What changed for Adeptus Mechanicus in 11th edition
11th edition was a net cut for the Adeptus Mechanicus. Of the fifteen units that were repriced, twelve came down — with the Skitarii Hastarii and the Kastelan Robots among the standout drops — and only three crept up. Three new characters also join the roster, giving the Priesthood of Mars fresh options on top of a leaner points sheet.
Summary
- 19 units repriced, 3 new, 15 unchanged
- Biggest drop: Hastarii Exterminators (-30)
- Biggest rise: Belisarius Cawl (+10)
- Detachment Points: 2 / 3 / 4 at Incursion / Strike Force / Onslaught
Detachments
The big new mechanical wrinkle is Detachment Points. Detachments are no longer free: your chosen one now costs points out of your army total, scaling with game size — 2 at Incursion, 3 at Strike Force, 4 at Onslaught. That's a real budgeting decision layered on top of your unit picks, and it's the main thing to relearn coming from 10th. For the Mechanicus the shelf gained three new detachments — Cohort Acquisitus, Lords of the Forge, and Luminen Autochoir — while every 10th-edition option carries straight over and none were removed. The only new overhead is the DP tax itself.
New in 11th: Cohort Acquisitus, Lords of the Forge, Luminen Auto-choir. Removed: Haloscreed Battle Clade.
| Detachment | DP | |
|---|---|---|
| Rad-zone Corps | 2 | |
| Skitarii Hunter Cohort | 2 | |
| Explorator Maniple | 2 | |
| Data-psalm Conclave | 2 | |
| Cohort Cybernetica | 2 | |
| Haloscreed Battleclade | 3 | |
| Eradication Cohort | 3 | |
| Cohort Acquisitus | 1 | New in 11th |
| Lords of the Forge | 1 | New in 11th |
| Luminen Auto-choir | 1 | New in 11th |
Points changes
The pattern is friendly: fifteen units repriced, twelve of them downward. The biggest savings land on the Skitarii Hastarii — the Fusiliers drop 30 points and the Exterminators 20 — while Thulia Ghuld comes down 30 and the Kastelan Robots shed 20 for the pair. The Cybernetica Datasmith that shepherds those robots is 10 cheaper too. Only three units rose, all by small margins, and three brand-new characters arrive with no 10th-edition equivalent. A few units are priced per squad size, so check the tier you actually field.
| Unit | Role | 10th | 11th | Δ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hastarii Exterminators | Infantry | 135 | 105 | -30 | |
| Hastarii Fusiliers | Infantry | 145 | 115 | -30 | |
| Thulia Ghuld | Characters | 210 | 180 | -30 | |
| Kastelan Robots | Vehicles | 2: 180 4: 360 | 2: 160 3: 320 | -20 -40 | |
| Belisarius Cawl | Characters | 210 | 220 | +10 | |
| Cybernetica Datasmith | Characters | 35 | 25 | -10 | |
| Kataphron Breachers | Infantry | 3: 160 6: 320 | 3: 150 4: 310 | -10 -10 | |
| Skitarii Vanguard | Battleline | 95 | 85 | -10 | |
| Skorpius Dunerider | Transports | 85 | 75 | -10 | |
| Archaeopter Transvector | Vehicles | 150 | 145 | -5 | |
| Ironstrider Ballistarii | Vehicles | 1: 85 2: 170 3: 255 | 80 | -5 | |
| Kataphron Destroyers | Infantry | 3: 105 6: 210 | 3: 100 4: 200 | -5 -10 | |
| Pteraxii Skystalkers | Infantry | 5: 75 10: 150 | 5: 80 6: 150 | +5 0 | |
| Servitor Battleclade | Infantry | 60 | 65 | +5 | |
| Sicarian Ruststalkers | Infantry | 5: 80 10: 165 | 5: 75 6: 160 | -5 -5 | |
| Skorpius Disintegrator | Vehicles | 165 | 160 | -5 | |
| Sydonian Dragoons with taser lances | Vehicles | 1: 65 2: 130 3: 195 | 1: 60 2: 120 3: 170 | -5 -10 -25 | |
| Serberys Raiders | Mounted & Beasts | 3: 60 6: 120 | 3: 60 4: 110 | 0 -10 | |
| Serberys Sulphurhounds | Mounted & Beasts | 3: 55 6: 110 | 3: 55 4: 100 | 0 -10 | |
| Cohort Commander | Characters | — | 45 | — | New in 11th |
| Ironstrider Alpha | Characters | — | 80 | — | New in 11th |
| Magos | Characters | — | 70 | — | New in 11th |
| Archaeopter Fusilave | Vehicles | 160 | 160 | — | |
| Archaeopter Stratoraptor | Vehicles | 185 | 185 | — | |
| Corpuscarii Electro-Priests | Infantry | 5: 65 10: 130 | 5: 65 6: 130 | — | |
