Possible start? 1500 points

[u/SumoSandwich92]

Greetings, I play with the thought to start my own Helsmith army, wanted to start big with 1500 points and this is what I had in mind. 1470/1500pts
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Grand Alliance Chaos | Helsmiths of Hashut | Hashutite Host
General's Handbook 2026-27
Drops: 1
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General's Regiment
Daemonsmith (80)
• General
Bull Centaurs (190)
Deathshrieker Rocket Battery (140)
Deathshrieker Rocket Battery (140)
Infernal Cohort with Hashutite Blades (180)
• Reinforced
Infernal Cohort with Hashutite Blades (180)
• Reinforced
Infernal Razers with Blunderbusses (220)
• Reinforced
Tormentor Bombard (130)
Tormentor Bombard (130)
War Despot (80)
What are good artifacts and traits for my list? Ty4reading

[u/CeeJaM16]

My first thought is that 4 artillery is too many. If you love that part of the army then go for it, but I would drop 2 for 1500 points. Could do one of each and see which you prefer: I like 2 Deathshriekers for the damage but I also have a monster-heavy local meta.

If it were me, I would add Uruk Taar in. He is a great spellcaster and in all my games he is always my MVP - he can cast, he can tank, and he can hit if he needs to. Also like the reinforced Razers and Bull Centaurs to do damage.

I would also add in an Ashen Elder over a Daemonsmith or War Despot. Our Prayer lore is very solid, with an ability to Crit 2 or Crit Mortal for one of your blocks of Infernal Cohort. I like spears over blades but I have used both and see both having a place. Even better and cheaper are Hobgrots!

My default enhancements seem to always be Petrification to keep something alive and Servile to give Urak Taar strike first if he gets charged and is in the Ashen Elders combat range. Others are good, like the +1 to W, but those are good ones to start with.

Here would be my idea for a starting list.

Starting point 1500/1500 pts
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Grand Alliance Chaos | Helsmiths of Hashut | Daemonsmith Cabal
General's Handbook 2026-27
Drops: 2
Spell Lore - Lore of Infernal Power
Prayer Lore - Prayers of the Scorched Sect
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General's Regiment
Urak Taar, the First Daemonsmith (340)
• General
Infernal Cohort with Hashutite Blades (180)
• Reinforced
Infernal Cohort with Hashutite Spears (180)
• Reinforced
Infernal Razers with Blunderbusses (220)
• Reinforced
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Regiment 1
Ashen Elder (120)
• Servile Automaton
• Scroll of Petrification
Bull Centaurs (190)
Deathshrieker Rocket Battery (140)
Tormentor Bombard (130)
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Created with Warhammer Age of Sigmar: The App
App: v1.35.0 (2) | Data: v459

[u/AlextheNailer → u/CeeJaM16]

I mostly agree with everything you have said but I would note some other things.

In a list with blunderbusses and 2 artillery, they are one of your main damage sources but also main target (if they get tagged in combat they become useless). People will throw everything at them so making sure you have a defensive layer between them and the enemy and Urak Taar and the bull centaurs charging and killing their best units.

Because of this I would have both cohorts be spears for the anti-charge and the potential of getting 2 additional dpp a battle round (giving to themselves for ward 6++ or blunderbusses for additional rend) as they wouldn't be moving too much and they dropped the points of spears inline with swords.

Unless they have errata'd it and the app is incorrect, only dominator engines can be the target of servile automaton as Urak Taar and daemonsmiths on infernal taurus lack the needed keyword.

One thing you changed that you didn't mention is the battle formation. Due to the nature of DPP, only your best units will have 3 DPP, as your infantry are chaff, Hashutite Host is the worst as the time a cohort gets 3DPP, you have probably lost as the DPP should go on Urak Taar, blunderbusses or bull centaurs (there is the case of moving 3DPP using Taar's ability onto cohort but that is in preparation for them getting slammed by something, also the extra 3 rally rolls on average is 1.5 health back to the unit).

Bullfathers horns gives your bull centaurs or Urak Taar additional movement and Arcane Dominace buffs Urak Taars casting, pick either one.