Best Genestealer Cults Starter Sets: The Ultimate Arsenal for Aspiring Cult Leaders

Key Takeaways:

• Comprehensive overview of Genestealer Cults units
• Tactics and strategies for building a powerful army
• Insights into the lore and background of the Genestealer Cults
• Tips for painting and customizing your miniatures
• Recommendations for expanding your collection

Best Genestealer Cults Starter Sets: Genestealer Cults Combat Patrol

The Genestealer Cults Combat Patrol is the perfect starting point for any aspiring cult leader. This boxed set provides you with a diverse array of units that form the core of any successful cult uprising, all while saving you money compared to buying the contents individually.

What’s in the box:

• 1x Magus
• 1x Goliath Rockgrinder/Truck
• 5x Aberrants
• 5x Acolyte Hybrids/Hybrid Metamorphs
• 20x Neophyte Hybrids

The Magus is your cult’s psychic leader, guiding your forces with their insidious presence. The Aberrants are your misshapen, brutish shock troops, while the Acolyte Hybrids and Hybrid Metamorphs excel at up-close fighting with industrial weapons or rending claws.

The Neophyte Hybrids make up the backbone of your army, armed with autoguns and special weapons to lay down suppressing fire. Finally, the Goliath Rockgrinder/Truck provides you with either a devastating industrial vehicle or a transport for your infantry.

After a more general kit? See here for The Best Warhammer 40k Starter Army

Best Genestealer Cults Starter Sets: Neophyte Hybrids

When you need to deliver a devastating blow to the enemy, look no further than the Acolyte Hybrids. These more mutated members of the cult are armed with heavy industrial tools like rock saws and demolition charges, allowing them to rip through enemy armor with ease. Acolyte Hybrids excel at shock assaults, bursting from hidden tunnels and sewers to catch the enemy off guard.

What’s in the box:

• 10x Neophyte Hybrids
• Options for autoguns, shotguns, seismic cannon, heavy stubber, and mining laser
• Upgrades for a Neophyte Leader and Cult Icon bearer

The kit also allows you to build Hybrid Metamorphs, which are even more specialized close combat units. With their whip-like rending claws and powerful crushing claws, Hybrid Metamorphs are perfect for shredding through enemy infantry and tying up larger threats.

Want to learn more about where the Genestealers come from? Read our guide to What are Tyranids!

Best Genestealer Cults Starter Set: Broodcoven

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Broodcoven. This deadly triumvirate consists of a Patriarch, Magus, and Primus, each bringing their own unique abilities to the table. The Patriarch is a monstrous creature that can tear through enemy units with ease, while the Primus is a skilled fighter who can enhance the abilities of nearby Neophyte Hybrids and Acolyte Hybrids.

What’s in the box:

• 1x Patriarch
• 1x Magus with force stave and Familiars
• 1x Primus with needle pistol, bonesword, and toxin injector

Together, the Broodcoven forms a powerful core around which you can build your army. Their combination of psychic might, close combat prowess, and buffing abilities make them a potent force multiplier that can turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Want to go for an even more sinister faction? Try our Chaos Starter Set For Warhammer 40k 

Best Genestealer Cults Starter Sets: Goliath Truck/Rockgrinder

No Genestealer Cult army is complete without some heavy machinery, and the Goliath Rockgrinder fills that role perfectly. This rugged, infinitely adaptable vehicle can either transport your infantry into the thick of battle or plow straight into the enemy lines, grinding them to dust with its heavy mining tools. The Goliath Rockgrinder is also equipped with a heavy stubber and a deadly mining laser, allowing it to deal with both infantry and armor threats.

What’s in the box:

• 1x Goliath Truck/Rockgrinder
• Options for heavy stubber, twin-linked autocannon, and heavy mining laser
• Can transport up to 10 infantry models (Goliath Truck only)

If you prefer a more dedicated transport, you can instead build the Goliath Truck. This variant trades some of the Rockgrinder’s offensive capabilities for increased transport capacity, allowing you to ferry up to 10 Neophyte Hybrids or Acolyte Hybrids across the battlefield with ease.

Interested in picking up some new brushes to paint your cult? Checkout the Best Brushes for Warhammer 40k 

 

Best Genestealer Cults Starter Sets: Atalan Jackals

Rounding out the Genestealer Cults Starter Set are the Atalan Jackals, the outriders of the cult. These fourth generation hybrids roam the fringes of the host planet on dirtcycles and wolfquads, scouting out new regions to infest and providing rapid fire support for the rest of the army.

With a variety of customization options, from melee weapons to blasting charges and ranged weapons, Atalan Jackals can be kitted out to fill a variety of roles on the battlefield.

The inclusion of an Atalan Wolfquad also gives you some extra punch, with options for a mining laser, Atalan incinerator, or heavy stubber. This versatile support vehicle can help you control key areas of the battlefield and hunt down high-priority targets.

