Horus Heresy 3e Review: Culexus Assassin

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️ 2/5 stars. Thematic, and would get higher star rating against psykers. 

Background. 

Members of this assassin clade possess the Pariah gene, but at an incredible level. Even being near them can give ordinary people a bit of the shudders. The clade gives them the ability to switch on and off this ability and enhance it to obscene levels, whilst also training them physically to be formidable. 

Strengths.

The same stat line as Adamus, with willpower boosted to ten. 

The main weapon here is the Animus Speculum template. This comes with breaching, panic and psy-shock. At S=5 this is a good template regardless of psy-shock, but will really come into its own against enemies that can be affected by it. 

They also have limited use (3) psyk-out grenades which can be used in close combat and come with a wealth of special rules including aflame, rending, precision, and breaching. With S=5, AP=3 and 2 damage, these will slaughter regular space marine squads which is good for an assassin. 

In addition, the Culexus also has a bunch of special rules including infiltrate, anathema, ex-oblivio, infiltrate at 9 inches, and shrouded to name but a few. The unique one here is Etherium which in third edition reduces the incoming unsaved wounds by 1 (to a minimum of 1) helping keep them alive. 

I can see a strong case here for this assassin to be a backline disruptor and destroyer. Put them down near a heavy support squad and they will be able to cause havoc before they perish outside of challenges. 

Weaknesses. 

A strong combination of rules exist here, but to make the most of them, the enemy needs to be psykers or malefic. This means that they're best against armies like the Thousand Sons and certain Word Bearers builds. Outside of this, they can be a bit average. And if they were infiltrated next to a heavy support squad, they'd still make a juicy target for them, and I'd be challenging them in a challenge as a direct way to nullify most of their potential. 

Builds.

There are no builds to discuss.