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so i was thinking about this the other day.

with the new rules to blast weapons, and the new cover save rules. i really think that taking a squad of 3 or 4 warriors in the eliet slot is a better choice then taking a fex.

3-4 warriors with +1S, deathspitter, and one barbed strangler all with talons. is around the points of a one strangler / talons fex.

they cant be instant kiled becaue of synaps rule. and if you keep them behind a gaunt wall, you give them a 4+ cover save.
and insted of throwing out 1 S8 large blast, you are throwing out 1 S4 pie plate, and 2-3 S6 small blast.

i am also thinking that taking 3 zoeys with warp blast, and synaps, and 2 uber gunfex is mabey a better choice then 3 uber gunfex.

i am on the fence about this one because they dont have the range as the uberfex. but they do toss out an AP3 small blast.
like the warriors these guys would get that 4+ cover save if behind a gaunt wall. and they allready have a 2+ armor save.

your thoughts?

3-4 warriors with +1S, deathspitter, and one barbed strangler all with talons. is around the points of a one strangler / talons fex.

4x Warriors, all +1S, 1 Strangler, 3x Deathspitters, and 4x Scytals is 129 points.

It's difficult to Mathhammer the blast weapons, but I think the Warriors actually come out ahead when compared with the Dakkafex.

They also win out bigtime in CC attack volume. 12 vs 2. Granted, if a Fex hits, it kills, while a Warrior hit is far less certain.

Fex vs MEq: 2A, 1hit ,5/6 wound, 5/6 die.
Warriors: 12A, 6 hit, 4 wound, 4/3 die.

Even better on the charge, but mostly useless against vehicles.

The Warriors have 8 wounds, vs the 4 of the Fex, but they're only T4, and have a nearly worthless save, and as they take wounds, they lose effectiveness (the Fex doesn't). They're easier to get into cover, though and have better range.

I play a list with 3x Dakkafexes, and I really like them. However, your idea does pass the Theoryhammer test. I think they would prove to be a good buy.

i am also thinking that taking 3 zoeys with warp blast, and synaps, and 2 uber gunfex is mabey a better choice then 3 uber gunfex.

I agree, but I don't necessarily think that makes it "not bugzilla." I was under the impression that taking 3x Zoanthropes in the HS slot was actually pretty standard in a big bug list.

no, standard bugzill list is

dakka flyrant
tyrnet with 3 guard
3 eliet fexs (most common is dakka fexes)
3 uber gun fexs

the rest on stealers

i think my nid list will be bsed on

dakka flyrant
brood lord with retinue (or mabey standard tyrent with 3 guard... not sure yet)

one dakka fex for eliet to draw attention a bit
with 2 groups of template warriors

2 gun fex
3 zoeys

a squad of spine gaunt
a squad of termagaunt (only because i dont have enough spine gaunts... stupid macrage box)
make good shields

some hormagants (i konw people say stelars are better... but i think leaping makes them worth it)
the rest on 2-3 squads of stealers

ill work out an 1850 with this concept.



see to me, the big bugs allways get hit by high strength low AP gun that cut through thier armor. even a 2+ save carnie cant stop a lascannon.
but a 4+ cover save on zoeys can.
and a 3+ save dakka fex cant stop a plasma gun or krak missile
but a 4+ cover save on warriors can

see what i am getting at people?

I haven't played Tyranids since second edition, but I got slaughtered by them a couple of times in 4th, and my recommendation for you is lots of Warriors and zoanthropes. Do try and be a gracious winner, however difficult it may be, especially if by the end of turn 3 your enemy is removing his last model. (Grumble, grumble... )

My big bug list in the army list section is based around 2k but it's got 2 dakka, 2 boom, and 2 super boom fex's(cc upgrades) as well as 2 units of 6 warriors w/st upgrade and deathspitters/barbed stranglers.

I love the damage output of the warriors in 5th edition as well as the ability to spread the wounds around. I do figure i need the big bugs for major vehicle destruction though. It's easier to run a couple landraiders down if you have 6 carnies than 4

a very shooty blast template army, maxing out on stranglers and deathspitters, would be interesting, either with a zilla flavour or some warriors as you suggest. It would slaughter horde armies, but might struggle against some elite close combat and vehicles

The elite close combat armies are why you still need a few big bugs that can brawl. As for vehicles the only one that's an issue for it is Landraiders. Since you've got 10 st6 blasts and 4 st8 ordinance blasts you should be able to take out most light vehicles. I worry about LR's w/TH+SH termies from the new marine dex more than anything else

Zoanthropes mixed in with the some number of actual troops you'll have for tank busting. Sorted. Mix in psychic scream (in higher point games, it doesnt comparetively cost much) and your making people hurt for those pinning tests.

I play a balanced nid build and I use 9 warriors with deathspitters. Trust me, they are very effective. But generally speaking against MEQs I have found the dakkafex and dakka tyrant work better. The blasts work better against hordes. I find it best to use both (1 brood of warriors in the HQ slot, 1 in an elite spot, then 2 elite fexes for the other elite spot (1 strangler, 1 dakka). Always put in some zoanthropes for some real heavy duty tank busting.

A viable list is 45 of those warriors 3 sniper fex's VC and BS. Then around 120 gaunts and a handful of stealers. It has an unimaginable price tag as far as cash though.

That's over 2500 points. Assuming +1st, Deathspitters and talons on the warriors, 120 spine gaunts, no stealers, and 3 carnies w/venom cannon, barbed strangler, and +1 st. Not that effective for that high of a point total.