Are you ready to field your Necrons as they slowly wake from their long slumber? Check out our Top 10 review of the new upgrades, traits, stats, and more to make the army work!
Are you ready to field your Necrons as they slowly wake from their long slumber? Check out ouCodex: Necrons has what you need to watch the stars burn!
This is the year of the Xenos and the Necron Codex is the latest from Games Workshop (Sorry Ork players, still waiting on yours).
The new Codex: Necrons brings Dynasty specific Stratagems, Relics, Warlord Traits, and more for you to develop a playstyle all your own.
Our very own Rob Baer has this codex on his paint bench to give you 10 things you need to know when using your living metal warriors and star gods.
For our complete review, be sure to scroll down!
The Necron Codex appears to be a codex that is well rounded. Necron players, new and old, will be able to field a list that works. The codex itself contains 120 pages of lore, datasheets, rules, and point costs. Rob was not too thrilled with the updated lore for the Necrons as not much was updated… yet.
As for the meat of this codex, you will be able to field a strong list that is resilient and will be able to get the job done in your non-competitive matches. If you are looking to field a more competitive list, then wait for the FAQ/changes to come, especially in regards to the number of HQs that can be fielded.
For Warlord Traits, there are only two of the generic traits that are worth taking. Immortal Pride, which is the auto-pass for Morale Tests, would be great for a Warrior-centric list. The other is Implacable Conqueror, which allows friendly units within 6″ to re-roll failed charge rolls, would be great for a Wraith/C’Tan list.
As for the Dynasty specific traits, the Sautekh traits is the one that stands out the most since it will allow you the opportunity to refund a used command point on a 5+. Conveniently that is the Stormlords trait!
Rob goes more in-depth and breaks down his top 10 list and discusses possible army lists in his full review video below!
Codex: Necrons: $40
For sixty million years the Necrons have slumbered, their tomb worlds filled with dormant armies and inactive war machines. Now they are awakening as if from half-remembered nightmares, and the galaxy shudders at their return. From vast crypt-fortresses, burnished legions emerge into the dying light of the 41st Millennium, a steel sea rippling beneath the crackling energy discharge of esoteric battle engines. Swarming metal Scarabs, talon-limbed horrors and spectral assassins accompany them, their alien minds focused on a single purpose – to reclaim the stars.
Codex: Necrons contains a wealth of background and rules – the definitive book for Necrons collectors. Within this 120-page hardback, you’ll find:
– In the Beginning: the origin of the Necrons, from the Necrontyr race of flesh and blood that existed billions of years ago, their bitter civil war, the pact with the C’tan which doomed them to immortality and the order which set them to their Great Sleep;
– The Great Awakening: the manner in which the tomb worlds are awakening into the 41st Millennium – some early, some late, others not at all – and the Necrons’ first, violent actions upon rousing;
– The Necron Dynasties: descriptions of the complex, rigid hierarchies of the Necrons, with details and icons of the following 8 dynasties: Sautekh, Charnovokh, Nephrekh, Thokt, Mephrit, Novoth, Ogdobekh, and Nihilakh;
– A galactic map featuring both active and (currently) dormant tomb worlds, crown worlds and dynastic territories;
– Domains of the Phaerons: organisation of the tomb worlds, and the manner in which the Necrons wage war;
– Dynastic Markings: illustrated examples of how Necrons use markings on their soldiers, including hieroglyphs used on war machines. Includes colour schemes and background for the following 9 dynasties: Sautekh, Mephrit, Nephrekh, Nihilakh, Novokh, Thokt, Charnovokh, Nekthyst, and Ogbobekh;
– A New Epoch Begins: a timeline of significant events and battles in Necron history during the 41st Millennium;
– Background on each unit available to a Necrons army;
– A showcase of beautifully painted Citadel miniatures, with example armies featuring everything from individual images of models to battle scenes on terrain.Rules
Everything you need to get a Necrons army primed for games of Warhammer 40,000 is in here:
– 36 datasheets providing rules for using every Necrons unit in your games of Warhammer 40,000;
– Army abilities that reflect Necrons’ methods of war on the tabletop.
– Armoury of the Ancients: profiles for all weapons and wargear of the Necrons, ranged and close-combat
– Points values for all miniatures, weapons and wargear for use in Matched Play games;
– Code of War: Rules for Battle-forged armies, including:
– 5 Dynastic Codes: special rules for each of the following dynasties: Sautekh, Mephrit, Novokh, Nihilakh, and Nephrekh;
– 27 unique Stratagems, including 5 specific to the following dynasties: Sautekh, Mephrit, Novokh, Nihilakh, and Nephrekh;
– Powers of the C’tan: a choice of 6 powers that can be used for each C’tan Shard unit in your army, generated before battle;
– Artefacts of the Aeons: 13 weapons and artefacts available only to Necrons;
– 6 unique Warlord Traits for the Necrons, with 5 additional Warlord Traits, one specific to each of the following dynasties: Sautekh, Mephrit, Novokh, Nihilakh, and Nephrekh;
– 6 Tactical Objectives unique to the Necrons.
Datacards: Necrons: $15
Designed to make it easier to keep track of Tactical Objectives and Stratagems in games of Warhammer 40,000, this set of 72 cards – each featuring artwork on the reverse – is an indispensable tool in the arsenal of any Necrons gamer. Included:
– 27 Stratagems available to any Battle-forged Necrons army as found in Codex: Necrons, along with 3 Stratagems – Command Re-roll, Counter-Offensive and Insane Bravery – from the Warhammer 40,000 rules, available to any army;
– 6 Powers of the C’tan cards from Codex: Necrons;
– 36 Tactical Objectives, including the 6 specific Tactical Objectives from Codex: Necrons.
The Codex: Necrons is available now online and in local Games Workshop stores. Be sure to press play on our review video below for more.
For more on the Necron Codex and all things Warhammer 40k, visit Games Workshop!
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
