Experience the power of the new Warhammer 40k Final Day Genestealer Cult Detachment rules, and fight alongside the Tyranids in a chaotic alliance!
The Final Day Detachment is a chaotic blend of desperation, zealotry, and Hive Mind manipulation. This is the Genestealer Cult’s last hurrah, where cultists and Tyranid vanguard organisms work together in a bizarre and macabre alliance.
The detachment brings new ways to combine Genestealer Cults with Tyranid units, focusing on synergistic buffs, aggressive strategies, and explosive plays that burn bright (and fast). If you’ve ever wanted to field your Cultists alongside ravenous Tyranids in an apocalyptic charge, this is your detachment.
It’s Time to Ascend
This combination of units has long been a favorite of players of all stripes, so if you want a fluffy, fun army using these new Genestealer Cult rules you can build this detachment with the rules in Grotmas Calendar for December! You can download the full rules here.
Core Detachment Rules – Psionic Parasitism and Catalyst
- Psionic Parasitism: At the end of your Movement phase, select a Genestealer Cults unit within 9″ of a Synapse unit to suffer D3+1 mortal wounds, healing an equal number of wounds on a Tyranid unit. The healed Tyranid unit gains +1 to Hit rolls.
- Catalyst Aura: Enemies within 6″ of a Tyranid unit give all nearby Genestealer Cults units +1 to Hit when attacking them.
- Star Children’s Blessings: Allows you to include Tyranid Vanguard Invader units (no Aircraft, Broodlords, or Genestealers) in your army. Point limits depend on the battle size (e.g., up to 1000 pts in a Strike Force game).
This detachment thrives on synergy between Cultists and Tyranids. The mortal wounds mechanic might feel like a sacrifice, but when you’re pumping +1 to Hit into units like Raveners or Tyranid Warriors, the payoff is enormous.
Add in the Catalyst Aura to ensure Cultists benefit from improved accuracy when ganging up on nearby enemies, and you’ve got a terrifying close-range force. Fun combos include pairing Catalyst with Hyperferocity for re-rolling Wounds or using Tyranids as “tanks” to absorb fire while Cultists swarm objectives.
Enhancements – Power-Ups for Cult Leaders and Tyranids
- Synaptic Auger (15 pts): Doubles the wounds regained by the bearer from Psionic Parasitism. Perfect for keeping a key Synapse unit alive longer.
- Enraptured Damnation (10 pts): Prevents enemy units from using Overwatch against the bearer’s unit, making charges much safer.
- Vanguard Tyrant (25 pts): Boosts Strength and AP for a Winged Hive Tyrant’s melee weapons, making them devastating in combat.
- Inhuman Integration (20 pts): Grants Sustained Hits 1 to weapons in the bearer’s unit if the target is within 6″ of a Tyranid unit.
These Enhancements are all about maximizing aggression and keeping your units alive long enough to deliver their payload. For instance, a Winged Hive Tyrant with Vanguard Tyrant can slice through even elite targets, while Enraptured Damnation ensures your Cultists reach combat without being gunned down mid-charge.
Pair Inhuman Integration with Acolytes to unleash absurd amounts of exploding hits, especially when fighting near a Tyranid bodyguard.
Stratagems – Aggressive and Sneaky Plays
- Hyperferocity (1 CP): Genestealer Cults units re-roll Wound rolls of 1 in melee (or all Wounds if fighting near Tyranids).
- Psi Surge (1 CP): Increases the Catalyst Aura range by 3″, giving more flexibility for positioning.
- Avenge the Star Children (1 CP): Gain +1 to Hit and Wound against an enemy unit that destroyed one of your Tyranid Characters this phase.
- Divine Imperative (1 CP): Adds +1 to Charge rolls and lets you re-roll Charges if targeting a unit engaged by a Tyranid.
- Darting Attacks (1 CP): Allows a Tyranid unit to shoot and charge after Falling Back.
- Resistance Tunnels (2 CP): Remove a Genestealer Cults or Tyranid unit from the battlefield and place it into Strategic Reserves.
The Stratagems encourage a mix of aggression and tactical repositioning. Resistance Tunnels is a standout for creating unexpected threats, letting you vanish a Cultist blob or Tyranid unit and have it reappear somewhere devastating later. Meanwhile, Hyperferocity is your go-to for turning melee skirmishes into massacres, especially when paired with units that thrive on re-rolls.
Try combining Divine Imperative with Darting Attacks for a relentless cycle of charges and withdrawals, keeping the pressure on your opponent.
Competitive Builds and Synergies
- Ravener Shock Troops: Use Psionic Parasitism to boost their Hit rolls, then follow up with Darting Attacks for a devastating hit-and-run playstyle. Pair them with nearby Cultists for mutual Catalyst buffs.
- Acolyte Swarm with Tyranid Support: Equip an Acolyte unit leader with Inhuman Integration to shred nearby enemies with exploding hits while a Hive Tyrant draws fire and boosts survivability with Psionic Parasitism.
