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It's a long story but the gist of it is that I have been collecting Tyranids for about five years without ever having been able to play a game. It looks like that is finally going to change, and I'm considering what forces to buy to have an army that's actually worth its salt since until now my purchases have been much less about strategy and much more about what looks fun to paint and what I can afford. So before I go out and spend an absurd amount of money on small plastic, metal, and resin models, I'd like to hear what the veterans have to say about my army list. Be harsh, by all means.



1,500 Points

Hive Tyrant – 215 pts.; Heavy Venom Cannon, Lash Whip & Bonesword, Mental Scream, Leech Essence, Unspeakable Horror
2 Tyrant Guards; 120 pts.

Tyranid Prime – 85 pts.; Deathspitter

Venomthrope – 55 pts.

Brood of 11 Genestealers – 187 pts.; Toxin Sacs
Broodlord – 65 pts.; Toxin Sacs, Scything Talons

Brood of 18 Hormagaunts – 144 pts.; Toxin Sacs

Brood of 15 Hormagaunts – 120 pts.; Toxin Sacs

Brood of 21 Termagants – 105 pts.

Brood of 21 Termagants – 105 pts.

Brood of 3 Warriors – 110 pts.
35 pts.; Deathspitter
35 pts.; Deathspitter
40 pts.; Venom Cannon

Carnifex – 170 pts; Adrenal Glands

Total Cost: 1,497 pts.

Walking tyrant wants armoured shell for sure, and possible old adversary. Best weapons are LW/BS and 1 set of devourers. HVC is okay if you don't want to rip his arms off. LW?/BS is the key weapon.

Likewise the Prime could also do with LW/BS, as it really improves his combat efficiency.

Venomthrope is okay, consider getting another, as I find 1 very vulnerable.

Genestealers are currently an odd choice (in 6th edition), some people like them, others not so much any more. I fall into the latter camp, but they are still useable.
With a Broodlord you should be trying to keep the brood small to infiltrate it better, and use some rulebook powers. TS are great, other upgrades considerably less so. Also consider using themas ymargls, as they can be superb.

Those termagants look lonely. A tervigon would be an excellent buy to give you a scoring MC, and buffs to both the termagants, and the rest of your army with rulebook biomancy powers. (running 10 termagants + tervigon is the most common strategy, the rest will come in handy when you spawn them).

Hormagaunts are okay, they took a hit in the edition change, and are kind of glass hammers. If they hit they can do well, but they are very fragile. I would make them into 1 large brood instead of two medium ones. Because it won't take many casualties for the smaller broods to be ineffective.

3 warriors is a poor choice. They are very vulnerable to S8 instant deathing them. Get a larger brood of them for starters (at least 5) and think about grabbing hive commander on the tyrant to outflank them.

Carnifexen are too expensive for what you get. If you want to run it, consider it with 2 sets of devourers in a spore.


Overall not too bad, the only thing you really need to get would be a tervigon, else it's all okay with some minor changes.

Hope this is usefull.

Thanks so much for the feedback. I've also thought about getting another Venomthrope since any Space Marine with a Krak missile will one-hit it in a turn or two. And I'll combine the Hormagaunts, in that case.

If I make the Genestealer brood smaller, will they be able to make it to enemy units? I'm worried that a brood that's too small will get all shot up. I have another army list which basically substitutes a Tervigon for a Hive Tyrant and adds some Termagants, as well, so I'll keep that in mind and I'll probably run that one as well, it's fairly similar except for the HQ switch. I've included it below.


1,500-Point Swarm

Tervigon – 215 pts.; Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Regeneration, Scything Talons

Tyranid Prime – 85 pts.; Deathspitter

Venomthrope – 55 pts.

Zoanthrope – 60 pts.

Brood of 24 Hormagaunts – 192 pts.; Toxin Sacs

Brood of 24 Hormagaunts – 192 pts.; Toxin Sacs

Brood of 24 Termagants – 120 pts.

Brood of 24 Termagants – 120 pts.

Brood of 24 Termagants – 120 pts.

