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I'm planning to run two squads of broadsides and a skyray. What would you use against swarms if you don't have the submunition from the hammerhead? I was thinking deathrains with flamers but it seems like a waste. What else is there?

I guess fish of fury could work but its not as effective or could take out enough numbers without being assaulted the next turn ( i know the traditional FoF doesn't work but if you use devilfish climb out, shoot and have drones embark to form a wall between it does.

pirahnas can take flamers no? If so, they could help whittle down the enemy as well as boost around being annoying. also. use their drones to provide a wall of some sort.

not taking hammerheads will be difficult. but im sure you'll think of somethin

The humble Firestorm(BC/MP/MT) can help you here, especially when you are throwing some markerlights around.

Kroot Shields in cover are both nice pillbox units and can take a charge to give you one more shooting phase before the gribblies hit your important units. They also strike first if in cover, so they can do some damage right there as well.

The AFP is also good against hordes and ignores any cover save they might have.

Suits with TL flamers and another hardpoint of choice can deep strike (maybe using a pos relay and PF Devilfish) and fry alot of little ones. That tactic is a little temperamental tough, because of the deep strike part.

Generally tough, the Firestorm can both keep the distance and kill a lot if you boost their BS, which is ideal for the Tau. You commander (or a XV8 'vre) can take an AFP and I think you will do good.

I forgot about the firestorm. I tihnk i'll try that set up when i get magnets to magnetize some xv8s. Thanks

btw Piranhas can only take a burst cannon or fusion blaster. Not a flamer =p

daemon wrote:I'm planning to run two squads of broadsides and a skyray. What would you use against swarms if you don't have the submunition from the hammerhead? I was thinking deathrains with flamers but it seems like a waste. What else is there?

Mobility. Have some 'Fishes.

How about Suit teams which have one Deathrain-Flamer and one TL-Flamer-Missile pod? That gives you two Missile pods (one Twin-linked) for long range work and two Flamers (one TL) for little scorching. Plus wound allocation, and it only costs 90 points. Two Firestorm suits costs 100 points, you do get ten shots but on average only 5 will hit, probably resulting to 3-5 wounds depending on what you are shooting.

Firewarriors. Starting on turn one, you should be in range if going 2nd, these may not seem like much but throw a ML or two down, and start watching numbers drop.

Same with Kroot, Infiltrate them so they can rapid fire before getting omnomnomed.

SMS from broadsides with a few ML can help.

Deathrain are fun and one of the best all around choices in the list.

If they are non fearless swarms go for pinning test with ML support.

Force the swarmed to assault the vehicles with fletchettes.

The Skyray may be cool, but it's not worth losing the Hammerhead Template. >.>

Anyways, Tau have more than enough S5 AP5 shots to deal with Swarms. Be it Footslogging Orks, Footslogging Guard, or Gaunts, IF you can get them out of cover, they will fall.
Firestorm Suits, Fire Warriors, Pirahna Squads( with Flechettes for extra fun), TL Flamer suits with Blacksun Filters( Make them As cheap points wise as possible). Someone already said Kroot. Kroot are just nice period.

If you are facing swarms, don't even bother with the Seeker Missles, use the Skyray's Markerlights to boost your squads.

Just try to kite them out of cover( Or use Markerlights to reduce the Cover save to nothing.) and you should do fine.

Im just thinking of an all around list hence the sky ray. Obviously i wouldn't use a sky ray instead of a railgun if i knew i was facing swarm. But ya i think i'd have to involve some firestorms/heatwaves to satisfy my needs

stealth teams with drones...marker them up with PF and watch the body's fly.