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Hello hive minders, looking for some advice for expanding this army. The load out below is what I currently have/plan to get. I left the point value open and am willing to drop upgrades/biomorphs to fit other units or upgrades.

Flyrant (290)
2x TL-Devs
Hive Commander
Norn Crown

Genestealers x5 (134)
Broodlord w/ Scything Talons

Hormagaunts x12 (96)
Toxin Sacs

Warriors x3 (125)
3x Rending Claws
2x Deathspitters
1x Barbed Strangler

Carnifex (150)
2x TL-Devs

Mawloc (140)

Tyrannofex (200)
Acid Spray
Shreddershard Beetles
Adrenal Glands

This brings me to 1135/1250 (115 spare points). I would likely Outflank with the Toxingaunts. I have considered adding a Harpy or Ravener brood as a fast attack. Again, the open points can be altered to fit something bigger in. Genestealers are here since I bought the Deathstorm box but I could see them being dropped, I have them basically to squeeze a broodlord in for a warp charge and The Horror (love it when it works!).

This core build gives me pretty decent firepower and puts down infantry well. Mawloc and Toxingaunts arrive to clean up or provide support/disruption where needed.

Thank you for viewing!



Automatically Appended Next Post:
It appears that Living Artillery Node would fit in here nicely as well... Has anyone found the 24" AP2 shooting on the Exocrine to be effective? Or does having a Harpy/Crone or DS unit arrive later sound more on par?

Yeah the upgades are not a good spend. Living Artillery is dang nice, and not too expensive (in points)

Some of this is "play style" but I would want a second Brood of Hormagaunts...one for the Tyrannofex, one for the Carnifex. Granting cover saves helps blunt dedicated anti tank fire power.

Generally speaking Genestealers are not worth their points. But I think the Deathstorm formation of Broodlord and Stealers might be worth playing...? (Adds Stealth, and Prefered Enemy )

as you move up in points the number one purchase is a second Tyrant. after that it varies.

Do you have a recommendation for Synapse sources at 1250 pts? Although honestly only a couple of my units actually need the Synapse to remain effective.

Children of Cryptus is ok, 215 pts though and you only get the preferred enemy if you make Spawn of Cryptus your warlord.

Paying for gaunts to bubble wrap my monsters seems kind excessive. I'm paying 150+ points for them already and then another 50+ just to give them a 5+ cover seems like a large investment.

Feldon wrote:
Do you have a recommendation for Synapse sources at 1250 pts? Although honestly only a couple of my units actually need the Synapse to remain effective.

Children of Cryptus is ok, 215 pts though and you only get the preferred enemy if you make Spawn of Cryptus your warlord.

Paying for gaunts to bubble wrap my monsters seems kind excessive. I'm paying 150+ points for them already and then another 50+ just to give them a 5+ cover seems like a large investment.

Well for Synapse, I really like Zoanthropes (50 points for a ML2 with Warp Blast ) and Warrior Broods, x3 with a Cannon for 100. Both are moderately durable, and can do things beyond Synapse.

5+ seems poor, but it's better than no save at all (example Laser Cannon) I usually add in a Venothrope for Shrouding. Now you have a very nice save. They also provide "bubble wrap" so they can tarpit a CC attacker, or eat Overwatch, or keep a Melta team out of range. For me, the key to Tyranids is in synergy between all the parts. And because many of those parts are inexpensive, it is easy to put things together.


For example, I really like Mawloc, but I would spend 140 points on a Zoey, and two Venothropes first. And add a Mawloc later.

Then I would look to build a couple of "Bugstars" of a Big Bug, a Synapse, a Veno, and a screen of Hormagaunts.

Example 1: Tyrannofex (200) Zoey, Veno, x10+ Hormagaunts for 345 (?), then Dakkafex, Warrior Brood, Veno, and Hormagaunts (345?)

That gives me two prongs of attack, and my Tyrant can zip around causing havoc. These days I like my Warriors "vanilla" with a Cannon, x3 for 100 points.

So if I drop the Genestealer brood and cheapen the warriors to 100 pts - that leaves me with 274 fee points. I will still be fulfilling the CAD requirements and I can purchase quite a few things or something big. Not sure what the max for heavy slots is..

The only this I don't like about having hormagaunts out in the open is they are a ripe target for mass fire or AP6 weapons and they disappear in a puff of smoke - bad point investment.

I'm leaning towards Zoanthropes/Venomthropes since they give shrouded, warp charges, and anti-tank psychicness.

Has anyone tried deepstriking Raveners with spinefists? Given they are beasts, they would have great mobility and arrive after the initial ranged barrages hopefully.

Well sure, but they are a screen, if they eat a shot or two, they have done their job. And the Veno gives them a save of 5+. In a "Bug Star" my experience is that the Big Bug or the Synapse gets the priority. That makes the Hormagaunts Invincable (because nobody shoots them ) The inside parts of the bug star have the screens cover, and the benefit of Shrouding.

Like I said, it is all about Synergy. Your basic CAD has three heavy slots. same for the rest, except HQ is x2 (x3 if Leviathan) , and Troops is x6.

I have never used Ravagers, I think they would be fine, but they need Synapse, and that works against their best use. If you take a peek at Touney armies you'll see nary a Ravager. That might give you an idea.

Good point, I suppose I will have to just except that my hormagaunts are fodder lol.

Made some revisions below - plenty of shooting and Nids are already decent in CC so I don't think they need many upgrades there.

What do you think about the Harpy? Would a Crone be a better choice? Should I put the Zoanthropes in a brood together?

