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For you Tau Players, this is my 0 railgun 2500Pt Anti-MEQ&Mech List. I have worked this build from 1500-2500 and it is a fun/tough list.


HQ: Shas' el XV8 w/ PR, MP, Pos Rly, BK, Ird Arm, HWMT, HWDC&2 Shield Drones + Shas'vre XV8 w/ PR, MP, TA, HWMT, HWDC&2 Shield Drone+ Shas'vre XV8 w/ PR, MP, TA, HWMT,HWTL

HQ: Shas' el XV8 w/ PR, MP, MT, HWTL, HWDC 1 Shield Drone

HQ Total: 463

Elite: 2 XV8 Shas'ui w/ TL FB, Flamer

Elite: 2 XV8 Shas'ui w/ TL FB, Flamer

Elite: 2 XV8 Shas'ui w/ TL FB, Flamer

Elite Total: 294

Troop: 8 FW, 1 Shas'ui w/ BK, EMP

Troop: 8 FW, 1 Shas'ui w/ BK, EMP

Troop: 10 Kroot, 5 Hounds

Troop: 10 Kroot, 5 Hounds

Troop: 10 Kroot, 5 Hounds

Troop Total: 564

FA: 5 PF, 1 Shas'ui, BK + Devilfish w/ SMS, MT, DP, TA

FA: 5 PF, 1 Shas'ui, BK + Devilfish w/ SMS, MT, DP, TA

FA: 4 Piranha w/ FB, DP, TA, 2 w/TL +2 w/ Seeker missiles

FA Total:744

HS: Hammerhead w/ Ion Cannon, Burstcannon, DP, MT, TL +1 Seeker Missile

HS: Hammerhead w/ Ion Cannon, Burstcannon, DP, MT, TL +1 Seeker Missile

HS: Hammerhead w/ Ion Cannon, Burstcannon, DP, MT, TL +1 Seeker Missile

HS Total:435


Army Total: 2500


C&C Welcome

Edit Spelling and points costing accidentally left on the Elites

Edit to clarify PF's unit strength.

Edit list to correct math error in FA list

just seems a shame to throw away so many suits... :( looks good though

Looks like an interesting list. I would like to try a variation of it, but i only have two hammerheads right now.

Are you planning on Deepstriking some of the TL FB suits? Or just move them up behind the pirahna screen?

Are you scout moving your pathfinders for seeker missile alpha strike?

EDIT: Why EMP grenades on Firewarriors?

crazyK wrote:Looks like an interesting list. I would like to try a variation of it, but i only have two hammerheads right now.

If you have only two hammer heads then there is room in this list to run a cheap squad of 2 broadsides w/BSF by dropping 1 kroot for a kroot hound.

crazyK wrote:Are you planning on Deepstriking some of the TL FB suits? Or just move them up behind the pirahna screen?

I designed this list to be flexible in deployment and game play.
If I'm facing an opponent that is going to leave heavy hitters in their backfield while they advance, then I use the Posi-relay to ninja these suits in after their army has started forward. I want to force my opponent to choose between going for objectives(moving forward to attack my lines in KP mission) and turning back to deal with these small teams. If I can get my opponent to use 200 pts of units to deal with a 92 pt squad that just torched a 180 pt tank on turns 3-4, then I am happy.

If I am facing an army that doesn't have units camped in their backfield, then I can run the Heatwave/hellforges with the tanks and D-Fish for objective clearing. Or I may use them to harrass the enemies flanks via deep strike.

I don't like using the piranhas as screens for the battlessuits. They are the Tau's only true fast vehicle and,IMO, are at their best when using their speed. My Piranha's are usually held in reserve in my army. I use the Posi-relay to bring them in second turn(usually) running full speed to get parallel or behind my opponents forward vehicles. This allows a seeker volley on side to rear armour.

crazyK wrote:Are you scout moving your pathfinders for seeker missile alpha strike?

People ask this, but I never know what they mean. Are you asking about Out Flanking then:
Seeker Missilies travel in a straight line from the vehicle to the target for purposes of determinig which armour facing is hit. What side the markers hit make no difference. So the answer is no, I use vehicle positioning to get my shots and have my pathfinders on the board as early as possible.

If you are asking about the basic scout move:
Then yes, I use the move whenever the situation warrants such, ...ex. need to get into cover or you need to back away from an enemy unit that deployed to close for comfort..

crazyK wrote:EDIT: Why EMP grenades on Firewarriors?

Because they do a number on any vehicle(Monoliths&Land Raiders) that moved at combat speed or less and is a nice surprise for SM dreadnoughts. This is just a little extra bit of redundancy built into the list.

