Know Your Foe #21: Did you know that the Genestealer Cults had arrived on our planet in over 20 years ago? Would you like to know more?
It’s full on Genestealer Cult mania right now and people are losing their minds! That truck/limo is looking “Uh-maze-ing!!” So, we’re going back to Codex Tyranids to trace the origins of the Genestealers. Of course the Genestealers were their own entity in “Rouge Trader”, and they had some rules in an earlier White Dwarf, but this was their first fully published rules set.
This book was written by fan favorite Andy Chambers. He was the hive mind and did a lot of work to keep these guys relevant throughout 3rd edition.
You’ll noticed in the text that Comp was a big thing and only 25% of your army could consist of support and up to 50% on Characters, which sounds like a lot but it was an era of “HeroHammer”. Further, at least 25% of your army had to be broods.
Now, for all of you who think it’s a travesty that the Cults can’t ally with the Nids, there’s actually a really good reason for that in the fluff.
“The Tyranids cannot be expected to help the cult, in fact their arrival signifies the end of the Cult as it is reabsorbed into the Hive Fleet.”
Which makes perfect sense. Of course, ret-conning is a thing so we may see this change. However, they would ally with Chaos because Chaos is all about, well, spreading Chaos.
Further, it goes into the wargear and the tactics. It also included the whole catalog so you could buy just the bits. This helped them sell models back in the day, of course the internet has changed all that.
To get the whole scoop and all the secret hobby sauce check out the video below!
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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.
