Theme - Prima Materia

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CG Logo.png Theme - Prima Materia

Crucible Guard Theme Force
Magnum Opus - Prima Materia

The Order of the Golden Crucible is jealous of its secrets. Its members have experienced first-hand what can happen when their alchemical and mechanikal innovations fall into the wrong hands. The most technologically advanced divisions of the Crucible Guard are insular and allow no outsiders, lest their secrets be stolen. Wielding the newest and most devastating weapons in the Guard’s arsenal, they bring destruction to enemies of the Order.

Theme Rules

For the core rules on how Theme Forces work, see this article.

Theme Restrictions

An army made use the Magnum Opus theme force can include only the following Crucible Guard and Mercenary models:

  • This army can also include one Mercenary solo and one Mercenary unit that will work for the Crucible Guard.
    This theme is notable in that it does not have the standard Merc slot.
Tip lightbulb.png

Tip !
Death Archons don’t become CG models (boo!), but you can take the full FA (yay!)

Full model list

The models allowed in Prima Materia are:   [Show/Hide]

This list was last updated: 2021.04   (Edit)

Warcasters

  • All Crucible Guard warcasters

Warjacks

  • All non-character Crucible Guard warjacks

Battle Engines

Units

Solos

Mercenaries

  • Death Archon
  • Note that, unlike most themes, Prima Materia does not have the "Up to one Mercenary solo/unit" clause.

Requisition Options

Each Requistion Point can be spent on either:

  • Three Crucible Guard Mechanik solos
  • Two Trancer small-based solos
  • One other small- or medium-based Crucible Guard solo with a point cost of 5 or less

Theme Bonuses

  1. Vanguard warjacks in this army can use Shield Guard twice per turn.
  2. Warjacks and battle engines in this army gain Cutting Edge.
    Cutting Edge - During your Control Phase, remove d3 damage points from each friendly model with Cutting Edge. Additionally, when a warjack with Cutting Edge is allocated 1 or more focus points while within its controller’s command range, it is allocated 1 additional focus point.

Recent Changes

2021.10 Mega Update

  • The free solo now needs to cost 5 points or less
  • Combat Alchemists can no longer be taken for free


Thoughts on Prima Materia

Prime Materia in a nutshell

This theme force represents the highest level of Crucible technology - secrets that they would not share with other mercenaries or factions, keeping the best for themselves. This concept is shown by the lack of Mercenary options you commonly see in theme forces (note that Partisan mercenaries Gorman & Hutchuk can still be included).

This list lends itself to lower model-count, higher model-quality armies, because that optimises your double-Shield-Guard Vanguard benefit. It also lends itself to upkeep-heavy casters.

With Cutting Edge, note that you can allocate to any warjack in your control range, but the extra focus will only work on warjacks in your smaller command range.

Theme weakness

Low model count

With most of your points spent on warjacks, and few units available, it can leave you with a small force that makes it difficult to score scenario zones.

If your opponent can land a few critical debuffs and stop even a few models from participating meaningfully, it can completely kneecap your army.

Also, with fewer models you potentially have fewer attacks, making it harder to deal with infantry swarms or anything else that needs you to roll a lot of dice. You can offset by having "high value" attacks - rather than hinging your strategy on lots of attacks at low MAT/RAT you have fewer attacks with good MAT/RAT.

List Building Tips

Generally Prima Materia lists start a pair of Vanguards then either 1 or 2 heavy warjacks (depending how much over your WJP you want to spend). Once there, however, Prima Materia can really go in any direction you want.

  • Prospero: Of special note here is Guard's junior. He does so much to help ALL the jacks in the army (Veteran Leader & Instability Equation both target friendly warjacks, not battlegroup), it would be foolish to not at least consider him in a list running multiple heavies.

Starting a 25 point Brawl list

In 2020.10 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.

