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So im looking at adding a squad of pathfinders to my army for markerlights / Rail rifles.

Currently im going for 2 railgun hammerheads, 3 broadsides, 8-12 crisis suits, 2-3 squads of fire warriors filling in the rest with Kroot.

Now main thing is.. Will the markerlights give me enough benefit in 5th ? Or is it not worth taking the squad, event to get some rail rifles.


I plan on placing the Pathfinders devilfish beside a squad of firewarriors, and jumping them into it as their transport, and using the pathfinders as a stationary firebase with their long ish rang.

Is this effective ? or a waste of my time ?

I use a squad of pathfinders with markerlights, i find it useful. It is an extra three marker lights that you get to use. For three markerlights and a devilfish, i think its worht it.

It can also distract your opponent if you move them right front of his line.

Rail rifles are terrible, marker lights are 100% essential.

Lots of armies like to use cover saves to increase the survivability of their vehicles while they are rushing straight towards your lines.

Markerlights can remove these cover saves.

If an Eldar player Fortunes a waveserpent and drives straight at you, what will you do without markerlights? The answer is: cry.

With markerlights you remove the cover save so it doesn't have anything to reroll, then you blast it with railguns and missile pods.

Why are rail rifles terrible ? str 7 ap3 pinning weapon that has target lock ?

yea its BS 3, but its only 10 pts.

Markerlights are to Tau what Farseers are to Eldar. Each markerlight hit will add far more than a single rifle shot's worth of killing power.

And they're str 6, btw.

Its STR6 not 7 ; They're okay.


Pathfinders work really well with Skyrays despite what people say Skyrays are a excellent vehicle. 2 Marker Lights and 6 Seeker Missiles for 165 plus SMS and ability to move 12 fire 2 marker Lights and SMS.


I prefer the "blow my load" tactic of Skyray. Light something up with pathfinders and send 5 Krak Missiles at it.

For when you absolutely have to kill that Light Armour / Infantry.

Also works great against Vendettas.

Amalinze wrote:Markerlights are to Tau what Farseers are to Eldar. Each markerlight hit will add far more than a single rifle shot's worth of killing power.

And they're str 6, btw.

Paying 10 points to lose the most valuable piece of equipment in your army is what is fail.

Rail rifles are Str 6. Still great at killing infantry.

My problems with rail rifles in pathfinder squads is two-fold. First, I use pathfinders for markerlights. Rail rifles cost 10 points extra (so they are really 22 points each) and take away markerlights. I find pinning generally useless. Killing marines is nice, though, and many Tau lists need the help against MEQs.

My second problem is that my pathfinders usually survive longer because most people ignore them for more valuable targets. I use minimum size squads, and most people would rather go after my 150-200 point Crisis squads. This allows my cheap markerlights to survive longer than otherwise. Adding rail rifles changes that equation. Suddenly your squad is worth over 100 points, and your enemy will kill them, since pathfinders are pretty easy to kill, even in cover.

So with the thinking that Markerlights are worth taking..

Is pathfinders the best way to take them ?

Id rather not use Skyrays either.

Tau Pathfinders are the best points ratio for marker lights.
Their static/unscoring nature sort of sucks, but these are the most markerlights per squad you'll get an an acceptable price.

I agree, markerlights are a must have, but don't over do it. You'll need a decent ratio of Markers to weapons to actually make use of it.

They should focus on marking, not killing stuff with railrifles, that's what the rest of the arm is for.

My 7 Cents.

Edit: hmm, every time I see Pathfinders, the Eldar ones come to mind first...

Pathfinders are cheap markerlights..that is good.

They are also only T3 and static...this means that a smart opponent will let you have exactly one turn to use those markerlights before they kill those pathfinders...none if he gets to go first.

As was already stated...markerlights are the bread and butter of Tau lists, and every good player knows this, so they will kill them fast.

I actaully prefer stealth teams with marker drones...yes they are WAY more expensive; however, they cannot be shot to pices in one turn. This means that while you get fewer markerlights, you usually get to use them for most of the game...unlike the 1 turn use of Pathfinders.

Pathfinders are good. Go ahead and run them.

As for the Pathfinder railrifles. I think a lot of the thinking on them is out dated. Personally I believe they are a great buy in certain situations.

Look at it like this: A while back people were buying kroot in squads of 12 because they were throwing the kroot into the pathfinder devilfish. The thinking was that 7 point kroot were cheaper than 10pt Fire warriors.

Sounds good untill you look at minimum squad size. Suddenly it is 60pnts for Tau and 70pts for the kroot.

Now say you want to run three Fire warrior squads of whatever size. What if instead of buying Devilfish for them you instead spam pathfinders. 1 team for markers and the other 2 you run 2markers and 3 rail rifles? This leaves you with more markers spread through three squads as opposed to 1 squad and it brings more firepower to the table.

It a better deal than running sniper drones and still leaves all three Heavies open for Broadsides and Hammerheads.

Not saying that this is the best build, just that it is as viable as any other Tau build

Hope this helps, Later

With the luck ive been having i think ill stick to 10-12 sized FW squads.

I had 8 the other day in a 750pt tourney do around 6-8 wounds per rapid fire against marines, which still is rather good.