| Fulgurite Electro-Priests | Infantry | 5: 70 10: 140 | 5: 70 6: 140 | — | |
| Onager Dunecrawler | Vehicles | 155 | 155 | — | |
| Pteraxii Sterylizors | Infantry | 5: 80 10: 160 | 5: 80 6: 160 | — | |
| Sicarian Infiltrators | Infantry | 5: 75 10: 155 | 5: 75 6: 155 | — | |
| Skitarii Marshal | Characters | 35 | 35 | — | |
| Skitarii Rangers | Battleline | 85 | 85 | — | |
| Sydonian Dragoons with radium jezzails | Vehicles | 1: 55 2: 100 3: 150 | 1: 55 2: 100 3: 150 | — | |
| Sydonian Skatros | Characters | 50 | 50 | — | |
| Tech-Priest Dominus | Characters | 65 | 65 | — | |
| Tech-Priest Enginseer | Characters | 55 | 55 | — | |
| Tech-Priest Manipulus | Characters | 60 | 60 | — | |
| Technoarcheologist | Characters | 45 | 45 | — |
Biggest increases
Are Belisarius Cawl still worth it?
The largest single increase in the faction, up 10 points. That's a modest tax on one of the army's signature centrepiece characters — the kind of model you field because you want him leading the Priesthood, not because the maths demands it. If Cawl earned his slot in your 10th-edition lists, the extra 10 changes nothing; it's a rounding error against everything he brings.
Are Pteraxii Skystalkers still worth it?
Up 5 points on a five-model squad — barely perceptible at the army level. The Skystalkers remain a mobile, board-controlling option, and a single 5-point bump won't be the reason you do or don't run them. Take them for the reach and the deployment tricks; the price nudge is noise.
Are Servitor Battleclade still worth it?
A 5-point rise on the nine-model unit, which is the mildest of the three increases. This has always been a support-bracket pick rather than a headline choice, so its case rests on the wider list rather than the raw cost. In a build that wants the extra bodies it's as valid as ever; 5 points won't tip the decision either way.
Frequently asked questions
Did the Adeptus Mechanicus get better in 11th edition?
Broadly, yes. Twelve of the fifteen repriced units got cheaper, so most Mechanicus lists can field more for the same points than they could at the end of 10th — and the deepest cuts hit workhorse units like the Hastarii and the Kastelan Robots. Whether that turns into more wins depends on the wider meta, but on paper the faction came out of the transition leaner and more flexible.
What got cheaper for Adeptus Mechanicus in 11th edition?
Plenty. The Skitarii Hastarii Fusiliers lead the way at 30 points off a five-model squad, with Thulia Ghuld also down 30. The Hastarii Exterminators drop 20, the Kastelan Robots come down 20 for the pair, and the Cybernetica Datasmith that supports them is 10 cheaper. Those cuts make a Skitarii-and-robots core meaningfully easier to assemble than it was in 10th.
How do Detachment Points work for Adeptus Mechanicus in 11th edition?
Detachment Points are a new 11th-edition layer: your chosen detachment now costs points out of your army total, scaling with game size — 2 at Incursion, 3 at Strike Force, and 4 at Onslaught. Every Mechanicus detachment pays the same flat rate, so it's a fixed overhead you budget for before you start picking units.
What are the new Adeptus Mechanicus characters in 11th edition?
Three characters join the roster with no 10th-edition equivalent: the Cohort Commander at 45 points, the Ironstrider Alpha at 80, and the Magos at 70. They give the Priesthood fresh leadership and support options to build around alongside the returning line-up.
Is now a good time to start an Adeptus Mechanicus army?
It's a strong moment. The signature Skitarii and robot units are cheaper, the range is deep with three fresh detachments on the shelf, and three new characters expand your options. If you've been eyeing the Machine God, the 11th-edition points make a starter force easier to build toward — see the Starting an Adeptus Mechanicus Army guide for a buying order.