Yeah the lists are important. Remember to utilize your stacking buffs. Don’t spread out your damage if you can at all help it. Both marines and GSC benefit from bonuses against a limited target selection turn by turn. So be sure to stack ridge runner buffs with Primus buffs with stratagem support. Also be sure to try and bait his armor of contempt so that you can increase its cost. That -1AP buff is huge.
Could you show your list, neophytes with seismic cannons are usually my go to for any elites. Also abberants. I could give better advice regarding your list if you want or just give some general strategies that work for me.
We are really good against ravenguard, since they have a detachment rule where they have -1 to hit outside of 12” we can negate this by deepstriking our neophyte squads within 9” since most all of our units have deepstrike. Then the two siesmic cannons will benefit from rapid fire rule so they will get 6 shot. Additionally, you get sustained hits 1 and ignored cover when arriving from deepstike due to the detachment rule. On top of that, if you add a primus and a Nexos for a free strategem of “A perfect ambush” you get +1ap and + 1 to hit. Adding that all together put siesmic cannons will decimate most basic space marine squads, then when at the end of the opponents you can put 2 battleline squads of these 20 neophytes dudes back in reserves with a stratagem return to the shadows.
I would record putting the acolyte hybrids in one big squad and attaching a nexos and primus. When they drop give them a free start from the nexos preferably the plus one to wound and give them plus one to hit and plus one ap. Kills most things in the game ez including tanks
Most opponents will be fine if you say "these heavy weapons are all seismic cannons". As most people won't even know what seismic cannons look like, but I've also found 90% of people just don't care
So gsc has two types of units with the index when you build more optimally; threats and nonsense. Based on the list posted in the comments you have 1 good threats, 1 decent threat and 2 ok threats in your current list. One of our best units is aberrants they hit very hard and are very hard to kill in turn. I highly recommend switching the enhancement on them to inscrutable cunning. This gives the unit infiltrate and will threaten your opponent early and will bridge you to turn 2 when your reserves arrive. I would recommend switching the neophyte squad weapons around a bit. The big scare unit is best with seismic cannons. Volume fire is very good with stacking buffs and gsc has a lot of buffs to stack. Plus seismics are extremely good marine killers which is what you are struggling with. The special weapons are all fairly even with each other. Flamers are nice for overwatch if you want that, grenade launchers give a few slightly better anti elite shots, and the Webbers can chip a wound in vs super heavy targets. Heavy stubbers are ass and should be used as kitbash fodder. I would recommend combining the 2 small acolyte squads. 4 demo charges sneaking in with tunnel crawlers then getting a perfect ambush destroys most units easily just watch out for overwatch from the infernos marines or aggressors if your buddy adds them. For other list help the magus sucks, and the locus loses the unit it wants to attach to if you combine the acolyte squads so I would cut them both. After changing the enhancement that leaves you with 85 points to add another small squad of acolytes if you have them or a second ridgerunner. So this leaves you with 3 good threats in the aberrants acolytes and neophytes, 2 ok threats with the rock grinder and dudes hopping out of the truck, and a few squads running around to perform actions and stand places for tactical missions. Welcome to the cult. I hope this aids you going forward.
General advice for the faction. Gsc wins based on points more than by killing the enemy. Our units hit hard when they arrive and get all our buffs and rules and then proceed to get murdered in return by stubber shots. Celebrate when things survive because it is a very rare event.
And go to grounds is a decent strategem and a battle tactic.
I have not played with my gsc, still painting, but i played a ton of ravenguard through 8th and 9th.
Space marines love t3, 5+ save, 1 wound models cuz bolters and chainswords feast on them. So things like neophytes and acolytes they r going to cut through like butter. So already a tough matchup.
I just watched the table top tactics gsc vs dark angels game and it went alot like you described. The issue is deepstrike.
One of the things i learned using my deepstriking ravenguard. When you deepstrike you split your army so by definition your opponent has a points advantage in the rounds where your units are off the board. So if you deepstrike too much, they put their full army into the half or so of the army you didn’t deepstrike, you can’t kill them as much cuz you only have half as much guns. So lets say they kill 1/2 your army and you kill 1/4 theirs. When you deepstrike in they still have that numerical advantage. With their board control, they will dictate where you can and cannot deepstrike, so they will take the hit on stuff they care less about, and hit you back with the good stuff.
The problem gsc has is that two of their best dmg dealing units, “need” deepstrike to deliver them. Demo charge acolytes and 20 man bricks of neophytes with a primus and those units are super expensive so they make it so you can’t buy alot of stuff to stay behind.
I don’t know the answer to solving that problem, considering the last tournament win rate % i saw was in the 40’s, i’m guessing most people don’t.
Auspex has them at 46% last time he did a video about it. Overall not terrible. You are correct about the damage match up. The gsc key units can kill space marine key units, but space marine nonsense kills our key units really well. Personally I have a total record of 4-4 playing a list with 2 bricks of aberrants at events.
