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Heya.

I got back into 40k recently after an extended time away from the game, and decided to go with a new Tyranid force. I have had experience in pretty well every 40k army, and like the idea of tyranids.

Edit to change list:

HQ
Hive Tyrant 183
Adrenal Glands (both), Flesh Hooks, Implant Attack, toxin sacs, winged, 2 sets of scything talons

Elites
2 Lictors- 160


Troops
Hormagaunts x16 208
Adrenal glands (I), Toxin sacs

Genestealer Brood x8 192
Extended carapace, Scything talons

Termagants x12 72

Termagants x12 72

Fast Attack
3 Raveners 120
Scything talons and Rending claws

Heavy Support
Zoanthropes 135
x3, w/ synpase

Carnifex 173
Enhanced sences, Barbed Strangler, venom cannon, EC

Carnifex 173
Enhanced sences, Barbed Strangler, venom cannon, EC

Dropping the EC on the carnifexes will give me an extra 50 points, but I think its worth it. I have 12 points left over.
I think I will need both of the carnifexes for all those tanks etc, although if i dropped one, I could give my HT WB to help with anti tank, and use the lictors if needed.

I am looking for comments on how effective it would be, and advice

-Id replace WS gland with miasma on the tyrant. This has the same or better overall effect for cheaper. I'd also get Acid maw, since you've tooled up to be a character killer. You'll have a much more significant chance of killing the larger multiwound baddies before they can strike.

-Opinions vary but I think if you are going to take one defensive upgrade on a carnifex it should be the extra wound. Most long range weaponry you will face will not be ap3, it will be either ap2 or ap4 or worse and EC has no affect on either. Unless you have a regular opponent that uses missle launchers or some such the extra wound is best. Keep those Mcs in the game that much longer and gets you 10 extra points.

-More then one lictor in this list is too many, and really any lictors in 1500 list is too many. 160 points, that can buy you alot more bodies (or another stealer unit). Lictors have their place in apocalypse or even 5ed, but points are so tight in this list I'd drop them completely.

-One unit of genestealers is gonna get wiped very quickly unless you are ultra careful with them (even then that will be hard). I'd take atleast 2 units. Removing the lictors and swapping EC for RC on the carnifexes gets you plenty of points. I'd also reconsider scything talons, while effective it is quite a few points on a relatively fragile unit.

-I've seen super gaunts do well but it has to be en-masse. One unit can be avoided and delt with. Either going all super hormagaunt or stay cheap with termagant/spinegaunts would be my advice.

-Split the raveners up into singles, as it makes them more survivable by splitting the opponets shooting up.

-Plain synapse zoanthorpes-- I think that is a waste, better to drop one and get warp blast on the other two.

Hope that helps!

Thanks for replying mate.

I took what you said into consideration and made some alterations. I do like Lictors, however 1 will hopefully be enough. Been a while since I've played 1500 points so if anyone has had experience with them I'd love the feedback. I changed my list and will include a bit of info/reasoning for each unit. Thanks in advance for your input.

HQ
Hive Tyrant 183
Adrenal Glands (both), Flesh Hooks, Implant Attack, toxin sacs, winged, 2 sets of scything talons

Obvious harrasser, character killer. He is also there to draw alot of fire from my hormies/stealers etc, and provide synapse in enemy lines early on.

Elites
Lictor 80

One of the more appealing units in Tyranids to me. I hope to use him in unison with a unit of hormies on the assault, or take down heavy weapons units and tanks if need be.

Troops

11 Termagants 66
fleshborer

Pretty standard unit. Get in close, try and shoot some gak. Mainly there to give the opponent something to think about, another target if you will.

12 Termagants 72
fleshborer

Same again

14 Hormagaunts 168
Toxin sacs, Adrenal glands (I)

I think hormies are great. Often overlooked by the enemy IMO. 2nd turn charge should mean I can block firing lines and tear down GEQ's with ease. Although I'd rather stay in combat for their turn, and then be able to take the squad down on their turn.

14 Hormagaunts 168
Toxin sacs, Adrenal glands (I)

Same again. Using cover as needed and what not

Genestealer brood 192
8 with ST, EC

This unit to me seems very expensive, at 24 a model. I was thinking I could drop a unit of termagants to make way for some more stealers. Downgrading these ones to stock standard and seperating into 2 smaller units, but still being a very effective choice in this army as they are fast and brutal in combat.

Fast attack
3 Raveners 120
ST and RC

Well Raveners just pwn gak up rly don't they. They will all be individual, and hopefully bring down any annoying skimmers/infiltrators as well as supporting the hormies and Lictor.

Heavy

Carnifex 148
Enhanced sences, Barbed Strangler, venom cannon

Carnifex 148
Enhanced sences, Barbed Strangler, venom cannon

Removed the Carapace off as I think they were too expensive. They are effective for their cost and will hopefully bring down a tank or 2 between them. In the end, if the enemy is shooting at these abd boys over my more formidable units I'll be pleased.