What’s in the box:

• 4x Atalan Jackals on dirtcycles
• 1x Atalan Wolfquad
• Options for a variety of ranged, melee, and demo weapons

The inclusion of an Atalan Wolfquad also gives you some extra punch, with options for a mining laser, Atalan incinerator, or heavy stubber. This versatile support vehicle can help you control key areas of the battlefield and hunt down high-priority targets.

Interested in the parents of these cults? Checkout our article for The Best Tyranid Starter Sets

Best Genestealer Cults Starter Sets: Aberrants

Aberrants are the hideous offshoots of the Genestealer Cult’s brood cycle, terrifyingly strong and single-minded in their desire to protect their broodkin.

What’s in the box:

• 5x Aberrants
• Options for power hammers, power picks, rending claws, and a Hypermorph upgrade
• 11x different head options for variety

Aberrants are the twisted offshoots of the Genestealer Cult’s brood cycle.

These hulking, inhumanly strong creatures may be dim-witted, but their instinctive need to protect their broodkin makes them invaluable assets on the battlefield. Armed with power hammers and rending claws, Aberrants excel at smashing through the toughest enemies and soaking up damage that would otherwise be directed at your other units.

Decided to give it all up? To let it all fadeaway into decay? View our Death Guard Starter Set to help you get started with the Grandfather himself

Best Genestealer Cults Starter Sets: Assembling and Customizing Your Army

One of the joys of the Genestealer Cults is the sheer amount of customization options available to you. Each kit comes with a variety of heads, weapons, and accessories that allow you to create truly unique models that reflect your cult’s personality and ideology.

Looking for paints to get these minions moving? Read here for The Best Paint Sets for Warhammer 40k 

Whether you prefer a more militaristic look with Neophytes in mining gear and Acolytes with industrial tools, or a more feral appearance with Aberrants covered in gruesome mutations, the choice is yours.

As you assemble your models, take the time to plan out your color scheme and decide on a unifying theme for your army.

The Genestealer Cults lend themselves well to a variety of paint schemes, from the classic purple and bone of the Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor to more muted earth tones that reflect a mining colony background. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find a look that speaks to you.

Checkout Goonhammer.com for a more in depth painting guide.

Tactics and Strategies

When it comes to playing the Genestealer Cults on the tabletop, the key is to leverage your army’s unique strengths. Your units excel at ambush tactics and up-close fighting, so look for ways to get into melee combat as quickly as possible. The Broodcoven and Aberrants are particularly well-suited for this role, as they can soak up damage and dish out heavy casualties in return.

Your Neophyte Hybrids and Acolyte Hybrids, meanwhile, are perfect for holding objectives and laying down supporting fire. Use their special weapons to take out key enemy units, and don’t be afraid to sacrifice them if it means securing a vital part of the battlefield.

The Goliath Rockgrinder and Atalan Jackals give you some added mobility and firepower, allowing you to harass the enemy and pick off vulnerable targets. Use them to draw fire away from your other units or to quickly reinforce a weakened flank.

Finally, remember the power of your psychic abilities. The Magus and Patriarch can use their powers to buff your units and weaken the enemy, giving you a crucial edge in the fight. Use them wisely, and you’ll be well on your way to victory.

Conclusion

The Genestealer Cults are a truly unique and flavorful army that offers a wealth of tactical options and customization opportunities. With the Genestealer Cults Starter Set, you have everything you need to start your own cult and begin your conquest of the galaxy.

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the hobby, these models are sure to provide hours of enjoyment both on and off the tabletop.

FAQ

Q: What’s the best way to expand my Genestealer Cults army beyond the Starter Set?

A: Consider adding more Neophyte Hybrids and Acolyte Hybrids to bulk out your infantry, along with specialized units like the Kelermorph or Sanctus for added tactical flexibility. The Broodcoven is also a great choice for a powerful HQ unit.

Q: How do I deal with heavily armored enemies like Space Marines?

A: Aberrants with power hammers and heavy improvised weapons are great for cracking tough armor, as are mining lasers on your vehicles. Acolyte Hybrids with rock saws can also do some serious damage in melee.

Q: What’s the best way to use the Goliath Rockgrinder?

A: The Goliath Rockgrinder is a versatile vehicle that can either plow straight into enemy lines or hang back and provide fire support. Its mining laser is great for taking out heavy armor, while the heavy stubber can mow down infantry.

Q: How do I make the most of my Magus’ psychic abilities?

A: The Magus has access to some powerful buff and debuff abilities that can swing the tide of battle in your favor. Consider using Mental Onslaught to weaken enemy units before charging in with your melee units, or Mass Hypnosis to temporarily take control of an enemy unit.

Q: What’s the best way to paint my Genestealer Cults army?

A: Ultimately, the best paint scheme is the one that speaks to you and fits your cult’s personality. That said, a classic purple and bone scheme is always a safe bet, or you could try a more muted earth tone palette to reflect a mining colony background. Experiment with different colors and techniques until you find a look you love!