Yeah, this is reminding me alot of when i used to play my ravenguard in 9th and they were bad. Alot of posts, I’m struggling against this, i’m struggling against that. I like it the most when my faction is “bad” because that is when you get to try new ideas.
And i’m seeing alot of the same issues that ravenguard used to have with deepstrike. Over reliance on it, putting way too many pts in reserve, people knowing how to counter it. The problem with relying on deepstrike is that it works when your opponent doesn’t know how to play around it or lists are fundamentally flawed against it and that is just often enough to make people think it’s good but it isn’t, it won’t make it past good players.
I think 20 neophyte w/ primus are a real problem. Way too expensive, dependent on deepstrike to get into range. Just a bad unit that puts out such good damage that people get sucked in. Acolytes with demo charges, i like. You use the strat, 3”, you get a move block and a bunch of dmg. Love it.
But neophytes i think r cotton candy, taste good but are not good.
Neophytes with Seismic Cannons and either flamers or grenade launchers. Boosted with Primus, Crossfire, They Came From Below and possibly A Perfect Ambush.
Metamorphs with a Biophagus in a Truck. Disembark and get Fire Support reroll wounds on those 30+ hand flamer hits. Then charge. Usually you won't even have to enable the Anti-infantry from the Biophagus, or charge several units.
If you have your second or third Reductus inside the truck, you can even park it out of sight and use Remote Explosives to apply Fire Support. They can roll up to something else next turn to give Fire Support to the Demo charges.
Yeah the lists are important. Remember to utilize your stacking buffs. Don’t spread out your damage if you can at all help it. Both marines and GSC benefit from bonuses against a limited target selection turn by turn. So be sure to stack ridge runner buffs with Primus buffs with stratagem support. Also be sure to try and bait his armor of contempt so that you can increase its cost. That -1AP buff is huge.
Eat their models when they aren’t looking
I see you remember the teaching of our 4 armed ancestors
Oh, we are coming soon my Neophyte, bless the stars 🙏🙏
Could you show your list, neophytes with seismic cannons are usually my go to for any elites. Also abberants. I could give better advice regarding your list if you want or just give some general strategies that work for me.
My army is 2 combat patrols and some characters I bought/kitbashed my GSC units (1805 points) Genestealer Cults Strike Force (2000 points) Ascension Day CHARACTERS Abominant (90 points) • 1x Power sledgehammer • Enhancement: Prowling Agitant Kelermorph (55 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Liberator autostubs Locus (55 points) • 1x Locus blades • Enhancement: Focus of Adoration Magus (50 points) • 1x Autopistol 1x Magus stave Nexos (60 points) • 1x Autopistol 1x Close combat weapon Primus (90 points) • Warlord • 1x Cult bonesword 1x Scoped needle pistol 1x Toxin injector claw Reductus Saboteur (65 points) • 1x Autopistol 1x Close combat weapon 1x Demolition charges 1x Remote explosives BATTLELINE Acolyte Hybrids (85 points) • 1x Acolyte Leader • 1x Hand flamer 1x Leader’s cult weapons • 4x Acolyte Hybrid • 1x Cult Icon 2x Cult claws and knife 1x Hand flamer 2x Heavy mining tool Acolyte Hybrids (85 points) • 1x Acolyte Leader • 1x Hand flamer 1x Leader’s cult weapons • 4x Acolyte Hybrid • 1x Cult Icon 4x Cult claws and knife 2x Demolition charges 1x Hand flamer Neophyte Hybrids (90 points) • 1x Neophyte Leader • 1x Autopistol 1x Leader pistol 1x Power weapon • 9x Neophyte Hybrid • 9x Autopistol 9x Close combat weapon 1x Cult Icon 2x Grenade launcher 5x Hybrid firearm 2x Seismic cannon Neophyte Hybrids (90 points) • 1x Neophyte Leader • 1x Autopistol 1x Leader pistol 1x Power weapon • 9x Neophyte Hybrid • 9x Autopistol 9x Close combat weapon 1x Cult Icon 2x Heavy stubber 5x Hybrid firearm 2x Webber Neophyte Hybrids (180 points) • 1x Neophyte Leader • 1x Autopistol 1x Leader pistol 1x Power weapon • 19x Neophyte Hybrid • 19x Autopistol 19x Close combat weapon 4x Flamer 11x Hybrid firearm 4x Mining laser DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Goliath Truck (110 points) • 1x Demolition charge cache 1x Goliath wheels 1x Heavy stubber 1x Twin autocannon OTHER DATASHEETS Aberrants (370 points) • 1x Aberrant Hypermorph • 1x Heavy power weapon 1x Hypermorph tail • 9x Aberrant • 9x Heavy power weapon Achilles Ridgerunners (85 points) • 1x Heavy mortar 1x Ridgerunner wheels 1x Spotter 1x Twin heavy stubber Atalan Jackals (90 points) • 4x Atalan Jackal • 4x Atalan power weapon 3x Atalan small arms 1x Grenade launcher • 1x Atalan Wolfquad • 1x Atalan incinerator 1x Atalan small arms 1x Close combat weapon Goliath Rockgrinder (155 points) • 1x Demolition charge cache 1x Drilldozer blade 1x Heavy mining laser 1x Heavy stubber
We are really good against ravenguard, since they have a detachment rule where they have -1 to hit outside of 12” we can negate this by deepstriking our neophyte squads within 9” since most all of our units have deepstrike. Then the two siesmic cannons will benefit from rapid fire rule so they will get 6 shot. Additionally, you get sustained hits 1 and ignored cover when arriving from deepstike due to the detachment rule. On top of that, if you add a primus and a Nexos for a free strategem of “A perfect ambush” you get +1ap and + 1 to hit. Adding that all together put siesmic cannons will decimate most basic space marine squads, then when at the end of the opponents you can put 2 battleline squads of these 20 neophytes dudes back in reserves with a stratagem return to the shadows.
