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I've always liked the biggest gribblies in the nid codex, so I am thinking of putting together a force of my favorite models. Is MC spam still viable these days? I've been out of the game for a few years now so I am unsure how much fliers change the viability of such a list.
How I group them can be changed up a bit based on the following:
1) is it better for warriors to be grouped in two units of 5 and 4 vs. 3 units of 3?
2) Would carnifex broods be better if lumped into two groups of 3?
I've heard assault is somewhat nerfed this edition, with Overwatch rules. Am I putting too much emphasis on assault? Or is it doable with MCs? I tried to maintain mobility best I could by giving the Carni's Fleet via the Adrenal glands, and the Tyrants wings. Are the wings worth the points?
I'd recommend trying to turn the warriors into shrikes (scytal/rending claws, ts, ag, fh, the works). Vanilla warirors hardly ever do anything effectively for me. If running close combat nids, a few units of 10 hormagaunts might be a good idea (cheap cover screen that is fast enough to not slow your choppy nids down).
The fexes don't need the tail upgrade imo, that's a lot of point for one additional attack. You could use the freed up points for a venomthrope/malanthrope (you absolutely need a cover save while running up the board).
If you want to run melee tyrants then I'd recommend wings, lw/bs, scytal, adrenal glands, old adversary and an optional electroshock grubs). If you rn tyrants as jump MCs then they will probably be jinking a lot; they can't fire the venom cannon blast when they jink.
All your Carnifexes and Flyrants want double devourers they are just ludicrously better than any other option. Your Flyrants also want electroshock grubbs.
I would cut your warriors down to just a venom cannon. Keeping them cheap is right.
Split your zoans for better spread I would swap one if not two over to venomthropes to help you get across the board. I would like to see some chaff to help control charges vs Knights. So perhaps swap a Warrior Brood for a Sporefield. Uf there are lots of Knights in your meta I would consider swapping a unit of fexes over to Wreckerfexes.
Also generally recommend running fexes solo so they're basically immune to instinctive behavior. 3 and one unit of warriors could be split off into a wrecker node formation.
If you give the Warriors an upgrade besides a barbed strangler, I'd recommend 1 or 2 rending claws.
Flyrants should be dual devourer and ESG or go whole hog with adrenal, scy tal, adrenal and poison. One can take the Reaper instead of poison.
Lastly, definitely recommend venoms over zoans for your list
FoxPhoenix135 wrote: I've always liked the biggest gribblies in the nid codex, so I am thinking of putting together a force of my favorite models. Is MC spam still viable these days? I've been out of the game for a few years now so I am unsure how much fliers change the viability of such a list.
How I group them can be changed up a bit based on the following:
1) is it better for warriors to be grouped in two units of 5 and 4 vs. 3 units of 3?
2) Would carnifex broods be better if lumped into two groups of 3?
I've heard assault is somewhat nerfed this edition, with Overwatch rules. Am I putting too much emphasis on assault? Or is it doable with MCs? I tried to maintain mobility best I could by giving the Carni's Fleet via the Adrenal glands, and the Tyrants wings. Are the wings worth the points?
Well, you have some "issues". If you plan on CC, you have a better chance if you use a screen, so tossing in a couple of Broods of Hormagaunts would help, then add enough Shrouding, and you have a fair chance. Pods would be real nice as well.
If your Tyrants are glued, you can make them work, but add a Thorax Hive of Electro bugs to each. If you have a bbunch of Gargoyles, you could run a SkyTyrant formation I would trim some Carnifexen out to make the changes. You can also trim some Warriors if you need to as well.
While 7th is anti CC, going counter meta can be a good move.
I luckily have bought no models yet, so although I would like to keep costs down as much as possible I can definitely change the points around to work some of those changes in.
I didn't even consider that you can't shoot while jink is in effect... Good call. I also didn't realize that MCs can use unwieldy weapons as normal... So I can take crushing claws on my carnifexes and still get the plus one attack from the talons?
Screens and saves sound like a splendid idea. I will play with this list some more and bring back my changes in a bit. Thanks for the helpful input! I don't expect to win every game for sure, but I suspect the games will be funall the same!
