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This is SprueSentry strategy commentary, not official rules. This detachment's rule and most of its stratagems are still not printed in the Necrons Faction Pack, so those parts come from two independent community rules mirrors rather than a current official document, and this remains the weakest-sourced page in this set. Two things improved on 27 August 2026. Faction Pack v1.2, made legal for matched play by the 26 August 2026 balance update, now amends this detachment for the first time, so the Veil of Darkness enhancement and the Protocol of the Eternal Revenant stratagem below are first-party. And Munitorum Field Manual v1.3 officially publishes this detachment's Detachment Point cost, its DYNASTY unique tag and all four enhancement names and points, which we checked and matched. The detachment rule and the remaining stratagems are the parts still resting on mirrors, so confirm those against your codex and the Warhammer 40,000 app before a game.
While a Necrons Character is leading a unit, every model in that unit adds 1 to its Hit rolls, in shooting and in melee. Several of the detachment's Protocol stratagems also upgrade when the target unit is Character-led.
1CP. Re-roll Hit rolls of 1 for the unit, upgrading to a full Hit re-roll if it is Character-led.
1CP. A unit that lost models reanimates D3 wounds, or D3+1 if it is Character-led.
1CP. +1 Strength on the unit's melee weapons, with improved Armour Penetration instead if it is Character-led.
1CP. Ranged weapons in the unit gain Assault, so it can Advance and still shoot.
2CP. After an enemy destroys one of your units, a Necrons Character within 6" shoots back, targeting only that enemy.
Returns a destroyed Necrons Character model. Faction Pack v1.2 is the first official document to name this stratagem, settling a split between community mirrors, and it also rewrote the effect: the model comes back at the end of the phase, set up unengaged and as close as it can be to where it died, at half its starting wounds. It returns as its own single-model unit rather than rejoining whatever it was attached to, so you get the character back but not the bodyguard link.
Once per battle per army, at the end of your opponent's turn, an unengaged bearer's unit goes into Strategic Reserves with Deep Strike until the start of your next Shooting phase. Faction Pack v1.2 rewrote this: it is now once per army rather than once per bearer, and the unit must make an ingress move in your next Movement phase, including on your first turn. Treat it as a delayed redeploy you have to commit to, not an instant teleport you can hold in hand.
While the bearer leads a unit, models in it gain Stealth.
The bearer gains Feel No Pain 4+.
Friendly Necrons units (excluding Characters) within 6" of the bearer add 1 to their Hit rolls, extending the detachment rule to unled units.
The engine of the detachment: the rule and the upgraded protocols only fire on Character-led units.
See the box: price and offersThe cheapest way to get several leaders into a collection that needs a character in every unit.
See the box: price and offersResilient, accurate objective-holders once led and reanimating.
See the box: price and offersThe shooting block that turns the +1 to Hit and Conquering Tyrant into reliable damage.
See the box: price and offersAnti-tank that loves full Hit re-rolls and a Veil of Darkness reposition.
See the box: price and offersHow to play Awakened Dynasty in 11th edition — the 3-DP all-comers detachment, its Command Protocols +1-to-hit rule, the six Protocol stratagems, and when to take it.
Sprue Sentry strategy commentary for 11th edition, not official rules. Games Workshop updates points and rules regularly; always confirm against the current official rules and latest update before a game.
Awakened Dynasty is the generalist, all-comers Necrons detachment: the 3-Detachment-Point default that buffs almost any Character-led unit and is the recommended starting point. It reflects Warhammer 40,000 11th edition (Necrons Faction Pack v1.2, legal for matched play from 26 August 2026), which kept it as the core codex detachment.
This is SprueSentry strategy commentary, not official rules. This page is the weakest-sourced in our Necrons set: the pack still doesn't reprint the Command Protocols rule, so most of what follows is corroborated across community rules databases rather than a current official document. That improved on two fronts in August 2026: Faction Pack v1.2 amended Awakened Dynasty for the first time, so the Veil of Darkness enhancement and the Protocol of the Eternal Revenant stratagem below are now first-party (both are flagged where they appear), and the Munitorum Field Manual v1.3 publishes its 3-DP cost, its DYNASTY tag and all four enhancement points. What's still unofficial is the Command Protocols rule itself and most of the Protocol stratagems, so verify those against your codex and the Warhammer 40,000 app before a game.
While a Necrons Character is leading a unit, every model in that unit adds 1 to its Hit rolls — in both shooting and melee. It's an army-wide accuracy buff that only switches on for Character-led units, so the detachment rewards attaching Overlords, Lords and Crypteks to your battleline. Several of its stratagems (the 'Protocols') gain an upgraded effect when the target unit is Character-led, doubling down on the same synergy. The lesson: put a character in every unit that matters.
(Points weren't cleanly confirmed for the June 2026 pack; check the app.)
Take it as the default, flexible Necron list when you want balance rather than a specialist gimmick. Unlike focused detachments, it buffs almost any Character-led unit — shooting or melee, infantry or Destroyers — so it fits mixed-arms and take-all-comers builds, and it's the safe pick for players who value durability and consistent accuracy. Choose a specialist detachment instead when you want to lean hard into one axis.
Note it costs the full 3 DP, so it uses your entire 2,000-point budget and can't take a support detachment. Sample gameplan: anchor two or three character-led Warrior/Immortal units on objectives, add a Lokhust Heavy Destroyer gun unit and a mobile Destroyer unit with Veil of Darkness. Make your shooting reliable with the +1 rule and Conquering Tyrant, reanimate with Undying Legions when the enemy commits, punish alpha strikes with Vengeful Stars, and grind the game out on durability.
3 DP — the full budget at 2,000 points. That means it can't be paired with a 1-DP support detachment; it's a single self-contained generalist package.
Command Protocols: while a Necrons Character leads a unit, every model in that unit adds 1 to its Hit rolls, in both shooting and melee. Several of the detachment's Protocol stratagems also upgrade when the target unit is Character-led.
Veil of Darkness is still the standout, but Faction Pack v1.2 rewrote it. It is now once per battle for your whole army: at the end of your opponent's turn an unengaged bearer's unit goes into Strategic Reserves with Deep Strike, and it must make an ingress move in your next Movement phase. Excellent for relocating a heavy shooting unit like Lokhust Heavy Destroyers, but it's a committed redeploy you plan a turn ahead rather than an instant teleport.
Yes — it's the recommended starting detachment. It's the flexible all-comers generalist, works with almost any collection, and its +1-to-hit rule and reanimation stratagems teach core Necron play without extra sub-systems.
Written by Sprue Sentry, grounded in the cited sources. Original commentary, not Games Workshop rules text.