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Hi fellow Dakkanaughts

I have started researching my winter project and Tyranids is it. However I know very little (almost nothing) about Nids so am crying out for some help with writing a list. I like to write before I start, I have no models yet.

I kind of like the idea of a sizeable horde, however I play within quite a competitive gaming group so I would like this list to stand up to a bit of a battering. Thanks in advance everyone for your help

HQ
Hive Tyrant - Wings, 2xTwin-Linked Devourers 230
Swarmlord 285 WARLORD
Tyrant Guard(x3) - Lash Whips/Boneswords 210

TROOPS
Genestealers(x8) - Broodlord, Adrenal Glands 190
Termagant Brood(x30) 120
Tervigon 195

FAST ATTACK
Dimachaeron 200

HEAVY SUPPORT
Stonecrusher Carnifex - Wrecker Ball/Bio Flail 165
Tyrannocyte 75
Tyrannocyte 75 (I have always been told these act like Drop Pods, but am I correct in saying they can't arrive in the first turn in the same way?)

Total 1,745

I have 130 points left to spend and welcome any suggestions


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Would also like to add, I would be happy to consider a Lord Of War

If anyone thinks they are worth their points cost

I do not play with FW, so I cannot comment on some of those thing (I literally do not know what they are).

A single Flyrant, with no other flyers, will not do much. With only a single FMC, your opponent can focus everything appropriate (Skyfire, Twin-Linked, etc) into it. You really need two, if not three, FMCs to make it work. I would strongly urge you to add Electrogrubs too, as for 10 points they are too good to not take.

The Swarmlord/Tyrant Guard blob is scary, and if it gets into combat you will wreck things. If. A giant, scary CC blob that has 6'' movement. Do you think your opponent will let you get into CC? My money is on no. It is a whoooole lot of points for something unlikely to contribute. Most other armies are faster than Nids, so they can just ignore a Walkrant/Swarmlord and deal with the rest of your list.

A single unit of Stealers will not likely achieve anything. In my last game, I used three and they achieved nothing. Stealers are expensive and underpowered: you need to REALLY commit to a Stealer strategy to have any hope of achieving anything.

The Termagants/Tervigon are fine, though the Tervigon it is a bit over-priced for what it brings. I assume you are using one of those Tyrannocytes for the Termagants? If so, you will likely want to upgrade 15 of them to Devourers. The turn that Tyrannocyte drops, those Termagants will actually put down some serious damage on something.

No idea what a Dimachaeron or Stonecrusher Carnifex are.

Tyrannocytes are essentially Drop Pods in function, but do not have the Drop Pod Assault rule. You roll for reserves as normal.

Nid Lords of War are universally over-priced for what they add.

Overall, your list looks REALLY weak. You have very little capable of grabbing objectives, very little Synapse, a very slow-moving list and an extremely small number of bodies. If you are not running the typical Pentyrant list, or a Skyblight Swarm, you will want to have more like 100-150 bodies on the table. I think you may like to do a *little* research on the Nids, especially if you are trying to make a list capable in highly competitive circles (most of the Codex fails under competitive play).

Some good advice. Take a look at lists posted here and you'll see a trend...several Winged Daka'rants, and plenty of Heavies. Supported with Venothropes, Zoanthropes, and/or a Malanthrope.


So a basic "template" is something like...

HQ: Winged Dakka'rant, Thorax: Electro grubs 240
HQ: one more of the same...Hive commander optional 240 to 260

Elite: Zoanthrope Brood
Elite: Venothrope
Elite: Venothrope

Troops: Termagant Brood, x30 120
Troops: Tervigon, Thorax: Electro grubs 205 (good to Outflank)
Troops: Warrior Brood, x3, Strangle Cannon 100

Heavy: Dakkafex 150 (Twin Devourers, Brain Leeches)
Heavy: Mawloc, or a Dakkafex, or Tyrannofex...etc
Heavy: Mawloc


This gives you a basic force that can fight most anyone...then you can add a Formation based on your local "meta".

Thanks for the advice. As you can tell I am really new to Nids

Would you guys rate the Skyblight Swarm then? Would provide me with the FMC suggested (4 of them) and a host of Objective Secured, so killing 2 birds with one stone

I reckon then I would go that formation with the bodies coming from the FOC as backup

The Dimachaeron basically causes Instant death (on a 4+ to wound) with 7 attacks on the charge and Rampage at I6. It has more cool stuff but that alone seemed to justify 200 points

The Stonecrusher HoW at AP2 with living battering ram... And with the flail/ball causes instant death. It can choose to change its attack characteristic (only 2) to "a number of attacks equal to the number of enemy models in base contact with them"

Skyblight is common in competitive Nid lists. That, with more Flyrants in FOC, results in a fairly competitive (albeit dull) list.

That is my worry

It will to dull to play with and against

I would only play the 4 FMC from the formation. If that was the case, not sure what my main Warlord would be. Or I can add another formation, like the endless swarm or the incubator node

It's a valid concern, but nothing is more boring than constant loss. If you only use two or three winged Tyrants, you'll be "OK". I posted an Endless Tunnel Assault list long ago that might provide a fun list that can win...? A new Codec is coming along, so maybe New options will arrive.

