Hand of the Archon

ReconSeek & Destroy

KILL GRADE [9]

1	2	3	4	5
2	4	5	7	9

What to Know

Tactical Overview

Introducing the Hand of the Archon: a 9-10 operative Drukhari kill team that thrives on aggression. They're a fast, fragile force (7" move, 8-9 wounds, 4+ save) that excels in both melee and shooting, with unique Pain tokens earned by injuring enemies. Spend tokens for invigorations like extra APL, healing, free dashes, or re-rolls. Their rifles gain Accurate 1 when stationary, and ploys like Blade Artists (Rending melee) and Merciless Sadists (Balanced vs wounded) make them deadlier as they fight. With operatives like the Crimson Duellist (double Fight) and Elixicant (Combat Drugs), they're a versatile, high-skill team that rewards bold plays and tactical cruelty.

Core Abilities

Unusual Shooting ✓

Skysplinter Assassin: Razorwing [Seek]Skysplinter Assassin: Mark: grants Seek Light and target cannot be obscured

Unusual Melee ✗

Super Conceal ✗

Out of Order Movement ✓

Power From Pain: Vitalised Surge: free Dash after incapacitating enemy

Activation Manipulation ✓

Firefight Ploy: Heinous Arrogance: skip your activation when it's your turn

APL Modifiers ✓

Elixicant: Stim-Needler [Stun]Dark Animus: +1 APL to friendly operative

Bitter Demise ✓

Disciple of Yaelindra: Stinger Pistol: D3 damage to nearby when incapacitated by this weapon.

Block Rerolls ✗

Damage Reduction ✓

Operative: Combat Drugs: Painbringer: subtract 1 damage on a 6 for attacks of 3+.Operative: Insensible to Pain: damage of 3+ inflicts 1 less damage.

Faction Rules

Power From Pain: Gain Pain tokens for injuring or incapacitating enemies, spend on invigorations.
Dark Animus: Spend Pain token to add 1 to APL until next activation.
Accelerated Rejuvenation: Spend Pain token to regain up to D3+1 wounds.
Vitalised Surge: Spend Pain token to perform free Dash after incapacitating enemy.
Stimulated Senses: Spend Pain token to reroll dice of one result after rolling.
Rifles: Splinter rifles gain Accurate 1 when not using Charge, Fall Back, or Reposition.

Strategic Ploys

Blade Artists: Melee weapons gain RENDING rule
Merciless Sadists: Weapons gain BALANCED against wounded enemies
From Darkness, Death: Retain normal success as critical on first attack
Denizens of Night: Reroll one defence die in cover or vantage

Firefight Ploys

Cruel Deception: Fall Back for 1 less AP
Devious Scheme: Opponent spends +1 CP on next ploy
Heinous Arrogance: Skip your activation
Prey on the Wounded: Re-roll attack dice vs wounded

Equipment

Chain Snare: Prevents enemy Fall Back on 4+ roll
Wicked Blades: +1 Atk stat for blades
Toxin Coating: Twice per TP, melee weapon gains Lethal 5+
Refined Poison: Twice per TP, +1 Normal Dmg for splinter weapons

Operative Selection

OPERATIVES

↘ 1 Hand of the Archon 💀 ARCHSYBARITE operative with one of the following options:
- Blast pistol; venom blade
- Splinter pistol; venom blade
- Splinter pistol; agoniser
- Splinter pistol; power weapon
- Splinter rifle; array of blades
↘ 8 Hand of the Archon 💀 operatives selected from the following list:
- AGENT
- CRIMSON DUELLIST
- DISCIPLE OF YAELINDRA
- ELIXICANT
- FLAYER
- GUNNER with one of the following options:
  - Blaster; array of blades
  - Shredder; array of blades

CONTINUES ON OTHER SIDE

HEAVY GUNNER with one of the following options:
- Dark lance; array of blades
- Splinter cannon; array of blades
SKYSPLINTER ASSASSIN

Other than AGENT operatives, your kill team can only include each operative on this list once. Your kill team can only include up to two darklight weapons (blast pistol, blaster and dark lance are darklight weapons).

