4.5/5 stars. Rounded up for rule of cool and conversion possibilities!
Background.
The dread silica anima are not dead. Known only to the Emperor and the Dark Angels, these artificial intelligences are not Mars-born, but left over from ancient Terra and born of malice with similar intent. They have been somewhat neutered by the Ironwing, but still lack restraint and could potentially turn on the Dark Angels as much as they wilfully eliminate their enemies. These are the Excindio: Dark Age AI nightmares.
Strengths.
Death from the dark age of technology and banned artificial intelligence. They can be equipped with all kinds of weapons.
The combi bolters can be swapped out for graviton guns (strong), plasma guns (reasonable), and irad cleansers (strong).
They can also be equipped with several different main weapons. The Athanax phosphex
canister launcher is great with pinning, poisoned and phage on toughness - its almost an auto-pick. The Tyrhenius nerve
induction shredder has an incredible number of shots for poisoned at 2+ causing panic - also great. Magaron atomantic
pulse cannon is almost like a las cannon, but one less strength and armourbane. Good at picking off rhinos and similar. The Cytheron graviton
flux projector gives you a template with shock, pinning, breaching at S=7 - well worth considering for close combat. Or another irad cleanser (strong as well!).
The claws are great in and of themselves with breaching, AP=3 and 2 damage, and reaping blow. Ouch.
Weaknesses.
The are artificia. You will probably need a kill switch as well.
The main problem here is that they can turn on your own forces. When wounds reach 4 or less, they just choose the nearest thing. They don't care, and actually like causing mayhem.
Builds.
Excindio, Cytheron and irad Cleansers (220 points).
Closer combat.
Excindio, Magaron Pule Cannon, Plasma Guns (230 points).
Longer range, and more anti-tank. Take hunter-killer missiles to taste. Deadly in combat still though!
Excindio, Athanax phosphex canister launcher (195 points).
Shorter range and cheaper. Take the nerve induction shredder as a replacement for the canister launcher to taste for the same points cost.
