Theme - Destruction Initiative
Theme - Destruction Initiative Convergence Theme Force |
The worshipers of the clockwork goddess have conceived of the most technologically advanced machines in existence. Armed with impressive firepower and fueled by energy sources well beyond the understanding of even the greatest minds in the Iron Kingdoms, the vectors of the Convergence of Cyriss turn hard targets into shrapnel and smash through infantry formations with whirring blades and spiked fists. Endless swarms of servitors dart among these complex constructs while the mortal priests of the machine cult risk their flesh in service to their goddess to keep these machines at peak performance.
Theme Rules
Theme Restrictions
An army made use the Destruction Initiative theme force can include only the following Convergence models:
- Convergence warcasters
- Non-character warjacks
- Priest models/units
- Convergence weapon crew units
- Servitor solos
- Convergence battle engines
- This army can also include one Mercenary solo and one Mercenary unit that will work for Convergence.
- These models/units can be included even if they have the Partisan [Convergence] rule.
- Mercenary units can have non-Ranking Officer attachments.
Full model list
This list was last updated: 2021.11 (Edit)
Warcasters
- All Convergence warcasters
Warjacks
- All non-character Convergence warjacks
Battle Engines
Solos
- Algorithmic Dispersion Optifex
- Accretion Servitors
- Attunement Servitors
- Destructotron 3000
- Elimination Servitors
- Reflex Servitors
Units
Mercenaries
- Up to one Mercenary solo
- Up to one Mercenary unit
Requisition Points
You can spend each Requisition Point on either:
- One Optifex Directive unit
- Three Algorithmic Dispersion Optifex solos
- Three Servitor solos of a single type
Theme Bonuses
- Servitor solos in this army gain Shield Guard.
- Shield Guard - Once per round, when a friendly model is directly hit by a non-spray ranged attack during your opponent's turn while within 3" of this model, you can choose to have this model directly hit instead. This model is automatically hit and suffers all damage and effects. This model cannot use Shield Guard while it is incorporeal, knocked down, or stationary. The Shield Guard special rule can only trigger once per attack roll.
Recent Changes
2019.01 Spoilers from the "Art of PP" Kickstarter
- Rules for J.A.I.M.s spoiled (in full).
2019.07 Theme Remix
- Game-wide Remix changes
- Convergence structures removed from list of allowed models. (As of 2019.07, no convergence structures exist so that is moot.)
- Can now take optifex units/solos for free
- Theme no longer grants +2" deployment zone
2019.11 Strange Bedfellows CID
- A bunch of new models released
- A few old models errata'd.
Thoughts on Destruction Initiative
Destruction Initiative in a nutshell
This is Convergence's warjack-centric theme.
Free Shield Guards are good at the very least, and great when properly used. Consider them as a replacement Steelsoul Protector (who has already proven the worth of a single-wound Shield Guard model).
Overall, it is a powerful theme force indeed; and it appears to be replacing most competitive Convergence lists.
Theme weaknesses
Lack of units
With only a single unit available, and that one being a support unit, means you will almost never be able to capture circular zones in Steamroller 2018.
Self-Destruction Initiative
Servitors disappear from the table at alarming speed when you start using them as Shield Guards. And your Vectors tend to lose their efficiency when they lose servitors.
Limited anti-infantry capability
The TEP is great at killing infantry, but even it has its limits. You will suffer when facing a infantry theme force, especially Dark Host.
Few free theme points
If you aren't planning on flooding the place with shield guards and don't need Flare or to channel you get more free points in Clockwork Legions and picking up your Corollary and a Galvanizer or two for free.
List Building Tips
It's Vectors all the way down starting, as ever, with a Corollary.
For your first set of free Servitors, grab Attunement Servitors (the ones that lower enemy DEF). Or possibly your arc nodes.
The TEP is fantastic in this theme. The Permutation Servitors it spawns are solos, which means they also gain Shield Guard from the theme. That's three free Shield Guards that will come back every turn, so long as the TEP stays on the table. The TEP also nearly gives another pack of free theme servos by itself by virtue of theme benefits.
Similar logic applies to the convergence colossals. Both spit out servos, while paying for more through theme benefits. This makes them a excellent choice when playing in theme, and buffs the already strong Prime Axiom.