Thanks for the great ideas. Especially the seekers on Pirahnas, I haven't tried that one yet. Unfortunately, I only have two built right now.

Let me know how you do with this list in Ard Boyz. Good luck!

@ crazyK-Probably won't make it to 'Ard Boyz. Business and finances if you get my drift.

Not totally out of the picture but currently looks like our business will have me busy during the tournament.

If anyone (including a certain mod) wants to take this list and run it, please do.


@ All Posters- If by some miracle I make it to 'Ard Boyz, How do you think this list would hold up?

gonna give this list a go later this week... Ill post battle result here so you can see how it did

Cool, I am looking forward to your report.

I have had very good results witht the 1750-1850 pt version of this list.

If you decide that you need more seekers then you can switch out some of the Rail Rifles for the points needed.

Personally, I feel the list is pretty well balanced when it comes to the number of markerlights in comparison to the units that will need their help.
There are enough markers to launch all of the seeker in a single turn or to reduce cover on 2 units a turn. There really isn't much need to boost BS because the units that benefit the most are already BS 4 or twin-linked.

Also, the seekers can be all put onto the piranha's if you feel that you don't need them first turn.


I am going try to play this version of my list in the next week or so. Whether I do or not depends upon my opponent schedule. I will post a report when I do get to play.

Hey guys,


I was doing the math and realized I had made a big error in the FA and a small one in the elites.

Some how, I dropped one of the PF's in the math and had failed to repoint a revision in the elites.

I have corrected these errors and ask that you look at the edited/revised list.

Sorry for the erroneous list, hope you like the revised version.

A Revised version of the list. I'm doing away with the second commander to bring the rail rifles back in and to add a couple of kroot and another seeker.


HQ: Shas' el XV8 w/ PR, MP, Pos Rly, BK, Ird Arm, HWMT, HWDC&2 Shield Drones + Shas'vre XV8 w/ PR, MP, TA, HWMT, HWDC&2 Shield Drone+ Shas'vre XV8 w/ PR, MP, TA, HWMT

HQ Total: 351


Elite: 2 XV8 Shas'ui w/ TL FB, Flamer

Elite: 2 XV8 Shas'ui w/ TL FB, Flamer

Elite: 2 XV8 Shas'ui w/ TL FB, Flamer

Elite Total: 294


Troop: 8 FW, 1 Shas'ui w/ BK, EMP

Troop: 8 FW, 1 Shas'ui w/ BK, EMP

Troop: 11 Kroot, 5 Hounds

Troop: 11 Kroot, 5 Hounds

Troop: 10 Kroot, 5 Hounds

Troop Total: 578


FA: 5 PF, 1 Shas'ui, BK + 2 PF w/RR + Devilfish w/ SMS, MT, DP, TA

FA: 5 PF, 1 Shas'ui, BK + 2 PF w/RR + Devilfish w/ SMS, MT, DP, TA

FA: 4 Piranha w/ FB, DP, TA, 2 w/TL +3 w/ 1 seeker missile/ea

FA Total: 842


HS: Hammerhead w/ Ion Cannon, Burstcannon, DP, MT, TL +1 Seeker Missile

HS: Hammerhead w/ Ion Cannon, Burstcannon, DP, MT, TL +1 Seeker Missile

HS: Hammerhead w/ Ion Cannon, Burstcannon, DP, MT, TL +1 Seeker Missile

HS Total:435


c&c welcome

Very interesting list. I've been playing my Tau a bit more recently and this list seems to bring a couple things I've been thinking about.

The EMP grenades are a great choice, btw. We had a SM player that liked to max out on dreds, that's when I learned these little babies were worth the points. If I knew I was playing against 'nids I'd leave them at home though. But for a tourny list, I'm sold on them.

If you were looking to shave some points, I don't think that 4 rail rifles are necessary. 1 in each squad should be enough. I say that mainly because an extra -1 to cover save markerlight can do more damage than 1 RR shot. But our group plays a lot of city fight and uses more area terrain than most people.

Also, I'm curious what your 1500pt version looks like.

Extinction Angel wrote:If you were looking to shave some points, I don't think that 4 rail rifles are necessary. 1 in each squad should be enough. I say that mainly because an extra -1 to cover save markerlight can do more damage than 1 RR shot. But our group plays a lot of city fight and uses more area terrain than most people.

Also, I'm curious what your 1500pt version looks like.

I try to run at least 2 rail rifles a unit because it statistically gives each unit a hit at usually a 1/2 to 5/6 chance for a wound. The primary purpose of these is to force pinning tests on units suceptable to being pinned.

