I went basic again and reused the list from my Iron Hands game for this Astra Militarum vs Genestealer Cult, no Lord Solar, and no orders for my 7th game of Warhammer 40K 10th Edition.

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This game was at Boards and Swords in Derby.

Astra Militarum 2,000 Points List

• Platoon Command Squad with Regimental Attaches
• 2x Leman Russ Executioners with HKMs and Heavy Flamers
• 1x Leman Russ Battle Tank with HKM, Lascannon, and Multi Meltas
• 2x Leman Russ Battle Tanks with HKM and Heavy Bolters
• 1x Leman Russ Exterminator with HKM and Heavy Bolters
• 3x Enginseers
• A unit of 3 Armoured Sentinels with HKMs and Plasma Cannons
• 5 units of 10 Catachans
• 3 units of 5 Scions with Power Fist, Plasma Pistol, Melta Gun, and Plasma Gun
• A Rapier Laser Destroyer Battery

Genestealer Cult

• A unit of 20 Neophytes, plus Nexos and another character
• A unit of 10 Neophytes in a Goliath Truck
• 2x Achilles Ridgerunners
• Leman Russ Battle Cannon with Lascannon and Heavy Flamers
• Rogal Dorn with Oppressor Cannon, Pulveriser Cannon, Melta guns, and Multi Meltas
• A unit of 5 Aberrants and an Abominant
• Atalan Jackals and Jackal Alphus
• 10x Genestealers with Patriarch
• 5x Acolyte Hybrids

The Mission – Astra Militarum vs Genestealer Cult

The random Levithan Cards were…

Sweeping Engagement

Take and Hold

This is the same as the 9th Edition Primary. Gain 5VP (max 15VP) per objective at the end of your Command Phase for Rounds 2, 3 and 4. Round 5 is scored as usual for the player who went first, but the player who went second scores at the end of their Round 5.

Vox Static

In this mission, the Command Re-roll Stratagem and New Orders Stratagem both cost 2CP to use.

Deployment

I placed all my Catachans as far forward as possible, then made their 6″ Scout move, which took them very close to, but not onto, objectives.

I was close to the bikes on the right and Genestealers on the left. Everything else was spread out with the mighty Sentinels in the centre, ready not to die – again. They are so tough.

Finally, I decided not to place my Leman Russ tanks on the frontline, where they would be charged turn 1. I put them back a bit to give them a buffer. That buffer was extended by a further 6”, thanks to the Scout move of the Catachans.

Turn 1 – Astra Militarum

Please note the new explosives I have placed on the top-down images!

I got the first turn, which went well. I scored nothing, though, due to poor cards. But did manage to kill all but two bikes, all but two Genestealers (and the Patriarch) and a Ridgerunner.

The first game I played against Genestealer Cult in 10th Edition went poorly because the bikes and Genestealer ran riot on me. Not this time!

The Scout moves ensured I was all three No Man’s Land objectives, with the Sentinels coming nicely into the centre.

Turn 1 – Genestealer Cult

The Genestealers did not charge me. Instead, they scored Cleanse. On the right side, I lost my advancing Catachans to Leman Russ Heavy Flamers and small arms fire from the Goliath Truck.

Elsewhere, I did not suffer. But I was yet to score.

Turn 2 – Astra Militarum

I pushed forward onto objectives with more Sentinels, a Leman Russ and more Catachans on the left side.

The Goliath Truck went down along with the last bikes and Genestealers. That opened up the far right side and the whole left side of the battlefield.

I charged a Leman Russ into the enemy Leman Russ (a Battle Tank, not a Punisher as pictured) with no damage.

The Genestealers went back into Strategic Reserve after 4+ Cult Ambush roll.

Turn 2 – Genestealer Cult

No photos. I will struggle a bit with the details. But I can see from the score that the Genestealer Cult achieved Extend Battle Lines. This occurred on the right flank. The Neophytes from the destroyed Goliath Truck moved around to take the objective from my Leman Russ.

The Rogal Dorn swept into the centre, killing two Sentinels. The charged Leman Russ of mine was reduced to 4 wounds.

The Genestealers reappeared at the back of the board, probably the safest place, given that my Scions were still coming in.

The below image shows the enemy movements in green from this turn, along with my dead models as explosions.

Turn 3 – Astra Militarum

I hit back at that same right objective, advancing 10 Catachan over there to take it back. I also killed the Rogal Dorn this turn after moving my Leman Russ on the left flank into it’s line-of-sight. The left flank was now mine with 15 Scions coming in, 20 untouched Catachan and three Leman Russ.

The below image shows the enemy movements in green from turn 2, along with my dead models as explosions.

Turn 3 – Genestealer Cult

The Aberrants came in this turn, and the Genestealers leapt forward from their new position. The five Acolyte Hybrids came in to snipe an Enginseer for the Assassination Secondary.

My first Leman Russ was destroyed this turn, on the right, along with the ten Catachan that had helped that that objective back from the enemy.

The right side was crumbling now, with the enemy focusing there.

Turn 4 – Astra Militarum

More, pushing towards the centre from Catachans and three Leman Russ.

I killed the five Acolytes that sniped the Enginseer and started to get to work on the Aberrants and returning Genestealers but with little effect.

I was in a good spot now, going into the final turns… but that right side could be an issue.

Turn 4 – Genestealer Cult

The Genestealers and Aberrants came forward to the centre, killing a Leman Russ and ten Catachan. That took the centre away from me.

Turn 5

Sadly, I have no more photos, so I lack details again in this final turn.

Going into the final turn, I was ahead, thanks to board control on the left all game and centre most of the game. Could the Genestealer Cult bring it back using their last few movements and cards?

Astra Militarum vs Genestealer Cult – List Summary

An Astra Militarum victory today!

We scored similarly for the Secondaries despite the Astra Militarum having board control for most of the game. I had managed to smash the Primary objective, though, which is where this game was won.

The Catachans got MVP for me in this game. That 6″ Scout move and being around to score were essential to the Primary objective. It also gave me a healthy buffer between the frontline and my Leman Russ. The infantry could move forward, pushing out any Deep Striking units while the Leman Russ followed behind, smashing enemy units off the battlefield.

Final Score

Astra Militarum – 93
Genestealer Cult – 71

Astra Militarum Victory