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Thanks again for the great tips, jy2 (and lechine, luke, barnowl, and pinecone!). This is extremely helpful. I've made an army lists thread based on the feedback here, if you wouldn't mind checking it out and giving further thoughts I would really appreciate it

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/665300.page

Particularly wondering about whether an escape hatch is a good idea on the Bastion to launch the Malanthrope further upfield midgame (can Dakkafexes function OK outside of synapse?).

...and can 2 Biovores fit on top of a Bastion? I think they're supposed to be based on 60mms now...

Cheers guys

Hey DakkaNids,

I'm trying to figure out how to build a list for a 1500 points HighLander tournament with the added restriction that all units have to be MINIMUM size (and dedicated transports are also 0-1)., Given these restrictions, I'm thinking that its going to be a MSU-fest.

So the units to include, I'm figuring are those with area effect abilities, such as:

- Flyrant (duh)
- Malanthrope
- Dakkafex
- Mawloc
- 1 Biovore
- Hive Crone

I'm a bit hesitant to include much gaunts, because the minimum size restriction makes them so easily disposed.

Given those restrictions on top of Highlander, what units would you suggest to include? It's going to be very objective-based missions, with maelstrom as secondaries.

thanks!

Polkadragon wrote:
Hey DakkaNids,

I'm trying to figure out how to build a list for a 1500 points HighLander tournament with the added restriction that all units have to be MINIMUM size (and dedicated transports are also 0-1)., Given these restrictions, I'm thinking that its going to be a MSU-fest.

So the units to include, I'm figuring are those with area effect abilities, such as:

- Flyrant (duh)
- Malanthrope
- Dakkafex
- Mawloc
- 1 Biovore
- Hive Crone

I'm a bit hesitant to include much gaunts, because the minimum size restriction makes them so easily disposed.

Given those restrictions on top of Highlander, what units would you suggest to include? It's going to be very objective-based missions, with maelstrom as secondaries.

thanks!

I started my practice games for Da Boyz early this year (large GT in New York that is Highlander format). From what I've noticed my Tervigon as a troop choice has almost always shined in this particular format. As you said, you can only run 10 gant max squads. That being said, you can still run an HQ Tervigon that spawns ObSec gants. For your troops choice, you could run 1 Mucolid spore (solo obviously) and 3 Ripper Swarms (DS upgrade for mobility). That gives you 2 HQs and 2 Troops from the get-go and still have plenty of options for the rest.

I have been running a Venomthrope for 2 reasons. One I don't own a Malanthrope (doh!, but will be making one soon) and two, Venomthropes are tiny and if there are any ruins that have a solid bottom floor (no windows/double-closed doors), you can get away with completely hiding them. The tervigon usually sits on my backfield and spawns gants to bubble wrap when I'm in trouble. Biovores (I run 3, but you can only run 1) sit near the Tervigon as well leaving 3 things in your backfield (and spawned gants) that they have to get rid of.

Currently, my list is:
1 Flyrant (the works)
1 Malanthrope (proxied atm)
6 Zoans (with Neuro)
1 Pod (for Zoans mostly, but I have options)
3 Hiveguards (even a single one is nice to have, try testing in Highlander format)
3 Rippers
1 Tervigon (Electrogrubs) (troops)
30 Gants
1 Hive Crone (MVP, I love the vector strikes)
3 Biovores
1 Dakkafex
1 Mawloc

Although I'm not limited by min/max squads, I generally pulled from a lot of the slots in my single CAD. This lets my opponents have to prioritize correctly. Another thing to note for my GT there are 0-1 Imperial Knights allowed, and that is the only Super Heavy allowed. That being said, I expect every Imperium army to have 1. (Why wouldn't they?!) That's what the Electrogrubs, Crone's vector strike, and 6 Zoans are for (don't forget smash attacks!). Anything that helps kill that is practically in my army list, including the Mawloc that needs 6's in a pinch!

Edit: I'm preparing for an 1850 GT.

min sized unit drastically changes things for Highlander...

Your list of units looks good (Flyrant, Malanthrope, Dakkafex, Mawloc, Biovore, Hive Crone)

For Troops choices, I'd say a Ripper Swarm and Mucolid would be good.

A Tervigon in the HQ slot might work out well depending on how the tournament rules on Objective Secured termagaunts coming from the Tervigon. (Some TOs rule that they are not Objective Secured).

It's going to be really hard to have any kind of cohesive list with those restrictions.

With the new Tau GCs, I hope our own get a similar treatment.

Zimko wrote:
min sized unit drastically changes things for Highlander...

