Imperium of Man · Humanity Endures
Adeptus Mechanicus
The Machine Cult of Mars — cyborg legions marching to the binary hymns of the Omnissiah.
About Adeptus Mechanicus — Lore & How They Play
The Lore
The Adeptus Mechanicus is the machine cult of Mars — an empire within the Imperium, worshipping the Omnissiah through the sacred fusion of flesh and machine. Its tech-priests hoard the knowledge of a lost golden age; its skitarii legions are grown, augmented and shipped to war like any other product of the forge.
They do not fight for territory or glory but for data: every battlefield is a research opportunity, every xenos ruin a library to be strip-mined.
On the Tabletop
A synergy shooting army: individually modest units that become brutally efficient when doctrinas, leader buffs and battlefield roles line up. Skitarii screens, Ironstrider walkers and some of the strangest guns in the game reward players who enjoy sequencing their turn like a machine ritual.
Your bodies are fragile and your damage is layered, so mistakes compound — but so do good decisions. One of 40K's most rewarding armies to master, and its most gloriously weird to paint.
The Adeptus Mechanicus (AdMech to their friends) are the tech-priests of Mars: half-machine zealots who worship the Omnissiah and march to war with Skitarii legions, lobotomised servitors and walking gun platforms. Collect them for the gloriously weird kits and a fast, shooty army that rewards clever play.
Start here
- Combat Patrol: Adeptus Mechanicus: a ready-made Mechanicus force in one box
- Codex: Adeptus Mechanicus (10th edition): rules for the whole Cult Mechanicus and Skitarii
- Adeptus Mechanicus: Skitarii: Rangers or Vanguard, the army's foot soldiers
- Adeptus Mechanicus: Kataphron Battle Servitors: heavily armed servitor tracks
- Adeptus Mechanicus: Onager Dunecrawler: a four-legged weapons platform
- All Combat Patrols: every faction's starter army in one place
Every kit here is genuine Games Workshop stock from an official stockist, supplied unassembled and unpainted, with fast UK delivery from our shop in Barry, South Wales. In-stock orders placed by 3pm on weekdays go out the same day.
Read more: Adeptus Mechanicus lore in Faction Files, Adeptus Mechanicus Army Analysis, the 40K factions hub.
Paint and browse: grab the Adeptus Mechanicus Paint Set – 10 Essential Colours or the five-tone Warhammer Tone Pro paints, then explore the rest of the Warhammer 40,000 Imperium range.
Is it Adeptus Mechanicus or AdMech?
Same army. AdMech (or Ad Mech) is just the shorthand everyone uses for the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Are Skitarii a separate army?
No. Skitarii are the Mechanicus' soldiers and share Codex: Adeptus Mechanicus with the tech-priests, servitors and war machines.
Is AdMech hard to paint?
Less than it looks: red robes, metallic armour and a brass trim. The 10-colour paint set covers it.
Who is Belisarius Cawl?
The Archmagos who created the Primaris Space Marines, and one of the biggest characters in the Mechanicus range.
Your Crusade Begins
New to the Imperium?
Start with a boxed set — miniatures, rules and dice in one go. Free UK delivery over £65, same-day dispatch by 3pm on weekdays.
Shop 40K Starter SetsFrequently Asked Questions
The Adeptus Mechanicus are the tech-priests of Mars who maintain the Imperium's technology and worship the Machine God. Their armies blend human soldiers with mechanical enhancements and walking war machines.
Yes. AdMech are a shooting-focused army of cyborg skitarii, priests and strange war engines, and they suit players who like planning every activation. Every faction has rules for Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition, and new codexes are rolling out through the edition, so check the latest codex for your army before you build a list.
The Combat Patrol: Adeptus Mechanicus is the best entry point. Skitarii Rangers and an Onager Dunecrawler form the backbone of most AdMech lists.
AdMech blend infantry, cavalry, and walking gun platforms in a way no other faction does. Their Doctrina Imperatives allow you to switch between offensive and defensive stances, giving you great tactical flexibility.
The default Mars scheme uses Leadbelcher, Mephiston Red, and Nuln Oil. We stock the full Citadel range and can advise on alternative Forge World colour schemes too.
Yes — we stock AdMech in our Barry, South Wales shop and online at loadeddice.uk with fast UK dispatch.