- Strategic Redeployments: Combine Resistance Tunnels and Materialisation Matrices to reposition units unpredictably. Use Avenge the Star Children if a key Tyranid Character is killed to punish your opponent’s target priority.
- Close-Range Blenders: Deep Strike Tyranid Warriors and Acolytes together, then charge in with Divine Imperative for reliable melee devastation, backed by Hyperferocity for better Wound rolls.
The synergy between Genestealer Cults and Tyranid units makes this detachment incredibly flexible and dangerous. Combining melee-heavy Tyranid units with swarming Cultists creates a terrifying pincer maneuver that overwhelms opponents.
The ability to reposition or recycle units with Resistance Tunnels and Darting Attacks ensures you’ll always have a threat where you need it. For fun, throw in a Winged Hive Tyrant with Vanguard Tyrant to deal with elite targets while your Cultists flood the board.
Sample Warhammer 40k Army List
This list is optimized for synergy between Genestealer Cults and Tyranid units, leveraging Psionic Parasitism, Catalyst Aura, and Star Children’s Blessings for a balanced mix of melee power, board control, and resilience.
Genestealer Cults Core (1,000 Points)
- Patriarch (75 pts) – Warlord, melee-focused leader.
- Acolyte Hybrids with Hand Flamers (140 pts) – 10 models for close-range anti-infantry firepower.
- Hybrid Metamorphs (160 pts) – 10 models as melee shock troops.
- Aberrants (300 pts) – 10 models for durable, high-damage melee output.
- Achilles Ridgerunners (170 pts) – 2 models for anti-tank/anti-armor firepower.
- Clamavus (50 pts) – Objective Secured support unit.
- Kelermorph (60 pts) – Gunslinger for character sniping and disruption.
- Acolyte Iconward (50 pts) – Aura support for survivability.
Tyranid Vanguard Support (1,000 Points)
- Winged Hive Tyrant (200 pts) – Equipped with the Vanguard Tyrant enhancement for melee dominance.
- Raveners (150 pts) – 6 models for fast melee strikes and synergy with Psionic Parasitism.
- Tyranid Warriors with Melee Bio-weapons (150 pts) – 6 models to hold the mid-board and synergize with Catalyst Aura.
- Zoanthropes (100 pts) – 3 models to provide psychic support and mortal wound output.
- Venomthropes (70 pts) – 3 models for defensive buffs to nearby units.
- Gargoyles (170 pts) – 20 models for board control, mobility, and screening.
- Exocrine (135 pts) – Heavy fire support for ranged anti-tank and anti-elite.
Tactics and Synergies
- Psionic Parasitism: Use on Raveners, Tyranid Warriors, or Gargoyles to heal wounds and grant +1 to Hit, ensuring their melee attacks land effectively.
- Catalyst Aura: Position Tyranid Warriors and Venomthropes to buff nearby Acolytes and Aberrants for a devastating melee wave.
- Board Control: Gargoyles and Ridgerunners create early pressure, screening key units and holding objectives.
- Shock Assault: Combine the Patriarch, Aberrants, and Hybrid Metamorphs for a multi-layered melee charge, supported by Enraptured Damnation for safer charges.
- Firepower: Exocrine and Ridgerunners provide long-range support, focusing on eliminating threats to your melee units.
Total Points: 2,000
- Genestealer Cults: 1,000 pts
- Tyranids: 1,000 pts
Final Day Detachment – A Hilarious and Deadly Genestealer Cult Combo
The new Genestealer Cult rules in the Final Day Detachment are as wild and chaotic as it sounds. Whether you’re sacrificing Cultists for Tyranid gains, turning melee fights into blender parties with Hyperferocity, or vanishing units into Resistance Tunnels, this detachment delivers action-packed fun.
The dynamic between fragile Cultists and monstrous Tyranid allies is both thematic and highly effective, letting you run a hybrid army that’s unpredictable and devastating. For anyone who’s ever wanted to scream, “You’re not the only one with bugs!” during a game, this is your time to shine.
See All the New 40k Detachment Rules Here
What do you think about the new Final Day (not of the calendar, that’s the name) 10th Edition Warhammer 40k Detachments rules from the first Grotmas Calendar?
About the Author: Sam Duguid
Sam Duguid
Job Title: Freelance Writer
Socials: @duguid_mr
About Sam Duguid: Sam has been into Warhammer 40K for about half his life, starting back in 2006 with the Battle for Macragge starter set in 4th edition. He got really competitive and even became the Top ITC Eldar Corsair player in 2019, using a sweet list made up entirely of Venoms and Reavers bands.
While Sam is all about the different flavors of Eldar, they also enjoy playing Astra Militarum, Charcharodons, Night Lords, and Knights! When they’re not focused on 40K, Sam loves to get into Warhammer Fantasy, Horus Heresy, Age of Sigmar, Legions Imperialis, Battlefleet Gothic, and even Titanicus.
They’re always looking for any game that they can convince their friends to play with them. Currently, Sam is working on their airborne Astra Militarum army along with several Age of Sigmar and Old World armies.
