Unleash the Necrons Starshatter Arsenal Detachment rules in Warhammer 40k as relentless firepower brings the rising robots to the Grotmas Calendar.
If there’s one thing the Xenos faction of Necrons knows how to do, is make an entrance; just think about how dramatic they have been while reawakening! This new detachment for Warhammer 40k brings their relentless firepower and objective control to a new level in 10th Edition!
Necrons Bring High-Tech Havoc to Warhammer 40,000
The Necrons are back in the spotlight with a brand-new detachment that’s as sleek and menacing as their arcane machinery, the sixth of the Grotmas Calander rules for December! The Starshatter Arsenal, revealed as part of the Grotmas Calendar, showcases an ancient dynasty’s unyielding resolve to reclaim their lost domains using a blend of cunning tactics, unstoppable war machines, and technology that would make even the Adeptus Mechanicus blush. You can download the full rules here.
A Warhost Built for Speed and Precision
Forget the slow march of relentless infantry. This Necron detachment focuses on mobility, firepower, and a knack for holding objectives with surgical efficiency. The Relentless Onslaught detachment rule sums it up: Necron models gain a +1 to hit rolls against units holding objectives, and ranged weapons on Vehicles and Mounted models gain the Assault ability.
The dynasty’s playstyle reflects its mastery of time and space, with highly mobile units swooping onto objectives to dismantle foes with uncanny precision. Ghost Arks unload legions of skeletal warriors, accompanied by a parade of servile constructs and ruthless killing machines. It’s an armored symphony of annihilation conducted by Overlords wielding terrifying wargear.
Technology So Advanced It’s Practically Magic
Necrons don’t just wield weapons—they unleash cosmic wrath. The Chrono-Impedance Fields, a new enhancement, lets commanders protect key vehicles with a time-dilation aura that subtracts 1 from the Damage characteristic of incoming attacks. Meanwhile, the Chronoshift Stratagem allows vehicles to auto-advance 6 inches, letting you position your war machines exactly where they’re needed.
These upgrades aren’t just numbers on a datasheet; they’re windows into the eerie intelligence of Necron tech. Imagine tanks phasing through obstacles like ghosts, thanks to the Dimensional Tunnel Stratagem, or instantly repositioning under fire with Reactive Reposition. This is more than a tactical edge—it’s a narrative tool, painting a picture of a dynasty adapting to battlefield chaos with cold, mechanical precision.
Starshatter Enhancements: A Toolbox of Doom
The enhancements available to this detachment not only boost effectiveness but also drip with thematic flavor:
- Dread Majesty (30 points): Re-roll hit and wound rolls of 1 for nearby units. The Overlord’s aura of dominance ensures that every shot counts, and every strike lands true.
- Miniaturized Nebuloscope (15 points): Enemies can’t hide, thanks to the Ignores Cover ability granted to ranged weapons in the bearer’s unit. It’s perfect for dealing with those sneaky opponents who think terrain will save them.
- Demanding Leader (10 points): Allows a Vehicle or Mounted unit to shoot even after falling back, ensuring your forces never lose momentum.
These enhancements highlight the Necrons’ status as masters of advanced warcraft, blending tactical utility with evocative descriptions of their high-tech supremacy.
Stratagems That Bring the Pain
The Starshatter Arsenal introduces a suite of stratagems that reflect the dynasty’s obsession with reclaiming their ancient holdings:
- Merciless Reclamation: Add +1 to wound rolls when targeting units near objectives. This one screams “get off my lawn” with a metallic snarl.
- Unyielding Forms: Shrug off powerful attacks by reducing wound rolls when the enemy’s strength exceeds your toughness. It’s as if your war engines are daring opponents to try harder.
- Endless Servitude: Trigger Reanimation Protocols at the end of the Fight phase. Just when your opponent thinks they’ve dealt with your forces, the Necrons rise again, proving their tenacity is as endless as their disdain for organic life.
Lore Meets Gameplay
The rules aren’t just crunchy—they weave seamlessly into the Necron lore. Every stratagem, enhancement, and rule reflects the dynasty’s ancient mastery of advanced technology. The Starshatter Arsenal isn’t just a collection of powerful mechanics; it’s a storytelling vehicle that brings the grim majesty of the Necrons to the tabletop.
Picture this: A Necron warhost materializes out of shimmering voids, sweeping across a battlefield in an unstoppable wave. Their vehicles phase through walls as if they were air, while skeletal infantry rise from the ashes of fallen comrades, their metallic laughter echoing through the chaos. The enemy is pinned to objectives, surrounded and outmatched by a dynasty that has perfected the art of war over millennia.