Operative Datacards

9 operatives

Archsybarite

2 7" 4+ 9

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Blast Pistol	4	3+	3/4	Range 8" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Piercing 2 Piercing The defender collects x less defence dice. If the rule is Piercing Crits x, this only comes into effect if you retain any critical successes. Blast Pistol - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Piercing The defender collects x less defence dice. If the rule is Piercing Crits x, this only comes into effect if you retain any critical successes.
⚡ Splinter Pistol	4	3+	2/4	Range 8" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Splinter Pistol - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.
⚡ Splinter Rifle	4	3+	2/4	Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Splinter Rifle - Weapon Rules Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.
⚔ Agoniser	4	3+	3/5	Brutal Brutal Your opponent can only block with critical successes. , Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. , Shock Shock The first time you strike with a critical success in each sequence, also discard one of your opponent's unresolved normal successes. Agoniser - Weapon Rules Brutal Your opponent can only block with critical successes. Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Shock The first time you strike with a critical success in each sequence, also discard one of your opponent's unresolved normal successes.
⚔ Array of Blades	3	3+	3/4	-
⚔ Power Weapon	4	3+	4/6	Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Power Weapon - Weapon Rules Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.
⚔ Venom Blade	4	3+	4/5	Lethal 4+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Venom Blade - Weapon Rules Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.

Additional Rules

Cunning

In the Gambit step of each Strategy phase, if this operative is in the killzone and you pass at the first opportunity, you gain 1CP. Ignore each STRATEGIC GAMBIT from the mission pack (if any) when determining this.

Torturous Vision

Once during each of this operative's activations, if it doesn't have any of your Pain tokens when it performs either the Fight or Shoot action, it can gain one of your Pain tokens when you select a valid target or an enemy operative to fight against.

Agent

2 7" 4+ 8

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Splinter Rifle	4	3+	2/4	Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Splinter Rifle - Weapon Rules Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.
⚔ Array of Blades	3	3+	3/4	-

Additional Rules

Sadistic Competition

Once per turning point, when a friendly Hand of the Archon operative gains one of your Pain tokens, one friendly Hand of the Archon AGENT operative that doesn't have one of your Pain tokens can also gain one.

Crimson Duellist

2 7" 4+ 8

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Splinter Pistol	4	3+	2/4	Range 8" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Splinter Pistol - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.
⚔ Razorflail	4	2+	4/5	Brutal Brutal Your opponent can only block with critical successes. , Tangle: Whenever this operative is fighting or retaliating with this weapon, each of your blocks can be allocated to block two unresolved successes (instead of one). Razorflail - Weapon Rules Brutal Your opponent can only block with critical successes.

Additional Rules

Brutal Display

Once per turning point, when this operative incapacitates an enemy operative within its control range, you can select one other enemy operative visible to and within 6" of either this operative or the incapacitated enemy operative. Until the start of the next turning point, that other enemy operative cannot control markers or perform the Pick Up Marker or mission actions.

Crimson Duellist

This operative can perform two Fight actions during its activation.

Disciple of Yaelindra

2 7" 4+ 8

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Stinger Pistol	4	3+	3/5	Range 8" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. , Stinger: Whenever an enemy operative is incapacitated by this weapon, before it's removed from the killzone, inflict D3 damage on each other operative visible to and within 2" of it (roll separately for each). Each operative subsequently incapacitated as a result of this weapon rule will cause this to happen again. Stinger Pistol - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.
⚔ Array of Blades	3	3+	3/4	-

Unique Actions

Torment Grenade 1AP

Select one enemy operative visible to and within 6" of this operative. That operative and each other operative within 1" of it takes a poison test.
For an operative to take a poison test, roll one D6, adding 1 to the result if that operative has a Save stat of 4+ or worse: on a 3+, inflict D3 damage on that operative and it gains one of your Poison tokens (if it doesn't already have one).
Whenever an operative that has one of your Poison tokens is activated, inflict D3 damage on it.

This operative cannot perform this action while within control range of an enemy operative.

