Theme - Destruction Initiative
Template:Convergence Theme Force
This mk3 Theme Force has no equivalent in mk4. Nearly the entire Convergence range was put into their Legacy Prime Army, instead, which is both better and worse in some regards. |
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
- For the core rules on how Theme Forces work, see this article.
Theme Restrictions
An army made use the Destruction Initiative theme force can include only the following Convergence models:
- Convergence warcasters
- Non-character warjacks
- Template:Priest models/units
- Convergence weapon crew units
- Destructotron 3000
- Template: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
Requisition Points
You can spend each Requisition Point on either:
- One Optifex Directive unit
- Destructotron 3000
- Three Algorithmic Dispersion Optifex solos
- Three Servitor solos of a single type
Theme Bonuses
- Servitor solos in this army gain Shield Guard.
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
Your only unit options are the Optifex Directive, who are a support unit, and Asphyxious4 (who technically uses up your Mercenary unit slot). This means the theme will struggle to capture circular zones in Steamroller.
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 an infantry theme force, especially infantry which can easily crack vectors (such as the Banes in Dark Host).
Competes with Clockwork Legions
Clockwork Legions is nominally an infantry theme but it can take up to 3 light vectors for free so, depending on your strategy and list-building choices, you may actually be better building a warjack-centric list in the "infantry" theme.
You'd pick Destruction Initiative if you want to flood the table with shield guards, you need the Servitor support (for Flares etc), and/or you want access to the battle engines.
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 Brawl list
In 2021.02 Phillip Melvin, one of the LOS authors, put together this list for the Brawlmachine format. It was then updated for the 2021.10 errata. He even wrote about it's playstyle and expanding it beyond 25 points, which you can read here.
- Orion1: [+28 WJP]
- Assimilator: [14 pts]
- Monitor: [14 pts]
- Tesselator: [8 pts]
- Corollary: [5 pts]
- Destructotron 3000: [Free] Template:Grey
- Widget2: [4 pts]
- Elimination Servitors: [3 pts]
- Algorithmic Dispersion Optifex: [2 pts]
- Optifex Directive: [3 pts]
Caster Thoughts
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Aurora1 - 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.