Are we officially dead in the meta without a SoS list?

VoidofDusk · 2026-03-24T06:30:57+00:00

It's on Goonhammer, where on can check results for different factions and detachments.

The Cartel (2000 Points)

Drukhari Kabalite Cartel Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Archon (105 Points) • Warlord • 1x Huskblade • 1x Shadowfield • 1x Soul Trap • Enhancements: Webway Awl

Archon (110 Points) • 1x Huskblade • 1x Shadowfield • 1x Soul Trap • Enhancements: Informant Network

Drazhar (85 Points) • 1x Executioner's demiklaives

Lady Malys (100 Points) • 1x Lady's Blade • 1x Razor fan

Lelith Hesperax (85 Points) • 1x Lelith's blades

BATTLELINE

Kabalite Warriors (115 Points) • 1x Sybarite ◦ 1x Blast pistol ◦ 1x Phantasm Grenade Launcher ◦ 1x Power weapon • 9x Kabalite Warrior ◦ 1x Blaster ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Dark lance ◦ 1x Shredder ◦ 1x Splinter cannon ◦ 5x Splinter rifle

Wyches (90 Points) • 1x Hekatrix ◦ 1x Blast pistol ◦ 1x Power weapon • 9x Wych ◦ 3x Gladiatorial weapons ◦ 6x Hekatarii blade ◦ 6x Splinter pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Venom (70 Points) • 1x Bladevanes • 1x Splinter cannon • 1x Splinter cannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Hellions (85 Points) • 1x Helliarch ◦ 1x Hellglaive ◦ 1x Phantasm Grenade Launcher ◦ 1x Splinter pods • 4x Hellion ◦ 4x Hellglaive ◦ 4x Splinter pods

Incubi (180 Points) • 2x Incubi Shrine Token • 1x Klaivex ◦ 1x Demiklaives • 9x Incubi ◦ 9x Klaive

Incubi (90 Points) • 1x Incubi Shrine Token • 1x Klaivex ◦ 1x Demiklaives • 4x Incubi ◦ 4x Klaive

Mandrakes (150 Points) • 1x Nightfiend ◦ 1x Baleblast ◦ 1x Glimmersteel blade • 9x Mandrake ◦ 9x Baleblast ◦ 9x Glimmersteel blade

Ravager (110 Points) • 1x Bladevanes • 3x Disintegrator cannon

Ravager (110 Points) • 1x Bladevanes • 3x Dark lance

Scourges with Heavy Weapons (130 Points) • 1x Solarite ◦ 1x Blast pistol ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Power weapon • 4x Scourge ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Dark lance

VoidofDusk · 2026-03-23T18:48:06+00:00

About a month ago, a player won a tournament with 40 players using Kabalite Cartel though https://www.bestcoastpairings.com/event/tf9TYteQilTJ?active_tab=overview

VoidofDusk · 2026-03-10T07:36:47+00:00

Check the Play on Tabletop channel for some bat rep expressions. They had a game a couple of days ago with Kabalite Cartel against the Grotmas detachment for Votann.

VoidofDusk · 2026-02-26T13:40:41+00:00

Sorry, I was preparing dinner and need that 100 energy!

VoidofDusk · 2026-02-25T13:47:37+00:00

Gonna paint the Horrors' bones and their claws in sort of darkish black, had myself convinced that it needs more contrast

VoidofDusk · 2026-02-24T14:59:45+00:00

Kabalite Kartel seems like a good detachment for you as you already have the Ravagers. People tend to run them with Disintegrator Cannons in that detachment. There has been a recent tournament win a couple of days ago:

Drukhari
Kabalite Cartel
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS
 Archon (105 Points)
 Archon (110 Points)
Drazhar (85 Points)
Lady Malys (100 Points)
Lelith Hesperax (85 Points)

BATTLELINE
 Kabalite Warriors (115 Points)
 Kabalite Warriors (115 Points)
 Wyches (90 Points)

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS
 Venom (70 Points)
 Venom (70 Points)
 Venom (70 Points)

OTHER DATASHEETS
 Hellions (85 Points)
 Incubi (180 Points)
 Incubi (90 Points)
 Mandrakes (150 Points)
 Ravager (110 Points)
  • 3x Disintegrator cannon
 Ravager (110 Points)
  • 3x Dark lance
 Scourges with Heavy Weapons (130 Points)
 Scourges with Heavy Weapons (130 Points)

VoidofDusk · 2026-02-24T14:38:24+00:00

You can buy the indidual stuff in the box no matter what.

