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The objective of this list is to let me assemble and paint a 1,000 point force from scratch, and finish it for use at Platinum Devil in early April.

Combat effectiveness is therefore a secondary consideration compared to keeping the model count low to minimise the amount of building and painting.

I am also building it with all snakey bugs. The few legged models (Warriors) will be converted. So I have chosen cool looking snakey models, and I’m not taking any Gants or Gaunts, which would be a lot of work to convert.

At the same time, I don’t want to automatically lose games because of some major deficiency.

The main weaknesses seem to be a lack of good anti-tank, and in general the low model count. I’ve bulked up the model count a bit by using Gargoyles and Rippers. I’ve got four units of Troops, and I’ve only got one major point sink model in the army.

Any thoughts?

HQ
Tyranid Warrior Prime

Elite
Zoanthrope
Venomthrope

Troops
Warriors (3)
Warriors (3)
Ripper swarms (3)
Ripper swarms (3)

Fast Attack
Raveners (3)
Gargoyles (10)
Gargoyles (10)

Heavy
Trygon

My first concern is that your gargoyles are going to get fragged fast, with only 10 in each brood, and with a 5+(or 6+) dont have the dex on me, they are cannon fodder.

I would also question the usefulness of just one zoanthrope, maybe its just me.

my advice would be either:
join the gargoyles broods together and maybe use 1 or 2 to fund a barbed strangler or two on the warriors (for pie plates, you'l need them) and mostly ignore tanks.

or

Join the gargoyles, use some to buy a second zoanthrope and drop the venomthrope for a pyrovore[spelling?] or some hive guard.

Just my initial thoughts

I am a bit worried about your troop choices. Since swarms cannot hold objectives you will likely have a lot of trouble. Also the warriors are likely to attract much heavy weapon fire, since the only other worthy target is the trygon. I say you need more scoring bodies. I suggest a unit of stealers, convert some gargoyles to termagants or just more units of warriors.

Unless you make the trygon a prime you risk placing your gargoyles, and maybe your raveners, outside of synapse, since they move quite fast.

Anti tank will be an issue. But in a 1000p fight, you are unlikely to face the really heavy things, so maybe a few hiveguard (converted of course) could do the job properly. On the other hand, zoanthropes are both good looking and very effective, so one more couldn't hurt.

Good advice, keep it coming please!

I don't see the point in taking Rippers as they can't hold objcetives. Having 6 T4 models as your only objective holders is to me tantamount to forfeiting Objective games.

I'd take 2 trygons or none and would seriously consider (if you are set on taking 1) making it a Prime for synapse.

Mellon has had an excellent idea on a quick conversion to get some gaunts in your army or just max out on warriors.

You haven't really mentioned what weapons you are taking on your warriors? My advice is to take one shooty unit lead by the Prime as he buffs warrior shooting (though has little to no effect on their assault). Then make the other unit(s) primed for assault. I'd guive the Prime a pair of boneswords too as they largely fill in the function of a PF in a marine tac squad.

Gargoyles always need toxin sacs! For 1 point it is just a must always!

Don't think the Venomthrope will do much for you in this list as the only MC you have is unlikely to be near enough to feel the benefit. Though I can see why you'd take it for theme those 55 points could make the trygon an adrenal glanded Prime...

However I advice is if you go fro just 1 large burrower the Mawloc is the better option. Unlike the Trygon it is not reliant on standing in front of the enemy guns for a turn before it can do serious damage. It does it's damage when it arrives. And if you go first or there is soemthing to hide it behind you can even deploy it to ensure it arrives turn2 with it's first burrow atatck. But that option would further decrease your AT. Though with that and switching out the Venomthrope you could convert up a pair of Hive Guard (well you'd have to find another 15 points).

I'd give the Raveners rending claws and would consider devourers on them too. Or drop them for more warriors. Your army lacks punch at the moment and won;t significantly worry anything. MEQs have no rending to wrorry about, hordes will just swamp you mech will laugh at your current list (or giggle if it is Mechdar) all the whilst knowing if they kill 6 models you can't possibly win 2/3 games!

I thought the Rippers were cute and cheap but as they can't hold objectives I had better dump them.

The gargoyles would convert fairly easily to snakey Gaunts.

If I drop the Venomthrope and spend the points on Warriors instead, that gives me another scoring unit.

I need to look at the detail of the upgrades on the Warriors and Raveners.

You could use Ravenors as Snakey Warriors just put Warrior armes on them and voila!

Yeah I think the Gargoyles + sankey Gaunts call was genius!

You do need more troops.

Raveners are a bit expensive to convert to Warriors but if I rip the hind legs off the Warriors, I can extend the tail with putty, and put some small arms off one of the other kits on them.

So what I am thinking of now is this:

HQ
Tyranid Prime

Elites
Zoanthrope

Troops
10 Warriors (in two or three units)
20 Snakey Gants (perhaps in two units)

Fast Attack
3 Raveners (I've bought the kit already, and they look cool.)

Heavy
Trygon (Prime?) or Mawloc

A few points left over for some upgrades. Or a lot of points if I chose a Mawloc, so maybe I would add more Warriors or another Zoey to have another Synapse creature.

I'd probably take Mawloc and another Zoey. It depends on how comptetive the armies you are up against are going to be. If they are efficient melta heavy - mech heavy competitive armies then the Mawloc all day long and 2 Zoeys is a minimum. If it is fluffy fun armies that are themed like yours then you can get away with a Trygon Prime (for extra synapse and 18" range allowing it to shoot the turn it arrives without having to be on top of the enemy).

Just against competitive armies you can expect your burrower to be dead the turn it pokes up its head. In the case of the Trygon even more so than the Mawloc as it will be an even bigger priority target. however the Mawloc will have already done it's party peice by then where as the Trygon will have yet to show it's fangs. Hence why on their own you are generally better off with the Mawloc.

I would tend to spread the love with the Warriors but mass the gaunts in one unit. I'd have shooty ones with the Prime attached as his main function is to boost their shooting and then ernding or boneswords on the others.

I don't know what the other armies will be like, probably not hyper competitive because the convention is just for fun. There are no prizes for people to get worked up about.

I suppose I can build the Trygon model as a Trygon and call it a Mawlok. If it is the only MC in the army it can't be mistaken.

To be honest mate, im just waiting on the dates to be confirmed with my CO and then ill be signing up for the plat dev

However, i wont be using a competative list, i know a few who are going, and they are all taking fluffy or converted lists.
Il be running a tyranofex and possibly a swarmlord, but other than that, it depends on what looks the best / what i want to convert lol.


I have a trygon (brought for the great model, but unused for poor rules) so i would advise towards the mawloc lol.
Also, paint it before arms are on and before you put it on the base.
Its a real bitch otherwise.



Listwise, if you want a warriors theme army (im tempted to do so) then go all out for it.
I'd drop gaunts and top up on warriors / ravs.
but more so, i would get another thrope.
Dont need a fully competative list for plat, but you will need more anti-tank than you have mate.
Otherwise by turn 2 you wont have anything able to hunt down armour.


Just my £2