Automatically Appended Next Post: Changes: I ended up cutting one flyrant, to fund the screens. On the one that remained, I swapped out the VC for scytals to save some points. I also swapped the tail biomorphs for claws on the carnifex broods, and trimmed a model out of the zoanthrope brood. I swapped all the warrior weapons for devourers and scytals, keeping them cheap. Their main function now is to provide extra synapse. I added two screens of hormagaunts at 15 models each with the glands, which should be sufficient when added to the two broods of two venomthropes I added. I left two of the zoans in to provide backup synapse if needed, and their warp blast isn't too shabby either. I left regen on the tyrant, thinking that he's likely to be a big bullet soak, and regen can help increase his chances of survival.
Question: are adrenal glands a must-take on hormaguants in this configuration? I figured I ought to, to help keep them out in front of the carnifexes with fleet. Was this a good move?
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/09/02 00:39:36
No, dont give AG to the hormagaunts, since they run 1D6+3"
Also, he is right about the wrecker node formation.
It gives your Carnifex and Warrior re-roll failed to wound and hit (if I remember correctly)
Try looking it up (if you using battlescribe, add it)
Wrecker node is from rising leviathan: III I believe.
Crushing claws are a bit much, in my opinion, but if that's what you want, go for it. I don't like warriors, but I LOVE shrikes. If you don't take the formation, drop the zoanthrope, move the warriors to shrikes, give them adrenal glands, toxin sacs, flesh hooks and rending claws. They will slice through almost any unit with ease. Keep them as 3 units of 3 behind your hormagaunts screen in front of your venomthropes.
Drop the venomthropes down to 1 each, drop regen on the tyrant, and give him adrenal glands and toxin sacs. It'll help.
Formations are very useful for Tyranids, in part because our Codex came out just before they became a "thing". But several were released thereafter.
A general "rule" for Nids is to avoid upgrades, and just buy more models instead. Hormagaunts are plenty fast enough, the only thing Adrenal gives is furious charge. That's real nice, but not worth the points.
I do recommend putting Cannons in your Warrior Broods, we have so little long range fire, that every bit helps. Winged Tyrants are far too usefull to trim, many tourney armies currently consist of little more that "Moar Tyrants!"
Your big stomper Tyrant would work better in a SkyTyrant formation, but you should also have a "regular" winged Tyrant for the CAD (two is even better ) Tyrants are Big Bugs, so they fit the theme just fine.
I don't know if you get enough from the Claws, a Adrenal Carnifex is S10 on the Charge, and does D3 HOW (S9) I don't know if you need much more.... If I wanted to spend more I might be tempted to add Bioplasma for old times sake.
SkyTyrant is basicly a Tyrant with Wings, and 3 Broods of Gargoyles, can't Fly, and LOS on a 2+ it gives a huge fast table presence. I'd drop the Regen though, you use Gargoyles for extra wounds. (no Objective Secured though)
The current "gold standard" for Tyrants is Wings, Twin Devourers: Brain Leeches, and a Thorax hive full of Electro grubs.....runs 240 per
Faction: Tyranids
-Formation
A Wrecker Node consists of the following units:
• 1 Tyranid Warrior Brood
• 3 Carnifex Broods
-Formation Restrictions
The Tyranid Warrior Brood in this Formation cannot take items from the Basic Bio-cannons list. Carnifex models in this Formation cannot take options from the Monstrous Bio-cannons list. (this is exactly as you have them now)
-Formation Special Rules
Rampage of Destruction: Carnifexes in this Formation inflict D3+1 Hammer of Wrath hits instead of the usual D3. In addition, models in this Formation that are within 12" of this Formation’s Tyranid Warrior Brood can re-roll failed To Wound rolls of 1 in the Assault phase.
Since carnies wound on 2+ on most units, this would mean to a wound of almost 100% But are better for the Warriors. (since Warriors are models in this formation and are within 12" of the Warrios they get the re-roll.)
2k+
2k+
If you have a bbunch of Gargoyles, you could run a SkyTyrant formation 
I would trim some Carnifexen out to make the changes. 
You can also trim some Warriors if you need to as well.
) Tyrants are Big Bugs, so they fit the theme just fine. 
If I wanted to spend more I might be tempted to add Bioplasma for old times sake.