The Genestealer Cults are one of the newest playable factions inWarhammer 40,000. On the surface, they seem like a ragtag group of freedom fighters, hoping to overthrow the oppressive Imperium of Man. In truth, they’re led by an advanced force of infiltrators meant to weaken the Imperium ahead of the arrival of the Tyranid Swarm.
Related:Warhammer 40,000: What Are The Tyranids?
With a focus on traps and manipulation, the Genestealer Cults offer a unique gameplay experience. Whether they’re your main army or you’re hoping to try something a little different, these essential kits will form the core of your collection.
All Warhammer model kits come out of the box unpainted and unassembled. This makes every figure unique, so your models, when finished, will look different from those pictured.
Neophyte Hybrids
Neophytes form the bulk of most Genestealer Cult armies. While they look mostly human, their alien DNA gives themunique featuresthat you won’t be able to paint on any other figure. They also have access to alarge arsenal of weapon options, ensuring that you can always build the squad you want.
Chances are you’ll include several squads of Neophytes in your collection, to secure battlefield objectives and serve as frontline troops. Each box contains enough parts to buildten Neophyte Hybrids, armed with either rapid-fire autoguns or combat shotguns for a close-combat focus. One Neophyte can be built as the squad’s leader with additional weapon options.
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Magus
A Magus makes a great starting leader for your Genestealer Cults army, and you’ll easily find a place for her on nearly any roster. Apsykeron par withChaos SorcerersorAeldari Farseersin combat, the Magus' powers are one of the most fearsome weapons the Genestealer Cults have.
The Magus' specialty is telepathic control - she can enhance the combat capabilities of the Hybrids under her command, or temporarily force enemy units to fight among themselves. She’s also adept atcountering enemy psykers, robbing your opponent of their own options!
Each kit containsa single Magus, carrying a staff and either a ceremonial knife or a skull.
Goliath
Goliaths are pieces of heavy mining equipment, commandeered by cultist rebels and repurposed for war. For your first vehicle or two, you’ll probably wantGoliath Trucks. These function similarly to the ramshackle transports of the Orks, but are a bit sturdier, making it more likely that the squad of Hybrids the Truck is carrying will arrive in one piece.
If you prefer a vehicle that packs more of a punch, you can alternately construct a Goliath as a Rockgrinder,exchanging transport capacity for weapons and armor.This vehicle lets you tear across the battlefield guns blazing, and crushing any enemy soldiers that get too close.
Each kit contains enough parts to build either a Goliath Truck or a Goliath Rockgrinder, with plenty of weapon and decoration options.
Atalan Jackals
Mounted on combat motorcycles and ATVs, the Atalan Jackals are perfect forexploiting weak points in the enemy line.If you need to seize an opportunity the moment it appears, the Jackals are the unit for you! They can be equipped to handle just about any foe, so if you know ahead of time what kind of army you’ll be facing you cantailor them to your needs.
Not only are Atalan Jackals great for pulling of daring flank maneuvers, they’re also some of thecoolest models in Warhammer.Give your army some Mad Max-style flair, and you’ll almost be able to hear the engines revving as you move them across the tabletop.
Each kit contains enough parts to build five Atalan Jackals - four mounted on dirtcycles and one on a Wolfquad ATV - all with multiple weapon options.
Get It On Amazon Here!Related:Warhammer 40,000: Best Astra Militarum Model Kits
Hybrid Metamorphs / Acolytes
While Genestealer Cults can - and should - includeTyranid Genestealersin their ranks to handle most of the melee combat, sometimes you need asmaller, more specialized squadto handle troublesome opponents. That’s where the Hybrid Metamorphs come in.
Metamorphs are thedeadliest close-combat unitin the Genestealer Cults. They’re less numerous than the Purestrain Genestealers they’ll be fighting alongside, but theirability to use human weaponsgives them an additional level of versatility. Alternately, if you prefer a combined-arms approach, you can build a unit of Acolytes instead toequip a wider variety of mid-range guns.
Each kit contains enough parts to buildfive Acolytes or Metamorphs, complete with weapon and customization options.
Broodcoven
If you’re planning to build the ultimate Genestealer Cults collection, then the obvious centerpiece is the Broodcoven. This squad of leaders and psykers is the ultimate command unit for your army. Featuring both a Magus and a Primus, the Broodcoven serves as a bodyguard for the Cult’s true leader; the Patriarch, an alien organism sent by the Tyranids to take control of the planet’s populace.
Deploying the Broodcoven shows that you mean business, as they have the combined powers of several psykers and the incredible combat prowess of a Genestealer Broodlord. Each kit contains the Patriarch, one Primus, one Magus, and two Genestealer Familiars.
