We are a small team of Warhammer Enthusiasts and miniature collectors, hoping to support and further promote the hobby. Example: Matts army is led by an Overlord (a NECRONS CHARACTER), and every model in it is from the same dynasty, therefore he must assign command protocols. He selects the following, writing them down on his army roster: Games Workshop introduced us all to the Gallowdark with the release of Kill Team: Into the Dark last month and they’ve now continued their stretch of adventures in the depths of space hulks with Kill team: Shadowvaults, a new release that brings us a pair of new teams: The Astra Militarum Kasrkin and Necron Hierotek Circles. In this review we’ll be looking at the rules for the new Hierotek Circles kill teams, with an eye toward matched play. If the number of dice in that pool is greater than or equal to the Wounds characteristic of any of the reassembling models, select one of those models to be Reanimated. A Reanimated model:

Illuminor Szeras - The enigmatic Cryptek Plasmancer known as Illuminor Szeras is one of the most reviled beings in the whole galaxy. Both hated and envied by the other Necrontyr, it was Szeras' twisted genius that ultimately made the process of biotranference a reality, and condemned the whole Necrontyr civilisation to an eternal undeath. Uncaring, the megalomaniac Szeras only saw the sacrifice of his people as the first step of his own ascension to C'tan-like godhood. In the 41st Millennium, Szeras still labors toward that goal, seeking to unravel the last mysteries of life that escape him. Despite being distrusted and reviled by the majority of his peers and Necron royalty, Szeras' knowledge is so vast, and the help he can grant so potent, that few Nemesors refuse his assistance nor its price when offered. Implacable Conqueror- CORE units within 6” get to reroll charges. A solid buff for melee focused armies, or as a secondary trait to enable a combat contingent be more reliable. Anrakyr has this cos the whole unstoppable wave of conquering worlds is his thing. The Crypteks have developed countless disciplines of techno-sorcery, down through the aeons. Further, each individual Cryptek makes its own unique advancements in its chosen expertise. As such, it is unlikely for two Crypteks to ever wield quite the same abilities and weapons. Only now they stalk from the shadows once more, released from exile by anti- Chaos protocols put in place against a breach from the Immaterium of cosmic scale, a breach like the birth of the Great Rift.

Detachment Rule

Unyielding- The 6++ from Neprekh, same issues as above in that most units either already have a better Invulnerable, can be given one, or aren’t being shot by weapons that would necessitate only a 6++. Safely pass. Hierotek Kill Teams are a bit similar to Warpcoven teams, in that you have some really varied options at the top of the list for how you want to kit out your leader. You get a choice of three Crypteks: The Chronomancer, the Psychomancer, and the Technomancer. Notably missing from the group is the Plasmancer, ostensibly because he’s only available in a collection of models from the Indomitus boxed set, but he’d likely have been a good inclusion here as just “a Cryptek who’s good at shooting things.”

Immune to Natural Law – Can never be wounded on better than a 4+. A great survivability trait that can mitigate the usual suspects that target C’tan, namely Str8+ weaponry Eternal Madness- Reroll wounds in melee. Decent enough, and makes them reliable if you’re gearing for melee. Remember a Skorpekh Lord already rerolls 1s and hits hard anyways so may not need it, despite being the archetypal unit to put it on. Zahndrekh has this, despite being rubbish in melee. He is mad though. Phylacterine Hive- Let’s a TECHNOMANCER use their Rites of Reanimation on a CANOPTEK, DESTROYER, or TRIARCH PRAETORIAN unit, once per game. Functionally useless since the CORE update, unless used on a SPYDER unit, which might make it worth it’s 20pts. Hierotek teams have two abilities to work with: Living Metal and Reanimation Protocols. Living Metal At the start of each battle round, if any NECRONS CHARACTER units from your army are on the battlefield, the command protocol that you assigned to that battle round becomes active for your army until the end of that battle round. Each command protocol is made up of two directives. When a command protocol becomes active for your army, reveal it to your opponent and select one of its directives. Until the assigned command protocol stops being active, while a unit that is eligible to benefit from this ability is on the battlefield, that unit benefits from the selected directive.Fractal Targeting- TOMB BLADES can Advance and shoot without penalties, and turns their Rapid Fire weapons into Assault 2. Makes them very zippy for getting Line of Sight, nabbing objectives, or getting access to parts of the battlefield without sacrificing too much firepower. Eternal Conquerors- The Nihlakh “ObSec on everything” Trait, and yeah, it’s really good. Reealllllllyyyy good . Whether it’s fast cheap chaff like Scarabs now suddenly yanking Objectives away from units, or a single Doomsday Ark holding an objective against a unit of 10 Vanguard Veterans, there is always a use for this. 9th is generally won on the Objectives and having an army wide benefit to scoring the Primary gives you a great advantage. Unfortunately, it’s that good you might not even look at the other custom traits. Sometimes, though, the simple options are the best. Take Superior Inheritance – it can give the edge when you need it, enabling even a humble Necron Warrior to fell multiple enemies or double down with its firepower on a single, tougher target.

Thus are they known as "Harbingers of Destruction," as the spread of destruction is their gift to the galaxy. However, while psykers channel the energies of the Warp to accomplish their seemingly supernatural feats, a Cryptek uses their highly advanced knowledge of science and technology to manipulate the purely physical universe's fundamental forces and produce many of the same seemingly magical effects.Cosmic Tyrant – Use an additional power. Puts them on par with the named Shards, this is the best general purpose one if you’re choosing, or the one you really want to get if you’re rolling

Canoptek Control Node - The Canoptek Control Node is a device that allows a Technomancer to control, repair or augment the abilities of Necron Canoptek constructs on the battlefield from afar. It works through the use of beams of microscopic Nanoscarabs that are sent to carry out the requested operations on the designated constructs. To manifest the psychic power, you must first pass a Psychic test. The opposing player can then select one of their PSYKER units that is within 24" of the PSYKER unit attempting to manifest the power and attempt to deny that power before its effects are resolved by passing a Deny the Witch test. Staff of Light - The Staff of Light is both a weapon and a symbol of authority for those Crypteks who have no real specialisation in the arts of techno-sorcery. Its haft is actually a disguised power generator rod, and the crest is a finely tuned focussing device, allowing the wielder to unleash searing bolts of energy at his foes. Gaze of Flame - Some Plasmancers choose to implant hidden weaponry within their own bodies. Many Necrons find this practice unsavoury, at best. Few, however, would question a Harbinger of Destruction to his face, particularly when that face may conceal all manner of terrifying weaponry. When in battle, the eyes of a Cryptek who has granted himself the Gaze of Flame burn with an unnatural, ghostly fire, stealing away both an assailant's speed and inducing great fear of the Cryptek.

2:50 pm – Forge World Updates

As Tomb Worlds need perpetual maintenance to maintain their countless systems functioning at peak efficiency, it is not unknown for a slighted Cryptek to bring the maintenance cycle to a screaming halt should his supposed "betters" require a reminder of the power he and his kind wield. Even the proudest Necron Overlord will muster an apology when his soldiers and weapons seize up on the eve of battle.