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I've noticed that there are many Tyranid units that almost NEVER get used. Probably because everyo ne is squandering their points on Hive Guard spam.

Trygon Primes:

This REALLY confuses me. Heck, they're Synapse Creatures, they have a 12-shot weapon, they have leadership 10....and for only 40 points!

However, everyone just uses standard Trygons.

Strange.

Raveners:

This is another thing that is a little odd. It might be because most people are too busy taking Shrikes, but, really. Raveners are MUCH better in close combat, with higher initiative and 4 attacks. AND they can have Scything Talons and Rending Claws AND a ranged weapon! Oh, Raveners, where art thou?

Biovores:

Why are such useful things so rare? For only 45 points you get a unit with a 48" weapon that can still pose a threat even if the Spore Mine misses altogether. And, like I say, only 45 points!

Harpies:

Harpies are pretty nasty. A flying Monstrous Creature that can have Twin-Linked Heavy Venom Cannons, Cluster Spines, and can drop a Spore Mine Cluster? Why don't people take these beauties?

Mawlocs:

Mawlocs are much cheaper than Trygons, and are GREAT for dealing with those pesky Terminators-just pop them up, and bye bye termies! What's more, you can burrow them back underground, and then do it again! Where are these beasties?

Pyrovores:

Pyrovores are another thing I'm surprised don't appear much. We don't have much that can deal with enemies in cover. And they're only 45 points. Why not?

Venomthropes:

Venomthropes are an answer to the Tyranid's fragility. Cover providing, Poisoned-attack monsters, they are pretty damn scary. People should take them more.

Carnifexes:

I know, I know, people hate these. WHY!??! It is BRILLIANT for taking down tanks, and even Wraithlords should worry about getting into combat with these fellows. Plus, they can have one of the only AP2 weapons in the Tyranid arsenal.

Lictors:

Ah, yes. Poor, poor Lictors. The most hated units in the Tyranid army. People forget that they can guide in other Deep Striking Tyranids. And from what I've heard, they can actually be really, REALLY mean.

I also wonder why Raveners are so rare.

If they weren't so rare mech armies wouldn't have it so easy.

I love tyranids it touches my dinosaur loving inside me.
But apart from that Yeah I have noticed that too. Not much variety in nid players.

Squigsquasher wrote:Pyrovores:

Pyrovores are another thing I'm surprised don't appear much. We don't have much that can deal with enemies in cover. And they're only 45 points. Why not?

Really? You're surprised? You've read the Tyranid Codex, right?

I'd say 40p is quite alot for the prime. Why?
He wants to be in combat so should be fleeting, and Synapse...Not that super duper to be honest. Ld10? Fearless much?

The problem with 'Nid fast attack is that every single other slot is usually "better" to fill. But I love gargoyles.

Mawlocs and Biovores I've seen quite alot, but they have their weaknesses. (Biovore-Fragile, Mawloc-3 large blasts per game?)

Carnifexes works best as a death-starish thing. Take 1-2 Carnies, give them min upgrades (Say 'nades and Glands) and run them with 1-2 primes for cover cheese.
A single one is eaten by a trygon every day. (For only 40 points!!!)

What's more...Venomthropes...So-so, only problem is that they compete with Hive Guard.

Raveners with thier upgraded S5 Assault 3 ranged weapon are more valuable against mech armies than heavy support choices are.

Oscarius wrote:...only problem is that they compete with Hive Guard.

And that's the key thing, ain't it? A lot of the new units all have to compete with another new unit - the Hive Guard. Why doesn't the Pyrovore get taken, aside from the fact that it has horrendous rules? Because the Hive Guard are so much better.

The Tyranid Codex has a lot of units competing for very few slots. Those that aren't up to scratch get ignored.

Why? Because no one truly plays for fun anymore.

Raveners: I see people using raveners, I certainly don't see them using Shrikes.

Biovores: Hideous & expensive model model.

Harpies: I do see people taking harpies quite a lot, they're excellent. However, I think the total lack of a model puts people off. There isn't even a good model to base them on - they're supposed to be a winged Trygon but the Trygon's (fixed) pose doesn't really suit this.

Pyrovores: Hideous & expensive model. Not particularly great either.

Venomthropes: Good model and decent rules - not as good as the other things in the Elite slot though.

Carnifexes: I think people are just annoyed that they're less good now. Once everyone's calmed down I think they'll start to come back. That said, not as good as tyrannofexes.

Lictors: HORRIBLE model.

This one's gonna be a doozy so stick with me. First things first though:

Squigsquasher wrote:Probably because everyo ne is squandering their points on Hive Guard spam.