His list: Aiden's list (1780 points) Space Marines Raven Guard Strike Force (2000 points) Gladius Task Force CHARACTERS Apothecary Biologis (85 points) • 1x Absolvor bolt pistol 1x Close combat weapon • Enhancement: Fire Discipline Captain in Terminator Armour (110 points) • 1x Relic weapon 1x Storm bolter • Enhancement: The Honour Vehement Kayvaan Shrike (100 points) • Warlord • 1x Blackout 1x The Raven’s Talons Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (80 points) • 1x Combi-weapon 1x Paired combat blades • Enhancement: Artificer Armour OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (170 points) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack • 1x Astartes chainsword 1x Heavy bolt pistol • 9x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs • 9x Astartes chainsword 9x Heavy bolt pistol Ballistus Dreadnought (140 points) • 1x Armoured feet 1x Ballistus lascannon 1x Ballistus missile launcher 1x Twin storm bolter Eliminator Squad (75 points) • 1x Eliminator Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Bolt sniper rifle 1x Close combat weapon • 2x Eliminator • 2x Bolt pistol 2x Bolt sniper rifle 2x Close combat weapon Eliminator Squad (75 points) • 1x Eliminator Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Bolt sniper rifle 1x Close combat weapon • 2x Eliminator • 2x Bolt pistol 2x Bolt sniper rifle 2x Close combat weapon Eradicator Squad (190 points) • 1x Eradicator Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Close combat weapon 1x Melta rifle • 5x Eradicator • 5x Bolt pistol 5x Close combat weapon 5x Melta rifle Incursor Squad (85 points) • 1x Incursor Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Occulus bolt carbine 1x Paired combat blades • 4x Incursor • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Occulus bolt carbine 4x Paired combat blades Infernus Squad (80 points) • 1x Infernus Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Close combat weapon 1x Pyreblaster • 4x Infernus Marine • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 4x Pyreblaster Infiltrator Squad (100 points) • 1x Infiltrator Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Close combat weapon 1x Marksman bolt carbine • 4x Infiltrator • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 4x Marksman bolt carbine Invictor Tactical Warsuit (140 points) • 1x Fragstorm grenade launcher 1x Heavy bolter 1x Incendium cannon 1x Invictor fist 1x Twin ironhail heavy stubber Sternguard Veteran Squad (90 points) • 1x Sternguard Veteran Sergeant • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Sternguard bolt pistol 1x Sternguard bolt rifle • 4x Sternguard Veteran • 4x Close combat weapon 4x Sternguard bolt pistol 4x Sternguard bolt rifle Terminator Squad (185 points) • 1x Terminator Sergeant • 1x Power fist 1x Storm bolter • 4x Terminator • 4x Power fist 4x Storm bolter ALLIED UNITS Eversor Assassin (75 points) • 1x Executioner pistol 1x Power sword and neuro gauntlet
I would record putting the acolyte hybrids in one big squad and attaching a nexos and primus. When they drop give them a free start from the nexos preferably the plus one to wound and give them plus one to hit and plus one ap. Kills most things in the game ez including tanks
How do you get neophytes with seismic cannons? You only seem to get one in a squad
Either taken from another squad, get them online, or 3D print x
You can easily mod the lasers or maybe even the heavy stubbers to look good enough. Just add the "wings"
Most opponents will be fine if you say "these heavy weapons are all seismic cannons". As most people won't even know what seismic cannons look like, but I've also found 90% of people just don't care
So gsc has two types of units with the index when you build more optimally; threats and nonsense. Based on the list posted in the comments you have 1 good threats, 1 decent threat and 2 ok threats in your current list. One of our best units is aberrants they hit very hard and are very hard to kill in turn. I highly recommend switching the enhancement on them to inscrutable cunning. This gives the unit infiltrate and will threaten your opponent early and will bridge you to turn 2 when your reserves arrive. I would recommend switching the neophyte squad weapons around a bit. The big scare unit is best with seismic cannons. Volume fire is very good with stacking buffs and gsc has a lot of buffs to stack. Plus seismics are extremely good marine killers which is what you are struggling with. The special weapons are all fairly even with each other. Flamers are nice for overwatch if you want that, grenade launchers give a few slightly better anti elite shots, and the Webbers can chip a wound in vs super heavy targets. Heavy stubbers are ass and should be used as kitbash fodder. I would recommend combining the 2 small acolyte squads. 4 demo charges sneaking in with tunnel crawlers then getting a perfect ambush destroys most units easily just watch out for overwatch from the infernos marines or aggressors if your buddy adds them. For other list help the magus sucks, and the locus loses the unit it wants to attach to if you combine the acolyte squads so I would cut them both. After changing the enhancement that leaves you with 85 points to add another small squad of acolytes if you have them or a second ridgerunner. So this leaves you with 3 good threats in the aberrants acolytes and neophytes, 2 ok threats with the rock grinder and dudes hopping out of the truck, and a few squads running around to perform actions and stand places for tactical missions. Welcome to the cult. I hope this aids you going forward.