Your list of units looks good (Flyrant, Malanthrope, Dakkafex, Mawloc, Biovore, Hive Crone)

For Troops choices, I'd say a Ripper Swarm and Mucolid would be good.

A Tervigon in the HQ slot might work out well depending on how the tournament rules on Objective Secured termagaunts coming from the Tervigon. (Some TOs rule that they are not Objective Secured).

It's going to be really hard to have any kind of cohesive list with those restrictions.

Yeah it's tough, especially since I also forgot to mention that all 'summoning' is also prohibited (so Tervigons don't spawn at all) so Tervigon not really worth it...

This is the 'work-in-progress' list so far:

Hive Tyrant: twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms; twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms; wings; electroshock grubs

1 Zoanthrope
1 Hive Guard
Malanthrope

3 Ripper Swarms: Deep Strike
3 Tyranid Warriors: barbed strangler

Hive Crone
3 Tyranid Shrikes: 3× scything talons; rending claws; 2× lash whip and bonesword

Tyrannocyte
Carnifex Brood
• Carnifex: twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms; twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms
Mawloc
Tyrannofex: shreddershard beetles

Aegis Defence Lines: Comms Relay

It might be worthwhile to include 10 gargoyles. Their blind attacks can tie up a big nasty and their poison ability allows them to at least hurt said nasty. Also, they'd provide a cover screen for the warriors, shrikes and/or Carnifex.

So Wife and I are pretty much decided we'll go to Mechanicon again this year. Its a 5 round GT that is self regulated and laid back. As an example last year no one brought Eldar, and you saw lists you'd rarely find out there.

So it sounds like my CC Tyranid list might be able to at least have fun. I've bought all the models and am working on getting them painted up. The mines are included to make a relatively Null deployment possible. Missions are pretty much eternal war and modified Maelstrom, nothing fancy.

Flyrant w/Electro, Adrenal Glands, Old Adversary, RoO (No Ymgarl this time)
Venomthrope
Venomthrope

10xHormagant
10xHormagant

3x Shrike w/ Adrenal Glands, Flesh Hooks, Rending Claws
3x Shrike w/ Adrenal Glands, Flesh Hooks, LW/BS
3x Shrike w/ Adrenal Glands, Flesh Hooks, LW/BS

Flyrant w/Electro, Adrenal Glands, Old Adversary, LW/BS
Flyrant w/Electro, Adrenal Glands, Old Adversary, LW/BS

Mucolid
Mucolid

3x Shrike w/ Adrenal Glands, Flesh Hooks, LW/BS
3x Spore Mines
3x Spore Mines

Stone Crusher Carnifex w/Bio Flail

Most of this army can deep strike and is fast enough to score. The Hormagants are there to eat overwatch on early T1/T2 charge situations for Shrikes. Malanthrope is awesome, but I took dual Venomthropes to have central nodes to hop in to for my Tyrants and Shrikes to get cover saves (thats about all the Shrikes have keeping them alive).

Stone Crusher is a distraction fex and a Drop pod killer, not to mention his Bioflail can let him punk a lot of different units with its Instant Death ability. Plus, he's cool.

Ideas/thoughts on running this?

Polkadragon wrote:

Zimko wrote:
min sized unit drastically changes things for Highlander...

Your list of units looks good (Flyrant, Malanthrope, Dakkafex, Mawloc, Biovore, Hive Crone)

For Troops choices, I'd say a Ripper Swarm and Mucolid would be good.

A Tervigon in the HQ slot might work out well depending on how the tournament rules on Objective Secured termagaunts coming from the Tervigon. (Some TOs rule that they are not Objective Secured).

It's going to be really hard to have any kind of cohesive list with those restrictions.

Yeah it's tough, especially since I also forgot to mention that all 'summoning' is also prohibited (so Tervigons don't spawn at all) so Tervigon not really worth it...

This is the 'work-in-progress' list so far:

Hive Tyrant: twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms; twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms; wings; electroshock grubs

1 Zoanthrope
1 Hive Guard
Malanthrope

3 Ripper Swarms: Deep Strike
3 Tyranid Warriors: barbed strangler

Hive Crone
3 Tyranid Shrikes: 3× scything talons; rending claws; 2× lash whip and bonesword

Tyrannocyte
Carnifex Brood
• Carnifex: twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms; twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms
Mawloc
Tyrannofex: shreddershard beetles

Aegis Defence Lines: Comms Relay

I made a second list, with much more bodies and much more cc-oriented. Any thoughts on this one?