It's not squandering it's survival. Looking down on people who use the only viable ranged anti-tank in the entire codex when the metagame has trended so far towards mech it makes my teeth hurt is just plain silly.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming. There isn't some grand conspiracy by Tyranid players to deny you the chance to ever see a given unit on the table top out of spite, there's just a lot of stuff that sucks and other stuff that sucks compared to what's available.



Trygon Prime, I dunno I use them. Usually one per army just to give some redundancy on synapse. Spamming Primes gets pricy though so the rest are normal.

Raveners? Easy answer, toughness 4 multiple wounds crap armor save. Whatever survives the trek across the board is combat ineffective due to low numbers and gets obliterated, also every one that you lose to an instant-deathing power-something counts as three fearless wounds you get to deal with. Crappy deal for a unit whose individual models cost more than a Rhino.

Biovores? Large area of effect anti-light-infantry weapon that scatters + an assault army. Every turn you spend not up in your opponents faces is a turn you take losses with no gains. Past turn 2 if you're good/lucky 3 at the latest if you want to win the biovores have nothing they can safely shoot at or their large area of effect anti-light-infantry is risking hitting what? Large areas of light infantry. Namely your own. Also range is severly hampered by synapse baby sitter.

Harpy I've actually fallen in love with. Bit of a pain in the backside with no model, but I do love him. Fragile for his points so gotta be careful but he's a great armor hunter just because of monstrous creature. twin linked heavy venom is really good at stunning/shaking vehicles from across the board and he can blow up dudes he passes over on the way to causing havoc with parking lots. His sonic screech is wasted though as nobody with half a brain lets an assault army without assault grenades assault them anywhere other than cover so you get used to attacking at initiative one every single time. I run him, though you never see 'him' on the table is there is no 'him' to see without a model.

Mawloc? Meet FAQ. FAQ? Meet mawloc. Here's your cover save against the attack he can only scatter with every other turn Mr Everything-in-the-game. Outside of a foot-slogging IG list he really doesn't ever do enough. Once he blows his wad with the gimmicky burrow attack he's got nothing. 3 attacks at weapon skill 3. Big friggin whoop. 30 more points and you get a serious threat with the Trygon. I never use mawlocs anymore even though I went through a ton of trouble to magnetize my models to be either Mawloc or Trygon.

Pyrovore is just the Pyrovore dude. If you don't get it I don't know what to tell you. Ignoring cover is not a strength at all in an assault army. Also, elite slot/Hive Guard.

Venomthropes are 55 points apiece for an elite slot that can only ever have up to three models and never join another unit under it's own power. They are also toughness 4 5+ armor. They never live long enough to be effective as they are always ganged up on from across the board. Also again, elite/Hive Guard.

Carnifex? Points. Add the bells and whistles and you EASILY break 200 points a model. Much more if you want a Mycetic Spore. At that point they offer absolutely no benefit over a Trygon. If you don't take a spore and instead think you're going to be some kind of super smart tactical genius proving everyone in the world wrong by taking a unit of them to try to spread wounds around they must be identical in every way, so no wound shenanigans to let you try to regenerate them away. Every four wounds you lose a model. Period. This offers no benefit over giving three Trygons regeneration individually who have better stats, abilities and two more wounds apiece. Also no fleet so they're slow. P.S. Bioplasma is 12" range, on a slow model.

Lictor? Nobody has forgotten anything about him, people are mad because of the potential he had that is crippled. Read the rules, he MUST start the game in reserves. You have no choice. His abilities only ever work the turn after he arrives. This makes the abilities useless on the battlefield. Without the +1 reserves and locator beac- I MEAN PHEROMONE TRAIL he offers nothing useful. His stats suck, his weapon is gimped, his gimmick is useless, his points cost is through the roof and again, elite/Hive Guard.

I've noticed that there are many Tyranid units that almost NEVER get used. Probably because everyo ne is squandering their points on Hive Guard spam.

Trygon Primes:

This REALLY confuses me. Heck, they're Synapse Creatures, they have a 12-shot weapon, they have leadership 10....and for only 40 points!

However, everyone just uses standard Trygons.

One of my friends uses the Primes most of the time. When they DS in they are a real threat to back tank armor. Almost always worth it.

Strange.

Raveners:

This is another thing that is a little odd. It might be because most people are too busy taking Shrikes, but, really. Raveners are MUCH better in close combat, with higher initiative and 4 attacks. AND they can have Scything Talons and Rending Claws AND a ranged weapon! Oh, Raveners, where art thou?

