A surprise contender for the Weeks 40K Meta Hotness shows up in the Ad-Mech’s X-101.
In the ever-shifting meta of 40K armies rise and fall. We’ve spent a lot of time talking about armies that are hot or not and a lot less time looking at units that are running the show. That changes today as we’re taking a look at one of the hottest units currently running around the tabletop: X-101!
What Is It?
X-101 is a unique named single model Adteptus Mechanics Servitor unit. Hailing from Blackstone Fortress, X-101 joined adventures there in exploring the Xenos artifact. A slightly better version of the common semi-lobotomized cyborg servant, common in the Imperium, X-101 provides light support.
Why They Are Good
It’s a bit hard to say that X-101 is “good”. As a unit they are really mediocre at best. They have some OK offensive firepower, for a single model and might be able to snipe out a single Marine or put a few points of damage on something. Overall however they just aren’t really going to do much damage, nor should they try to. With T4 and 2 wounds they do need more than a random bolter shot to kill them, but they also aren’t hard to kill. So whats the point here?
Well X-101 is super cheap, at 25 Pts. They are also a non-character unit. At first this seems like a drawback as they can be shot easier. However what is does leave them is a very cheap unit for holding objectives and taking actions. This is a guy you can likely fit in any army given the low cost. A single infantry model is pretty dang easy to hide when you want. Given his low output he’s perfect for doing busy work you don’t want to waste big units or characters on. On top of that… well he is a bit confusing as no one knows what the heck he does – with difficult to locate rules! He’s not good, but he is cheap and useful.
A Sample List
Saying a unit is hot is all well and good but let’s take a look at how players are using it. One list that shows off the use of X-101 is Malik Amin Rubio’s list he ran to take 1st place at the recent London GTO.
++ Patrol Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Adeptus Mechanicus) [33 PL, 700pts, 8CP] ++
+ Configuration +
Forge World Choice: Forge World: Lucius
Gametype: Matched
+ Stratagems +
Stratagem: Archeotech Specialist [-1CP]: Archeotech Specialist
Stratagem: Host of the Intermediary [-1CP]: Host of the Intermediary
Stratagem: Host of the Intermediary [-1CP]: Host of the Intermediary
Stratagem: Mechanicus Locum [-1CP]: Mechanicus Locum
+ HQ +
Skitarii Marshal [3 PL, 45pts]: Mechanicus Locum, Relic (Lucius): The Solar Flare, Warlord Trait (Codex 5): Firepoint Telemetry Cache
Tech-Priest Manipulus [6 PL, 105pts]: Logi, Magnarail lance, Relic: Raiment of the Technomartyr, Warlord, Warlord Trait (Lucius): Luminescent Blessings
+ Troops +
Skitarii Rangers [8 PL, 180pts]: Enhanced Data-Tether, Omnispex
. Ranger Alpha: Galvanic Rifle, Host of the Intermediary, Warlord Trait (Codex 1): Multitasking Cortex
. 18x Skitarii Ranger: 18x Galvanic Rifle
. Skitarii Ranger (Plasma caliver): Plasma Caliver
Skitarii Rangers [8 PL, 180pts]: Enhanced Data-Tether, Omnispex
. Ranger Alpha: Galvanic Rifle
. 18x Skitarii Ranger: 18x Galvanic Rifle
. Skitarii Ranger (Plasma caliver): Plasma Caliver
Skitarii Rangers [8 PL, 190pts]: Enhanced Data-Tether, Omnispex
. Ranger Alpha: Galvanic Rifle, Host of the Intermediary, Warlord Trait (Codex 3): Programmed Retreat
. 17x Skitarii Ranger: 17x Galvanic Rifle
. 2x Skitarii Ranger (Plasma caliver): 2x Plasma Caliver
++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Imperium – Adeptus Mechanicus) [39 PL, 775pts, -2CP] ++
+ Configuration +
Detachment Command Cost [-2CP]
Forge World Choice: Forge World: Mars
+ HQ +
Tech-Priest Manipulus [5 PL, 95pts]: Artisans, Magnarail lance
+ Troops +
Skitarii Rangers [8 PL, 170pts]: Enhanced Data-Tether, Omnispex
. Ranger Alpha: Galvanic Rifle
. 19x Skitarii Ranger: 19x Galvanic Rifle
+ Fast Attack +
Ironstrider Ballistarii [4 PL, 75pts] . Ironstrider Ballistarius: Twin Cognis Lascannon
Ironstrider Ballistarii [4 PL, 75pts] . Ironstrider Ballistarius: Twin Cognis Lascannon
+ Flyer +
Archaeopter Stratoraptor [9 PL, 180pts]: Chaff Launcher
Archaeopter Stratoraptor [9 PL, 180pts]: Chaff Launcher
++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Imperium – Adeptus Mechanicus) [27 PL, 525pts, -2CP] ++
+ Configuration +
Detachment Command Cost [-2CP]
Forge World Choice: Forge World: Mars
+ HQ +
Skitarii Marshal [3 PL, 45pts]
+ Troops +
Skitarii Rangers [6 PL, 125pts]: Omnispex
. Ranger Alpha: Galvanic Rifle
. 14x Skitarii Ranger: 14x Galvanic Rifle
+ Elites +
X-101 [2 PL, 25pts]
+ Flyer +
Archaeopter Fusilave [7 PL, 150pts]: Chaff Launcher
Archaeopter Stratoraptor [9 PL, 180pts]: Chaff Launcher
++ Total: [99 PL, 2,000pts, 4CP] ++
Using the Unit
The London Open with over 700 players is the largest 9th Edition event to happen so far. AdMech won it with an undefeated list. Given that the list took X-101 I expect to see an uptick in X-101 use. Now, I’m not saying that X-101 is the star of this show at all, but he does fill a role in the list. Malik’s list doesn’t have a ton of small units. It’s focused on larger Skitarii blocks and characters. It puts out a ton of firepower, but if you want to hold an objective he’d normally have to use a big important unit. The same is true of actions- either waste a big blocks firepower, or lose Auras from important characters. In this context there is space for a unit like X-101 to step in a be there to take actions or hold a random objective. He’s cheap and unimportant, and adds a useful tool to the build.
Let us know what units you think are hot right now, down in the comments!
Source: Bell of Lost Souls
