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So... Im a total n00b. Here and to Warhammer 40k. My boyfriend dragged me in. Hes fairly new to the game as well and plays Tao, so hes not too much help to me.

Anyway, Im starting with a Tyranid army, and I got the starter pack with the gaunts, genestealers, and carnifex.

Im assembling my Termangants now, and I had a question...

Well I have choices of different arms, and I dont really know what to choose. I located them in my codex, but still Im not very sure what all of that means. I believe my options are "devourers" and "fleshborer" for one arm, and what just looks like a normal arm and "spinefist" for the other arm.

What would you all suggest? Eventually I would like to have a monster army so Ill have less figures.

I would really appreciate all help. Thanks!

- Mandy

You have to decide what type of gaunt you want. None of them are very good at shooting . I decided on cheap spinefist ones with no upgrades , and a without number rule . So theycan be used as a screen for more expensive models then once destroyed I can bring them on later to capture objectives. So all I had do was put spine fists on them.

I personally like the fleshborer models. Really it's up to you to decide which guns you want on the models you are assembling. Spinegaunts are your cheapest option though fleshborer armed gaunts have an advantage when it comes to wounding Toughness 4/5 models and come in at only 1 pt more...as well as being able to take pot shots at the rear armour of tanks(if given the chance).

Both choices are good in terms of gaunt weaponry...cheap and expendable. Devourers in my opinion are too expensive on such killable models.

gaunts are cute (i think so) little meat shields, as are rippers. however, even meat shields can be highly effective in big numbers, i've got a 3 way split of about 70 gaunts
1/3rd spinegaunts, 1/3rd hormagaunts and 1/3rd termagants, use the ones with guns as shields so you can get up close with your bigger heavier hitting units + if you get without number on them once the squad dies it comes back behind your army

Advice: stick spinefists on the Hormagaunts. They are not much use as Hormagaunts.

Until we get a new codex at least

Crazy_Carnifex wrote:Advice: stick spinefists on the Hormagaunts. They are not much use as termagaunts.

fixed.
Also i agree, I used to have a small army of tyranids and my hormagaunts rarely did anything besides screen other tyranids. And for 10 points or so theyre too expensive to be a decent meatshield. Sticking spinefists on them and calling them spinegaunts is a pretty good idea. I'd recommend giving your other gaunts fleshborers, theyre a great weapon that get to reroll to wound so will almost always kill what they hit.

well i have to disagree with the Hormgaunt hate, they can tear up units in CC and when you have genestealers on the board your Hormguant tend to get ignored which means they rush up and quickly reach the gun line of any army. and i have seen a small 10 gaunt squad tear through a tactical marine squad, when properly up graded they are marine killers. well thats what i have seen in game, maybe others haven't, just don't count them out completely.

Thats the thing though isn't it. A tooled up hormie is about the same price as a genestealer...guess which I would rather have.

Lukus83 - Im assuming that you would prefer genestealers? I really dont know much at all about any of the figures I have, but I do know that I was told genestealers are good and Ill want a bunch of em.

So... Im thinking spinefist and fleshborer. I dont want them to cost a ton because yeah, I was told they are more or less disposable in a game. Now... should I do them all with the same spinefist and fleshborer? Or do some with both, and some with just one?

My goal for today is to make a good dent in my box... except for all of the optional arms. I would hate to bother you all here with questions about every single model I have. Ill just wait till I can either see a friend who knows the game very well or get to GW to put my arms and heads on.... mmmm Carnifex. I want to paint you so badly. <3

Yes genestealers are good.

As to the original question I think Crazy_Carnifex got it right. Make your normal gaunts have fleshborers and convert the hormagaunts to have spinefists. Unless you REALLY want some hormagaunt models.

By the way, what do you mean "with both" and "with just one"? The models can only be given just one gun each (although the spinefists come in pairs...that's why they are twin linked).

Good luck

Well what i do with each batch of gaunts is simple
1. Add spinefists to the gaunts and put them on meatshield/without number resupply duty
2. Add fleshborers and paper bug wings to the hormies an play them as gargoyles (speed is win )
Example (not mine): http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s111/Boppl/PC070031.jpg

Well you cant have 2 weapon symbiotes on one gaunt. So, you either give an entire squad just fleshborers, or an entire squad the pair of spinefists. cant mix em, unfortunately, so choose wisely...

Lukus83 wrote:Yes genestealers are good.

As to the original question I think Crazy_Carnifex got it right. Make your normal gaunts have fleshborers and convert the hormagaunts to have spinefists. Unless you REALLY want some hormagaunt models.

By the way, what do you mean "with both" and "with just one"? The models can only be given just one gun each (although the spinefists come in pairs...that's why they are twin linked).

Good luck

From looking at it one arm could be either the fleshborer or the other gun... and the other arm could be the spine fist or what just looks like a normal arm... So yeah, one gun each... but I dont think I saw that the spinefists come in pairs...

Let me clear things up cause I think i see waht you're saying and others dont.

For a fleshborer, it's going to be the actual gun and a normal arm attached to it where you see the round ends for the gun to attach. It should all look like one piece.

The spinefists do come in pairs. You put a fist on either side and you're good. You don't give two guns to any gaunt. Spinefist pairsare one option, fleshborers with a regular arm is the other. Devourers... just don't use them.

Also, if you need help, just go to your local FLGS and talk to them. They should know enough to help...

Also, if you go to Page 54 of your codex, it shows you the different looks for gaunts. The last page of the codex will give you a look of what a fleshborer with an arm will look like from the other angle.

Lorgar's_Blessed wrote:Let me clear things up cause I think i see waht you're saying and others dont.

For a fleshborer, it's going to be the actual gun and a normal arm attached to it where you see the round ends for the gun to attach. It should all look like one piece.

The spinefists do come in pairs. You put a fist on either side and you're good. You don't give two guns to any gaunt. Spinefist pairsare one option, fleshborers with a regular arm is the other. Devourers... just don't use them.

Also, if you need help, just go to your local FLGS and talk to them. They should know enough to help...

Also, if you go to Page 54 of your codex, it shows you the different looks for gaunts. The last page of the codex will give you a look of what a fleshborer with an arm will look like from the other angle.

Awesome and perfect! Thank you SO much! I totally get it now! Yay! I finished my other gaunts tonight except for arms as well, which Ill figure out later... and Ive decided to go the magnet route for my warriors and carnifex. OH BOY. When I jump in, I dive in head first, dont I?! Thank you again!

And thank you everyone else for your help! I really appreciate it!