Releasing alongside the new planetary supremacy mode (free to everyone who owns the main game), Black Lab Games have also released new DLC: Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector - Necrons. This adds the Necrons – a race of ancient cybernetic horrors – as a playable faction for both multiplayer, and the aforementioned planetary supremacy mode.
If you enjoy the base game and its tactical combat, then this is really a ‘no-brainer’. The developers have surpassed themselves. The artwork, animation, and sound are all top-notch. Modelled from actual miniatures, whether it’s the sun glinting off metallic bodies, bolts of green lightning vaporising foes, the shield which materializes around whatever it is that passes for the Necron’s version of a tank, the eerie way fallen Necrons jerk upright when reanimated, or the dreadful sound of a Scarab swarm as they move to shred their targets, the care that’s been taken is simply staggering.
So how do they play? Tempting as it would be to simply say ‘fantastically’ (the Hexmark Destroyer is an absolute delight to use), some more detail is needed. In comparison to the Tyrannids and the Space Marines, the Necrons are more focussed around keeping foes at their optimal target range. If opponents are too far away, or too close, their effectiveness falls of dramatically. The most extreme examples of this are the Deathmarks, a highly accurate sniper unit, but only if their target is 10 squares away (a huge distance in game).
As such, simply massing forces is a recipe for a quick defeat, and I found myself using a screen of low-cost units specialising in melee or short-range combat (Scarabs, Flayers, and Necron Warriors), to absorb damage, whilst my more powerful ranged units tried desperately to maintain their distance. This invariably means units get spread out and separated, which in turn exposes them to concentrated enemy attack.
Its also worth noting that, should the player have an Overlord in their army (a powerful melee and support unit that can act as the backbone of the Necron army — and sure to draw the fire of every opponent because of it) every three turns they can summon a new unit of Necron Warriors which creepily claw their way out of the ground. This means that players facing the Necrons cannot afford to sit back and wait for the Necrons to come to them, as each delay means they may be facing an increasingly stronger opponent. Also, in a nice thematic twist (which also compensates for the smaller number of models in each unit) downed Necrons have a 50% chance to reanimate with half-health, and also gradually heal over time. Also as you can only play them in multiplayer and planetary supremacy modes, this means battles tend towards full-scale engagements on huge, largely open maps. These all make playing as the Necrons feel quite distinctive, offering players a fun and engaging new challenge.
While I did find myself wishing there was an in-game codex (which would help players less familiar with Warhammer 40K lore to get engaged), all up, the Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector - Necrons is a brilliant addition to the game, showcasing Black Lab Games’ artistic skill and strategy prowess. This is definitely a worthwhile acquisition for those who enjoyed the base game, and well worth the asking price. ■