Enjoyers of the Adeptus Mechanicus got a delightful surprise in the most recent reveal stream during Adepticon last week, including a brand new unit (or units, but we’ll get into that) debuting in the new Kill Team box set. While we’ve had Servitors available for our armies before, all but the Kataphrons were moved to Legends in 10th edition, so it’s a great sight to have them return, and with brand-new plastic models. While of course, this is a great showing for those more interested in Kill Team, for players of Warhammer 40k, this prompted the question: What might these new servants of the Omnissiah do in the larger game? I wanted to get out ahead of any reveals for the kit beyond their showcase, and make some bold predictions using previous data, in order to toss my hat into the ring. While all of this is speculative, of course, it’s only natural to set expectations before we get a glimpse at the unit’s Datasheet, 1-2 months down the line. Let’s dive in and make some hypotheses about the Typhon Battleclade.
Via Games Workshop
To get it out of the way, the first implication that this might be a non-standard Kill Team to 40k transition for the kit is the inclusion of an existing Leader, the Technoarcheologist. This model saw extensive play back in the early months of 10th as a means of Deep Strike Denial, but has since fallen out of favor as new options emerged. Critically, though, this was a model that debuted in Blackstone Fortress back in ~2019; we already have rules for the model, and it’s unlikely that the Technoarcheologist will be joined at the hip to his servitor clade.
Similarly, while not the same sculpt, we’ve already had both Gun Servitors and the normal 25mm Servitors previously. Prior, Gun Servitors were locked to taking Multi-Meltas, Plasma, or Heavy Bolters as their armament of choice, but already we can see the division now into Heavy Bolter versus Heavy Arc Rifle; for anyone who’s used Kataphron Breachers, any opportunity to take a Heavy Arc Rifle on a cheaper chassis is greatly appreciated. The only truly new model in this box is the Servitor Underseer, a gorgeous new Leader that appears to be on a 32mm base.
Via Warhammer.com
The models are divided into a Servitor Underseer, 2 Gun Servitors, 6 Combat Servitors (3 of which have special Kill Team gribblies), and of course the Technoarcheologist. Given the obvious assumption that the Techno will remain its own unit, that leaves us with an odd smorgasbord of models with an uncertain place. The Legends datasheet for Servitors is a strong one, being able to attach the lobotomized servants to any model containing a Tech Priest Enginseer, effectively adding bulk & inconsistent firepower for a pittance of points. I have the feeling that won’t be the case here, given how strong that was (and how annoying it could be to check for Toughness), but that doesn’t mean the Servitor Underseer needs to be connected.
In examples such as The Blooded, the Traitor Guardsmen & their Leader are separate units, given the clear distinction between their rank, but the very name Servitor Underseer makes me think the unit is doomed to remain as a single brick. That’s not the worst fate in the world, however, because of one other aspect inherent to Servitors: The Cult Mechanicus keyword.
Via Warhammer Community
It should come as no surprise that I once again am excited to talk about the possibility of new tools for the Data-Psalm Conclave. The Data-Psalm is one of the most fun, different-feeling detachments available to Admech, but part of its issue stems from a lack of units worth taking that bear its keyword. Breachers are a bit expensive, Fulgurites & Corpuscarii really need the Battleline buff to be good enough, and Destroyers are a bit of a moot point. You could, currently, attach tech-priests to Skitarii, but at that point the detachment’s rules about per-model and not per-unit get in the way. While not probable, it is potentially the case that these Servitors finally give Data-Psalm a cheap, trade-friendly piece that may even be Battleline, which would be a game changer for the army.
Beyond that, if the Underseer is shackled to the Servitor unit, they may lose one of their quintessential Servitor rules, namely being -1 BS/WS while not being led, often bringing them to 6+/5+ respectively. If the unit comes in-baked with a model fulfilling the Leader’s role, there could be room for expansion into other suites Admech lacks, especially a Gretchin-esque CP Generation ability.
Via Warhammer Community
Now to go into some aspects obvious to the models, 3 Combat Servitors look like they can come with either Cognis Flamers or Phosphor Blasters (Seen on Kataphron Destroyers). If their profiles remain unchanged, I would bet the flamers win out every time, as they benefit more from being in Conqueror with Torrent, and lack the downside of potentially hitting on ~5/4+ due to the models being lackey Servitors. Three of the Combat Servitors are designated as a Breacher, Technomedic, and Auto-Proxy, respectively. The Technomedic I would imagine acts similarly to Medi-Kit in Exaction Squads, providing a d3 model return in your Command Phase, but the other two are a bit more of a mixed bag. The Breacher looks to have something reminiscent of a miniaturized Las-Impulsor/Las-Cutter often seen on Knights, and probably acts as the ‘Special Weapon’ choice for the squad, but what of the Auto-Proxy? Some people are speculating this is the unit leader, and either or both the Gun Servitors & Underseer are their own unit, but I remain unconvinced. This screams to me like a model with an Auspex or Data Tether, likely doing something akin to either of those options, and being armed with a Taser Goad. On their own, some flamers, recursion, and a funny special weapon doesn’t mark me as being itself competitive, but the fact there’s such a small footprint means you’re far more likely to be able to hide these out and do actions, or threaten Overwatch against flimsy Deep Strikers.
Via Warhammer Community
A Heavy Arc Rifle on something other than a Kataphron Breacher is a thing of beauty, in the eyes of anyone familiar with the profile. Serving as one of the most mathematically efficient answers to things like Terminators & Vehicles alike is no small feat, but the Heavy Arc Rifle does so with a flat damage 3 profile and Anti-Vehicle 4+, on top of a stock Strength 8, meaning you wound MEQs on 2s, and Terminators always on 3s, even though this is purportedly an Anti-Vehicle weapon. This kit is the first time a normal non-tracked Servitor has had access to the gun, and the fact you’re made to choose between it and a Heavy Bolter is frankly laughable, although I assume that’s a consideration for Kill Team. In a best of all worlds, these would work like the old Servitors, and be attachable to anything led by a Priest, but I have severe doubts about that; if anything beyond being bundled with the Underseer & Combat Servitors, maybe these squeak by as their own bodyguard piece with just the Underseer.
Speaking of, the Underseer is another Tech-Priest on a 32mm base, similar to the Enginseer & Technoarcheologist, armed with what looks to be a bundle of Mechadendrites and a Mechanicus Pistol. Clearly this is not a model made for combat, but given it is in fact a Tech-Priest, there’s a world where it gets its own Datasheet. Part of what leads me to that conclusion is the size & inefficiency of the Techno’s sprue; if we’re being handed the current sprue for that model, it’s extremely inefficient space-wise, and there’s a world where the Gun & Combat Servitors go on their own sprue, with both the Techno & Underseer going on half-sprues, allowing each to be repackaged as their own Leaders. If the Underseer ends up on a connected sprue, however, it just makes business sense not to allow him to leave from the larger non-Techno Kill Team. If anything is an indication of how this unit, or units, end up broken up, it will come down to how the pieces are laid out on their sprues.
For 10th edition, Admech players really only expected to get the Skatros, a divisive miniature, so it’s amazing to get another swath of models to revitalize the range! How would you want to see this box broken up? Do you intend to purchase Typhon, or the Battleclade? I’d love to hear what your predictions are in the comments below!
