
The Nightbringer - 5 (Cast I, Deny 0, Learn II, Disciplines I, Powers of the C'tan (1 point))
Weirdboy - 5 (Cast I, Deny I, Learn I, Disciplines I, Waaagh! Energy (1 point))

Changecaster, Fateskimmer, Fluxmaster - 5 (Cast I, Deny I, Learn II, Disciplines I)

Daemon Prince (CSM/Daemons/Death Guard) - 4 (Cast I, Deny I, Learn I, Disciplines I)

Wraithseer (Forge World) - 4 (Cast I, Deny I, Learn II, Disciplines 0)

Tzaangor Shaman - 4 (Cast I, Deny I, Learn I, Disciplines I)

Herald of Slaanesh - 4 (Cast I, Deny I, Learn I, Disciplines I)

The Changeling - 4 (Cast I, Deny I, Learn I, Disciplines I)

Poxbringer - 4 (Cast I, Deny I, Learn I, Disciplines I)

Rubric Marines/Scarab Occult Terminators - 3 (Cast I, Deny I, Learn I, Disciplines I, Smite-)

Horrors - 3 (Cast I, Deny I, Learn 0, Disciplines 0, Magic Made Manifest (1 point))

The Blue Scribes - 2 (Cast 0, Deny 0, Learn 0, Disciplines 0, Xirat'p's Sorcerous Barrage (2 points))

= END LIST =

 

Surprising to nobody, Eldrad and the Tzeentchian named psykers come out on top. Down at the bottom are Huron, the C'tan, Crowe and the Weirdboy. Again, comments, questions and advice are all welcome.

 

EDIT: Added Imperial Armor exclusive psyker special characters, plus the Wraithseer because why not?

 

EDIT II: Added Magnus' various bonuses, and resolved to add in all the unnamed Psykers as well.

 

EDIT III: Added all (non-Forge World) Chaos Psykers I could find (note I don't have access to the rules for Shalaxi Helbane) as well as variants on Librarians and the Libby Dread from Blood Angels.

Edited August 12, 2019 by Zephaniah Adriyen

[Gederas]

You missed Alphabet Soup from the Forge World Chaos Index

 

Aetaos'Rau'Keres, The Slaver of Souls

 

Knows 3 (probably because they haven't FAQ'd him to know all the Tzeentch powers), Casts 3, Denies 3. With a whopping 27 wounds and S/T8, 3+/4++.

At full wounds, he gets +2 to his Psychic Tests (going down to +1 at 12-6 [Yes, his first bracket is from 27 to 13], and 0 at 5 and under). He also has a FORTY-EIGHT INCH SMITE. That's not a bonus from his brackets, that's just something he has.

 

His ability Mantle of Twisted Fates reflects back any enemy Psychic power on a 5+, and if successful, the enemy Psyker also takes a mortal wound in addition to their own Psychic Power going off against them instead.

 

He also can reroll any failed attempts at Daemonic Ritual with him.

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

Oh, wow. I did miss the Indices, didn't I?

 

Edit: Tzeentch Supreme Command with Ahriman, Aetaos, Kairos and a regular Lord of Change, with a separate Supreme Command with three LoC's and Magnus. Imagine the mind bullets.

Edited July 24, 2019 by Zephaniah Adriyen

[Gederas]

Oh, wow. I did miss the Indices, didn't I?

 

Edit: Tzeentch Supreme Command with Ahriman, Aetaos, Kairos and a regular Lord of Change, with a separate Supreme Command with three LoC's and Magnus. Imagine the mind bullets.

That'd be a huge game, as Aetos is 1500 points just by himself :lol:

 

And as long as you keep Aetos away from kill Magnus, Kairos and the other Lords of Change, as if they're within 12" of him he'll try to kill them, it'd be interesting.

 

No, seriously.

 

One of his abilities (Dark Jealousy) states that if there's any DAEMON PRINCE or LORD OF CHANGE within 12" of him at the beginning of the player controlling Aetos' shooting phase, you roll a d6 and on a 4+, his Staff of Cataclysm's attack MUST be on the closest DAEMON PRINCE or LORD OF CHANGE (friend or foe, ignoring the usual rules about shooting friendly units)

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

I know, it's nuts. He haaaaaaaaates other big Daemons of Tzeentch.

[Panzer]

The worth of a psyker is largely determined by their discipline and depending on the powers in said discipline also on the rest of your list. Being able to cast more powers is great but ultimately completely irrelevant if the available discipline is trash.

[Quixus]

Does Magnus ahve the DAEMON PRINCE keyword?

[Claws and Effect]

Mephiston is an odd duck here.

 

He's not that great as a pure psyker, but he is excellent at buffing himself into a beastly beatstick.

 

Seriously. 11 attacks hitting at S10 is no joke.

Edited August 1, 2019 by Claws and Effect

[Sorceress]

I noticed with Magnus you didnt include his bonus to cast and deny, or his improved smite damage, or his ability to save mortal wounds from perils, or rerolling 1s to cast.

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

I noticed with Magnus you didnt include his bonus to cast and deny, or his improved smite damage, or his ability to save mortal wounds from perils, or rerolling 1s to cast.

Edited to match. This puts Magnus in the second to top spot, after Aetaos'rau'keres.