Tau Heavy Support Slots

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**WarOne**

I would like to know what people use to fill in the three Heavy Support Slots in the FOC for Tau. To date, I have used an Ion Head, a Rail Head, and a unit of XV88 Broadsides with Stabilizers as my three slots in an attempt to provide a balanced answer to other armies.

If you like to know what else I generally use, well I tend to max Devilfishes and a line of Kroot for defense of the Heavy Support option.

So I would like to know what other people have done to approach the Tau Heavy Slot and what they use it in conjunction with.

**Lord Rogukiel**

I onced faced three Hammerheads and was destroyed.

**Hido**

I like running 2 railheads and a squad of 3 broadsides, being able to move 12 inches and shoot the railgun (With the upgrade) is always nice. Also I tend to use my broadsides to take out tanks and use the railheads to pummel infantry and take out those pesky hidden tanks. (I just posted this in another thread)

**Captain_Trips01**

I currently take 2 Railheads and 2 Sniper Drone Teams, I may switch out 1 Hammerhead for a 2 or 3 man Broadside team in the future when I get the models.

**mythological**

I sport a 3 man broadside team with ASS and 2 hammerheads with disruption pods, multitracker, and flechettes

The reason behind this is the broadsides and maybe a squad of pathfinders or two set up away from the main firebase and dish out alot of firepower. The enemy has a choice, either go for the heavy hitting broadsides with one or two units, or go after my main firebase where my objectives/ juicy killpoints are. If he does the former, the unit probably would not see combat for the rest of the game. The latter, and the broadsides will happily keep firing away with the pathfinders giving markerlight support.

The 2 hammerheads are for their mobility and the enemy might differt some firepower to them, keeping it off my devilfish that carry my FWs. They are my main anti-horde, and with markerlights to wipe away cover, deadly.

-J

**warboss**

mythological wrote:I sport a 3 man broadside team with ASS
-J

worst... GW... acronym... EVER!!! and i tend to use two squads of 3 with a single hammerhead.

**4M2A**

For me it has to be 3 hammerheads. Being able move the railguns around the table makes up for less shots. I find they tend to work rather well because they are tougher than broadsides. If all the enemy vehicles are gone then it's time to hit infantry with submunition.

**Mortified Penguin**

I don't play Tau, but I have a friend who does. He runs a Railhead and a 3 man Broadside team minimum. The third slot is usually empty since he runs a Farsight enclave with the Crisis suit bomb trick.

**mythological**

mythological wrote:
I sport a 3 man broadside team with ASS
-J

worst... GW... acronym... EVER!!! and i tend to use two squads of 3 with a single hammerhead.

I forgot to mention the broadsides real defintion: BASS (broadside advanced stabilization system)

**warboss**

i prefer to hum sir mix a lot's classic song "baby got back" when i move them using their slow and purposeful movement... i imagine they're slowly advancing facing backwards shaking their butts which is why they move so slow.

**Grey Templar**

in lower point games(1850 and less) you want Hammerheads because they are a very cheap tank.

mid range games (1850 to 2000) you want one full squadron of XV88's and no more then one hammerhead.

High point games(2000+) you want 2 squads of 3 XV88s to kill the mech spam that shows up. one hammerhead is still useful as it has the pie plate for when you run into horde armies and 3 more railgun shots aren't super useful.

**Yorick_of_Tau**

A good rule of thumb is to have 1 railgun for every 500 points. Broadsides are the cheapest source of railguns, but they are not as mobile or versatille as a HH. If you need some pie plates, HH's the way to go.

**QuietOrkmi**

I am currently trying out 2 sniper teams, 1 Railhead, and 3 Broadsides with 2 targeting arrays and a target lock...

**Yorick_of_Tau**

Make sure you get some markerlights to support those snipers. They are really good at pinning if they can get a couple marker hits.

For the Broadsides: give 'em some shield drones. 2+ doesn't mean anything when the LR they're targeting shoots back.

**troy_tempest**

If I'm not facing a horde or Eldar I take broadsides, with stabilisers and blacksun filter on the team leader.

If horde, then at least 2 railheads, maybe 3. Ion is a waste IMO as your suits are best source of low AP guns.

**Grey Templar**

i think in hogher point games where your XV88s are bringing the railguns and if facing MEQs then an Ionhead is a brilliant choice.

lower point games also work for ionheads. AV14 rarely shows up and 3 Str6 ap3 shots can put MEQs in their place.

**Lorek**

I run three Broadsides and an Ionhead in 1850, and in 2000 I stuff in another Ionhead.

I find that Ionheads also make good anti-light vehicle platforms. Getting early-game side armor shots (the 60" range is nice) is tasty.