They are really, really good. Not as easy to take out as they look on paper. They are definitely viable and I don't see why they are so under used.

Biovores:

Why are such useful things so rare? For only 45 points you get a unit with a 48" weapon that can still pose a threat even if the Spore Mine misses altogether. And, like I say, only 45 points!

I don't have a lot of experience here. They seem pretty decent anti hoarde.

Harpies:

Harpies are pretty nasty. A flying Monstrous Creature that can have Twin-Linked Heavy Venom Cannons, Cluster Spines, and can drop a Spore Mine Cluster? Why don't people take these beauties?

This one is easy, because they are so easily killed. If they were IC's, an upgrade to gargoyles, or able to join Gargoyles they would be used more.

Mawlocs:

Mawlocs are much cheaper than Trygons, and are GREAT for dealing with those pesky Terminators-just pop them up, and bye bye termies! What's more, you can burrow them back underground, and then do it again! Where are these beasties?

This one is easy too. They are sorry in close combat and rely entirely on a gimmick. They are fun but not competitive units.

Pyrovores:

Pyrovores are another thing I'm surprised don't appear much. We don't have much that can deal with enemies in cover. And they're only 45 points. Why not?

Because they are bad. A heavy flamer that almost has to rely on podding in. If you have it near your own guys it's a liability. Just a bad unit with a great model. Plus it's an elite. Overall, just yuck

Venomthropes are an answer to the Tyranid's fragility. Cover providing, Poisoned-attack monsters, they are pretty damn scary. People should take them more.

They take up an elite spot which is needed for Hive Guard and Zoeys. What they do can be accomplished better by a Gargoyle wall and a Tervigon casting Catalyst on it. That way the whole army is screened with a 4+ and the Gargoyles are resilient. The Venomthrope is a liability when it dies IIRC and only gives a 5+ as well.

Carnifexes:

I know, I know, people hate these. WHY!??! It is BRILLIANT for taking down tanks, and even Wraithlords should worry about getting into combat with these fellows. Plus, they can have one of the only AP2 weapons in the Tyranid arsenal.

I dunno. They are too many points and not all that. I think if they are kitted for CC and podded in, maybe. It would still be a might expensive distraction.

Lictors:

Ah, yes. Poor, poor Lictors. The most hated units in the Tyranid army. People forget that they can guide in other Deep Striking Tyranids. And from what I've heard, they can actually be really, REALLY mean.

Overpriced. Takes up and elite spot. Not great in CC. Extremely fragile. At least taking the Deathleaper would lower an enemies leadership D3.

In terms of the Elite section I would rank them:
Hive Guard- essential to a competitive list (usually need at least 2 x 2 squads in almost any point value)
Zoenthropes-good suicide anti heavy armor
Yrmgl stealers- seem really interesting
Deathleaper- disruption

Overall, I would agree with some of what you said. Trygon Primes and Ravaners are good units. Biovores could have a decent role. Venomthropes and Carnifexes can be justifies, but are inefficient and take up important slots. Marwlocks, Pyrovores, Harpies, and Lictors just plain suck.

Just to touch base on some things that have already been said.

Hive guard spam:

Hive guard are just such a great unit that not taking 1-2 broods hurts the tyranid player. Ever since I started taking them they have been one of my best units period. Every game I run they pop everything except for AV14 by turn 3 easy.

@Mawlocs

These guys are just not worth it. If played right they just reburrow so they don't get into hand to hand and rely on 3 max template attacks that the enemy gets their cover saves for. With how much mech is out there it just doesn't fit.

@Trygon Prime
I run one in every list for the extra synapse. I rarely use the extra shots but I generally need some extra synapse.

Scott-S6 wrote:Lictors: HORRIBLE model.

Really? I love those models.

Just to touch base on some things that have already been said.

Hive guard spam:

Hive guard are just such a great unit that not taking 1-2 broods hurts the tyranid player. Ever since I started taking them they have been one of my best units period. Every game I run they pop everything except for AV14 by turn 3 easy.

This alone is why you almost never see the other elite choices used. I would say that in a 1000 point list you would be running 2 x 2 Hive Guards at the least. At 1500, in a take all comers list 3 x 3 isn't a horrible idea. I think 4 at 1000 and 6 at 1500 minimum. They are the only reliable ranged anti tank the Nids have (the Tyrannofex isn't reliable or cheap). The cost of the Hive Guard is a steal too. 50 points?!? So good. They are too essential. I think as a 3 elite slot people go to either more Hive Guard or Zoeanthropes for anti heavy armor most of the time. Maybe, a gimmick unit can be used, but it's at such a high cost. For the record I like Yrgmyl Steelers.

