I'm considering starting a Wych Cult

[superhappyrobot]

Hey, doods. I like the look and fluff of wych cults, so I was thinking of starting a wych cult DE army. I was wondering if any of you had any comments of the following two lists:

List 1: 1000 Points
Archon -- shadowfield, agonizer, combat drugs (120)

6 Bloodbrides -- 2 shardnet/impaler, syren, agonizer (128)
Raider -- flickerfield (70)

10 Wyches -- 2 hydra guantlets, hekatrix, agonizer (150)
Raider -- flickerfield (70)

10 Wyches -- 2 razorflails, hekatrix, agonizer (150)
Raider -- flickerfield (70)

Ravager -- flickerfield (115)

Ravager -- flickerfield (115)

Total: 988

Archon rides with the Bloodbrides and everything speeds, shoots, and stabs. From there I could possibly go up to 1500 by essentially adding more wyches and another ravager:

List 2: 1500 Points
Lelith (175)

9 Bloodbrides -- 3 shardnet/impaler, syren, agonizer (192)
Raider -- flickerfield (70)

10 Wyches -- 2 hydra guantlets, hekatrix, agonizer (150)
Raider -- flickerfield (70)

10 Wyches -- 2 hydra guantlets, hekatrix, agonizer (150)
Raider -- flickerfield (70)

10 Wyches -- 2 razorflails, hekatrix, agonizer (150)
Raider -- flickerfield (70)

Ravager -- flickerfield (115)

Ravager -- flickerfield (115)

Ravager -- flickerfield (115)

Total: 1487

I know it would probably be more competitive to have a combined-arms approach, but I like themed lists and I mostly play for fun so I'm not worried about competitiveness. Any thoughts?

[BlindGunn]

For List 1, you should be using a Succubus instead of an Archon for a "true" Wych army - but I won't hold that against you if you just prefer the Archon! ;)

If I were to caution you about anything, it's that Wyches are very vulnerable to shooting and Walkers.

For shooting, all I can suggest it you move fast, get into combat ASAP and probably get out of the Raiders after the 1st turn (exploding Raiders will kill almost as many Wyches as direct fire will). Hug cover where ever, when ever you can.

For Walkers, either you have to detroy them all before they have a chance of assaulting your Wyches with the Raiders and Ravagers (not always possible), or you need Haywire Grenades. Unfortunately, an entire Wych army with Haywire will be expensive - point-wise. I would suggest upgrading the Blood Brides with Haywire (in list 1) and have them assist any squads that get entangled with Walkers, or at least one or two other Wych squads in List 2.

Good Luck!

[superhappyrobot]

you should be using a Succubus instead of an Archon for a "true" Wych army!

You're totally right. For some reason I just skimmed over the Succubus entry in the army list section of the codex. I'll definitely include one as an HQ.

I was thinking about this army and how many projects I've started and never finished, and I came to the conclusion that I should set my goals a little lower. Therefore, I thought up a 500 point list which would be easier to get me started. I've only got 400 points figured out, so I was hoping for some input on what to do to bring the list up to 500:


Succubus -- agonizer, blast pistol (100)

10 Wyches -- 2x shardnet/impaler, Hekatrix, agonizer (150)

10 Wyches -- 2x hydra gauntlets, Hekatrix, agonizer (150)

Total: 400 points

I thought of a few possibilities to make this list 500 points:

1. Add a blast pistol to each Hekatrix and a Raider with flickerfield
2. Drop the blast pistol on the Succubus and add a ravager with flickerfield
3. Drop the Succubus completely and run with Lelith Hesperax as my HQ and add 25 points of upgrades to the Wych squads (most likely a blast pistol to each Hekatrix for anti-armor)

Any thoughts?

[BlindGunn]

Well, depends on who you play, I guess...

If you're planning on rides for the Wyches, Raiders are 60+ points each - you won't be able to afford 2 with just 100 points.

More importnatly, they carry only 10 passengers - your Wyches will fly, but the Succubus will walk. Unless you drop a Wych AND 1 Wych weapon from one of the squads. That should free up the points you need for the two Raiders, though.

If you take 2 for 500 point games, maybe consider a Disintegrator instead of a Dark Lance for some ranged Anti-Infantry on one of the Raiders. A single Dark Lance and the Blast Pistol will hopefully be enough for the armour in a 500 point game.

Luck!

[superhappyrobot]

I thought some more about potential armies, and I wound up putting together a new 2000 point list that was more balanced, but kept a strong core of wych units:


HQ:
Lelith Hesperax -- 175

Duke Sliscus -- 150

Elite:
9 Bloodbrides -- 280
-3x Shardnet/Impaler
-9x Haywire Grenades
-Syren w/ Agonizer, Blast Pistol
-Raider w/ Flickerfield

4 Trueborn -- 155
-2x Shardcarbines
-2x Splinter Cannons
-4x Haywire Grenades, 4x Plasma Grenades
-Venom w/ 2x Splinter Cannons

Troops:
10 Wyches -- 255
-2x Hyrda Guantlets
-10x Haywire Grenades
-Hekatrix w/ Agonizer, Blast Pistol
-Raider w/ Flickerfield

10 Wyches -- 255
-2x Hyrda Guantlets
-10x Haywire Grenades
-Hekatrix w/ Agonizer, Blast Pistol
-Raider w/ Flickerfield

10 Wyches -- 255
-2x Razorflails
-10x Haywire Grenades
-Hekatrix w/ Agonizer, Blast Pistol
-Raider w/ Flickerfield

10 Warriors -- 130
-Blaster
-Bright Lance

Heavy Support:
Ravager -- 115
-Flickerfield

Ravager -- 115
-Flickerfield

Ravager -- 115
-Flickerfield

To make this list I took an old 1500 point list, which was comprised of the Wych units and the Ravagers, and added The Duke, a shooty Trueborn squad for him to ride with, and a Warrior squad to sit on a home objective and take pot shots at vehicles. I like Sliscus because I feel that he meshes well with Wych units, principally his combat drugs rule. Also, he lets the vehicles deep strike, which might be fun to use once in a while.

I'd like to add a Sybarite to the Warrior squad--mostly to get the additional Ld point (but I could also potentially give him a venom blade (just because it's cheap)--but I'm not sure where to get the additional 10-15 points. Maybe drowngrading the splinter cannons on the Trueborn to shardcarbines?

Any other thoughts?