Brood of 4 Warriors – 145 pts.
35 pts.; Deathspitter
35 pts.; Deathspitter
35 pts.; Deathspitter
40 pts.; Venom Cannon

Tank Smasher Carnifex – 195 pts.; Stranglethorn Cannon, Twin-Linked Deathspitter

Total Cost: 1,499 pts.

I think you would be better off without the venomthrope, and add another zoanthrope. Also, warriors in small broods seem to underperform, unless you really need backfield synapse, which you really don't see to. And leaving them out leaces you room to move that tervigon from HQ to troops. Also, the army just seems unfocused.. maybe share your planned tactics? Kinda how you think everything fits together. I think it would help people help you.

And generally genestealers don't make it to combat. Everyone is still scared of them, so they know not to let them make it. And with the addition of overwatch and the fact thatthey die to bolter fire, they seem underpowered for the points.

It's interesting that you should mention Synapse; people have always told me I have too many Synapse creatures, but I don't get that. In that army, I see three units of Synapse: the Tervigon, the Zoanthrope, and the Tyranid Prime with the Warriors. It seems to me that Synapse creatures must be fire magnets if your opponent knows anything at all about 'Nids. So can I really hope to get through a game with just two Synapse creatures without losing the efficiency of some broods because of Instinctive Behavior?

And I'm glad you gave your opinion on the Venomthrope, along with the Carnifex it's the unit that I'm the most worried about including.

Basically I divide my enemy's forces into groups: powerful single units, small but powerful squads, large but weaker squads, and vehicles. Then I try to make my army capable of taking down all four groups. And of course if I know what I'll be facing I can augment it to particularly target a specific one. So I guess my strategy with this list would be to have the Tervigon with quite a few Termagants around it forming a core that just advancing with all guns blazing towards the heart of the enemy, probably targeting rank-and-file opponents like Guardsmen. The Warriors would put fire onto more elite soldiers (Terminators, etc.) that the Gaunts can't really tackle. On one flank I'd have the Hormagaunts, preferably to destroy powerful single units so they don't get vaporized straight off, but perhaps also to attack smaller units of elite soldiers or just to take bullets. In the meantime, the Zoanthrope would go hunting for armor, and the Carnifex would sort of fill in the gaps, shooting at stronger soldiers with the Warriors or maybe also trying to pick off some light armor. This way I figure I can deal with all of the aforementioned categories. Since there's no Hive Tyrant in this list, my greatest concern is armor (which makes your comment about the second Zoanthrope a good one to keep in mind).

 Vladimirilyich wrote:

1,500-Point Swarm

Tervigon – 215 pts.; Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Regeneration, Scything Talons

Tyranid Prime – 85 pts.; Deathspitter

One of the great advantages of the Tervigon is being able to utilize Scuttling Swarm and making him a Troop choice - this only has advantages. Though you didn't specify here, your positioning suggested he's an HQ choice if not your Warlord. Primes are solid - but their true purpose is filling the HQ slot and providing point excess to whatever else you're focusing on. Giving him shooting weaponry does almost nothing, give him Lash Whip / Bone Sword or nothing I'd suggest.

I'd agree that you're better off without a walking Tyrant, but you should consider a Flying Tyrant with double Devourers at this point level.

 Vladimirilyich wrote:

Venomthrope – 55 pts.

Zoanthrope – 60 pts.

This is the part of your army that concerns me the most. The Tyranid Codex has two things going for it right now - Tervigons (with Biomancy) and Elite choices. The Doom of Malan'tai, Zoanthropes with or without a Mycetic Spore, and Hive Guard are all fantastic fear-inducing death mongers. A Venomthrope is an awesome concept, but lacks survivability to distribute his cover safe for any significant amount of time. Any opponent with his salt will target it priority 1 and murder it due to its low toughness and lack of real save or wound magnitude, and move on. A duo of Zoanthropes either walking or Mycetic Spore will bring more to your list, but consider scrapping points else where to buff up this part of the FOC.

 Vladimirilyich wrote:

Brood of 24 Hormagaunts – 192 pts.; Toxin Sacs

Brood of 24 Hormagaunts – 192 pts.; Toxin Sacs

Harsh truth as requested - I have over 60 Hormagaunts that have seen literally zero action since 4th edition left us. Rightfully so, and I wouldn't look back. OVerwatch, 6'' movement, no large assault range, and wounds from shooting coming from their front make them almost entirely worthless. Gargoyles do what they do better and with a gun, Termagaunts with Tervigon support (AG / TS / Endurance / Counter Attack) are the ideal choice.

