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I run CSM and at my local store chaos daemons and tau are the only lists I genuinely have problems with, what tactics and units work best against them?

Just about anything that can tie up all their pitiful units in CC before they can start blasting you?

Of course but it's getting there that can be a problem

chaos have those wickedly awesome jump units, or deep strike some terminators in?

do khronate berserkers count as leaping?

Well, I know that Grey Knights outshoot them... Perhaps Thousand Sons can do something similar, especially since Tau don't get armoursaves against their guns.

You want rhinos. They're fricken annoying, I penetrate them with about half my shots but I only permanently deal with them about one in six shots. Throw 3 rhinos at me and you'll probably have 2 alive at the end of the game considering if they've done their job I start ignoring them (but they've done their fricken job!).

Raptors are a high variance unit. They do have the ability to kill all the crisis suits and some fire warriors, but they are also likely to be killed before they do anything. Personally I would stick to units that, while not able to wipe out the entire tau gunline, are guaranteed to do some damage, like obliterators.

Terminators are great.

Against stealthsuits you want to keep your CSM together, including terminators.

Against crisis suits you want to fight them at range.

Against broadsides, give up. You aren't going to touch them and two of them are only going to shoot 12 shots per game, deal with it.

The hammerhead soaks up a lot of firepower, I think it's a great idea to try and do some damage, but definitely give up if it's lost its railgun or is already shaken.

Infiltrators don't scare tau anymore, so don't bother with chosen. Outflanking is very easy to deal with too.

I wouldn't deep strike the terminators.

I would annoy the tau player by staying at range in a firefight against crisis suits.

Infiltrating Chosen with Flamers. Nyahaha.

If the Tau you are playing is fielding mech Tau, then deep strike your Obliterators into Multi-Melta range (preferably within 12" so you get +2D6 and they get no cover save). Rhino mounted troops choices with a Champion carrying a Power Fist are also pretty nice against the Tau.

Don't try to outshoot the Tau, it ain't going to happen.

obliterator and raptors i think will do the job for you

In my current 1750 point list I'm running 8 obliterators but I do have problems against railguns, especially since they penetrate rhinos on a 2+ and have a better chance of getting an explosion result. I've tried using raptors but without power fists they don't seem to work too well :(

Well, if tau keep you out of assults they will win. You really just need to rush tau, giving them as few shots as possible. Crisis suits are a pain at range however soon as they get tied up they are toast. FoF has not been as good in this edition but still can be pulled off, you just need to be mech with him. If its farseight/ninja tau that give you issues use cover to your advantage.

I would suggest Bezerkers in Rhinos, Winged DP and Obliterators. I play tau and that list always kicks me around becuase I cant kill 30+ bezerkers without some of them getting to me.

I actually recommend deep striking some termies. Doing that in a game against my regular tau opponent accounted for a 2 hammerhead (1 destroyed the other immobile and down to burst cannons)

berzerkers in a land raider will work wonders for you

I'm not too keen on using a land raider, with my tau opponents maxing out their heavy support on railguns in high point games they're destroyed very easily and rarely make back their points :(

best way to beat tau... hmmm....

i can't think of anything that can't beat tow cows except for a small child... a small child that can't walk so they can't get into hth lol XD

Seriously though, low point games are just too easy, the only thing you have to worry about in bigger games is the railgun, but you have to realize that their heavy support is strictly anti tank only. so for the higher point games just swarm them with your expendibles.

Remember that railguns are still only penetrating the LR on a 5 or 6. Yes, they get that +1 from AP 1 on the chart, but as long as you're semi creative with terrain and you take demonic possession, you should be doing well.
Besides, if your berzerkers end up slogging for a turn or two, those railguns are now next to worthless, as each will account for one marine assuming they hit and don't roll 1's to wound. I don't know if you've ever fought Broadsides in melee, but it's pretty funny to watch.
For Crisis suits, the defiler cannon has insane range, plus its got good enough AP and Instant Death. Once the defiler gets closer, its melee Instant Death against enemies who cannot harm you. (please avoid any fusion blasters though)
Best thing for tau is lots of basic marines in rhinos. Sure, rhinos are railgun bait, but they can't get them all on the first turn (don't quote me on that, no promises)

CC ruins their day...period.
Daul lash will also anihilate them, as you can move their suits where you want them, then either assault them or hit them with Oblits.

Trying to beat Tau with CC is exactly what they want, every semi competent tau commander has a million and one ways to avoid assaults, minimize the damage from them or even use the assault to their advantage. You wanna really pummel tau with CSM go noise marines. You have t4 and a 3+ save they have t3 and a 4+ save, at 24" you get 2-3 shots per model they get 1, backed up by obliterators/lash princes to deal with the crisis suits/tanks this should be an easy win.

Remember, when assaulting, assault 2-3 Tau units at a time, in the hopes that 1 doesn't break, leaveing you exposed (Which is bad).

Nenya97 wrote:best way to beat tau... hmmm....

i can't think of anything that can't beat tow cows except for a small child... a small child that can't walk so they can't get into hth lol XD

Seriously though, low point games are just too easy, the only thing you have to worry about in bigger games is the railgun, but you have to realize that their heavy support is strictly anti tank only. so for the higher point games just swarm them with your expendibles.

For someone that plays this off as common knowledge, you are quite ignorant of Tau weaponry.
Ever heard of the Railgun submunition? Not the fix-all, end-all, but sure is for a bit more than "anti-tank".

OP: Best solution. Distract the Tau play with some distant targets, take some potshots, but generally stay out of range unless you get the opportunity for assault. If the assault chance is EVER available, take it. Others have mentioned Deep Striking, and if you can Deep Strike come units strong in HTH combat close to Tau lines....you've a got a good shot at owning the game from there on.