Detachment Focus: Null-Maiden Vigil

In our Detachment Focus series we take a detailed look at the game's Detachments - how they work, what to know about playing them, and successful lists using that Detachment. In this article we're looking at the Talons of the Emperor Detachment for the Adeptus Custodes.

The Sisters of Silence are a real part of the Adeptus Custodes army and have become more prominent as tenth edition has gone on, becoming a key way for the army to field cheaper units to hold objectives and punch up surprisingly well in a pinch. But maybe that isn't enough for you. Maybe you just want to field the Sisters of Silence and really stick it to those smug Grey Knights and Thousand Sons players out there. Well, good news - the Null Maiden Vigil Detachment is for you.

Detachment Overview

Let's lay it out there: This is a fluff Detachment, not a competitive one. The Sisters of Silence aren't a full army and can't actually fill out a 2,000-point list if you take the maximum number of all their units - they top out at something around 1,790 before you start adding Inquisitors and Land Raiders. Add to that a very unimpressive Battle-shock ability and you've got a recipe for a Detachment which people are only going to run for fun. But if you want to run Custodes without running Custodes, this Detachment can just about get you there.

Detachment Rule: Creeping Dread

In the Battle-shock step of your opponent's Command phase, if an enemy unit that is either a PSYKER unit or below its Starting Strength is within 12" of one of your ANATHEMA PSYKANA units, then it has to take a Battle-shock test. That test is at -1 if the unit is below Half-Strength.

Additionally, PROSECUTORS units from your army gain the BATTLELINE keyword.

This is just a real nothingburger of a rule - extra Battle-shock tests are just super unreliable, as your opponent will more often than not roll what they need to pass, even at -1. And for the once per game super important test, they can automatically pass using the Insane Bravery Core Stratagem. Prosecutors gaining Battleline is cute, but doesn't really matter much - they're not the unit you want to take six of, and being Battleline doesn't matter as much as it did when the Codex was written and the rules gave Battleline units bonuses like the ability to perform actions after Falling Back.

This is going to do its best work against Thousand Sons, Grey Knights, Scintillating Legion, and Tyranids, where the opponent is flush with PSYKER targets.

Knight-Centura. Credit: Corrode

Enhancements

As you might expect, the Enhancements here can only be given to an ANATHEMA PSYKANA model, which means they go on a Knight-Centura.

Raptor Blade [5 pts] – Add 1 to the Attacks, Strength, and Damage characteristics of the bearer's melee weapons. While the bearer is within Engagement Range of a PSYKER unit that's battle-shocked, add 2 to those characteristics instead. At 5 points, this one's a must-take for the army. +1 damage abilities are always good, and the occasional +2 is just a fun bonus.
Enhanced Voidsheen Cloak [10 pts] – Each time an attack is allocated to the bearer, it gets -1 damage. If it was made by a PSYKER or Battle-shocked model, change the damage characteristic to 1 instead. This is just whatever - Sisters of Silence characters don't have many wounds to start with so the chances this saves you are pretty light. You can save your points for something else.
Huntress' Eye [15pts] – In your command phase, pick an enemy unit within 12" of the bearer. That unit has to take a Battle-shock test. This is cute but will do nothing so often that it's really only worth having if you can't find a better way to spend your last 15 points.
Oblivion Knight [25 pts] – While the bearer is leading a unit, each time a model in that unit makes an attack, they get +1 to hit. If the attack targets enemy PSYKER units, they also get +1 to Wound. This is really solid, and your other go-to in the army, particularly on Vigilators, where you need whatever value you can get off only having 2 attacks per model. It's not going to matter much on Prosecutors, where all you have are bolters, or Witchseekers, where you don't roll to hit.

Sisters of Silence by Crab-stuffed Mushrooms

Stratagems

The Stratagems here only affect your Sisters of Silence/ANATHEMA PSYKANA units; three each affect specific units and the other three are a bit more open, though they generally only really work on your infantry, even if two can be used on your Rhinos. They all cost 1 CP.

