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Having just downloaded the new codex from iBooks I decided to give it a bit of a read and then make a list

This is currently at 1.808 points. However, wanting to take tau to future tournaments at 1.850 points I would appreciate C&C but understand this will be hard considering the codex is just being released


HQ = 159

Commander
- Missile Pod
- Plasma Rifle
- Velocity Tracker
- 2 Shield Drones
- Early Warning Overide


ELITES = 519

Crisis Suit
- XV8-02 (Iridium) Suit
- Shas'vre
- Stimulant Injector
- Twin-Linked Fusion Blaster
- 2 Shield Drones

Stealth Team
- 5 Suits
- Advanced targeting systems (5)

Riptide
- Early Warning Overide
- Counterfire defence system
- 2 Shielded Missile Drones
- Heavy Burst Cannon
- Twin-Linked Smart Missile System


TROOPS = 393

15 Kroot
- Sniper Rounds

Fire Warriors
- 12 Warriors
- 12 Pulse Carbines

Fire Warriors
- 10 Warriors

Fire Warriors
- 10 Warriors


DEDICATED TRANSPORT = 118

Devilfish
- Twin-Linked Smart Missile System
- Decoy Launchers
- Point Defence Targetting Relay
- Automated Repair System


FAST ATTACK = 299

Pathfinder Team
- 10 Pathfinders
- 3 Rail Rifles
- Pulse Accelerator Drone
- Recon Drone
- Shas'ui
- Blacksun Filter

Vespid Stingwing Team
- 5 Vespid


HEAVY SUPPORT = 320

Broadside
- Twin-Linked Heavy Rail Rifle
- Twin-Linked Plasma Rifles
- 2 Shield Drones
- Velocity Tracker

Hammerhead Gunship
- Submunition Rounds
- Twin-Linked Burst Cannon
- Decoy Launchers
- Point Defence Targetting Relay
- Automated Repair System

Sniper Drone Team
- 1 Firesight Marksman
- 3 Sniper Drones



As far as combat tactics go. The general plan is to setup a firing line with everything there except the kroot and the lone fusion suit. The broadside and commander are my response to anti-air and for monster dropping im trusting my sniper drones and pathfinders to help me on that one. I have a 12 warrior team with pulse carbines to outflank (not the rule but outflanking movement) and can disembark to unload a potential 24 pinning shots into their prey. The devilfish guns allow me to use it as a fall back on the vast majority of targets considering its range. The stealth suits are there to soak up fire and want to be targetting units with enemy characters and special weapons in them with their ability to make precision shots.

I think I'll need to explain my thoughts on choosing vespid. I'm fully aware that in the previous dex they were a one trick, one shot pony. However, being cheaper and tougher now has made me take a unit of them to answer to MEQ targets

As for the pathfinders, the principle behind them is the same as ever has been. They are there to light up the stuff that really needs to be dropped sooner rather than later (deathstars/trygons) and the recon drone allows me to deploy my kroot where i need them to be. Considering they'll be sniping from far away, I've chosen a PAD (Pulse Accelerator Drone) to increase the range of their carbines


Hope this gives my fellow tau commanders something to think about and as I said at the start C&C appreciated


EDIT: On a side note I feel I need to say the new codex is a much needed boost for tau. I give it a 10/10 for variety, fairness and competitiveness

I like your idea of using interceptor on the commander, but he would proably benefit more from a fusion blaster, sure it has short range but its alot more reliable against flyers.

Im not sure how much use that stim jector will be on the lone crisis, perhaps adding iridium to make him missile proof.

Advanced targeting isnt really worth it on the stealth suits, unless you wanted to run fusion blasters and hope to snipe characters.

I think your riptide would be better served with that stim injector, the counterpoint isnt crticial as you should be keeping him out of cc range, and while he could use supporting fire (i think he has it) it seems he is focusing on eliminating reserves.

The only upgrade that seems worth it on the hammerhead is decoy and/or disruption pods.

I think you should add some marksmen to the sniper drone team, bs 5 markerlights are tough to come by.

Oh and i think you could trim the pathfinders as they have a lot of kit for a 5+ save, and no stealth.

Firewarriors and kroot look fine, though that devlifish probably only needs decoy and/or disruption pods.

Decoys only work against Interceptor. Maybe you mean Disruption Pods instead?

Its my opinion that with the new rules on things wounds being allocated to closer units all your shield drones are point sinks where you might as well drop em all an just buy another Broadside.

The Early warning override and velocity tracker should probably go on that riptide. that burst cannon will chew through most air support (Armor 10/11) quite well. And even better if you Nova charged it.