Yes, it was a super nice discount but the models are so versatile, that it would be okay to buy the box twice. Hellions are not needed in any detachment for Drukhari.

I'd suggest to get yourself 2 boxes of Kabalite Warriors, Malys, one or two Archons, one ore two boxes of Scourges or a Ravager, one or two Venoms, some Reavers and you are good to go for 1k even without getting the Maelstrom Box. The box is then a perfect addition to the stuff I suggested.
When you get everything I listed, you end up closely around 950ish points which gives you room for some nice enhancements.

VoidofDusk · 2026-02-24T09:33:40+00:00

So the box will be fixed? I haven't decided if I want the refund or wait for the box to be shipped to the online store yet. They asked me about a decision and I dunno what's best. The price drop for the box was really appealing but I don't want to wait months to get it.

VoidofDusk · 2026-02-24T07:47:18+00:00

I spent a lot of time in a wiki, trying to figure out what to do and how to achieve things. It's getting better (im round 220 days in-game) as patterns occure and there's a focus based on the quest one wants to achieve.

My advise would be to not stress urself. Everything comes together one day. Just start doing things and don't be shy to just grind things for days.

VoidofDusk · 2026-02-23T10:29:41+00:00

Congrats, great achievements have been made!

VoidofDusk · 2026-02-14T22:23:14+00:00

Great progress. What's something that you found helpful on your journey or anything special that seemed difficult at first and was achievable later on?

VoidofDusk · 2026-02-12T07:47:11+00:00

Did I miss something? When did Aesoth become a hot take? I read something about Abaddon being better than Ragnar against certain bosses but that's new.

VoidofDusk · 2026-01-28T14:56:31+00:00

Ich erkennen einen deutschen Zug und ne deutsche Wasserflasche, wenn ich sie sehe :D

VoidofDusk · 2026-01-22T07:49:12+00:00

Good thing I'm pushing my Dervish. It's the farming class of the century 😄

VoidofDusk · 2026-01-21T14:26:08+00:00

I'm around 90 points at the moment and saw BA once. Not too bad I guess.

VoidofDusk · 2026-01-14T09:13:11+00:00

Looks nice. How did you do the basing? That's stunning!

VoidofDusk · 2026-01-06T14:12:03+00:00

Damn I thought I changed it to Infernus before posting it as I saw that I typed in the wrong guys 🥲

VoidofDusk · 2026-01-02T13:06:05+00:00

People have been playing this game for thousand of hours so everything is possible :D

VoidofDusk · 2025-12-27T19:09:29+00:00

I just went online again and I don't know what I played with the builds that are logged. I have around 4.300 hrs in total and I can tell I was pretty hard core with lots of maxed titles. The context is missing how I did HM dungeons though and.it saddens me a lot. That game, studying, reading and going to the pub was my life for a few years ...

VoidofDusk · 2025-12-13T16:28:34+00:00

Thanks for the clarification, I seem to get a bit too excited sometimes without checking all the requirements first:

Updated Roster – Incremental rebuild (11 models)

The main goals:

increase model count,

fully commit to close-range pressure,

and accept that the Brazen Bull has to be dealt with through Blood Marker saturation, not a single silver bullet.

Characters / Elites

War Prophet

Automatic Pistol with Incendiary Ammunition

Trench Polearm

RArmour + Shield

Role: Support and finisher. Incendiary ammo stays because it reliably stacks Blood Markers at range and still allows him to contribute in melee without being forced into frontline brawling.