Elixicant

2 7" 4+ 8

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Splinter Rifle	4	3+	2/4	Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Splinter Rifle - Weapon Rules Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.
⚡ Stim-Needler	4	3+	0/0	Range 3" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Lethal 3+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. , Stun Stun If you retain any critical successes, subtract 1 from the APL stat of the operative this weapon is being used against until the end of its next activation. Stim-Needler - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Stun If you retain any critical successes, subtract 1 from the APL stat of the operative this weapon is being used against until the end of its next activation.
⚔ Array of Blades	3	3+	3/4	-

Additional Rules

Combat Drugs

At the end of the Select Operatives step, if this operative is selected for deployment, select one of the following COMBAT DRUG rules for friendly Hand of the Archon operatives to have for the battle:

Unique Actions

Administer Drug 1AP

Select one friendly Hand of the Archon operative visible to and within 3" of this operative, then select one of the following for that friendly operative:
- It regains up to 2D3 lost wounds.
- Select a different COMBAT DRUG rule for it to have for the battle (this replaces its previous one).

This operative cannot perform this action while within control range of an enemy operative.

Flayer

2 7" 4+ 8

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚔ Pain Sculptors	4	3+	4/5	Ceaseless Ceaseless You can re-roll any of your attack dice results of one result (e.g. results of 2). , Flay: Whenever this operative is using this weapon, the first time you strike with a critical success during that sequence, you can select one friendly HAND OF THE ARCHON operative within 6" of it to gain one of your Pain tokens. Pain Sculptors - Weapon Rules Ceaseless You can re-roll any of your attack dice results of one result (e.g. results of 2).

Additional Rules

Insensible to Pain

Normal and Critical Dmg of 3 or more inflicts 1 less damage on this operative.

Gunner

2 7" 4+ 8

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Blaster	4	3+	4/5	Piercing 2 Piercing The defender collects x less defence dice. If the rule is Piercing Crits x, this only comes into effect if you retain any critical successes. Blaster - Weapon Rules Piercing The defender collects x less defence dice. If the rule is Piercing Crits x, this only comes into effect if you retain any critical successes.
⚡ Shredder	4	3+	4/5	Rending Rending If you retain any critical successes, you can retain one of your normal successes as a critical success instead. , Torrent 2" Torrent Select a valid target as normal as the primary target, then select any number of other valid targets within x of the first valid target, but not within control range of friendly operatives, as secondary targets. Shoot with this weapon against all of them in an order of your choice. Shredder - Weapon Rules Rending If you retain any critical successes, you can retain one of your normal successes as a critical success instead. Torrent Select a valid target as normal as the primary target, then select any number of other valid targets within x of the first valid target, but not within control range of friendly operatives, as secondary targets. Shoot with this weapon against all of them in an order of your choice.
⚔ Array of Blades	3	3+	3/4	-

Heavy Gunner

2 7" 4+ 8

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Dark Lance	4	3+	6/7	Heavy ( Dash only) Heavy An operative cannot use this weapon in an activation or counteraction in which it moved, and it cannot move in an activation or counteraction in which it used this weapon. If the rule is Heavy (x only), only that move is allowed. , Piercing 2 Piercing The defender collects x less defence dice. If the rule is Piercing Crits x, this only comes into effect if you retain any critical successes. Dark Lance - Weapon Rules Heavy An operative cannot use this weapon in an activation or counteraction in which it moved, and it cannot move in an activation or counteraction in which it used this weapon. If the rule is Heavy (x only), only that move is allowed. Piercing The defender collects x less defence dice. If the rule is Piercing Crits x, this only comes into effect if you retain any critical successes.
⚡ Splinter Cannon (Focused)	5	3+	3/5	Heavy ( Dash only) Heavy An operative cannot use this weapon in an activation or counteraction in which it moved, and it cannot move in an activation or counteraction in which it used this weapon. If the rule is Heavy (x only), only that move is allowed. , Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Splinter Cannon (Focused) - Weapon Rules Heavy An operative cannot use this weapon in an activation or counteraction in which it moved, and it cannot move in an activation or counteraction in which it used this weapon. If the rule is Heavy (x only), only that move is allowed. Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.
⚡ Splinter Cannon (Sweeping)	4	3+	3/5	Heavy ( Dash only) Heavy An operative cannot use this weapon in an activation or counteraction in which it moved, and it cannot move in an activation or counteraction in which it used this weapon. If the rule is Heavy (x only), only that move is allowed. , Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. , Torrent 1" Torrent Select a valid target as normal as the primary target, then select any number of other valid targets within x of the first valid target, but not within control range of friendly operatives, as secondary targets. Shoot with this weapon against all of them in an order of your choice. Splinter Cannon (Sweeping) - Weapon Rules Heavy An operative cannot use this weapon in an activation or counteraction in which it moved, and it cannot move in an activation or counteraction in which it used this weapon. If the rule is Heavy (x only), only that move is allowed. Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Torrent Select a valid target as normal as the primary target, then select any number of other valid targets within x of the first valid target, but not within control range of friendly operatives, as secondary targets. Shoot with this weapon against all of them in an order of your choice.
⚔ Array of Blades	3	3+	3/4	-