I don't quite understand why you would take a crisis unit without giving your crisis commander 2 buddies to soak up fire for him as part of his hq slot either. It feels like a wasted slot there.

Also your Fire warriors don't have marker lights at all? putting in for a unit commander with a marker light and target lock and at least 1 marker drone will help your heavy units work so much better. Marker drone fires with the unit probably marking enemy infantry. then you can throw your riptides burst cannon over it at better ballistics skill. and the commander has target lock so he can shoot at whatever else needs to be prioritized. Probably something that you throw your broadsides at afterwards.

And its my opinion that a broadside does not need fusion blasters. use it as an artillery piece and make its range count. those 60"heavy rail rifles should be what you use them for and at 65 a pop they are extremely cheap. No upgrades except for target lock are needed. and if you take 1. you should have 3 of them 2 of which get target lock. 205 points is an absolute joke for that amount of fire-power.

edit: And I disagree with the previous poster. the stim injector costs 35 points on the riptide and that 35 wasted points. Honestly feel no pain on a monstrous creature jump infantry unit is silly. Everything thats going to be thrown at that riptide is going to ignore feel no pain.

NickOnwezen wrote:

edit: And I disagree with the previous poster. the stim injector costs 35 points on the riptide and that 35 wasted points. Honestly feel no pain on a monstrous creature jump infantry unit is silly. Everything thats going to be thrown at that riptide is going to ignore feel no pain.

I'm confused, isn't the Riptide T6? Meaning FNP would only be ignored by Force weapons?

whoadirty wrote:

NickOnwezen wrote:

edit: And I disagree with the previous poster. the stim injector costs 35 points on the riptide and that 35 wasted points. Honestly feel no pain on a monstrous creature jump infantry unit is silly. Everything thats going to be thrown at that riptide is going to ignore feel no pain.

I'm confused, isn't the Riptide T6? Meaning FNP would only be ignored by Force weapons?

Hes right there are no shooting weapons that are double its toughness. FNP against las cannons is the way to go.

If you're putting the Commander with the Broadsides to take out enemy armour, I'd consider giving him a Puretide Engram Neurochip, he can choose to have Tank Hunter at the start of his movement phase, among other things.

It lasts until the start of his next movement phase too so he'll have it when intercepting flyers etc.

I would drop the CDS on the Riptide for Stimulant Injector, you will almost always get that FNP roll, even against failed Nova charges, I would never leave home without it.

I would drop the shield drones, 50 points is a hell of a lot for 4 missile shots at BS2.

You have too many points in upgrades on your Pathfinders/Devilfish, you could shave a lot of points there. Pulse Accelerator seems great but as someone pointed out to me earlier, Pathfinders should be firing their markerlights, not their carbines, so it will rarely get used, though it's not a bad upgrade for 15 pts.

As someone else mentioned I would 100% beef up the sniper drone team, at least with more firesight marksmen, BS5 markerlights is too good to pass up.

Here is my 2nd draft. Just did a quick edit meaning I could get target locks for the broadsides


HQ

Aun'Va

ELITES [540]

Stealth Suits
- 4 Suits

Riptide
- Ion Accelerator
- Twin-Linked Smart Missile System
- Stimulant Injector

Crisis Team
Suit 1
- Missile Pod
- Plasma Rifle
- 2 Shield Drones
Suit 2
- Missile Pod
- Plasma Rifle
Suit 3
- Missile Pod
- Plasma Rifle


TROOPS [398]

Kroot
- 17 Kroot
- Sniper Rounds

Fire Warriors
- 10 Warriors
- Pulse Rifles

Fire Warriors
- 10 Warriors
- Pulse Rifles

Fire Warriors
- 11 Warriors
- Pulse Carbines


DEDICATED TRANSPORT

Devilfish
- Twin-Linked Smart Missile System


FAST ATTACK [231]

Pathfinders
- 5 Pathfinders
- 3 Rail Rifles
- Recon Drone

Pathfinders
- 5 Pathfinders
- 2 Ion Rifles
- Recon Drone


HEAVY SUPPORT [490]

Sniper Drone Team
- 3 Firelights
- 9 Drones

Broadside Team
Suit 1
- Twin-Linked High-Yield Missile Pod
- Twin-Linked Smart Missile System
- 2 Shield Drones
- Velocity Tracker
- Target Lock
Suit 2
- Twin-Linked Heavy Rail Rifle
- Twin-Linked Plasma Rifle
- Velocity Tracker
- Shield Drone
- Target Lock
Suit 3
- Twin-Linked Heavy Rail Rifle
- Twin-Linked Plasma Rifle
- Velocity Tracker
- Target Lock



TOTAL = 1.849