Desperation's Price (Strategic Ploy, 1 CP) – Used in any phase after an enemy PSYKER unit has either made a Psychic attack or finished using a psychic ability on one of your ANATHEMA units within 18" of that enemy Psyker. That Psyker has to take a Leadership test. If they pass, they're Battle-shocked. If they fail, they take 3 mortal wounds and are Battle-shocked. This is a really great way to punish a Psyker unit, and could be really strong... if you could do much with the Battle-shock effect or if it did anything against non-PSYKER units - even the effects here which key off battle-shock also just key off being a PSYKER, so the effect tends to be redundant. As-is, your best use for this is to turn off stratagems or to activate Raptor Blade's extra buffs. That said, auto-Battle-shocking an enemy is really good, even if there is isn't much extra you can get off it.
Witch Hunters (Battle Tactic, 1 CP) – Used in your Shooting phase or the Fight phase on a unit that hasn't shot/fought yet. They gain either [LETHAL HITS] or [SUSTAINED HITS 1] until the end of the phase, but can only target PSYKER units with their attacks. This having the PSYKER restriction on it is just terrible - plenty of other detachments get that ability without restrictions, and there's no reason to gate it here, but here we are. This is great when you can get it.
Anathema Blademastery (Battle Tactic, 1 CP) – Used in the Fight phase on a VIGILATORS unit. Until the end of the phase, that unit can re-roll hit rolls. If the target is Battle-shocked or a PSYKER unit, you can re-roll the Wound roll. This is really strong when it's on, since Vigilators have [ANTI-PSYKER 5+] and [DEVASTATING WOUNDS] and being able to fish for Dev Wounds with re-rolls is great. But that's a big "if" and it's really only going to matter into PSYKER targets.
Psy-chaff Volley (Strategic Ploy, 1 CP) – Used in your Shooting phase on a PROSECUTORS unit that just shot. Pick an enemy unit hit by one of those attacks and until the start of your ne turn it's prosecuted. While it's prosecuted, your ANATHEMA units get +1 AP against that unit. If it's a Psyker or Battle-shocked unit, they also get -1 to their hit rolls. This is just really good, and if you're taking Prosecutors you're going to toss this off all the time - it's a great combo with your actually dangerous Sisters units, Witchseekers in particular.
Purgation Sweep (Battle Tactic, 1 CP) – Used in your Shooting phase on a WITCHSEEKERS unit. Until the end of the phase their Torrent weapons get +1 to their Attacks characteristic. If they target a PSYKER or Battle-shocked unit, they get +2 instead. Very good when it's on, and worth combining with Psy-chaff volley.
Psychic Abominations (Strategic Ploy, 1 CP) – Used in your opponent's Shooting phase after they pick one of your PSYKANA INFANTRY units as a target. Until the end of the phase, your unit gains Stealth and Battle-shocked/PSYKER units can only target it if they're within 12". This is cute but again very situational and gated behind some rough requirements. I'd have liked to see an 18" restriction here with 12" for PSYKER/Battle-Shock but here we are. Great against Thousand Sons and Scintillating Legion, though.

Anathema Psykana (Sisters of Silence) by Crab-stuffed Mushrooms

Playing This Detachment

This is a tough one. There's probably a "correct" way to field this Detachment that makes use of lots of Witchseekers units and a small number of Prosecutors and Vigilators acting mostly as stronger anti-Psyker support for Custodes units. But that's not really why you're here, is it? You aren't here because you want to run a lot of Custodes, you're here because you want to run a Sisters of Silence army.

In that regard, your army starts with Aleya and two Knights Centura, all paired with your three units of Vigilators in Rhinos. They're not amazing melee threats, but you can certainly make them nasty and support them with units of Prosecutors and Witch-seekers in Rhinos as well. The combo of a small unit of Prosecutors to trigger +1 AP for a unit of Witchseekers is worth looking at, and can help you clear out horde units.

If we're being serious, you probably do still want to have some Custodes units here - a unit of Wardens with a Blade Champion, a couple of units of Guard, one with Draxus. And you'll want an Assassin for support. Maybe a couple of Calladius Grav-Tanks for ranged support since you can pretend it's Sisters piloting them. Custodes aren't at their best here, but they're more than capable of getting the job done anyways, even if they aren't the main attraction.

Strengths

Anti-Psykers. You can absolutely wreck some of the Psyker-heavy armies out there with some hilarious buffs that only apply to their units in particular. .
Anti-horde. You've got a lot of good weapons for killing hordes, but primarily the flamers on your Witchseekers.
Off-off-meta. No one has played against your army, and so maybe you can surprise them.

Weaknesses

Anything That Isn't a Psyker. If your target isn't a Psyker, you may as well not have army, Detachment, or datasheet abilities.
Martial Ka'tahs. Your Sisters of Silence do not even get the basic army ability for Custodes, so taking on monsters and vehicles - even if they're PSYKER units - is a real struggle.
Fragile. Sisters of Silence are just T3, 1-wound models at the end of the day so even if you could shrug off those psychic shots from Thousand Sons, they can just walk forward and kill you with flamers and/or bolters.

