Let’s assume you are building a Penitent Host list. What sorts of list archetypes are people tinkering with, and what opportunities exist with the newer ruleset that people are enjoying?
I feel like PH gets too little love but here we can discuss the sauce that secretly makes them just a little bit goated
I’ve been theorycrafting an Insidiants package that I think has some real legs, and I’d love to hear if anyone has put something similar on the table.
“Tactical Execution (TacEx) Team”
Canoness + Hagiomnifex
Dialogus
Celestian Insidiants
The main interaction is Dialogus + Insidiants.
The Dialogus lets the unit treat Miracle Dice used for Acts of Faith as 6s, which means all those junk Miracle Dice are actually shiny gold 6s from the Emperor (because he loves you, go kill stuff)
That pairs beautifully with the Insidiants’ Devastating Wounds. Instead of waiting to naturally roll a 6 to wound, you simply substitute one of your trash Miracle Dice and trigger weapon’s mortal wounds.
If you’re cool, then you’re playing Army of Faith. Now you can perform two Acts of Faith, turning your two worst Miracle Dice into 6 guaranteed mortal wounds from the Virge of Admonition before the rest of the unit even starts cooking.
You know what makes Characters start sweating?
Precision.
Devastating Wounds.
Six guaranteed mortal wounds.
“I have miracle dice… all 6s”
The Dialogus sharpens the knife.
With Killy-ness out of the way, I want some utility.
A Canoness carrying the Hagiomnifex gives the squad a toolbox instead of just another damage multiplier.
Need to get somewhere? +1 Move.
Need to salvage your turn? Remove Battle-shock.
Need to hit an important Strength breakpoint? +1 Strength.
Need the squad to survive after deleting a Leader? -1 to wound.
The Dialogus already solves the “killing things” problem. At some point, adding even more offense is just gilding the chainsword.
Cool nuns are all using the new Hagiomnifex©️ A little forbidden space nun wizardry that none of us can pronounce. (It’s definitely not heresy, certainly)
So the package I’m looking at is:
Canoness + Hagiomnifex
Dialogus
Celestian Insidiants
It feels like the Dialogus solves the squad’s offensive output, while the Canoness and Hagiomnifex solve the much harder problem of actually getting that offensive package to the right place, at the right time, in the right condition.
Has anyone actually put this combination on the table yet?
I’m curious whether I’m onto something, or whether there’s a practical weakness that only shows up once the dice start rolling.
⸻
Closing thoughts (sleep-deprivation ahead, proceed at risk lol)
Some other funny things this package can do:
Auto-Advance 6” with a junk Miracle Die to rush somewhere important.
Un-Battle-shock itself.
Dialogus can then un-Battle-shock another nearby unit.
Canoness gets to scam people with the once-per-game 2++, while the Dialogus quietly turns critical saves into Emperor-certified 6s when it matters. Keeping core models alive longer (Virge wielder, characters, sacred banner, denuncia, etc)
Yes, a Hospitaller or Imagifier is probably a stronger purely defensive support piece.
But the Dialogus is 40 points
Forty.
She turns your worst Miracle Dice into your best Miracle Dice, enables disgusting offensive tech, helps clutch the KEY saves, and generally is a good space nun (the Emperor is proud of her, and so are we).
If the Top Heretic or Hottest Xenos or whatever got you in a Death Laser from Beyond the Stars… when Darth mfn Vader is smokin you with the OG Death Star Planet Kaputski deluxe… (just 2 shots but mmm they toasty)…
But you are a good space nun, and the Emperor protects (shoutout to my homie)…
And Mr Evil Death Laser has to bounce offa your holy ass, harmless… because of a Miracle die that was a ONE a second ago…
…that sounds like you playin the hell out of some Sisters of goddamn Battle.
If you read all of this, thank you.
If I’m wrong, tell me why.
If this is sauce, let’s eat some demons or something. happy 11th
EDIT - thanks for the tips everyone, didn’t expect this stream of consciousness to get as much useful feedback, appreciate