Locke1: [+29 WJP]
Prospero: [Free] (5 pts)
Ascendant Mentalist: [4 pts]
Crucible Guard Mechanik: [1 pt]
Dragon's Breath Rocket: [4 pts]


For more Brawlmachine list ideas, see Category: Brawl List

Caster thoughts

Any caster except maybe Bennent has PM as their preffered theme:

  • Mackay: Prima Materia is Mackay's preferred theme because she generally prefers smaller model count armies (because 1 she spends a lot of points on battle engines and 2 she doesn't want a large army that blocks her battle engines).
  • Locke: The other Crucible Guard caster who immediately prefers Prima Materia. Locke is a heavy battlegroup caster (or perhaps more accurately heavies battlegroup caster), and she wants to have at least four jacks who can make use of Road to War & Jackhammer (one jack per turn). Your first two Vanguards should not be considered in this four, as they stand a good chance of getting crippled by enemy shooting. Locke really likes a Railless, to act both as a highly mobile way (thanks to Road to War) to contest zones & jam enemy units, but also as a potent screening tool for otherwise soft Guard heavies. All the heavies are amazing with Locke; she runs a five heavy list very effectively.
  • Lukas di Morray - Lukas Prima Materia is the ultimate competitive Crucible Guard lists. Among the theme benefit, his feat and juicer mechanik his jacks and himself will swim in focus and he can TK Death Archons around like no tomorrow.
  • Gearhart - Using the multi wound infantry along with Decel together with Menatlists and Archons makes for a very bricky melee focused list, while the theme benefit makes sure he can fuel a minimal battlegroup at no strain to his focus, so he can use it to contribute at range personally.

Other

Trivia

  • Released with the launch of the CG Faction, 2018.06
  • In Alchemy, Prima Materia is the "first material", the secret essence that underpins reality and it is required for all alchemical processes.

Other CG models

CG Logo.png       Crucible Guard Index       (Edit)            
Battlegroup & Similar
Warcasters

Benett - Gearhart - Locke - Lukas - Mackay - Syvestro

Warcaster attachments Aurum Legate Alyce Marc (Crucible) - Sylys Wyshnalyrr (Mercenary) - Madelyn Corbeau (Mercenary)
Other Warjack Controllers Prospero (BGC)
Light Liberator - Retaliator - Vanguard
Heavy Suppresor - Toro - Vindicator
Colossal Vulcan
Units, Solos, Battle Engines, & Structures
Units

Combat Alchemists - CG Assault Troopers - CG Infantry - CG Rocketmen - CG Storm Troopers - Dragon's Breath Rocket - Failed Experiments
Ranking Officer : Doctor Alejandro Mosby

Solos

Ascendant Mentalist - CG Mechanik - Gorman1 - Gorman2 - Hutchuk, Ogrun Bounty Hunter - Prospero - Rocketman Ace - Trancer

Battle Engines Railless Interceptor
Theme Forces
Magnum Opus - Prima Materia
Mercenaries
Refer to Who Works for Whom and/or Category: Crucible Guard Mercenary
This index was last updated: 2021.05

Rules Clarifications

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Rules Clarification : Cutting Edge      (Edit)

  • The focus from Cutting Edge only applies to allocated focus. It doesn't stack with stuff like Empower.
  • A warjack with a crippled cortex won't get any focus during the Control Phase, because the repair from Cutting Edge happens after Power Up and Allocation.
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Rules Clarification: Theme Forces     (Edit)

Themes that change a model's Faction   [Show/Hide]
  • Many themes swap which Faction a model counts as. They're slightly inconsistent with how exactly this is worded. Despite this inconsistency - whenever a model is considered a different faction to normal, it will not be its original faction. (Infernal Ruling)
For instance Lukas stops being a Crucible Guard model when taken in an Infernal army, and as a consequence he cannot take Toros or Vanguards in Infernals. (Infernal Ruling)
Rerolling the starting roll   [Show/Hide]
  • You cannot use the theme benefit to reroll if it is a draw. Instead both players reroll until there is a loser, and then the loser can use their reroll benefit (if they have it). (Infernal Ruling)
  • If both players have a reroll, first the original loser uses their reroll.
    • If the original loser still loses, fine.
    • If the original loser now wins, the other player can use their reroll.
    • If it is now a draw, both players reroll until there is a loser. Then the player that hasn't used their theme benefit reroll can still use it, if they want.
Warjacks/Warbeasts with bonds   [Show/Hide]
  • A warjack/warbeast with a bond can always be included in a theme force, whether or not they're in the list of allowed models, but only if they're controlled by that bonded model.
  • This applies even if that bonded model isn't a full warcaster/warlock (changed as of 2018.06).
Including Mercenaries   [Show/Hide]

Number of Mercenaries

  • If your "up to one Merc" ...
    • ... can take warbeasts/warjacks, then you can add warbeast(s)/warjack(s) (without exceeding your "up to one" allowance)
    • ... comes with a Companion model, then you'll get that Companion (without exceeding your "up to one" allowance)
  • There is a bug in Warroom that allows you to not only take one Merc solo/unit, but the entire FA of that Merc solo/unit. It's a bug.