Anathema Psykana (Sisters of Silence) by Crab-stuffed Mushrooms

A Sample List

As I mentioned above, the strongest way to run this is going to still include Custodes because, well, they have some powerful datasheets. That said, you aren't here for that and I won't waste your time trying to fit them in here. Instead I've gone with a more "no visible men" rule for the army. That means there are still some supporting units but they're all female, save whoever is piloting the Calladius tanks. But with female Custodes an established part of the lore, you can say they're female too.

A Sample Null Maiden List - Click to Expnad

null maiden example (1,000 points)

Adeptus Custodes Strike Force (2000 points) Null Maiden Vigil

CHARACTERS

Aleya (65 points) Warlord • 1x Somnus

Knight-Centura (60 points) • 1x Executioner greatblade • Enhancement: Raptor Blade

Knight-Centura (80 points) • 1x Executioner greatblade • Enhancement: Oblivion Knight

Knight-Centura (70 points) • 1x Executioner greatblade • Enhancement: Huntress' Eye

BATTLELINE

Prosecutors (40 points) • 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior • 1x Boltgun 1x Close combat weapon • 3x Prosecutor • 3x Boltgun 3x Close combat weapon

Prosecutors (40 points) • 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior • 1x Boltgun 1x Close combat weapon • 3x Prosecutor • 3x Boltgun 3x Close combat weapon

Prosecutors (40 points) • 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior • 1x Boltgun 1x Close combat weapon • 3x Prosecutor • 3x Boltgun 3x Close combat weapon

Prosecutors (40 points) • 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior • 1x Boltgun 1x Close combat weapon • 3x Prosecutor • 3x Boltgun 3x Close combat weapon

Prosecutors (40 points) • 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior • 1x Boltgun 1x Close combat weapon • 3x Prosecutor • 3x Boltgun 3x Close combat weapon

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Anathema Psykana Rhino (75 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter

Anathema Psykana Rhino (75 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter

Anathema Psykana Rhino (75 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter

Anathema Psykana Rhino (75 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter

Anathema Psykana Rhino (75 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Caladius Grav-tank (215 points) • 1x Armoured hull 1x Twin iliastus accelerator cannon 1x Twin lastrum bolt cannon

Caladius Grav-tank (215 points) • 1x Armoured hull 1x Twin iliastus accelerator cannon 1x Twin lastrum bolt cannon

Vigilators (100 points) • 1x Vigilator Sister Superior • 1x Executioner greatblade • 9x Vigilator • 9x Executioner greatblade

Vigilators (100 points) • 1x Vigilator Sister Superior • 1x Executioner greatblade • 9x Vigilator • 9x Executioner greatblade

Vigilators (100 points) • 1x Vigilator Sister Superior • 1x Executioner greatblade • 9x Vigilator • 9x Executioner greatblade

Witchseekers (100 points) • 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Witchseeker flamer • 9x Witchseeker • 9x Close combat weapon 9x Witchseeker flamer

Witchseekers (55 points) • 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Witchseeker flamer • 4x Witchseeker • 4x Close combat weapon 4x Witchseeker flamer

Witchseekers (55 points) • 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Witchseeker flamer • 4x Witchseeker • 4x Close combat weapon 4x Witchseeker flamer

ALLIED UNITS

Callidus Assassin (100 points) • 1x Neural shredder 1x Phase sword and poison blades

Inquisitor Draxus (110 points) • 1x Dirgesinger 1x Power fist 1x Psychic Tempest

Exported with App Version: v1.48.1 (113), Data Version: v754

Aleya and two Knights-Centura pair with the Vigilators, each in Rhinos. The Third Knight-Centura pairs with the ten-model unit of Witchseekers in a Rhino so it can Scout 6", and the remaining Witchseekers each go in a Rhino with a unit of Prosecutors. The final Prosecutors units alternatively sit on your home objective and trail to do actions and hold objectives. The Rhinos keep your army mobile and durable and as an added bonus can shrug off melta-mines and Grenades. Draxus attaches to a squad of Witchseekers to give it more punch, and your anti-vehicle support comes from two Callidus Grav-Tanks. This needs some testing - I suspect the right mix here is to drop a unit of Prosecutors and bring one more unit of Witseekers up to 10 and attach Draxus to that unit instead, but I'm trying to get cute here with the combo of Prosecutors hitting a target and opening up +1 AP for a unit of Witchseekers with Draxus attached.

Final Thoughts

Look, this Detachment is more like a fun, fluff option. If you really want to run more Sisters with Custodes, run the Talons of the Emperor Detachment, which gives you more options and actually has competitive builds. If you are running this, you probably don't care and know full well what you're getting into. And so I wish you good luck - may all your opponents be Grey Knights.

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