Flyrant (240)
2x TL-Devs
Electroshock grubs

Venomthrope (45)
Zoanthrope (50)
Zoanthrope (50)

Hormagaunts x10 (50)
Hormagaunts x10 (50)

Warriors x3 (100)
1x Barbed Strangler

Harpy (145)
Stinger Salvo

Carnifex (165)
2x TL-Devs
Adrenal Glands

Mawloc (140)
Acid Blood (had 15 extra points to dump)

Tyrannofex (200)
Acid Spray
Electroshock Grubs
Adrenal Glands

Only group the Zoanthropes if they are podding. The extra WC are almost always better.

Yeah, everything in the Codex is meant to die, especially gaunts. You can mitigate losses by taking huge quantities but for a screen you want to invest minimal points.

Adrenal Glands are better on Mawloc than Acid Blood if you have to spend points. S7 on the charge is decent at taking out vehicles. If you find yourself stuck in combat against stuff that can hurt you, then you can Hit and Run out (and then burrow).

Another Flyrant would be better than either a harpy or a crone. I would drop the Tyrannofex and Harpy for it, using the points saved for either Warriors or Biovores if you can cut points. I personally have bad experiences with the Tyrannofex but YMMV.

Good to know!

Will switch the Acid Blood for Adrenal Glands.

I have known a 2nd Flyrant would be fantastic but I would like to avoid that route if necessary - of course I like using it but I don't need to spam them at 1250 IMO.

Tyrannofex has been a decent rock in my last few games. Provides area control and he generally doesn't eat too much fire as he can soak it up fairly well. Would like to keep him around!

I could see myself ditching the Harpy - any suggestions what I could replace it with? I can remove adrenal glands to fit something bigger as well.

Thanks for the input!

Probably a Hive Crone? If you take one FMC take two. One gets focused fired, two share the pain.

Whats the advantage to Crone over Harpy? Or do they just fill different roles? Haven't gotten to play with either but I've read over them in the codex.

It appears the the Crone is more anti-vehicle and the Harpy is anti-infantry. So perhaps the Crone is better because it can take down flyers/tentaclid vehicles and still has a drool cannon for infantry? Since it is monstrous I would definitely want it to have a second weapon besides the tentaclids. Which to take?

Does vector striking count towards my shooting quota?

Yes Vector Striking counts but you can fire your other weapons at another unit if you have any.

Crone is more AA, Harpy is Anti-Infantry. Harpy ain't bad, but we've got loads of AI options. Crone helps with Air and helps Flyrants out, meaning the Flyrants can shoot at ground units. Haywire is also extremely hard to come by, which is another bonus for Crone.

If you're running Biovores, Harpy's get more Mileage through Spore Mines Bombing Runs.

Good to know, it appears I do have plenty of AI already so the Crone would be a better choice. Two flyers seems like a good start for 1250 - I don't expect many other armies with have multiple flyers at that point level.

Is it possible to magnetize Venomthropes/Zoanthropes to convert between the two as needed? Has anyone tried this? I know I want at least 1 Zoan and 1 Venom, but I don't know about the third model.

I've done three Flyrants at 1250 - it's tough to deal with for sure.

I'm not too sure, they have different arm sockets. If you've got small enough magnets then potentially but for me personally, I don't bother with the hassle and tell my opponent what I'm proxying them as.

I guess I'll find out when I buy the kit! I would love to proxy but with the amount of care I put into making them, I would feel like I cheated myself out of customization. Didn't magnetize my first Carnifex I got in the Deathstorm box... so sad.

As I was tweaking my list, I noticed the Crone can take some additional weapons. In your experience, does it ever get the opportunity to use these or does vector strike/drool cannon/tentaclids eat up all its firing options most of the time?

I have never taken them. I keep it cheap as if I do run it.

Like Orks, Nids do better with more bodies.

So outside of Hive Tyrant, Warriors, and Zoanthropes - what do the Tyranids have for synapse? It feels so limiting to have only these three options. Especially when two of them feel VERY squishy and a loss of them will severely hinder an army.

Feldon wrote:
So outside of Hive Tyrant, Warriors, and Zoanthropes - what do the Tyranids have for synapse? It feels so limiting to have only these three options. Especially when two of them feel VERY squishy and a loss of them will severely hinder an army.

For the points level, you have plenty of synapse. It may feel like you have a limited option, but think about it. The flyrant is very hard to take down due to it being a flier, plus it can deal a ton of damage while still being a force multiplier. Zoans have a 3++, and (like the flyrant) have the ability to provide bonus through psychic powers like catalyst and onslaught. Warriors are a good backfield synapse unit because they are troops and can hold your objectives and provide synapse for things like biovores.

If your opponent spends his first 2 turns trying to kill your synapse, you will be in his face turn three with your biggest threats still strong. The only thing you have to worry about for synapse is not having enough. With 4 sources at 1250 points, you'll be fine. Opponents will struggle with trying to deal with all your threats.

Feldon wrote:
So outside of Hive Tyrant, Warriors, and Zoanthropes - what do the Tyranids have for synapse? It feels so limiting to have only these three options. Especially when two of them feel VERY squishy and a loss of them will severely hinder an army.

Malanthrope, Tervigon, Trygon Prime, Tyranid Prime, Maleceptor and Swarmlord.

Units that don't care about Synapse are Trygons, Harpies, Mawloc, Exocrine, Haruspex, Dimachaeron, Genestealers and other units with the right list.

It's not as limiting as you think.