Skysplinter Assassin

2 7" 4+ 8

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Razorwing	4	4+	1/2	Saturate Saturate The defender cannot retain cover saves. , Seek Seek When selecting a valid target, operatives with a Conceal order cannot use terrain for cover. If the rule is Seek Light, they cannot use Light terrain for cover. , Silent Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order. Razorwing - Weapon Rules Saturate The defender cannot retain cover saves. Seek When selecting a valid target, operatives with a Conceal order cannot use terrain for cover. If the rule is Seek Light, they cannot use Light terrain for cover. Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order.
⚡ Shardcarbine	4	2+	2/2	Devastating 2 Devastating Each retained critical success immediately inflicts x damage on the operative this weapon is being used against. If the rule starts with a distance, inflict x damage on that operative and each other operative visible to and within that distance of it. , Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Shardcarbine - Weapon Rules Devastating Each retained critical success immediately inflicts x damage on the operative this weapon is being used against. If the rule starts with a distance, inflict x damage on that operative and each other operative visible to and within that distance of it. Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes.
⚔ Array of Blades	3	3+	3/4	-

Additional Rules

Merciless Hunter

If this operative doesn't perform the Mark unique action (see other side of card) during its activation, it can perform two Shoot actions during its activation, but a razorwing must be selected for one (and only one) of those actions.

Omen

In the Select Operatives step, when you're selecting equipment, you can select one enemy operative or one other friendly Hand of the Archon operative (reveal your selection when you reveal equipment). Whenever attack or defence dice are rolled for that operative: - If it's an enemy operative, your opponent must re-roll their dice results of 6. - If it's a friendly operative, you can re-roll any of your dice results of 1.

Unique Actions

Mark 1AP

Select one enemy operative visible to this operative. Until the end of the turning point, whenever this operative is shooting that enemy operative you can use this effect. If you do: - This operative's ranged weapons have the Seek Light weapon rule. - That enemy operative cannot be obscured.

This operative cannot perform this action while within control range of an enemy operative.

Faction Rules

2 rules

Power From Pain

Faction Rule

Gain Pain tokens for injuring or incapacitating enemies, spend on invigorations.

Hand of the Archon 💀

The Drukhari feed on the souls of their slain and tortured victims, drawing sustenance from the terrible agonies they inflict.

After a friendly Hand of the Archon 💀 operative performs an action, it gains one of your Pain tokens if:

An enemy operative was injured during that action, but was not incapacitated.
An enemy operative was incapacitated during that action. If that enemy operative had a Wounds stat of 12 or more, that friendly operative gains two of your Pain tokens instead.

You can spend friendly operatives' Pain tokens on invigorations when the 'when' condition is met. You cannot use more than one invigoration per activation or counteraction, except Stimulated Senses, which can be used once per activation or counteraction in addition to another invigoration.

Rifles

Faction Rule

Splinter rifles gain Accurate 1 when not using Charge, Fall Back, or Reposition.

Hand of the Archon 💀

The long-barrelled splinter rifles carried by Kabalite Warriors are incredibly accurate in the hands of a skilled user.

Whenever a friendly Hand of the Archon 💀 operative is shooting with a splinter rifle during an activation in which it hasn't performed the Charge, Fall Back or Reposition action, that weapon has the Accurate 1 weapon rule. Note that operative isn't restricted from performing those actions after shooting.