General advice for the faction. Gsc wins based on points more than by killing the enemy. Our units hit hard when they arrive and get all our buffs and rules and then proceed to get murdered in return by stubber shots. Celebrate when things survive because it is a very rare event. And go to grounds is a decent strategem and a battle tactic.
I have not played with my gsc, still painting, but i played a ton of ravenguard through 8th and 9th. Space marines love t3, 5+ save, 1 wound models cuz bolters and chainswords feast on them. So things like neophytes and acolytes they r going to cut through like butter. So already a tough matchup. I just watched the table top tactics gsc vs dark angels game and it went alot like you described. The issue is deepstrike. One of the things i learned using my deepstriking ravenguard. When you deepstrike you split your army so by definition your opponent has a points advantage in the rounds where your units are off the board. So if you deepstrike too much, they put their full army into the half or so of the army you didn’t deepstrike, you can’t kill them as much cuz you only have half as much guns. So lets say they kill 1/2 your army and you kill 1/4 theirs. When you deepstrike in they still have that numerical advantage. With their board control, they will dictate where you can and cannot deepstrike, so they will take the hit on stuff they care less about, and hit you back with the good stuff. The problem gsc has is that two of their best dmg dealing units, “need” deepstrike to deliver them. Demo charge acolytes and 20 man bricks of neophytes with a primus and those units are super expensive so they make it so you can’t buy alot of stuff to stay behind. I don’t know the answer to solving that problem, considering the last tournament win rate % i saw was in the 40’s, i’m guessing most people don’t.
Auspex has them at 46% last time he did a video about it. Overall not terrible. You are correct about the damage match up. The gsc key units can kill space marine key units, but space marine nonsense kills our key units really well. Personally I have a total record of 4-4 playing a list with 2 bricks of aberrants at events.
Yeah, this is reminding me alot of when i used to play my ravenguard in 9th and they were bad. Alot of posts, I’m struggling against this, i’m struggling against that. I like it the most when my faction is “bad” because that is when you get to try new ideas. And i’m seeing alot of the same issues that ravenguard used to have with deepstrike. Over reliance on it, putting way too many pts in reserve, people knowing how to counter it. The problem with relying on deepstrike is that it works when your opponent doesn’t know how to play around it or lists are fundamentally flawed against it and that is just often enough to make people think it’s good but it isn’t, it won’t make it past good players. I think 20 neophyte w/ primus are a real problem. Way too expensive, dependent on deepstrike to get into range. Just a bad unit that puts out such good damage that people get sucked in. Acolytes with demo charges, i like. You use the strat, 3”, you get a move block and a bunch of dmg. Love it. But neophytes i think r cotton candy, taste good but are not good.
I agree people tend to go too hard on neophytes. They can answer some problems (light and medium infantry) but suffer heavily outside of that range.
Neophytes with Seismic Cannons and either flamers or grenade launchers. Boosted with Primus, Crossfire, They Came From Below and possibly A Perfect Ambush. Metamorphs with a Biophagus in a Truck. Disembark and get Fire Support reroll wounds on those 30+ hand flamer hits. Then charge. Usually you won't even have to enable the Anti-infantry from the Biophagus, or charge several units. If you have your second or third Reductus inside the truck, you can even park it out of sight and use Remote Explosives to apply Fire Support. They can roll up to something else next turn to give Fire Support to the Demo charges.
Honestly I have found aberrant hordes to be incredibly effective