Last Necron heavy, Canoptek Spyders

We come to the last Necron heavy support unit the Canoptek Spyders.

What this model will probably look like...some day.

Canoptek Spyders are ancient robotic constructs utilized by the Necrons to watch over and maintain their tomb worlds. Unlike their Necron masters, Canoptek Spyders never slumber; rather they spend the years servicing the structures and machines of their tomb world. Though it is just an automated drone, a Canoptek Spyder can still be a formidable force in combat. They use their various sharp, pointy and burny repair implements to displace their foes. They are also armed with hives of scarabs that usually are used for maintenance, but they can be release just as easily to combat a foe.

The Spyders are another carry over from the last codex. A favorite of mine once 5th edition landed. They are monstrous creatures and fearless, so they carry all those rules. They come with: BS 3, WS 3, strength and toughness 6, 3 wounds, initiative and attacks of 2, leadership 10 and a 3+ save. They also come with a Scarab Hive. A Spyder can purchase the following upgrades: Fabricator Claw Array (+15), Gloom Prism (+10) and a twin-linked Particle Beamer. (+25) They can be run in a squad of 1-3 and they run ½ of a hundred points.

Scarab Hive- is what everyone was all a twitter about and was also using it for an exploit, when the codex first came out (pre FAQ). During the movement phase the Spyder can produce a single scarab base. The Spyder must not be in close combat. Then a D6 is rolled and a scarab base is produced. If a roll of 1 occurs the scarab is produced, but the Spyder takes a wound (no saves allowed). Now the new scarab base must be placed to an existing swarm within 6”. If not swarm or room for new scarab, it is lost. This can take the scarab swarm over its starting number. Now players were using this to form scarab bases in front of the existing swarm. I believe it is referred to a conga line, if you follow 40K interweb slang. This was getting scarab swarms into early turn charge range to irritate the opponent. It was kind of a dick move, but due to rules interp it was legal. The Necron FAQ put a bit of a kybosh on this trick.

Fabricator Claw Array- is a close combat weapon that allows for vehicle repair. This is similar to a servo arm for the Astartes. In the shooting phase a Spyder with a fabricator claw can attempt to repair a weapon destroyed or immobilized result on a vehicle on a roll of 4+. That vehicle may move or shoot the following turn. Yeah if this gives an additional close combat attack, then it would be worth the extra +10 points. Sadly it doesn’t so pass on this upgrade.
Gloom Prism- is a poor man’s runic weapon. This will nullify a physic power used within 3” of the Spyder, on a 4+. It covers the Spyder and any friendlies within that 3” range. I have no use for this since the range is drek. If you face a ton of psy power armies, still pass on this upgrade. Just take some more stuff with those extra points.

Twin-linked Particle Beamer- is a 24” S 6 AP 5 heavy 1 blast weapon. Yeah it isn’t an awful weapon and the twin-linking will help with a bad scatter. I just think this is so not worth the points. You get one shot and it costs ½ a Spyder in points. There is better shooting so many other places in the codex. If it was a staff of light-type gun, then maybe it would be worth it.

I like the Canoptek Spyder. It can buff scarab swarms and keep them active if you are playing that game. They can also just run along with squads as a speed bump (if there are no multiple attack powerfists there to ruin your day) or a counter charge unit. Having strength and toughness 6 is nothing to sneeze at in close combat, yeah initiative 2 blows, but it is Necrons so deal with it.

Previous codex Tomb Spyder. Good luck getting them now.

The Tomb Spyder was the previous incarnation of this unit. It was +5 points higher in cost, had only 2 wounds, and was WS 2 and BS 2. It could take a particle projector (12” S 5 AP 3 assault 3) as a swap for an attack, but good luck hitting with that BS 2. They also helped repair Necrons with the old “We’ll Be Back!” rules. However, they did make scarabs, but it was different. The scarabs they produced formed a unit with the Spyder. Now 5th edition made this awesome, since majority toughness goes to the highest. Yeah a toughness 6 scarab swarm is pretty awesome to help defend the Spyders from shooting attacks. They could also be bought as a 1-3 unit and split separately or run as a unit. That gave a bit more deployment flexibility. Still I think the newest version is much better than the older.

Sadly they compete with the Annihilation Barge for me and I would rather take three of those than a handful of Canoptek Spyders. That is just my preference. I also am not a fan of the Scarab farm tactic. Oh yeah, there are also zero models for these guys either, so hopefully you have some or can convert well. If not, then good luck finding a proxy for these guys. G.W. pulled the existing models for a mystery release model in the future. Another great codex release call there by them.