Zoanthropes 155
1 with WB, all synapse

These guys are really there for synapse. I could probly do a unit of warriors to be more effective, but will mean my synapse is in 1 unit instead of 3. Also, I could drop this unit and a unit of termagants for a broodlord and a retinue perhaps, if that would be more effective.


1500 on the dot

So there it is. I've put in as much info as I can, and hopefully you vets can help me out a bit. :

It's worthwhile to find the points for WB on the other two Zoans as well. S10 that can pen is hard to come by in the 'nid list.

Instead of EC on the fexes, go for the +1W.

Scytals on Genestealers are not too great a deal. More stealers is better.

As winterman said, there's no reason to go for +WS on the Flyrant instead of Miasma. I can see a case for stacking the two, but not for taking +WS instead of Miasma.

Thanks for the tips mate.

Where would you suggest I take the points from for those changes btw?

Thanks for the tips mate.

Where would you suggest I take the points from for those changes btw?

You could drop the scytals from the 'stealers and drop two Termagants. That would give you the points for the two added Warp Blasts and to upgrade the +WS to Miasma. (The 'fexes can manage without the extra wound.) It's a good trade IMO.

Yup true, sounds good. Are the raveners good also?
I think running them as individuals they won't get shot at before its too late, there are many better things to be shooting at really.
If they're not worth it I could get possibly more stealers or more gaunts of some description.
Is it necessary to run 2 fex's and 3 warp blasts? I can see how it would be a good idea though.

Here is the revised list:

HQ
Hive Tyrant 185
Adrenal Glands (I), Miasma, Flesh Hooks, Implant Attack, toxin sacs, winged, 2 sets of scything talons

Elites
Lictor 80

Troops

11 Termagants 66
fleshborer

10 Termagants 60
fleshborer

14 Hormagaunts 168
Toxin sacs, Adrenal glands (I)

14 Hormagaunts 168
Toxin sacs, Adrenal glands (I)

Genestealer brood 160
10

Fast attack
3 Raveners 120
ST and RC

Heavy

Carnifex 148
Enhanced sences, Barbed Strangler, venom cannon

Carnifex 148
Enhanced sences, Barbed Strangler, venom cannon

Zoanthropes 195
with synapse and WB

1498


I made the changes you suggested. How will it do in a tournament situation?

I should have just about everything covered yeh?

Any other feedback?

I'm afraid I don't do tourneys, and don't even play 'nids. All my advice has been based on what I wouldn't want to see across the table from me. All I can say is that it looks solid enough to me for a list that isn't cookie-cutter. It could be meaner, but not without being blander (the Lictor which you like so much would be the first thing to go).

Yes, I do think this list needs two gunfexes and three Blasts to do well (that is, if you aren't taking 3 gunfexes). Unlike most nid armies, you aren't running any medium strength shooting (shooty Tyrant, dakkafex[es]), so you have to bear in mind that those VCs and Blasts aren't just covering your heavy AT, but also light AT/MC-duty. The solo Raveners are tried and tested. I wouldn't worry about them.

Thanks mate. I think the list should do well.

I may even drop the lictor for 2 more raveners of decent sized squad of gaunts. Even maybe drop the lictor and another 40 points, and take a true dakka fex.

Soemthing is a little scary about 4 monstrous creatures.

Also, I realise Carnifex don't have any special rules with regard to synapse. But as I was reading the codex, it says any BROOD with a model within 12' etc etc. It is all about broods, so are only my broods effected or all models?

The reason I ask is, if my carnifexes arent effected by synapse at all they will be much easier to use freely.

I think adding one dakkfex would be a good thing for the list. It gives you S6 shooting which you wouldn't otherwise have. Handy when trying to take down AV10-11 vehicles--it would be a waste to use VC or Blasts on them when there are other, more appropriate things they could be targetted at. It also gives you reliable anti-personnel shooting which, again, you don't have (or at least don't have much off). Where would you get the 40 pts, though?

I'm pretty sure the 'dex does list the 'fex as a brood where it lists its unit size.

I don't think synapse matters much to fexes, though. If you fail a test with a fex, you just shoot, right?

I could perhaps knock it down to one unit of termagants with a few more numbers. Just run one unit of 14.

That would give me 52 troops, 3 raveners, HT, 3 carnies and 3 zoans.

Not too sure on this one though. And yeh it would be a dakkafex. I think opponents will have trouble with all the MC, yet I still have alot of fast units capable of some real damage.

It is a bit iffy. 62 model count is reasonable low, but it does have 4 monstrous creatures so hmm....

Hard one i think, since the Lictor is capable of a fair bit in theory, and when used right.

I wouldn't skimp too much on the small stuff. The thing that makes nids so good is the fact that you can't afford to ignore one part of the army for the other. If you ignore the big stuff and kill the little you end up getting hit by MCs on turn 4 or 5. If you go straight for the MCs you get tied up by gaunts and torn apart. As is I'd be tempted to say drop the stealers altogether and use the extra points for an elite dakkafex and some more gaunts or just a bunch more gaunts.