Trygon Primes: The better shooting doesn't mean much as ideally you want to be running with him most of the time anyway, and there are plenty of other sources of synapse. It is nice on occasion if you find yourself short on synapse creatures, and is not a terrible choice. Usually though, I'd rather put the points into more gribblies.

Raveners: These guys are nice, and Melissia is right, if you deck em out they can be pretty effective anti-light armor/transport. They do however take some finesse to maximize their potential so they often get pushed aside for more point-and-click type units. They also suffer the same problem as warriors do in that they are very vulnerable to large, high-strength blasts. One battle cannon can ruin your entire day.

Biovores: These guys have to compete with some of the strongest units in the codex. It seems like every battle I have them, I wish I hadn't taken them, and every battle I leave them behind, I wish I had em on hand.

Harpies: If these guys had been T6. they'd be brilliant, but at T5, it's just too easy to watch 170 points get one shotted from a S10 gun, particularly if you play Tau often...which I do.

Mawloc: If I have they extra points, I almost always include one of these. Once it's burrowed, it makes a great insurance policy. It's not the best MC in terms of offensive abilities, but it can be a game changer for last minute objective contesting, to save a crumbling flank, or to get to that one unit out in east jesus that the rest of your force is out of position to get to.

Pyrovores: They are just bad. If they had a couple more attacks and assault grenades they'd be okay, but this is one of those units that makes you scratch your head and wonder wth Cruddace was thinking. I'm not paying 45 points for a walking heavy flamer. Especially when you consider how good the rest of the Elite section is.

Venomthropes: I actually see these quite a bit. I don't use them as I use the terrain on the board and walls of gribblies to get my cover, but they can be quite valuable in the right list. Thier combat abilities are pretty meh, but the roaming cover save is nice. They suffer from the same problem as Pyrovores in that there are better performing units for the points and Elite slots.

Carnifexes: A lot of people are turned off of them due to the changes from last edition, but they can still be solid. I don't use them as I prefer a faster moving list, but I'd strongly consider them in a slower footslogging list or a reserve list.

Lictor:: Another Elite slot that looks good on paper, but falls apart as soon as you start looking at practical application. It has to be on the table for a turn for Pheremone trail to work, and by the time it comes into effect, more than likely most of your units will have already come in. A group of them have reasonable combat abilities, but are not quite stellar enough to justify the Elite slot and points.

Melissia wrote:I also wonder why Raveners are so rare.

If they weren't so rare mech armies wouldn't have it so easy.

Because a box of three costs £27.

Kilkrazy wrote:

Melissia wrote:I also wonder why Raveners are so rare.

If they weren't so rare mech armies wouldn't have it so easy.

Because a box of three costs £27.

So basically the same issue that the entire Sisters of Battle army has nowadays.

I never see Raveners or gargoyles. -- when I build my own tyranid army someday, I am definately taking raveners

Melissia wrote:

Kilkrazy wrote:

Melissia wrote:I also wonder why Raveners are so rare.

If they weren't so rare mech armies wouldn't have it so easy.

Because a box of three costs £27.

So basically the same issue that the entire Sisters of Battle army has nowadays.

Really sisters a that much. Queston how long ago did they have boxes of 5 sisters.
Becouse one of the game stores I goto has a box covered in dust of 5 for 32$.

I'm going to second Killkrazy: Raveners are frickin' expensive. I just don't want them that badly. Also, I don't want to explain the vaginas.

I do have three Carnifexen from 4th edition, and I'm glad I equipped them all identically. Totally called that one. On the downside, those Stranglethorns need to come off and be replaced with Heavy Venom Cannons, which is annoying because the Stranglethorns look better.

Gargoyles? Maybe. They're low priority and I like using those slots for Spores Mines. Mind you, my Troop slots are full so Gargoyles are going to make better cannon fodder than Termagants since they're not Troops.

Molochs and Trygon Primes don't really fit my army theme, which is a handi-cap I'm going to stick with.

Biovores are handy. I have a brood made out of Tyranid Warriors.

Lictors are great. I have a brood made out of Tyranid Warriors.

Venomthropes are practically necessary. Time to bite the bullet and buy some metal.

Pyrovores. They're pretty models. Given the propensity of local Space Marines to cart around Assault Terminators I should get a brood.

Harpies are likewise low on my budget and don't really fit with my army theme, but they're good if you're playing with the appropriate amount of terrain and not on a tournament plain. I'd have to get Tyrants with Wings too, so a little out of my budget.

Noir wrote:

Melissia wrote:

Kilkrazy wrote:

Melissia wrote:I also wonder why Raveners are so rare.