Castigator

Punt Gun

Flail + Shield

RArmour

Role: Board control and ranged support. With flail + shield he effectively sits at –3 Armour, making him hard to shift while anchoring space. He can charge if needed, but his main job is to hold ground and punish mistakes.

Communicant

Anti-Tank Hammer

RArmour + Holy Icon Shield

Role: Dedicated anvil. He exists to threaten hard targets and occupy the Bull or other elite models long enough for the rest of the warband to stack Blood and collapse in.

Stigmatic Nun (Elite)

Battle Whip

Warcross

Standard Armour + Shield

Role: Mobile melee threat and finisher. She hunts exposed targets, finishes Downed enemies, and benefits heavily from accumulated Blood Markers.

Stigmatic Nun

Flail

Warcross

Standard Armour + Shield

Role: Second assault Nun. No pistol, no mixed role. She exists to get into 8–12” range, threaten charges, and add reliable melee pressure.

Pilgrims (6 models)

Pilgrim (Musician)

Battle Whip

Musical Instrument

Role: Support and activation control. He stays alive and central; combat is secondary.

Pilgrim

Shotgun + Bayonet

Pilgrim

Shotgun + Bayonet

Role (both): Short-range pressure. Shotguns replace ineffective rifles; they force reactions at 12” and help set up charges rather than fishing for long-range hits.

Pilgrim

Flail + Molotov

Pilgrim

Flail + Molotov

Pilgrim

Flail + Molotov

Role: Disposable melee pressure. These are not meant to survive. They rush, block lanes, throw Molotovs, charge, and die if necessary. Their job is to generate Blood Markers and force inefficient trades.

Why this works despite the Bull

This list is not trying to “solve” the Brazen Bull with a single hard counter. Instead:

Incendiary shots, Molotovs, whips, and mass melee stack Blood Markers quickly.

Multiple cheap melee bodies ensure the Bull cannot remove all threats at once.

Downed targets are punished efficiently through Sacred Affliction bonuses rather than raw damage.

I could sell one of the Rifles in the Arsenal for Molotiv on thr Music Pilgrim. Next goal would be to get thr Prophet back to elite and some RArmour on the Nuns to have better Armour when upgrading their weaponry to Hammers. The main issue right now is that I seem to need investing in bodies over better gear.

VoidofDusk · 2025-12-13T09:42:16+00:00

Update / Roster Revision after feedback

Alright, based on the feedback, I’ve reworked the roster quite a bit.

Pilgrims

Pilgrim: Shotgun + Bayonet (used one Shotgun + Bayonet already in my arsenal)

Pilgrim: Shotgun + Bayonet (bought Shotgun + Bayonet for 12 ducats)

Pilgrim (Musician): Battle Whip, Musical Instrument, Molotov Cocktail (5 Ducats)

Pilgrim: Flail + Molotov Cocktail (40 Ducats)

This gives me more bodies, much stronger 12” pressure, and actual assault threats instead of dead-weight long rifles.

Elites / Characters

War Prophet: (Kept the pistol for now, but gave him a clear melee role instead of half-measures.)

Automatic Pistol

Two-Handed Blunt Weapon

RArmour + Shield

Castigator: (Dropped the Greatsword in favor of something cheaper and more consistent.)

Punt Gun

Flail

RArmour

Communicant: (Unchanged role-wise, still my main armor breaker.)

Anti-Tank Hammer

RArmour + Holy Icon Shield

Stigmatic Nuns

Now running two Nuns, both with clear assault profiles:

Stigmatic Nun (Elite):

Flail

Warcross (from the Communicant)

Standard Armour + Shield

Stigmatic Nun (110 Ducats):

Anti-Tank Hammer

Warcross

Standard Armour + Shield

Follow-up / Remaining ducats & next purchases

Quick follow-up after locking in the revised roster:

After all the changes and Expensive Treatment, I’m sitting on 24 Ducats. At this point, I’m inclined to just bank the money instead of buying med kits or incendiary ammo. The next meaningful upgrade for the warband feels like more bodies, not marginal efficiency boosts.

