Dark Operations — the Cephalyx unearth their plans

The shadowy geniuses of the Iron Kingdoms have been tinkering again.

From tomorrow, the Dark Operations mercenary force gets a major rules refresh in the Warmachine app, and it’s more twistedly potent than ever. If you prefer psychic force and brainwashed behemoths over traditional military might and steam, now’s your time to rise from the hive.

With renewed rules support, it’s the perfect moment to experiment with control, manipulation, and mind-melting strategies. And if you’re looking to bring that Cephalyx flair to the tabletop, The Hive Mind Cadre is a 30-point Command Cadre that slots into multiple armies — including Cryx Necrofactorium and Dark Operations — and it’s available now in both digital and physical formats.

Got a 3D printer? Subscribe to Warmachine 3D on MyMiniFactory and download the Hive Mind Cadre STLs as part of your subscription — go ahead and print your brains out.

More models are coming, too. In the following months, we’ll be adding more STLs for Dark Operations, including warcasters, solos, and units. 

And for those of you without access to a 3D printer, these models will follow the Hive Mind Cadre onto our website as physical miniatures around a month after the subscription release ends.

Rules and model updates

As we said at AdeptiCon, when we bring back an Army of Legend, it may come with some tweaks. Now models for Dark Operations are rolling out again, we’re updating the army entry and rules to match — and today’s update is the first major step.

Re-vitalizing the Cephalyx

When modernising Dark Operations, our first goal was to retain as much of their original feel as possible — while making necessary rules adjustments for balance and mechanical clarity.

We approached this update with an eye to making Dark Operations more intuitive for new players, and more cohesive as a standalone army.

The older Cryx models that were previously grandfathered in, along with dominated units from other pre-MKIV forces, have been cut. The result? A cleaner, more cohesive Cephalyx identity, underpinned by modern design sensibilities.

Later this year, Dark Operations will also gain access to a small selection of newly dominated units pulled from Prime armies — further expanding tactical variety while staying true to the faction’s theme.

Oh, and one more thing (we probably shouldn’t be telling you this…) — a brand new, never-before-seen unit is on its way: a 50mm-based drudge unit. And they have guns. Or rather — they are guns. You’ll see.

Together, these additions complete the gameplay vision for the reimagined Dark Operations.

Model re-designs

Some mechanics were just begging for a rethink, particularly the Mind Bender and Mind Slaver units. Both were encouraged to charge into melee, but lost all utility on the turn they did. Not ideal.

They were also functionally similar, so we took the opportunity to properly differentiate them — along with their attachments — to give you more meaningful choices when building your army lists.

We also looked at the warcasters. Several had overlapping roles, so we pushed each in a clearer direction to reinforce the army’s core themes:

• Thexus excels with drudges and dominated units.

• Cyphon thrives when supported by monstrosities.

• Khythos focuses on the Cephalyx masters themselves.

With new tools like the Hive Mind Cadre and *REDACTED* entering the fray, we took a hard look at whether any ‘casters might become too dominant. Thexus, for example, was already near the top of matched play, and we didn’t want him to outshine the others. Swapping Telekinesis for Dash helped define his role as the drudge commander, while still letting him apply pressure thanks to his feat.

Stygius, meanwhile, had been overshadowed by Thaemestra as the go-to attachment. Rather than keep him in limbo, we gave him a new lease of life with a solid support role at a bargain price.

Finally, we revisited the Overlords. With magical attacks and battlegroup resource efficiency missing from the army, this was the perfect chance to reposition the Overlords as flexible support units, filling gaps and boosting utility.

In the end, we feel we’ve achieved a refined take on Dark Operations that holds true and preserves the Cephalyx playstyle, while also exploring new ground and seamlessly blending with modern Warmachine.

A hive refined

So, what does this mean if you’re a Cephalyx player? Big-brained scheming is back on the menu. 

Whether you're dusting off an old hive or printing your way to psychic supremacy, this rules update gives Dark Operations a new lease on (terrifying, mind-controlled) life.

With reworked rules, refined roles, and a few secrets still bubbling under the surface, now is an excellent time to puppet some monstrosities and let the drudges do the heavy lifting.

And speaking of monstrosities, the terrible trio Subduer, Wrecker, and Warden are all available to pre-order right now on the Steamforged store or download as STLs from MyMiniFactory. Whether you're pinning down foes or soaking up damage like a good monstrosity should, these psychic juggernauts have your back. Well, metaphorically.

One more thing for the hive-minded

The Dark Operations rules will be released in tomorrow’s free Warmachine Wednesday app update. 

But for those who want even more of the Iron Kingdoms, subscribing to the annual subscription doesn’t just give you access to extensive lore, experimental gameplay scenarios, and extra list slots: 

You’ll also receive two new Cephalyx models when they release this August. Exulon Nostilla and The Aberration, terrifying mercenaries who can offer their unique services to any army.

Subscribe now and they’re yours, free when they release in August.

Ready to dive back into the hive?

Between updated rules, new models, and a mountain of mind-bending options, the Cephalyx cause is calling you.

• 🧠 Get the Hive Mind Cadre — perfect for Dark Operations or Cryx Necrofactorium

• 🧠 Pre-order Subduer, Wrecker & Warden — hulking monstrosities crush your foes
  

• 🧠 Get the annual sub for the Warmachine app  and receive Exulon Nostilla & The Aberration FREE
  

• 🧠 Subscribe to Warmachine 3D — download the Hive Mind Cadre and 130+ STLs today

Welcome to the hive. We’ve been expecting you.

The experiments will come to a conclusion

Dark Operations will finish rolling out by December 2025. After that? Let’s just say the next contender is hogging the spotlight...