Digging into the Elites for the Adeptus Custodes
"Chances are, you may already have a Vexilus Praetor in your army! The Custodian Wardens, Allarus Custodians and Custodian Guard kit contain everything you need to build a Vexilus Praetor and a Shield-Captain. Indeed, the Custodian Guard set is almost a Start Collecting! Set for the Adeptus Custodes, containing a Patrol Detachment in a single box weighing in at about 22 power."
Correction:
the five man Custodian Guard box- the one we have had access to since they have
been available in 40k- has an HQ (Shield-Captain), a single minimum sized
Troops Choice (3-man Custodian Guard) and an Elite (Vexille) in the box,
coming out to 22 power.
via the Warhammer Community
https://www.warhammer-community.com/2018/01/18/adeptus-custodes-preview-part-3-elitesgw-homepage-post-2/
After 10,000 years as the Imperium’s final line of defence, the Adeptus Custodes are marching forth from Terra in force, and thanks to a new codex, you’ll be able to lead them in battle with new units, Stratagems, Relics and much more. In today’s preview, we’re looking at the elite infantry of the Adeptus Custodes, from the stalwart Custodian Wardens to the bellicose Allarus Custodians.
Every member of the Adeptus Custodes is a hero in their own right, but there are some that go above and beyond even the deeds expected of them. These veterans combine the training of their brethren with centuries of battlefield experience, each often centuries older than even the most venerable of Space Marines, and well versed in the practice as well as the theory of warfare.
Custodian Wardens may, at first glance, appear very similar to Custodian Guard, and indeed, these elite warriors perform much the same role as their brethren, but with some added benefits. The first of these is Binding Oaths, a special rule that further boosts the durability of a unit that is already very hard to kill.
Custodian Wardens can also be equipped with castellan axes, deadly melee weapons that aren’t quite as effective at piercing armour as the guardian spear, but provide a massive +3 boost to the wielder’s Strength! If you’re looking to hunt more lightly-armoured monsters, or even vehicles, these weapons are ideal, and work well with the Custodian Wardens’ increased number of attacks.
Allarus Custodians, on the other hand, are relentless Character hunters. Encased in Allarus Terminator armour, these warriors have 4 Wounds apiece and can teleport onto the battlefield, allowing them to close in in close combat very quickly indeed. What’s more, the Slayers of Tyrants rule means you can keep edging closer to your opponent’s key Characters when you pile in and consolidate:
This ability works superbly with the Inescapable Vengeance Stratagem, which allows your Allarus Custodians to snipe key enemy Characters with their guardian spears or castellan axes as well as their balistus grenade launchers, potent ranged weapons which excel at piercing armour.
One of the most enjoyable Stratagems to use with the Allarus Custodians, however, has to be Unleash the Lions. The Adeptus Custodes are renowned for the independence on the battlefield – where the Space Marines fight like a pack of wolves, working in concert with one another to bring down their foes, the Adeptus Custodes fight more like individual warriors. This Stratagem lets you split your Allarus Custodians into separate units, each behaving as a lone warrior for the remainder of the battlefield. If you’re looking for a particularly fun and thematic army, you could take a unit of 10, teleport them into battle, and assassinate a key enemy character before splitting up into different groups to hunt down the enemy.
The armies of the Adeptus Custodes have also received new support options in the form of Vexilus Praetors.These warriors bear the standards of the Adeptus Custodes into battle, designed not just to inspire those who fight around them, but infused with mysterious crypto-technological abilities that aid both the Golden Legion and the Imperial forces that fight alongside them.
In game, Vexilus Praetors are an Elites choice that can be equipped with one of three different standards:
If you’re looking to build a long-ranged army, the Vexilla Magnifica makes your Adeptus Custodes units even more durable, while close assault forces will love the Vexilla Imperius. Finally, the Vexilla Defensor is ideal for mixed Imperium armies, allowing you to provide protection to nearby models – perfect for shoring up an Intercessor gunline, or shielding some otherwise vulnerable Astra Militarum infantry.
Chances are, you may already have a Vexilus Praetor in your army! The Custodian Wardens, Allarus Custodians and Custodian Guard kit contain everything you need to build a Vexilus Praetor and a Shield-Captain. Indeed, the Custodian Guard set is almost a Start Collecting! Set for the Adeptus Custodes, containing a Patrol Detachment in a single box weighing in at about 22 power.
With these new units on hand, the Adeptus Custodes army is about to get a lot more diverse, whether you’re fielding them as an army in their own right or as allies for your Imperium army.
Come back tomorrow, when we’ll be diving into some of the particularly interesting Stratagems in the new Adeptus Custodes codex.
