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So, I have been reading a few articles online, and it seems there is a pretty universal dislike of Commander Shadowsun.


Most seem to think that she is wasted points, because of her loadout does not seem to have much synergy with itself/or others.



I believe I have found a use for her, and a good one I think.

I have devised a static gunline army for tau, that includes 4x FW teams, 3x Broadsides, a single fish, a single railhead, Shadowsun, and 6 Crisis suits, 3 heatwave (TL Flamer/Missile Pod) and 3 Fireforge (Fusion blaster/Missile pod).

I do not claim to be the first to do this, but I have not seen it done yet.

The Key to this army is to actually use the Kauyon tactic.

At the beginning of the game,
Fire warriors are in a Gunline, Keep one in the Fish, depending on mission type
keep your Crisis Suits and Shadowsun in cover behind the gunline. Your Fireforges may be seperate, but be careful
Your Broadsides should be up high, and able to see most of the battlefield, preferablly behind the gunline as well.
Your Hammerhead can be where it can see the most.


With luck, you will have a STRONG defensive point and be able to repel most fire. When the enemy gets close JSJ your heatwaves and shadowsun, also your Fireforges. That gives you 5 S8 AP1 shots, plus the twin linked flamers at close range not to mention the firewarriors you have there shooting lots of S5 AP5. You must be patient with this style of play.
Shadowsun and her 18" range will keep your FW squads from running when taking incoming fire.

I have only played this army twice.

the first time, I played against Chaos Daemons... He was hampered by his staggered deployment.. I lost 7 Firewarriors.. and tabled him.. No Joke

The Second time I played Vanilla Marines, I won a on annihilation



I look forward to constructive criticism

The problem with Gunlines that outflank is pretty common and multi-unit charges has become much easier to do. Tyranids, Dark Eldar, Orks, Chaos Marines, BA, and IG can be devastating. Once they get to the line or Shadowsun is killed (either by ID or focused fire), you will be in trouble.

I played against a Bug army, 2k points on Sunday, using this gunline


4 points to take and hold.

I ended up winning with 1 point held, and 2 contested to his 0 held, and 2 contested.

however, he was almost tabled at the end, only having his hive tyrant and 1 squad of genestealers left.

I still had 30 out of 46 FW's
all three broadsides, all my crisis suits, shadowsun, all of my stealth suits.

I lost a hammerhead, and a FW squad... and thats it.



His army
swarmlord with two HT
Doom of Malanti
Trigon Prime
2x Zoanthropes
20x hormagaunts
8 skyslasher bases
4x 8 man genestealer squads
2x Broodlords

Can I have a shot at it?

We can play on Vassal if you get the 40k module.

Hm, I've tried gunlines in the past and they generally didn't work against my buddy's deamons or space marines. I built my Tau around devilfish since then but I might give this a shot.