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Thanks for all the input guys, here's an example of the lists I've been using and having success with:

At 1000 points

HQ: Tyranid Prime - 100

Elites:

2 hive guard - 100
2 hive guard - 100
2 zoanthropes - 120 (sometimes take another prime instead)

Heavy Support:

Trygon
2 x biovores - 90

Leaves 290 for troops which are usually a mix of termagaunts and genestealers

Troops:

20 termagaunts - 100
6 genestealers
20 termagaunts - 100

I typically mix up units between termagaunts, extra tyranid primes, an extra trygon, etc.

Interesting list.

IMHO though, I feel that you aren't taking advantage of the tyranid prime fully without a warrior unit. From what I've experienced with Nids, they are heavily reliant on synergy between units.

Thats just how I see it though

I couple my prime with a unit of 9 warriors with deathspitters for a sort of "central synapse" unit that people steer clear of.

My trygon and mawloc are there to pop up and die... whatever is shooting at them, isn;t shooting at the rest of my army.

Zoot: I think that list is weak. How exactly are you damaging your opponent? If he assaults you, what are you using to kill his stuff? 6 genestealers?

Having read the list while not half asleep, I've noticed a severe lack of synapse creatures. Have you considered Swapping out the hive guard for warriors?

Cyberjesus wrote:Having read the list while not half asleep, I've noticed a severe lack of synapse creatures. Have you considered Swapping out the hive guard for warriors?

I would be against losing any hive guard. They, unfortunately, are so vital with dealing with any Mech that i think he could not afford to lose any.

Nids are not overpowered. They are pretty limited right now and need an upgrade to make them good again.

Here, zoot. This is an example of a 1750 list I run. This is my downfield list. I have a different deep striking list with a hive tyrant, trygon prime, and some raveners, a lictor, and 15-20 devilgants in a spore, but that's built a little differently. you can see which TPrime goes with which warrior squad.

Tyranid Prime w/ lash whip, bonesword, scything talons, toxin, adrenal
Tyranid Prime w/ deathspitter, rending claws, toxin, adrenal

zoanthrope
zoanthrope
venomthrope

hormagaunt x 15 w/ adrenal/toxin
termagant x 20 with fleshborers
tyranid warriors x 3 w/ 2x boneswords, adrenal, toxin
tyranid warriors x3 w/ devourers, venom cannon, adrenal, toxin
broodlord brood x10 BL = scything talons, toxin, implant attack, adrenals, stealers with scything, toxin, adrenals
genestealers x 12 w/ toxin

carnifex w/ 2x scything talons, frag spines
carnifex w/ 2x scything talons, frag spines

thebaroness wrote:Here, zoot. This is an example of a 1750 list I run. This is my downfield list. I have a different deep striking list with a hive tyrant, trygon prime, and some raveners, a lictor, and 15-20 devilgants in a spore, but that's built a little differently. you can see which TPrime goes with which warrior squad.

Tyranid Prime w/ lash whip, bonesword, scything talons, toxin, adrenal
Tyranid Prime w/ deathspitter, rending claws, toxin, adrenal

zoanthrope
zoanthrope
venomthrope

hormagaunt x 15 w/ adrenal/toxin
termagant x 20 with fleshborers
tyranid warriors x 3 w/ 2x boneswords, adrenal, toxin
tyranid warriors x3 w/ devourers, venom cannon, adrenal, toxin
broodlord brood x10 BL = scything talons, toxin, implant attack, adrenals, stealers with scything, toxin, adrenals
genestealers x 12 w/ toxin

carnifex w/ 2x scything talons, frag spines
carnifex w/ 2x scything talons, frag spines

Hmmm, a few things I would do with this list to be more competitive.

Replace the zoe's with HG. Zoe's are known to have really unreliable attempts at shooting. They have to take tests everywhere, and it's possible to fail those tests and suffer a wound. Hive guards only have to worry about hitting something, as wounds most often come at a 2+ and instakill most infantry.

Drop gaunts and genestealers for more gants and tervigons. With the right set up and synergy applied, tervigons make gants better in CC than gaunts.

Sadly, drop the fexes. Where once they were awesome, they got nerfed hard, and are overpriced at that. Stick a trygon in there instead.

Genestealers are good, but you need cover or they will go down fast. Also, if someone has defensive grenades, they will go down fast in CC as well. A very delicate unit that must be maneuvered carefully.

Hell yeah they are overpowered! They are dirt cheap and have rules that are too good!

If your opponents aren't using vehicles, it is their own fault for losing to nids.

Necroshea wrote:

Hmmm, a few things I would do with this list to be more competitive.

Replace the zoe's with HG. Zoe's are known to have really unreliable attempts at shooting. They have to take tests everywhere, and it's possible to fail those tests and suffer a wound. Hive guards only have to worry about hitting something, as wounds most often come at a 2+ and instakill most infantry.

Drop gaunts and genestealers for more gants and tervigons. With the right set up and synergy applied, tervigons make gants better in CC than gaunts.

Sadly, drop the fexes. Where once they were awesome, they got nerfed hard, and are overpriced at that. Stick a trygon in there instead.

Genestealers are good, but you need cover or they will go down fast. Also, if someone has defensive grenades, they will go down fast in CC as well. A very delicate unit that must be maneuvered carefully.

Appreciated, but I designed this list precisely to avoid relying on Hive Guard and Tervigons, and I've been successful so far, against mech Sisters, BA, Tau, and SW. For the 'fexes, they serve my purposes with this particular list.

It isn't that I don't think Tervigons and Hive Guard are bad units, I just think too many Tyranid players on caught in a cookie-cutter mentality with a list that is mostly notable for being good at delaying the inevitable against the top tier.

Personally i feel that the army and the 'dex are fairly balanced.

I got enough units for a nice variety, i have a few spammy options for competitive lists for tournies, through with all of its awesomeness, VERY few things come with an invulnerable save. As such, heavy flamers (!) tend to wreck me (esp those flaming tanks some IG player feilded againsts me once) as well as big blast/ordinance weapons.

Made the mistake of thinking that little manticore couldnt do much from that corner of the table. . .

The only time i have ever been called a 'cheap player' of have had my army accused of being overpowered is where:

1. My outflanking genestealers assaulted a Termie squad, turns out they dont like rending much, nor did the several tac/assault marine squads they kept eating afterwards.
2. My Flyrant, Trygon, Tervigons, Tyrannofex are being feilded, my opponent has VERY few things capable of "anti armor", which get singled out. six sets of 6 T6 wounds are rather challenging to get rid of without the help of high strength weapons, especially with regeneration.
3. Inverse to #2, i've had opponents make anti "nid-zilla" lists, and get outswarmed by the swarmy part of my army (outflanking genestealers, Gaunts from two tervigons)


An intreresting note, i've had a few people complain about the majority of my army being fearless.

I've had a few people tell me that my Tyranids are over-powered, however, I don't usually even use Doom unless I feel like it. I think I have to agree that you must just be a good tactician. Similar discussion went on in my gaming group until I played a few other armies and now they just agree that I'm OP in general.