Mercenaries and Ranking Officers

  • Adding a Ranking Officer to a Merc unit doesn't increase the number of Merc units you can take.

Other

  • See also the section on Partisans
Including Partisan Mercenaries   [Show/Hide]

Partisans & Theme Forces (Edit)

  • Partisans are Mercenary/Minion models, so there are two ways you can add them to a theme force:
    1. Freely: If the Partisan is on the list of allowed models, then you can take as many as you want plus another Mercenary unit/solo. (Infernal Ruling)
      They can be explicitly allowed (for example Jaws of the Wolf allows "Kayazy models/units" so Partisan Kayayz can be used freely).
      They can be implicitly allowed (for example Scourge of the Broken Coast allows "living Cryx models/units" and Partisan Cephalyx fit that criteria, so they can be used freely). (Infernal Ruling)
    2. Limited: If the Partisan isn't on the list of allowed models, it does use up your "Up to one Mercenary/Minion" slot, so you can only have the one.
  • Whether you used option 1 or 2 above, once they're in your theme force they count as a Faction model and so:
    • They can be taken as a Requistion Option (if they fit the Requistion description).
    For example Lanyssa can be taken as a free solo in the Legion of Dawn theme. (Infernal Ruling)
    • They will get any theme benefit that they fit the description for.
    For example Storm Division gives all Cygnar models Immunity Electricity, so Partisan Mercs in that theme get immunity too.
    For example Nemo4's Mechaniks get Reposition [3] in Heavy Metal. (Infernal Ruling)
Requisition Points   [Show/Hide]
  • You can choose the same Requisition option as many times as you like, as long as it doesn't put you over a FA limit.
  • You can't mix and match models from different options. Say one option allows 3 Machine Wraiths and another allows 3 Necrotechs. You can't use your Requisition Point to get 2 Wraiths and 1 Necrotech.
  • If you have an option that allows one other solo, you can't use it to get something already on the list. For instance, Ghost Fleet allows 3 Misery Cages (which are FA 4) for one Requistion Point, and it allows 1 other solo. That "other solo" can't be a 4th Cage.
  • If your theme allows "3 weapon attachments" as a Requistion Option, you can spread them into different units. (Locked Thread)
  • Models with the Man-Sized rule count as small-based models for the purposes of being a Requistion Option. (Locked Thread)
Free models and Specialists (ADR)    [Show/Hide]
  • If your theme only allows one merc solo, you can't have one in your main list and a different one in your specialists.
Unit Attachments   [Show/Hide]
  • If a unit is allowed in a theme, any-and-all of its attachments are allowed too. Exception: Ranking Officers are not allowed unless explicitily mentioned.
  • If the theme force gives a benefit to a specific unit, any-and-all attachments to that unit will benefit too. Even if it is a "generic" attachment like the Void Leech. (Infernal Ruling)
    For example, a Trollkin Sorcerer will gain Serenity if its attached to a Dhunian Knot unit in a Power of Dhunia theme force.
  • If your theme allows "3 weapon attachments" as a Requistion Option, you can spread them into different units. (Locked Thread)
  • A non-character unit with a character attachment (i.e. Captain Karli) still counts as a non-character unit. (Infernal Ruling)
When to apply theme benefits   [Show/Hide]
  • With reference to special abilities that themes give to models, Ranking Officers, adding new models, and/or taking control of models:
    1. Theme force benefits are applied when you construct your list or put a new model into play. A model already in play will not lose or gain any theme benefits mid-game based on any changes of faction status or otherwise. (Infernal Ruling)
    2. However, if the theme gives a benefit to models "at the beginning of the game" (such as Devourer's Host letting models begin the game with 1 corpse token) then this benefit does not apply to new models that are put into play mid-game. (Locked Thread)
    • Example 1: Sons of the Tempest says "ATGM units in this army gain Pistoleer". If your opponent takes control of one of them, it keeps Pistoleer while under their control even though it's currently not "in the army".
    • Example 2: Storm Division gives Immunity:Electricity to "Cygnar models in the army." If you include a Mercenary unit with a Ranking Officer, they will get the theme benefit and also keep it even after the Ranking Officer dies.
    • Example 3: Stange Bedfellows gives solos Swift Vengeance. If Nemo4 creates a new solo mid-game, that solo will have Swift Vengeance.
See also these Theme-Specific Rulings   [Show/Hide]
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Rules Clarification : Black Industries      (Edit)