Strategy Ploys

4 ploys

Blade Artists

Strategy Ploy

Melee weapons gain RENDING rule

Merciless Sadists

Strategy Ploy

Weapons gain BALANCED against wounded enemies

From Darkness, Death

Strategy Ploy

Retain normal success as critical on first attack

Hand of the Archon 💀

Honour is an alien concept to the Drukhari. They make use of distraction and misdirection to butcher unsuspecting foes from the shadows.

Whenever a friendly Hand of the Archon 💀 operative is activated, before you determine its order, you can select one enemy operative that friendly operative isn't a valid target for. Until the end of that activation, the first time that friendly operative is shooting against or fighting against that enemy operative, you can retain one of your normal successes as a critical success instead.

Denizens of Night

Strategy Ploy

Reroll one defence die in cover or vantage

Hand of the Archon 💀

Hailing from Commorragh - the Dark City - the Drukhari are born and raised in shadow, and use it to conceal their movements.

Whenever an enemy operative is shooting a friendly Hand of the Archon 💀 operative that's more than 2" from enemy operatives, if HEAVY or LIGHT terrain is intervening, or any part of that friendly operative's base is underneath VANTAGE terrain, you can re-roll one of your defence dice.

Firefight Ploys

4 ploys

Cruel Deception

Firefight Ploy

Fall Back for 1 less AP

Hand of the Archon 💀

The denizens of the Dark City are well versed in deceit and betrayal. In battle, they put these talents to good use, hitting their foes hard before melting away into the shadows.

Use this firefight ploy during a friendly Hand of the Archon 💀 operative's activation, before or after it performs an action. During that activation, that operative can perform the Fall Back action for 1 less AP.

Devious Scheme

Firefight Ploy

Opponent spends +1 CP on next ploy

Hand of the Archon 💀

Schemers all, the Drukhari are used to staying one step ahead of their opponents and confounding their every move.

Use this firefight ploy after an opponent uses a firefight ploy (excluding one that costs 0CP). The next time they would use that ploy, they must spend 1 additional CP to do so (at which point this effect ends). You cannot use this ploy again during the battle until its effect has ended.

Heinous Arrogance

Firefight Ploy

Skip your activation

Prey on the Wounded

Firefight Ploy

Re-roll attack dice vs wounded

Faction Equipment

4 items

Chain Snare

Faction Equipment

Prevents enemy Fall Back on 4+ roll

Hand of the Archon 💀

Composed of hooked blades attached to a length of chain, this weapon bites into the flesh or armour of the wielder's target, preventing them from fleeing.

Whenever an enemy operative would perform the Fall Back action while within control range of a friendly Hand of the Archon 💀 operative, if no other enemy operatives are within that friendly operative's control range, you can use this rule. If you do, roll two D6, or one D6 if that enemy operative has a higher Wounds stat than that friendly operative. If any result is a 4+, that enemy operative cannot perform that action during that activation/counteraction (no AP are spent on it), and you cannot use this rule again during this turning point.

Wicked Blades

Faction Equipment

+1 Atk stat for blades

Toxin Coating

Faction Equipment

Twice per TP, melee weapon gains Lethal 5+

Hand of the Archon 💀

Drukhari raiders are known to coat their blades in venom, ensuring that even the slightest nick of blade against flesh is fatal.

Up to twice per turning point, whenever a friendly Hand of the Archon 💀 operative is fighting or retaliating and you're selecting a melee weapon, you can use this rule. If you do, until the end of that sequence, that operative's melee weapon has the Lethal 5+ weapon rule.

Refined Poison

Faction Equipment

Twice per TP, +1 Normal Dmg for splinter weapons

Hand of the Archon 💀

Splinter rounds are infused with exquisitely lethal concoctions distilled from the potent venoms and toxins of deadly flora and fauna.

Up to twice per turning point, whenever a friendly Hand of the Archon 💀 operative is performing the Shoot action and you select a shardcarbine, splinter cannon, splinter pistol, splinter rifle or stinger pistol, you can use this rule. If you do, until the end of that action, add 1 to the Normal Dmg stat of that weapon.

Universal Equipment

0 items