Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I was thinking about how the various existing Battle Formations interact with the new Codex and decided to put together my thoughts.


NO LONGER USEABLE:

Endless Swarm
- refers to rules that no longer exist, and have been largely obsoleted by Tervigons and the new Trygon formation.

Meiotic Spore
- spawns units that no longer exist. Hopefully will be revised soon, with IA anti-air rules restored (right now, Tyranids have NOTHING to take out aircraft in Apoc other than Harridans).

Stone-crusher Carnifex
- refers to too many rules that no longer exist to ignore them.

Spore Chimney Infestation
- spawns units that no longer exist.

Genestealer Infestation
- refers to rules that no longer exist, and has been largely obsoleted by Ymgarl Stealers.

Behemoth Crusher Brood
- refers to too many rules that no longer exist to ignore them.

Living Fortress
- refers to rules that no longer exist or are specifically contradicted by Codex rules, and is obsoleted by Tervigons.


RULES ISSUES, BUT USEABLE:

Hive Mind Brood
- there's a lot of YMDC about Hive Guard and Tyrants, and losing your Zoanthropes' shooting is a hefty price to pay if you're taking on Titans, but throwing loads of Pinning tests around can be very effective - especially with how many Stranglers you can take.

Subterranean Swarm
- still a great Formation, though RAW mandate the use of IA rules for the Trygon. Potential for combo strikes with Lictors.

Malanthrope
- refers to rules that no longer exist, but can get by without them.

Winged Swarm
- As long as your opponent is prepared to tolerate the renaming of Winged Warriors and Rippers, the massive points drop on Gargoyles makes this great. Potential for combo strikes with Lictors.

Kraken Tendril Swarm
- As long as your opponent is prepared to tolerate the renaming of Gaunts, the massive points drop on Gargoyles makes this great - even with the lack of Wings or Leaping options for Warriors.


LEGAL, BUT NERFED/POINTLESS:

Trygon
- IA, Apoc or Codex rules? YMDC.

Mycetic Assault Storm
- if you haven't got Mycetic Spore models, or if you'd like to cheaply Deep Strike your MC's, or if you'd like to give your Heirodules a Cover save and point-blank shots, and don't mind the risk of Deep Strike mishaps, it's still nasty - and has potential for combo strikes with Lictors. But using the 'old' rules for Mycetic Spores when now they have a proper tabletop presence is very beardy.


BROKEN:

Eye of the Hive
- So Warriors are less mobile. Big deal, you can have a picket line covering most of your army and giving it all FNP and PE. Absolutely horrific, and a total game-breaker. Combine with Venomthropes & Primes nerfing S8/9 and Barbed Heirodules taking out D weapons to win every game at the expense of losing all your friends.



On the bright side, we have three new formations which actually seem OK.