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A list discussed recently in the comments of another post was combining the awesome powers of the Grandmaster with Purifier squads. Specifically, using the Scout ability on squads of 10-strong Purifiers to have multiple squads of double psycannon Grey Knights scouting into position Turn 1 to put out eight S7 rending shots each. It's amazing what the addition of one USR can do to some squads.
The problem with such a list is you're putting a lot of points into such units (10x Purifiers = 330 points) yet still need to build another army around them. You also don't want to have a weak scoring force as you're using the Grandmaster's Grand Strategy to provide Scout, not scoring (and this plan has inherent problems as well if you roll poorly on Grand Strategy). So let's take a look at building a list around this and see what we can come up with.
Before we do so though - why Purifiers? There are other Psycannon Grey Knight options so let's clear this up. Strike Squads and Terminators don't get access to enough Psycannons to be viable in this role - they are too inefficient whilst Paladins don't have a transport to scoot them around. Interceptors have the 12" move you want but you really want to maximise their mobility on the battlefield as well as them being limited to one psycannon per five. They are a great unit for receiving other Grand Strategy benefits in this regard. This leaves Purgation and Purifier squads, both of whom can have lots of Psycannons.
The Purgation squad gets four per five and whilst these are more expensive, the unit ends up cheaper if kept small. The issue here is the firepower cannot be divided unlike with Purifiers and combat squads whilst keeping the squad cheaper and you're losing cheaper Psyfledreads. Whilst you can take Venerable Psyfledreads instead, this overcomes the points you save with the small Purgation squads over the Purifiers. Purifiers then can bring the same amount of Psycannons whilst also having the ability to combat squad (thus doubling the effect of each Grand Strategy use). This does require extra transports to ensure they are within range after Scouting but gives you a lot more flexibility options because of it. Purifiers also have some anti-infantry utility thanks to Cleansing Flame in combat.
So with that out of the way let's look at how we want to build this list. We're going to grab two of the large Purifier squads (660 points) as one isn't really maximising the Grand Strategy ability whilst three is going to see a squad left out to dry more often than not. Whilst there is the chance of rolling a one and having only one squad capable of scouting, the units are still effective shooting platforms. Hammers are added in as they are cheap and all the Purifiers to be a lot scarier to more things in combat.
10x Purifiers w/4x Psycannons, 2x Hammers, Rhino
10x Purifiers w/4x Psycannons, 2x Hammers, Rhino
Next we need to bring in our HQs. The Grandmaster is an obvious choice since we are looking to use his Grand Strategy but should we be taking anyone else? Inquisitor Coteaz would be an excellent choice to provide some cheaper scoring options since we are sinking quite a lot of points into Elites. We'll take Inquisitor Coteaz then a wargear light Grandmaster. He's not running around with a Paladin or Terminator squad so he doesn't really need all three grenades, etc. Rad Grenades are still an excellent buy though as they are always effective (and can be combined with multiple Hammerhands for some huge annoyances) and a five point Incinerator should do nicely.
Grandmaster w/Rad Grenades, Incinerator
Inquisitor Coteaz
Our fire support is going to be pretty standard issue for Grey Knights as well - Psyfledreads. Since we're not using Purgation squads there's really minimal reason not to unfortunately. We'll take three of these to support our mass Psycannon army and then look to our Troops.
Dreadnought w/2x twin-linked autocannons, psybolt ammunition
Dreadnought w/2x twin-linked autocannons, psybolt ammunition
Dreadnought w/2x twin-linked autocannons, psybolt ammunition
We've used 1360 points so far and we'd really like six Troops to ensure their weak statline isn't a hindrance to our scoring. We also need two extra Rhinos from these guys to ensure our Purifiers can combat squad as necessary. Rhinos are being taken here to give the option for shooting out of the top-hatch for any weakened squads or if there is a bunch of anti-infantry available to the opponent, to hide from as necessary. It's also a matter of point saving at this point!
The units with the Rhinos should therefore be our backfield units as they aren't going to have a transport to run around with. I personally take Jokers here but I'm sure we'll have the points if we want to bring in some Passbacks (which I do). So let's look to Psykers with the other squads being Acolyte based. We'll take two squads of eight Pyskers (plus one Acolyte) in each Rhino and four squads of boltgun Acolytes (six strong) in Passbacks.
6x Acolytes w/Bolters, Razorback w/twin-linked assault cannons, psybolt ammunition
6x Acolytes w/Bolters, Razorback w/twin-linked assault cannons, psybolt ammunition
6x Acolytes w/Bolters, Razorback w/twin-linked assault cannons, psybolt ammunition
6x Acolytes w/Bolters, Razorback w/twin-linked assault cannons, psybolt ammunition
8x Psykers, Acolyte, Rhino
8x Psykers, Acolyte, Rhino
Unfortunately this shoots us over the points limit by 68 points. Not a lot but we're going to need to trim. Let's cut back the Psykers to four strong each (so they provide a S6 AP3 blast which as Purgy points out, is maximum efficiency against Marines), cut the bolter Acolytes to five strong each and add some more Acolyte bodies to the Psykers squads. This gives us...
Grandmaster w/Rad Grenades, Incinerator
Inquisitor Coteaz
10x Purifiers w/4x Psycannons, 2x Hammers, Rhino
10x Purifiers w/4x Psycannons, 2x Hammers, Rhino
5x Acolytes w/Bolters, Razorback w/twin-linked assault cannons, psybolt ammunition
5x Acolytes w/Bolters, Razorback w/twin-linked assault cannons, psybolt ammunition
5x Acolytes w/Bolters, Razorback w/twin-linked assault cannons, psybolt ammunition
5x Acolytes w/Bolters, Razorback w/twin-linked assault cannons, psybolt ammunition
4x Acolytes w/Bolters, 4x Psykers, Rhino
4x Acolytes w/Bolters, 4x Psykers, Rhino
Dreadnought w/2x twin-linked autocannons, psybolt ammunition
Dreadnought w/2x twin-linked autocannons, psybolt ammunition
Dreadnought w/2x twin-linked autocannons, psybolt ammunition
Totals: 2000 points
11 vehicles
50 infantry
We have 12 psycannons (four relentless and twin-linked) with the option to scout four-eight of them backed up by a lot of bolters, strombolters and two S6 AP3 blasts with the usual Psyfledread support. Solid amount of infantry with more Grey Knight bodies than usual for an Acolyte based list which is nice and we have the extra awesome utility of the Grandmaster. Placing him on the battlefield can be a bit problematic but he can chill with one of the Psyker squads and move up to join the Purifiers as necessary.
To scale back to 1750 dropping a Dread + Acolyte Passback works fine but I wouldn't scale this further back than that as you're putting too many points into HQ and Elites trying to make efficient use of Grand Strategy.
