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Hey guys, Bobbles here, with a newly proposed Nid army list. As it's only known by the 5 people who read my last post, I played 40k back in the days of 2nd edition, back when my Nids were metal, and lictors were relevant. I've decided I wanted to get back into it, and I've come up with an army that's half shooty, half CC, with a good mix of nidzilla and swarm.

HQ
Tyranid Prime+Regeneration+Bone Swords+Talons+Adrenal Glands=110
Tyranid Prime+Regeneration+Bone Swords+Talons+Adrenal Glands=110

TR
Tervigon+Catalyst+Regeneration+Scything Talons+Adrenal Glands+Toxin Sacs=440
Tervigon+Catalyst+Regeneration+Scything Talons+Adrenal Glands+Toxin Sacs=440
Termagaunts (15)=75
Termagaunts (15)=75
Genestealer (10)+Broodloard+Scything Talons=188

EL
Zoanthrope (3)=180
Hive Guard (3)=150
Hive Guard (3)=150

HS
Carnifex+Fragspines (3) = 495

In total it comes to 1973 points, which I'm sure I can fill with some bio-morphs and upgrades here and there. I also did have a couple of questions...

1. Is a medium sized brood of genestealers better than a large brood of hormagaunts?
2. For a HS CC choice, are Tyrgon or Fex's better?
3. Is a Tyranid Prime a good HQ Choice?

To answer your questions first:

1. Genestealers are generally better in a vacuum. They are one of the best units tyranids have.
2. Trygons are better. Carnifexes are overpriced, so work best with dual brainleech devourers. For CC get trygons. (or run 2x carnifex with 2x primes for coversaves).
3. Yes. Tyranids have a good selection of viable HQ choices, and primes are good (and cheap).

Now onto the list:

The primes are okay, but I would probably not bother with regeneration, and also give them LW/BS combo, to strike first in combat.

Tervigons should not have regeneration or scything talons, neither is worth the points. Just go for catalyst, adrenal glands, toxin sacs.

The termagant broods are too large, cull them down to 1o models, or give one brood devourers.

Genestealers are okay, but should have toxin sacs instead of scything talons, they are better and will give you more rending wounds. Broodlords are a love it or hate it option, personally I don't think they are worth it but ymmv.

Zoanthropes could really do with a mycetic spore or they will get shot before they can get in range.

Hive guard are solid. (read: best unit in codex)

Carnifexes are mediocre. If you really want to run them, get 2 with dual ST (i.e. no upgrades) and run them with the 2 primes in 1 unit, to get coversaves for them. Best way to run CC fexen.

Hope this is useful.

I never leave home without venomthropes. I use old one eye and a Trygon prime as my heavies but again it's down to opinion.

From the top

HQ
Primes x2, TS, LW/BS, Deathspitter (Join 2x Carni'es)
- You want TS for poison and rerolls on to-wound (psn + str equal or higher)
- You want Lash Whips to help Carni'es get first strike in CC
- 'Spitters for more Dakka

Elite
Hive Guard 2x3/3x2
- Transports > other targets. (last thing you want is your foe to escape CC)
Zoan x2 + S-pod
- As he said, they die easily - especially on foot! Too unreliable in my book. But you might get lucky against a LR - (MIGHT!!)

Troops
10x2 Termagants
2x Tervi - AG/TS + Cata'

Heavy Support
2x Trygon - AG
- ag = gives first strike vs MEQ
2x Carni'es - /w 2x dual TL-Devs
- With 2x Primes for bs4 and Cover Save + Wound allocation!

Rest is pretty much up to you what you feel like adding!

As he said, they die easily - especially on foot! Too unreliable in my book. But you might get lucky against a LR - (MIGHT!!)

I was actually just taking Zoans as an AT unit. Would fex's be better for that?

Zoeys work better as a drop-pod unit rather than walking as they need to get within 18" of the landraider etc before they can shoot it. If they walk and this is the only obvious threat to armour 13-14 then they won't last beyond about T2. Get a mycetic spore ...