Hive Tyrant: twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms; twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms; wings; electroshock grubs

1 Malanthrope

5 Genestealers
3 Tyranid Warriors: 2× scything talons; barbed strangler; 3× rending claws
10 Hormagaunts
10 Termagants

3 Tyranid Shrikes: 3× scything talons; rending claws; 2× lash whip and bonesword
10 Gargoyles
Hive Crone

Mawloc
Tyrannocyte
Carnifex Brood
• Carnifex: twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms; twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms
Tyrannofex: shreddershard beetles

Looks like there might be a big change to how synapse works.

 Dozer Blades wrote:
Looks like there might be a big change to how synapse works.

What gives you that impression, if I may ask?

 Frozocrone wrote:

 Dozer Blades wrote:
Looks like there might be a big change to how synapse works.

What gives you that impression, if I may ask?

There are rumours on the net with regards to Synapse in the next edition:

Tyranid units with 12" of the Synapse creature has Fearless and 6+ FNP.

The Synapse creature itself is Fearless, FNP and Eternal Warrior!

That wouldbe pretty nice. Warriors would be worth using and Flyrants (if they stay the same) don't need Catalyst (which would probably change anyway).

Gatekeeper wrote:
Have we put together units/formations that have synergies with each other? For example:

Hive Tyrant + Crone = up close and personal offense

Harpy + Living Artillery Formation + Mucolids + Spore Mine Clusters = Area of denial utility

Lictors + Mawlocs = yum

Carnifexes + Drop Pods baby B)

Polkadragon wrote:
Hey DakkaNids,

I'm trying to figure out how to build a list for a 1500 points HighLander tournament with the added restriction that all units have to be MINIMUM size (and dedicated transports are also 0-1)., Given these restrictions, I'm thinking that its going to be a MSU-fest.

So the units to include, I'm figuring are those with area effect abilities, such as:

- Flyrant (duh)
- Malanthrope
- Dakkafex
- Mawloc
- 1 Biovore
- Hive Crone

I'm a bit hesitant to include much gaunts, because the minimum size restriction makes them so easily disposed.

Given those restrictions on top of Highlander, what units would you suggest to include? It's going to be very objective-based missions, with maelstrom as secondaries.

thanks!

For Highlander, you've got to consider the Tervigon. He is great in Highlander events. I would check with the TO to see if you can take the mandatory 30-gant unit in order to make him a troop. If not, then he is still decent as an HQ choice.

Other units that I would recommend in Highlander play:

Tyrannocyte
Dimachaeron
Min squads of termagants/hormagants/gargoyles.

 Tyran wrote:
With the new Tau GCs, I hope our own get a similar treatment.

We have some of the most expensive LoW's currently. Unfortunately, because we already have LoW's, I doubt we will get it in our new codex....unless they decide to make Swarmy a LoW. BTW, what's gonna suck is that Apoc hardly ever updates their LoW units so we'll be stuck with the same over-priced hierodules and bio-titan for a while.

 Iechine wrote:
So Wife and I are pretty much decided we'll go to Mechanicon again this year. Its a 5 round GT that is self regulated and laid back. As an example last year no one brought Eldar, and you saw lists you'd rarely find out there.

So it sounds like my CC Tyranid list might be able to at least have fun. I've bought all the models and am working on getting them painted up. The mines are included to make a relatively Null deployment possible. Missions are pretty much eternal war and modified Maelstrom, nothing fancy.

Flyrant w/Electro, Adrenal Glands, Old Adversary, RoO (No Ymgarl this time)
Venomthrope
Venomthrope

10xHormagant
10xHormagant

3x Shrike w/ Adrenal Glands, Flesh Hooks, Rending Claws
3x Shrike w/ Adrenal Glands, Flesh Hooks, LW/BS
3x Shrike w/ Adrenal Glands, Flesh Hooks, LW/BS

Flyrant w/Electro, Adrenal Glands, Old Adversary, LW/BS
Flyrant w/Electro, Adrenal Glands, Old Adversary, LW/BS

Mucolid
Mucolid

3x Shrike w/ Adrenal Glands, Flesh Hooks, LW/BS
3x Spore Mines
3x Spore Mines

Stone Crusher Carnifex w/Bio Flail

Most of this army can deep strike and is fast enough to score. The Hormagants are there to eat overwatch on early T1/T2 charge situations for Shrikes. Malanthrope is awesome, but I took dual Venomthropes to have central nodes to hop in to for my Tyrants and Shrikes to get cover saves (thats about all the Shrikes have keeping them alive).

