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Realizing that there are problems with spore mines (such as kill points), I would like to ask those knowledgeable on the subject a few questions on spore mine tactics. What ways have you found to use spore mines as Fast Attack choices? What are the best types of spore mines and what ways do you use them? What kind of success have you had or failure with certain types of spore mine tactics?

I ask because even though there are problems with certain tyranid units at the current time, I like the idea of spore mines and would like to incorporate them.

I used to love FA spre mines, sadly don't use them in a kill points mission. I always use bio acid, drop them right in front of your enemy, to block off lanes of fire/herd them.

From reading the codex, bio-acid spore mines seem the best choice to me also (however other experienced players may have good uses for the other types - kill points prolem aside). How do you find using bio-acid mines to try to destroy vehicles by try to drop right on top of them?

I'm surprised. Do no Tyranid players use spore mines? Even in friendly games that don't use kill points? Are spore mines that bad for their cost that it is not worth taking them at all?

I used to use spore mines but that stopped an edition or two ago. The problem I find is that I don't really want to spend a FA slot on disposable ordnance and I can find much better things to buy in HS than biovores.

If you really want to use them I'd recommend buying the cheapest type and using them as mobile cover.

Ventus wrote:I'm surprised. Do no Tyranid players use spore mines? Even in friendly games that don't use kill points? Are spore mines that bad for their cost that it is not worth taking them at all?

3 bio-acid spore mines = 36 points
1 Ravener = 40 points

If I'm playing a friendly game with nids, I know which one I'd rather throw on the table.

I have found that to make full use of spore mines that you have to take biovores as this gives you up 18 [3 biovore = 3 spore mines every turn x 6 = 18 spores]

Spore mines are really to either kill weak troopr eg. IG and even Eldar guardians. Or to block avenues of attack/shooting.

If you know that you wouldnt be able to assault in your turn but your enemy will be his turn, try and drop some infront of your troop/his troops, forcing him to waste shooting them and/or assaultng them or they might kill a few models and make them pinned or fall back

Yuk, never see any tyranid players use these anymore. And for good reasons, they are so situational and there are so much better choices to spend the points on.

I see what you mean Centurian99. I was just looking in the codex and Raveners do look better cost wise compared to 3 bio-acid mines as a fast attack choice. A bit of a bummer because I like the idea of spore mines. I guess I can hope that GW will fix spore mines whenever the updated codex comes out (2-3 years maybe?).

I used to field them regularly, Biovores too.

Now I delegate them to Apoc games (used 600+ points of mines in one round!!) and Tourneys with KP variations.

I do enjoy them when used though.