Ignore the crazy talk on old one eye or single trygons. Trygons work best as pairs. Carnifex are a lot slower as they don't have fleet. If you want them CC then drop them in singly in spores or if you want to run them on foot then with 2 TL devourers and march them across with the tervigons. 12 twin linked S6 shots each on a T6 platform is a good durable transport killer. Only real downside is the limited range.

Regen on tervigon is expensive - also yours are wrongly costed. Both tervigons is 440, not one.

Regen on prime though is worthwhile. Stick them on hive guard/shooty carnifex to take a few wounds and give synapse.

OK. Taking into consideration what everyone said, I reworked the list a little bit. I dropped the broodlord, gave the remaining stealers TS, swtiched up the Primes and fex's, and 86'd the zoans. The more I look at this list, the more it looks less like a swarm list, but that's OK. I like big bugs, and I cannot lie.

HQ
Tyranid Prime+BS/LW+Talons+Adrenal Glands=105
Tyranid Prime+BS/LW+Talons+Adrenal Glands=105

TR
Tervigon+Catalyst+Adrenal Glands+Toxin Sacs=205
Tervigon+Catalyst+Adrenal Glands+Toxin Sacs=205
Termagaunts (10)=50
Termagaunts (10)=50
Genestealers+Toxin Sacs (8)=128

EL
Hive Guard (3)=150
Hive Guard (3)=150

HS
Carnifex+2x TL-Devs (2)=380
Tyrgon Prime (2)=480

Total=2008 Pts.

Having the done all this, I have some NEW questions...

1. Is having a Stranglethorn Cannon ever a good idea in a Nid army, and if so, what's the best way to get one in?
2. Is a Tyranofex worth the points? Do they work better than fex's? What options have worked best for people?
3. The last little niche I'm having trouble filling are the points used for the genestealers. I could opt for hormagaunts with TS. Which would be a better option?
4. Is it worth it to take a Broodlord?
5. I've heard several people say to take 2 Tyrgon Primes as well as 2 Tervigons. Taking 2 costs a big chunk of points. Is it worth it?

I like you heavy suport slot.

But I would drop the prime on the trygons as the trygons will be the first thing that dies withouth a doubt.

Your tervigons are 10 points to expensive each.

That gives you 100 points to play with. Perhaps more genstealers? Also, the hive guards are probably better in 3 groups of 2.

Niiai wrote:I like you heavy suport slot.

But I would drop the prime on the trygons as the trygons will be the first thing that dies withouth a doubt.

Your tervigons are 10 points to expensive each.

That gives you 100 points to play with. Perhaps more genstealers? Also, the hive guards are probably better in 3 groups of 2.

In my experience the 40 points is well worth it for what you get. Trygons are not the pushovers you make them out to be as imo, and having them as a synapse/SITW, and all the while giving them twice the dakka. I do run them as vanilla trygons in lower point levels, at 2000+ its a must to me.Everyone has their preferences though, and as such play testing is the only sure fire way to figure what works for you. I also like running Fexs in Spods if I have Trygon primes, as it gives some serious dakka (I also give them 2x TL Devs) and another MC T6 for target saturation.

Neways your best bet is to play test the list you have written out after the comments you received, and modify it to better fit your playing style.

G/l

Will do! Thank you.

I think the Tervigons should be toned down a little, not much point for Adrenal Glands or Toxin Sacs IMO. Same for the Toxin Sacs on the Stealers. When are the Stealers going to charge a high toughness target when you have so many other creatures that would do it better? I would put the Toxin Sacs back on the Primes and that should leave you with a decent amount of points for maybe a Venomthrope?

I'm going to weigh in on the side of toxin sacs on stealers. The rerolls greatly increase your chances at rending and although you might not initially think to put them against high toughness beasties, having that up your sleeve can help deal with pesky wraithlords etc.

Yeah but will you really need a re-roll if that much, the sheer weight of attacks is almost always good enough and if that fails then they almost definitely will be running.

In a squad of 8, yeah I'd take the extra rending attacks. That and the actual re rolls to wound on meq or lower add an extra punch that's IMO definitely worth the extra points. I'm not saying that extra bodies won't get the job done, ive just had better experiences with toxin. That and it means you can attack high toughness targets with impunity, without and it's one less thing your stealers can handle.