Sample Necrons Starshatter Arsenal Detachment Army List
Creating a 2,000-point Necron army list centered around the Starshatter Arsenal detachment emphasizes mobility, firepower, and control over objectives. This detachment enhances Necron units with abilities like adding 1 to hit rolls against enemies on objectives and granting the Assault ability to ranged weapons on Vehicles and Mounted models.
The following list leverages these strengths to create a balanced and competitive force. However, the points in 10th Edition 40k are pretty free-flowing, so check out the Field Munitorum changes for the latest points!
HQ
- Overlord (85 points)
- Equipped with Resurrection Orb and Overlord’s blade.
- Enhancement: Dread Majesty (30 points)
- Provides re-rolls of hit and wound rolls of 1 for nearby units.
- Catacomb Command Barge (120 points)
- Equipped with gauss cannon and warscythe.
- Enhancement: Chrono-Impedance Fields (25 points)
- Grants a selected Vehicle or Mounted unit within 6″ a -1 to Damage characteristic of incoming attacks.
Troops
- Necron Warriors (200 points)
- 20 models equipped with gauss flayers.
- Led by Overlord.
- Necron Warriors (200 points)
- 20 models equipped with gauss flayers.
Elites
- Lychguard (170 points)
- 10 models equipped with warscythes.
- Led by Catacomb Command Barge.
Fast Attack
- Canoptek Wraiths (250 points)
- 6 models equipped with transdimensional beamers.
- Tomb Blades (150 points)
- 6 models equipped with particle beamers and shadowlooms.
Heavy Support
- Doomsday Ark (190 points)
- Equipped with doomsday cannon and gauss flayer arrays.
- Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (150 points)
- 3 models equipped with gauss destructors.
Dedicated Transport
- Ghost Ark (125 points)
- Equipped with gauss flayer arrays.
Flyer
- Night Scythe (145 points)
- Equipped with twin tesla destructor.
Total Points: 1,965
Strategic Considerations:
- Overlord with Necron Warriors: The Overlord leads a unit of 20 Necron Warriors, providing them with the Dread Majesty enhancement, allowing re-rolls of hit and wound rolls of 1, significantly boosting their shooting efficiency.
- Catacomb Command Barge with Lychguard: The Catacomb Command Barge leads the Lychguard, offering durability and combat prowess. The Chrono-Impedance Fields enhancement can be used to protect key units like the Doomsday Ark or Lokhust Heavy Destroyers by reducing incoming damage.
- Canoptek Wraiths and Tomb Blades: These fast-moving units can swiftly engage enemy units on objectives, utilizing the detachment’s bonus to hit rolls and the Assault ability to maintain mobility and pressure.
- Doomsday Ark and Lokhust Heavy Destroyers: These units provide heavy fire support, targeting high-value enemy units. The Doomsday Ark’s firepower is formidable, and the Lokhust Heavy Destroyers can re-roll wound rolls of 1 against Monsters and Vehicles, ensuring reliable damage output.
- Ghost Ark and Night Scythe: The Ghost Ark can transport Necron Warriors, providing flexibility in positioning and objective control. The Night Scythe offers additional mobility and firepower, capable of delivering units to critical locations on the battlefield.
Additional Enhancements and Stratagems:
- Miniaturized Nebuloscope (15 points): Consider equipping this to a unit to grant their ranged weapons the Ignores Cover ability, enhancing their effectiveness against entrenched enemies.
- Demanding Leader (10 points): This enhancement allows a selected Vehicle or Mounted unit within 6″ of the bearer to shoot even after falling back, maintaining offensive capabilities in dynamic engagements.
- Stratagems: Utilize stratagems like Merciless Reclamation to add 1 to wound rolls against units near objectives, and Unyielding Forms to subtract 1 from wound rolls of attacks with higher Strength than the unit’s Toughness, enhancing both offensive and defensive operations.
Final thoughts on the New Necrons Warhammer 40k Detachment
The Starshatter Arsenal detachment offers something for every player. Those new to Necrons will find an easy-to-grasp, thematic playstyle that emphasizes speed, control, and devastating firepower. Meanwhile, long-time collectors can revel in the opportunities for thematic army builds, lore-inspired narratives, and tactical mastery.
See All the New 40k Detachment Rules Here
What do you think about the new Warhammer 40k Necrons Starshatter Arsenal Detachment rules from the first Grotmas Calendar?
About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