  • The entry which allows "Cephalyx models/units" only applies to Partisan Cephalyx. That's because the theme's rules start off with "this army can only include the following Cryx models"​. Partisan Cephalyx are the only ones that fill that condition.
  • The Cephalyx Agitator also works for Cryx and can go in Black Industries but, because it is not a Partisan, it will use up your Mercenary solo slot.
  • (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : The Creator's Might      (Edit)

  • ​Elias Gade is allowed in Creator's Might. (Infernal Ruling)
  • You can spend the "Two Vassal solos" requistion option on one Vassal Mechanik and one Vassal of Menoth. Warroom has a bug and tells you that you can't. (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : Flame in the Darkness      (Edit)

  • You can take any number of Mercenary jacks. You can also select two additional jacks from Khador and Cygnar in any combination you like. Character warjacks with a bond don't count against this limit of 2. (Infernal Ruling)
  • There is a bug in Warroom that allows you to take two Cygnar and two Khador jacks.
  • Morrowan Battle Priest:
    • If your warcaster is a Cygnar model that makes every unit you take a Cygnar unit, and Battle Priests can be attached to any unit.
      Warroom has a known bug where it doesn't allow this interaction.
    • If your warcaster is a Mercenary or Khador model, though, the only units the Battle Priest can attach to are the Morrow ones.
    • If you attach the Battle Priest to The Devil's Shadows Mutineers then it can be returned via Blood Bound. (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : Llaelese Resistance      (Edit)

  • It is 2 Cruicible or 2 Cygnar or 2 Menoth.
    You can't take more than 2, and you can't mix and match from multiple Factions. (Infernal Ruling)
  • You can have a non-character unit with a character attachment (i.e. Captain Karli). (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : The Talion Charter      (Edit)

  • The 3rd benefit is "Sac Pawn [Sea Dog trooper]", not just any Sea Dog. (Infernal ruling)
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Rules Clarification : The Bones of Orboros      (Edit)

  • Una1 cannot be taken in this theme (yet) due to the conflict between the theme's "Only Construct warbeasts allowed" and Una1's "Must take warbeasts with flight". There are no construct warbeasts with flight (yet). But if/when there is, then Una1 can be taken in this theme. (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : The Devourer's Host      (Edit)

  • Bradigus1 is not legal in this theme. The theme only allows living warbeasts, his rules only allow construct warbeasts, and you can't just 'skip' his battlegroup - you have to spend your warbeast points.
  • If you create a new model mid-game (ie with the Well of Orboros and that model can have corpse tokens, that model does not enter play with a corpse. Because it's not the beginning of the game. (Locked thread)
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Rules Clarification : The Wild Hunt      (Edit)

  • The animus benefit doesn't apply to enemy warbeasts. (Infernal Ruling)
  • The animus benefit doesn't stack with the Druid Wilder's Herding ability. (Infernal Ruling)
  • When it comes to other things that alter COST (such as Lamentation), follow basic maths: Double/halve first, then add/subtract.
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Rules Clarification : Oracles of Annihilation      (Edit)

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Rules Clarification : The Exalted      (Edit)

  • If a Construct model loses the Construct advantage mid-game, it keeps the theme benefit anyway. (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : Band of Heroes      (Edit)

  • Boomhowler2 uses up your Minion slot. His Fell Calls ability is not enough to make him a "Fell Caller model/unit". (Infernal Ruling)
  • Boomhowler3 does not use up your minion slot on account of having the Champion keyword.
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Rules Clarification : The Blindwater Congregation      (Edit)

  • Void Leeches attached to a Gatorman Posse will gain Snacking, but they won't gain extra hitpoints. (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : Magnum Opus      (Edit)

  • If Mosby is attached to a Mercenary weapon crew unit, they would gain 3" reposition and would not lose it if Mosby is no longer in the unit. (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : Hearts of Darkness      (Edit)

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