Stone Crusher is a distraction fex and a Drop pod killer, not to mention his Bioflail can let him punk a lot of different units with its Instant Death ability. Plus, he's cool.

Ideas/thoughts on running this?

That list looks like it'll be a lot of fun to blast off the table. Good luck.

Haha, j.k. I don't believe in cc-bugs (at least not without a couple of dimachaerons), but I hope it goes well for you.

 SHUPPET wrote:

Gatekeeper wrote:
Have we put together units/formations that have synergies with each other? For example:

Hive Tyrant + Crone = up close and personal offense

Harpy + Living Artillery Formation + Mucolids + Spore Mine Clusters = Area of denial utility

Lictors + Mawlocs = yum

Carnifexes + Drop Pods baby B)

It's the return of the prodigal son!

 jy2 wrote:

That list looks like it'll be a lot of fun to blast off the table. Good luck.

Haha, j.k. I don't believe in cc-bugs (at least not without a couple of dimachaerons), but I hope it goes well for you.

I feel you. But I've gotta do something to keep having fun, NOVA burned me out on the status quo of Codex Tyrant.

Ive gotta ask, why a 5+ save GW? It'd be a shame if a stiff breeze went towards these guys:

jy2, I heard rumours of a Domanitrix being sculpted. Can't confirm, but hey, if it's true it's something to look forward to.

 Iechine wrote:

 jy2 wrote:

That list looks like it'll be a lot of fun to blast off the table. Good luck.

Haha, j.k. I don't believe in cc-bugs (at least not without a couple of dimachaerons), but I hope it goes well for you.

I feel you. But I've gotta do something to keep having fun, NOVA burned me out on the status quo of Codex Tyrant.

Ive gotta ask, why a 5+ save GW? It'd be a shame if a stiff breeze went towards these guys:

Looking sweet!

As an opponent, I don't know whether I would want to kill them or collect them.

 Frozocrone wrote:
jy2, I heard rumours of a Domanitrix being sculpted. Can't confirm, but hey, if it's true it's something to look forward to.

That would be awesome! In the fluff, the Dominatrix is supposed to be as big as or maybe even bigger than the bio-titan! Will be interesting to see how they (GW) can fit her into the codex, but if they do, I hope she goes more the way of the wraithknight than the Tau Supremacy suit (in other words, hope she's OP!).

Are you implying that the Supremacy suit isn't OP?

 Tyran wrote:
Are you implying that the Supremacy suit isn't OP?

Yes, that is correct. He is actually pretty balanced, unlike the Wraithknight or the Tau'nar. He has firepower, but in exchange, gives up resiliency and is quite killable.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

Hold on.....

I take it back. I got the Supremacy suit mixed up with the Stormsurge. Oops my bad. Let me re-revise my statement.

I hope she goes more the way of the wraith knight than the Stormsurge.

 jy2 wrote:

 SHUPPET wrote:

Carnifexes + Drop Pods baby B)

It's the return of the prodigal son!

Good to see ya man. Been a very busy half a year or so for me but now I'm back playing.

Any big chances I should know about guys? I was here for when the Toxicrene and that lot dropped, anything new since that point? Also, I know nothing about other Dex's, anything new and scary for us out there?

Just the fact that GW/FW know that MC are better than Vehicles so the new Ta'unar is Gargantuan.

Rumoured Tyranids are Q1 2016. Cannae wait, unless it's awful, in which case I'll stick with me Orks (having too much fun to care about winning).

 SHUPPET wrote:

 jy2 wrote:

 SHUPPET wrote:

Carnifexes + Drop Pods baby B)

It's the return of the prodigal son!

Good to see ya man. Been a very busy half a year or so for me but now I'm back playing.

Any big chances I should know about guys? I was here for when the Toxicrene and that lot dropped, anything new since that point? Also, I know nothing about other Dex's, anything new and scary for us out there?

I think you were here for the release of Eldar and Space Marines. Both are really good but we can deal with them.

Then the new Dark Angels came out and all I can say is...wow!!! Ravenwing is just plain ruthless. You better have ways to ignore cover in order to deal with them, otherwise, you will lose. It is because of them why I am running more mawlocs in my list currently. I am also considering swapping out 1-2 egrubs for the other thorax weapons in my list in order to deal with them.

And then coming up very, very soon....the new Tau! You can bet they are going to be a handful.

Oh, and yeah, there are already rumours coming out about the new Tyranids. Suffice to say, this thread may be done in a few months.

You could probably change the title of the thread to the EVEN NEWER tyranids.

Would be a shame to let the beast die :p


Automatically Appended Next Post:
You could probably change the title of the thread to the EVEN NEWER tyranids.