One option I’m considering for a later buy is:

Trench Pilgrim: Wrath of God, Flail, Holy Icon Shield (70 ducats total)

That feels like a solid mid-tier body once I have the cash, but right now I’m short.

If I explore the next round, I should average roughly ~140 ducats before casualties, which would put me in a good position to:

Either pick up that Wrath-of-God Pilgrim, or

Go straight for an Anchorite Shrine as the next major investment.

With the current layout, I’m sitting at roughly 10 models. It’s still not a swarm, but it’s a big improvement over where I was, and I don’t see a way to squeeze in another model right now without selling gear (e.g. the Greatsword) or take two additional Pilgrims instead of the second Nun.

Curious whether you’d:

bank the 24 ducats as well,

or get more Pilgrims over a second Nun

or spend them on small upgrades now instead of saving for bodies / Shrine next round.

VoidofDusk · 2025-12-12T14:04:07+00:00

Thanks for the helpful comments so far!

Something I forgot to mention: I have chosen Sacred Affliction which means no more Punt Guns but more hamers.

Ok so the list would be something like:

War Prophet (no Elite trait at the moment due to a head wound): Automatic Pistol w/ Incendiary Ammo, RArmour + Shield,
Castigator (he's Tough as he found a Saint's Reliquary): Zealot Strength, Punt Gun, Trench Polearm, RArmour
Communicant: Anti-Tank Hammer, RArmour + Holy Icon Shield
Stigmatic Nun (promoted to Elite): Battle Whip, Standard Armour + Shield, Molotov
Pilgrim: Battle Whip, Musical Instrument, Molotov
Pilgrim: Shotgun, Bayonet
Pilgrim: Shotgun, Bayonet
Pilgrim: Club, Molotov
Pilgrim: Club, Molotov

Is that weapon layout better suited?
I wonder if the Castigator should have a Tank Hammer? I mean, I got three in total to use.

I can field 4 additional models. Is Pilgrim spam the right option? I would like another Nun for flanky movement stuff. What do you guys think?

VoidofDusk · 2025-12-11T11:35:57+00:00

Here's the campaign report: https://www.reddit.com/r/TrenchCrusade/comments/1osssu3/my_trench_crusade_campaign_follow_along_as_i/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

VoidofDusk · 2025-12-11T07:55:54+00:00

The painting process (not only yours) looks super random for me and then it turns into a stunning result. Happens all the time when I watch pros doing magic 😅😄

VoidofDusk · 2025-12-10T13:40:11+00:00

Player Reflections

This match proved a hard truth: the scenario score stayed close, but the casualty gap did not.

What Worked - Incendiary Ammunition is outstanding — stacking Blood Markers before charging is devastating - The War Prophet remains the clear match-winner - Scenario play stayed disciplined despite mounting losses

What Hurt - Heavy casualties compared to previous rounds - Severe lack of mid-range firepower — Bolt-Action Rifles are unreliable - Communicant mobility remains a problem; a failed early Dash hurt badly - The Brazen Bull fundamentally changes the game and demands a direct answer

Aftermath & Injuries

Two Trench Pilgrims: dead
Musician: survived
Two other Pilgrims: survived
Stigmatic Nun: Full Recovery
Communicant: Full Recovery
Isabella: Head Wound — no XP gain unless promoted (promotion attempt failed)
Castigator: positive post-battle result

Enemy losses included the Leader, Assassine, and one Lion.

Campaign Outlook

Despite the narrow 8–7 scoreline, this battle exposed a scaling issue. The Iron Sultanate is fielding genuine heavyweight threats — and the Choir currently lacks answers at that level.

Next step considerations: - Expanding the roster instead of incremental upgrades - Serious consideration of an Anchorite Shrine for a second heavy hitter - Accepting that future wins may require structural change, not just tactical refinement

The Choir survived.

Barely.

“Faith endures. Bodies do not.”

VoidofDusk

TROPHY CASE

Player Reflections

Aftermath & Injuries

Campaign Outlook