Factions Introduction: Tech-Priests & Necrons

Two Factions, Two Wars

Mechanicus II presents two fully playable campaigns, each telling one side of the same interstellar conflict. The Adeptus Mechanicus arrives on the planet seeking to harvest Blackstone and suppress the awakening Necron threat. The Sankhotep Dynasty, roused from millennia of dormancy, fights to reclaim their homeworld from the mechanical interlopers. The choices you make in one campaign echo in the other, creating a narrative experience that rewards playing both sides.

The two factions are not just cosmetically different — they represent fundamentally different approaches to the game. The Mechanicus is a faction of precision and planning, rewarding players who think several turns ahead. The Necrons reward boldness and aggression, thriving when they seize the initiative and never let go.

Adeptus Mechanicus: The Cult of the Machine God

The Adeptus Mechanicus is the Imperium of Mankind's technological priesthood — a bizarre organization of cybernetically enhanced zealots who worship the Omnissiah, the Machine God. Their armies consist of Skitarii (cybernetic infantry), battle servitors, massive combat robots, and the Tech-Priests themselves, who serve as both commanders and frontline combatants.

In gameplay terms, the Mechanicus excels at ranged combat, area denial, and technological customization. Tech-Priests can be equipped with a vast array of weapons, augmetics, and support gear, allowing you to tailor each one to a specific battlefield role. One Tech-Priest might focus on healing and buffing allies, while another carries heavy weapons for area suppression.

The Mechanicus strategic layer revolves around Blackstone collection and technology research. You manage a growing roster of units, research new equipment and abilities, and construct outposts on the strategic map. The tech tree branches into multiple disciplines — some focused on improving existing units, others on unlocking powerful new ones. Balancing immediate combat upgrades with long-term strategic investments is key to a successful campaign.

Mechanicus Key Units

Skitarii Rangers form the backbone of most Mechanicus armies. These cybernetic soldiers are armed with galvanic rifles — weapons that gain accuracy as they concentrate fire on a single target. Rangers are inexpensive, reliable, and benefit enormously from Tech-Priest buffs. A squad of Rangers with a supporting Dominus can punch well above its weight.

Skitarii Vanguard serve as the close-range counterpart to Rangers. Their radium carbines deal radioactive damage that weakens enemies over time, and their rad-saturation aura debuffs nearby foes. Vanguard excel at holding choke points and softening targets for heavier units to finish off.

Sicarian Ruststalkers and Infiltrators are elite infantry that specialize in melee and stealth respectively. Ruststalkers use transonic weapons that bypass armor, making them devastating against heavily armored Necron units. Infiltrators can deploy behind enemy lines and disrupt the enemy with fear-inducing abilities before the main force engages.

Kastelan Robots are the Mechanicus' heavy hitters — massive, ancient war machines that can be programmed for either ranged devastation or melee carnage. Their programmable battle protocols let you switch between firing modes, but they require careful positioning as they are slow and cannot use cover effectively.

Necrons: The Eternal Dynasty

The Necrons are an ancient alien race that traded their biological bodies for immortal metal forms tens of millions of years ago. They slept in their tomb worlds for eons, and now they are awakening. The Sankhotep Dynasty, led by Vargard Nefershah, is determined to reclaim its former glory — and annihilate anyone who stands in the way.

In gameplay, the Necrons are the faction of resilience and relentless aggression. Their signature ability, Reanimation Protocols, allows fallen warriors to stand back up and rejoin the fight. This makes Necron units deceptively durable — what looks like a weakened squad can suddenly return to full strength if you fail to finish them off completely.

The Necron strategic layer focuses on awakening tomb complexes and expanding dynasty influence. Rather than researching new technologies, the Necrons gradually awaken more powerful units and unlock ancient protocols — dormant abilities that can be activated to turn the tide of battle. The strategic decisions involve which tombs to prioritize and which protocols to activate first.

Necron Key Units

Necron Warriors are the foundation of any Necron force. Individually unremarkable, their true power lies in numbers and Reanimation. A unit of Warriors that loses half its members can regenerate them over subsequent turns, making them incredibly efficient at grinding down enemy positions through sheer attrition.

Immortals are upgraded Warriors with superior Gauss weapons that strip armor layers with each hit. They are more durable and harder-hitting than standard Warriors, but also more expensive to awaken. Use them to anchor key positions or lead assaults against fortified enemy positions.

Deathmarks are Necron snipers that can teleport onto the battlefield at any location, making them devastating for eliminating high-value targets. Their ability to appear behind enemy lines and deliver precision damage makes them invaluable for disrupting the Mechanicus rear areas where Tech-Priests typically operate.

Lychguard are the elite melee bodyguards of the Necron court. Equipped with warscythes or hyperphase swords and dispersion shields, they can carve through even the toughest Mechanicus units. Their shields offer substantial protection against ranged attacks, allowing them to close distance and engage in melee where they dominate.

Faction Leaders: Videx and Obasis

Mechanicus II introduces two customizable Lords — one for each faction — who serve as the player's avatar and most powerful unit. The Mechanicus fields Videx, a Tech-Priest who specializes in ranged firepower and mechanical unit enhancement. His skill tree branches into disciplines that boost allied ranged damage, strengthen servitor and robot units, and deploy technological barriers on the battlefield.

The Necrons are led by Obasis, a Lord whose abilities center on Reanimation manipulation and melee devastation. His skill tree enhances Reanimation Protocols across the army, allows him to rally fallen units instantly, and grants powerful melee attacks that can shatter enemy formations. Obasis thrives in the thick of combat, where his aura abilities can affect the most units simultaneously.

Both Lords gain experience and unlock new abilities as the campaign progresses, and the choices you make in their skill trees significantly shape your overall strategy. Videx supports a ranged, methodical approach, while Obasis enables aggressive, melee-focused tactics.