New Tyranid Codex? Where did you here that?

I do not believe there are any reliable rumours of a new codex, but considering Tyranids are one of the few armies not updated to seventh edition there is a pretty high probability of them being updated sometime next year.

Ah, seems sensible. But they did get all the Shield of Baal stuff

I worked a list through today. What do you guys think?

SKYBLIGHT SWARM
Tyrant - Wings, Devourers, Electroshock Grubs 240
Hive Crone 155
Harpy 135
Harpy 135
Gargoyle Brood 60
Gargoyle Brood 60
Gargoyle Brood 60

ENDLESS SWARM
Hormagant Brood - Toxin Sacs 80
Hormagant Brood - Toxin Sacs 80
Hormagant Brood - Toxin Sacs 80
Termagant Brood - 5xDevourers 60
Termagant Brood - 5xDevourers 60
Warrior Brood 90

ALLIED FOC
HQ
Tyranid Prime - Lash Whip/Bonesword 145

TROOP
Ripper Swarm (x4) - Spinefists 68

FAST ATTACK
Dimachaeron 200

HEAVY SUPPORT
Stonecrusher Carnifex - Wrecker Ball/Bio Flail 165

I have 4 FMCs, 2 MCs and 88 other bodies (80 of which can come back to life on a +4). I now have the objective secured I need and hopefully the bodies to back up the heavies. I am keen to stay battleforged as a local gaming club runs tournaments that give you bonuses for being so

Thanks

I believe you cannot take an allied detachment that is the same faction as your primary detachment. You would have to take a CAD or HFD instead. While I personally use and love the Endless Swarm, you may need to drop that to create a FOC.

You will find you need more Synapse in that list too. Three Synapse Creatures might just work in 1000 points, but is nowhere near enough for your list. The Tyranid Prime is a terrible option too. For only a few more points you could take a Hive Tyrant, which is superior in every single way,

Sadly i couldn't make the tyrant fit, i did try. There is quite a lot of fearless in the list that i hoped would make up for the lack of synapse.

The rulebook says you can take as many types and numbers of detachments in a battleforged list. I have 3 detachments here. Reckon i would need to read further to make sure

How do you think the list stands for damage output and survivability if i can address the other issues?

You can run any number of detachments, but there is a special condition on the Allied Detachment. On p122 of the rule book, under the restrictions for the Allied Detachment, it states that Allied Detachments cannot be of the same faction as your Primary Detachment. In your list, the Skyblight Swarm would be your Primary Detachment (and the Flyrant your Warlord), therefore any Allied Detachments you take must be of factions other than the Tyranid Faction. If you want to include a FOC alongside the Skyblight, it would have to be either a CAD or the Shield of Baal HFD.

Synapse is not about getting Fearless onto your list --- not since second edition at least. Most of the units in your list suffer Instinctive Behaviour, which is highly debilitating. Without enough Synapse to cover them, your units are likely to run away or eat themselves rather than attacking the enemy. I take five Synapse units at 1500 points, and that is still not really enough (trouble is, Synapse Creatures are mostly over-priced for what they bring).

Again, I do not know the FW units, but they seem pretty expensive for what they supposedly do. I could be wrong since you clearly play in a VERY different meta, but they do not sound great to me. The little bugs (Gargoyles, Hormagants, Termagants, Rippers) are unlikely to kill much: that is not their purpose. They will hold objectives, die in enormous numbers, tarpit enemy units and generally harass your opponent. Personally, I prefer Hormagants without upgrades, as the upgrades make them too expensive for what they do on the table (die). I run an Endless Swarm and you should still have bugs on the table at the end of the game from this, though if they are coming on from your edge they are essentially useless for 2-3 turns after they return. Warriors and Tyranid Primes are extremely under-powered and are unlikely to contribute much more than Synapse. The Flyrant is a little over-powered and will likely be your top performer. I like Hive Crones/Harpies when you have a Flyrant, as they overwhelm your opponent's AA capabilities. They will not be half as threatening as the Flyrant, but they still serve a valuable purpose.

Thanks for the advice, saved me a bit of embarrassment there

A mate who plays Nids has apparently been playing it wrong. He reckoned Fearless makes you immune to Instinctive Behaviour, I see now it doesn't so I will redo the list. I am thinking now of dropping the Skyblight to keep the Endless Swarm in, and running a complete CAD with it

That sounds good. Long ago I posted a list called "Endless Tunnel Assault" that might give you some ideas.

In general Nids seem to do best with a CAD plus Formation, or a Hive Fleet detachment, with either.