Starting a 25 point list
If you want to try this theme but are still stuck for ideas, try this. It's relatively newbie friendly. It starts with the mk2 Battlebox, and gets two free packs of Servitors as shield guards.
- Forge Master Syntherion (+27)
- Assimilator (16)
- Monitor (16)
- Corollary (6)
- Galvanizer (5)
- Galvanizer (5)
- Attunement Servitors (free)
- Elimination Servitors (free)
- Optifex Directive (4)
Caster Thoughts
Forge Master Syntherion
- He doesn't really need infantry, so doesn't mind that restriction. DI allows what infantry he does want: It has ADO for an Arc Node, a buttload of servitors, and of course Optifex Directives.
- His Synergy spell loves Vectors: You'll want a couple of lights to land hits and get the buff to max, then a few heavies (including a Prime Axiom, of course!) to hit last and hit hard. More Vectors = more free Servitors.
- As Synth doesn't really do anything for the TEP, he prefers a Prime Axiom.
Axis, the Harmonic Enforcer
- Probably the most benefited 'caster. Cram your army full of melee vectors, ice it with TEP, and add some light vectors to support charges. One or two Diffusers should fit the bill.
- Axis' army tends to have hard time dealing with heavy guns, but you can have max 15 shield guards which can, depending on what you choose, either countercharge, or puncture, or repair your army (let's not count attunements, but you know they're important. Right?).
- Axis does like to take some infantry, which he'll miss out on, but so far in Mk3 most opponents go jack-heavy so that's not so much of a problem.
Iron Mother Directrix
- Directrix always favored Elimination Servitors, and now they're free. You'll have a great time poking enemy 'Jacks with Backlash + Puncture.
- If you're playing a poke-to-death strategy, it is good idea to add some Galvanizers as cheap arc nodes so that you can easily get Backlash where you want it.
- Or you can just field an Axiom to max out poking.
- A TEP, guarded by heavies and supported by her Servitor's Aperture Beam, is a pain in the ass for your opponent.
Unpopular Casters
- Father Lucant, Divinity Architect - Already has Shield Guards, and tends to prefer to take heavy infantry, especially Reciprocators.
- Aurora, Numen of Aerogenesis - Almost a 100% pure infantry caster.
Other
Trivia
- Released 2016.12
- Mk2 theme forces "The Great Machine" and "Carrier Group" were the equivalent Vector-heavy theme force - and "Destruction Initiative" succeeds those forces.
Other Convergence Models
Convergence Index (Edit) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Battlegroup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warcasters |
Aurora1 - Aurora2 - Axis - Directrix - Locke - Lucant - Orion - Syntherion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Light |
Corollary (Attached) - Diffuser - Galvanizer - Mitigator - Negator - Tesselator | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Heavy |
Assimilator - Cipher - Conservator - Inverter - Modulator - Monitor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colossals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Units, Solos, & Battle Engines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Units |
Asphyxious4 -
Clockwork Angels -
Eradicators -
Obstructors -
Optifex Directive -
Negation Angels -
Perforators -
Reciprocators -
Reductors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Solos |
Accretion Servitors - Algorithmic Dispersion Optifex - Attunement Servitors - Destructotron 3000 - Elimination Servitors - Enigma Foundry - Frustum Locus - J.A.I.M.s - Prefect Hypatia - Reflex Servitors - Steelsoul Protector - Widget, Mathlete Archeologist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Battle Engines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Theme Forces | Mercenaries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Clockwork Legions - Destruction Initiative - Strange Bedfellows | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This index was last updated: 2021.11 |
Rules Clarifications
Rules Clarification : Shield Guard and/or Shadow Guardian (Edit)
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Rules Clarification: Theme Forces (Edit) Themes that change a model's Faction [Show/Hide]
Rerolling the starting roll [Show/Hide]
Warjacks/Warbeasts with bonds [Show/Hide]
Including Mercenaries [Show/Hide]
Number of Mercenaries
Mercenaries and Ranking Officers
Other
Including Partisan Mercenaries [Show/Hide]
Partisans & Theme Forces (Edit)
Requisition Points [Show/Hide]
Free models and Specialists (ADR) [Show/Hide]
Unit Attachments [Show/Hide]
When to apply theme benefits [Show/Hide]
See also these Theme-Specific Rulings [Show/Hide]
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