Would be a shame to let the beast die :p

I don't know...I think starting a new thread called "New Tyranids, new tactics" would be cool as well.

 jy2 wrote:

 SHUPPET wrote:

 jy2 wrote:

 SHUPPET wrote:

Carnifexes + Drop Pods baby B)

It's the return of the prodigal son!

Good to see ya man. Been a very busy half a year or so for me but now I'm back playing.

Any big chances I should know about guys? I was here for when the Toxicrene and that lot dropped, anything new since that point? Also, I know nothing about other Dex's, anything new and scary for us out there?

I think you were here for the release of Eldar and Space Marines. Both are really good but we can deal with them.

Then the new Dark Angels came out and all I can say is...wow!!! Ravenwing is just plain ruthless. You better have ways to ignore cover in order to deal with them, otherwise, you will lose. It is because of them why I am running more mawlocs in my list currently. I am also considering swapping out 1-2 egrubs for the other thorax weapons in my list in order to deal with them.

And then coming up very, very soon....the new Tau! You can bet they are going to be a handful.

Oh, and yeah, there are already rumours coming out about the new Tyranids. Suffice to say, this thread may be done in a few months.

I caught Space Marines, missed Eldar and Ravenwing... And damn Ravenwing are that tough now huh, how do they do it? In a Lictor-less list, are you including Mawloc's regardless to give you some cover-ignoring coverage?

And wow, new Tyranids already, we certainly got a lot of love this edition, even if they did a halfbaked job with some of it.

You gotta make sure to make a Pt.2 of this thread!

 SHUPPET wrote:

I caught Space Marines, missed Eldar and Ravenwing... And damn Ravenwing are that tough now huh, how do they do it? In a Lictor-less list, are you including Mawloc's regardless to give you some cover-ignoring coverage?

And wow, new Tyranids already, we certainly got a lot of love this edition, even if they did a halfbaked job with some of it.

Eldar are pretty darn powerful. I even wrote an early tactica about them here (right when their new codex came out):

Jy2's Tactica - Tyranids Vs the New Eldar Part I

Jy2's Tactica - Tyranids Vs the New Eldar Part II

Competitive Ravenwing is pretty much broken. You can basically have an army composed entirely of units with re-rollable 2+ cover. It's as simple as this....you can't bypass their cover, you can't win.

My current competitive tournament list is this:

5x Flyrants w/Egurbs
5x1 Mucolids
1x3 Spore Mines
4x Mawlocs

It is basically a denial army that also hits very hard. Mawlocs can potentially hit hard, ignores cover and are pretty resilient for their cost. I also love their mobility as well as their Hit-&-Run ability. It's actually a good though somewhat unbalanced Take-All-Comer's list.

You gotta make sure to make a Pt.2 of this thread!

For sure!

1000pt ITC (Missions 1-3) tournament next weekend.

Is there anything else I can do to min/max this for bugs?

Leviathan:

3x Dev/Electro Flyrant
3x Mucolid
Venomthrope

3x Sporemine
4x Sporemine

Mawloc w/Adrenal Glands

It can of course drop the mines and glands for a Malanthrope, but then I cant safely null deploy. However, at 1000 pts, how important is it to have that ability?


And on a side note, whatever happened to Exocrines? No one brings them over Mawlocs anymore?

 Iechine wrote:
1000pt ITC (Missions 1-3) tournament next weekend.

Is there anything else I can do to min/max this for bugs?

Leviathan:

3x Dev/Electro Flyrant
3x Mucolid
Venomthrope

3x Sporemine
4x Sporemine

Mawloc w/Adrenal Glands

It can of course drop the mines and glands for a Malanthrope, but then I cant safely null deploy. However, at 1000 pts, how important is it to have that ability?


And on a side note, whatever happened to Exocrines? No one brings them over Mawlocs anymore?

Null-deployment is really dependent on the meta. If in your area, you have a lot of hard-hitting alpha-strike armies (especially those that can ignore cover), then null deployment can be really good. However, if you don't normally play against those types of armies, then it is almost always better to start your flyrants on the table so that they can do damage from the get-go.

Personally, I'd take the malanthrope. If you absolutely have to null-deploy, you can always just walk him on from your board edge.

Exocrines have been proven to be uncompetitive, at least in my books. Mawlocs provide a lot more utility, including the flexibility to null-deploy more effectively.

^ Makes sense to me, I'll probably run that then. I will say, my list has almost no answer to the 'right' Cron list. : / But I dont see too many ways to change that.

If I cut electro, I could be that guy and bring 4 tyrants.