Here is my most recent 1500 pt list:



HQ: Shas'el XV8 w/ PR, FB, Pos Relay, Irid, BK, HWTL, HWDC + 2 Shield Drones...157

HQ: Shas'el XV8 w/ PR, FB, MT, HWTL, HWDC, 2 Shield Drones...122


Elite: 2 XV8 Shas'ui w/ FB, TL Flamers...86 pts

Elite: 2 XV8 Shas'ui w/ FB, TL Flamers...86 pts


Troop: 6FW ... 60 pts

Troop: 6 FW w/ EMP, Photon...84 pts

Troop: 11 Kroot, 7 Hounds...119 pts


FA: 5 PF + 1 Shas'ui w/ BK, 2 Rail Rifle+Devilfish w/ SMS, DP, MT, TA ...226 pts

FA: 2 Piranha w/ FB, TA, DP...150 pts


HS: Hammerhead w/ Ion Cannon, Burstcannon, DP, MT, TL, BSF...140 pts

HS: Hammerhead w/ Ion Cannon, Burstcannon, DP, MT, TL...135 pts

HS: Hammerhead w/ Ion Cannon, Burstcannon, DP, MT, TL...135 pts



This list normally has cheap HQ and 2nd PF team with a few more FW's thrown in, but I'm trying something new.

The troops and HQ will look odd at first. If your wondering what I'm up to it is that I'm testing my new Shas'la/Troop Suiting idea. I'm going to join both HQ's to the 2nd FW Team. As long as the IC's and their shield drones equal the number of FW models the unit is considered to have T4. I think in the long run this idea will work best by joining 2 Shas'el deathrains to a 5-6 man pathfinder unit. I'm testing the idea by teaming with troops at first, I'll let you know how it works after I've run a couple of games. If you try this, make sure to take Photon and EMP grenades.


Let me know what you think.

I like those XV8 teams. I used to use one like them all the time. Great for deepstriking. The only problem I ever had with them was that I didn't know whether I was going to need fusion or flamer.

You've got two of those teams. Why not use one of each? You could even pull the team you needed with the positional relay if you needed it badly enough.

Do you always use the relay, or do you sometimes try to get a bunch of units on at once.

@rmeju-Having the teams equipped with both FB & FL gives me redundancy should a deep strike go wrong, one of the teams utterly fail, or my opponent brings more vehicles. The two teams, also, reduce my dependency upon the posi-relay after tun 2.

My use of the relay is soley based upon my knowlege of the army/opponent I am playing. These days I rarely Ninja the whole army and usually make my battleplans with the thought of using the posi relay on 2nd turn only.

If I am facing armies that can affect my reserves rolls then there is no rule saying that I have to use the relay. IIn those cases I deplot as much of the army as possible depending upon the mission.

FF,

Rereading my previous post, I wasn't being totally clear.

What I meant was that both teams should have both fusion and flamer. The real question is, which to twin-link? My suggestion was to twin link the fusions on one squad, and twin link the flamer on the other squad.

Double TL Flamers are brutally effective on a lot of infantry, and I think that the small tweak to swap which weapon to twin link will give you a touch more versatility without sacraficing too much redundancy. Obviously, this is a playstyle call.

Rmeju

I like the twin fusion blaster suits with the heavy flamer. To bad thats a fire and forget squad. I mean you deepstrike em. use them next round.. (SPLAT!!!)

ION heads are mean very underestimated.

Persoanlly I like Railguns and put them on my Corn flakes for breakfast.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
and i hope you like kroot.I personally think they are poopy for there 4th edition rules.

I like the list a lot. Only reason I don't try Ion cannons is a lack of AT weaponry in this list I'm building... I really hate fire and forget units. Not a fan of leaving my troops out to dry, if you know what I'm saying.

But! The idea of having a Deathrain squad attached to Fire Warriors is VERY intriguing. I'd love to know how that turns out.

@rmeju-Ah, I get your point. I'll think about it. When given the preference I usually twin-link the Fusion Blasters but when points are tight the flamers get doubled up. Also the Pathfinders can poost the Fusions effectiveness, so logically it makes sense to twin-link the flamers.

@vagorin-Funny thing about those cheap DC units is that they survive as much as, if not more than, they die. By using the PF D-fish's marker beacon for aggressive positioning and the posi relay for precision timing, I've found that you can often place these units where they take out your opponents heavy hitters while being sheltered from the bulk of your opponents fire. If your opponent pulls his units back to deal with these units it works to your advantage in most scenario's.

And yes, I like the Kroot.

@Pvt. Jet- It takes practice, but as said above, by combining the marker beacon and posi-relay you can choose exactly when and where these units appear.

I am looking forward to experimenting with this HQ set up. when I find the time to run it several times I'll post my impressions of it in my tactics thread, until then feel free to try it.