So, here is where I am so far (just very rough as I am still trying to get my head around the Nid codex). Again any comments/criticisms welcome

HQ
Hive Tyrant - Wings, Twin-Linked Devourers, Electroshock Grubs, Hive Commander 260 (Seems the popular choice for Warlord)

TROOP
Tervigon 195 (as recommended will be outflanking and hopefully creating a nuisance of itself) (Question: are the spawned Termagants Objective Secured in this CAD?)
5xRippers - Spinefists 85 (Will be buying the swarm box and needed a cheap troop choice)

ELITE
Malonthrope 85 (Synaspe and create a shrouded bubble, also confer Preferred Enemy to all Tyranids within Synapse Range if they kill an enemy unit in combat)
Malonthrope 85 (As above)

FAST ATTACK
Dimachaeron 200 (Close Combat Beast, causes instant death most of the time with up to 10 S7 AP2 attacks on the charge and the possibility of FnP 4+....)
Hive Crone 155 (Air support for the Tyrant)
Hive Crone 155 (As Above)

HEAVY SUPPORT
Stonecrusher Carnifex - Wrecker Ball/Bio Flail 165 (HoW at AP2, with Living Battering Ram. Instant Death in CC)

ENDLESS SWARM (Bodies on the table to cause a nuisance, and I really fancied running as much of a swarm as I can)
3xHormagant Broods 150
1xTermagant Brood - 5xDevourers 60
1xTermagant Brood(x30) - 10xDevourers 160
Warrior Brood 90

Total 1,845

In this list I now have 3 FMC, 3 MC and 80 other bodies backing up. I also now have 5 Synapse Creatures.

I have 30 points left to spend, please rip apart as necessary. Hopefully I am now closer to a reasonable (and enjoyable list).

Thanks as always

9unit9 wrote:
So, here is where I am so far (just very rough as I am still trying to get my head around the Nid codex). Again any comments/criticisms welcome

HQ
Hive Tyrant - Wings, Twin-Linked Devourers, Electroshock Grubs, Hive Commander 260 (Seems the popular choice for Warlord)

TROOP
Tervigon 195 (as recommended will be outflanking and hopefully creating a nuisance of itself) (Question: are the spawned Termagants Objective Secured in this CAD?)
5xRippers - Spinefists 85 (Will be buying the swarm box and needed a cheap troop choice)

ELITE
Malonthrope 85 (Synaspe and create a shrouded bubble, also confer Preferred Enemy to all Tyranids within Synapse Range if they kill an enemy unit in combat)
Malonthrope 85 (As above)

FAST ATTACK
Dimachaeron 200 (Close Combat Beast, causes instant death most of the time with up to 10 S7 AP2 attacks on the charge and the possibility of FnP 4+....)
Hive Crone 155 (Air support for the Tyrant)
Hive Crone 155 (As Above)

HEAVY SUPPORT
Stonecrusher Carnifex - Wrecker Ball/Bio Flail 165 (HoW at AP2, with Living Battering Ram. Instant Death in CC)

ENDLESS SWARM (Bodies on the table to cause a nuisance, and I really fancied running as much of a swarm as I can)
3xHormagant Broods 150
1xTermagant Brood - 5xDevourers 60
1xTermagant Brood(x30) - 10xDevourers 160
Warrior Brood 90

Total 1,845

In this list I now have 3 FMC, 3 MC and 80 other bodies backing up. I also now have 5 Synapse Creatures.

I have 30 points left to spend, please rip apart as necessary. Hopefully I am now closer to a reasonable (and enjoyable list).

Thanks as always

Looks good, but Winged Tyrants are so good literally nothing else justifies taking fewer. So you should trim ...say one Crone, and some extra, to add a second Tyrant. The other "issue" is while the Codex says you can place the x30 anywhere, the Faq says same detachment. So that might make folks unhappy.

The last issue is also "FAQ" related, the Endless Swarm was released with an error in the Android version...

Endless Swarm (Special rule: Gaunts respawn 4+ as purchased)
Warrior Brood
Hormagaunt Brood, x3
Termagant Brood, x3

is the current "correct" Formation.

I suggest you play a few games, then once you have a feel for them, adjust your list.

Good luck! And welcome to the Hive Mind!

Unfortunately, you cannot take that Tervigon as Troops. The 30-gant Squad has to be in the same DETACHMENT as the Tervigon, so the Endless Swarm does not count for that requirement. I personally wish it did, as I would do the same thing if I count!

Does anyone have the link to the latest FAQ? I can't find anything newer than May 2014 (unless that is the most up to date version). Also where would I find the FAQ for the formation?

Thanks

I believe May '14 is the latest. GW have never been terribly good at maintaining FAQs. I do not believe there is any actual FAQ on the formation. There are two different formations with the same name, however: the Shield of Baal one and the Apocalypse one. They have slightly different requirements and completely different benefits.

Thanks, will play the endless swarm as 3 units of termagants for now and try to rejig the list to make it legal

Been looking over the other formations available within leviathan.

How do people rate the Genesteeler ones?

Which one if any would you consider using?

This would be taken one of 2 ways;

1. Skyblight, Endless Swarm & Genesteeler formations
2. FOC (Termagant blobs/Tervagons as troops for my horde) & Genesteeler formation