 Vladimirilyich wrote:

Brood of 24 Termagants – 120 pts.

Brood of 24 Termagants – 120 pts.

Brood of 24 Termagants – 120 pts.

Swarm tactic is fine. Though you're better off taking squads of ten with a Tervigon, two Tervigons at 1500 points is normal and recommended. You'll need almost this many in body counts for the Spawning tactic, but if you're keen on large groups of Termagaunts you've paid points for, consider getting a Hive Tyrant with Hive Commander for Outflank, or giving them Devourers and putting them in a Mycetic Spore. Both are more effective then just walking down the field.

 Vladimirilyich wrote:
Brood of 4 Warriors – 145 pts.
35 pts.; Deathspitter
35 pts.; Deathspitter
35 pts.; Deathspitter
40 pts.; Venom Cannon

Much like the Hormagaunt, the Warriors hay-day is over. Their major draw is a combination of weaponry and wounds - but due to having toughness 4, they are extremely susceptible to instant death. This is too much of a liability, I wouldn't take them. Unless - you make them into Shrieks with Lash Whip / Bone Sword, which increases their chance of getting into melee thus removing the fear of Plasma.

 Vladimirilyich wrote:

Tank Smasher Carnifex – 195 pts.; Stranglethorn Cannon, Twin-Linked Deathspitter

Carnifex can do quite well on the battlefield. That being said a weapon that scatters inherently allows for a 1-in-3 chance of success, and a 2-in-3 of 'not where you wanted it.' Therefore, dual devourers is my suggestion. Possibly with a Mycetic Spore if you expect opponents who are keeping range from you.

Hope that helps.

Just out of curiosity, why does everyone dislike walking Tyrants? I figure the Tyrant can just let loose with the heavy venom cannon as he crosses the battlefield but everywhere I look people say not to take a walking Tyrant and I'm not sure why.

So are you saying ditch the Venomthrope for another Zoanthrope, or bulk up both units?

Thanks a lot for the feedback though, I'll tinker with it.

 Vladimirilyich wrote:
Just out of curiosity, why does everyone dislike walking Tyrants? I figure the Tyrant can just let loose with the heavy venom cannon as he crosses the battlefield but everywhere I look people say not to take a walking Tyrant and I'm not sure why.

So are you saying ditch the Venomthrope for another Zoanthrope, or bulk up both units?

Thanks a lot for the feedback though, I'll tinker with it.

I dislike walking Tyrants for a combination of cost and liability. A Tyrant isn't that difficult of a target to bring down, especially considering he costs significantly more than other Tyranid Monstrous Creatures who have similar if not superior defense. In order to amend this, you have to add in 60 points per 2 wounds of Tyrant Guards, which is an absolutely awful trade off. And all of this is entirely for a single Heavy Venom Cannon, which is mediocre at best - especially when compared to dual Devourers, Impaler Cannon, or even the Tyrannofex weapon I don't recommend. Because of this crazy inefficientcy, you're better off making him into a Swarmlord who at least is a melee king, a Flyrant who gets the benefit of mobility and needing Skyfire to effectively bring down, or the cheapness of the Prime.

As far as your Elite question - either or both. Just don't leave it as is. I'd definitely recommend reducing Troop choices to bulk Elite, but you should at least bring up the body count of one of the groups.

Groovy, thanks a lot. I just found a set of wings (my model is from before wings were included) on eBay for $4, I think I'll go for it. And I'll change up the Elites, then.

 Vladimirilyich wrote:
Groovy, thanks a lot. I just found a set of wings (my model is from before wings were included) on eBay for $4, I think I'll go for it. And I'll change up the Elites, then.

Oh no worries, both of my Tyrants are exactly the same condition. Ones a converted 5th edition peuter Tyrant, the other is a converted 4th peuter Tyrant. They lack some height, but nobody seems to mind. Well worth the effort!