If they weren't so rare mech armies wouldn't have it so easy.

Because a box of three costs £27.

So basically the same issue that the entire Sisters of Battle army has nowadays.

Really sisters a that much. Queston how long ago did they have boxes of 5 sisters.
Becouse one of the game stores I goto has a box covered in dust of 5 for 32$.

I don't recall them having boxes of five any time recently.

What I remember was a box of ten with storm bolter, flamer, and sister superior, and a box of three basic sisters. The former isn't available anymore, requiring you to pay a minimum of $64 USD (42.7 pounds) for nine battle sisters and a sister superior, as Battle Sisters have a minimum of ten members per squad (other squads have five, but they aren't troops). These models are second edition metal models with very little variation in pose. There are no accessories-- merely three sisters per package and a bolter and backpack for each. And you're going to want four to six of these squads, and special/heavy weapons on them (which costs extra, as you don't get any bitz with the box).

The Ravener is relatively affordable in comparison. You only need 3 raveners to make up a squad, and they're multi-part plastic models with accessories.

Pyrovores are just Biovores with gonorrhea

I love my fexs!

venomthrope have to come in on unit i would much rater you could have three for one elite chose but there different units (like tomb spyders) so you can spread them out,

for 170 points and some thing thats only gonna come up twice maby three times if your luky i dont think mowloc is not that worth it (i still use mind sometimes though),

lictors i like but i would like them to be, again, like the venomthrope in three units great for tanks thought four or even six s6 rending in the rear can be preaty nasty,

harpie if i could be bothers to convert one or there was a model i would use it,

ravenars are a little expencive for three plastic models,

i dont think pyrovors are that good for a close up creature with I1 and only A1

And i sometimes use my biovour but i all roll unluky with them, one game i had 4 spore which had scatered off left on the table at the end

Trygon Primes: awesome unit, use one in most 1000pt armies, all 1500pt+ armies

Raveners: another awesome unit, bought 5 of them when they were metal and £12 EACH!!! still worth it, make up points and them some bar once when they mishapped and appeared on the other side of the board

Biovores: seriously? no one takes these. i always include one in 1000pt+ armies. shoot the out of ANY troops.

Harpies: looks good on paper, but v. difficult to get a model for it. never seen one, and don't think I ever will (unless kits are made)

Mawlocs: got one quite recently. its first battle was an apocalypse battle at my flgs. appeared beneath a squad of dire avengers(making them disappear) then ran at a baneblade and removed its drives. looking to be a winner.

Pyrovores: imho expensive . just get hive guard.

Venomthropes: very good for swarm nid armies. one guy at my flgs uses all elites choices with these, giving his WHOLE army a 5+ cover save. no point in throwing flamers at them either. too short a range. you'll get assaulted to hell.

Carnifexes:WHAAAAATTTT???!!! people DON'T use fexes!!! come on guys. you can field them in SQUADS now! sure they're expensive but very few armies can put out 12-14(depending on luck) AP3 shots a turn and then they're ignoring all your other monstrous creatures which you can put in you're other two heavy support choices. I use a pair of screamer-killers and let them go to town on pretty much anything. Termies,tanks,daemon princes anything at all can be crushed beneath a fex.

Lictors: Very useful, especially for deepstriking nids. Hive Tyrant w/ Hive Commander with a lictor on the board= reserves coming down on turn 2 on a 2+. H-O-R-R-I-F-I-C. Also, they kick @ss in combat. Personally, my lictor has killed Abbadon, Mephiston and The Sanguinor (BA were very popular at my flgs) by himself. Eat your heart out hive guard.

To be honest, though, I do usually field a squad of 3 hive guard but, hey, they're an awesome unit.

Wow HiveMind, you're wrong in a lot of places.

Raveners are terrible. Two genestealers is 2 points less than one Ravener. More attacks, more initiative, rending for free access to toxin sacks, brood lord, fleet, capturing objectives, infiltrate and more models so when a genestealer and a ravener both get instant killed by anything str 8 + you lose less and if it's assault have less fearless wounds destroying you. Shooting one gimpy weapon per model is not nearly enough to make up for that. Beast assault is more than made up for with fleet, and genestealers can go in buildings/up levels in ruins. Beasts cannot.

Venomthropes are a brief distraction at best. I'd rather have more models on the field to soak up a turn of shooting than venomthropes to soak up a turn of shooting because that's all they do. Also, elite slot = Hive Guard. I grant that if you're playing a pure horde army with a truly insane amount of models on the table he can give a lot of guys a cover save, until he gets blown away. Which he will. Immediately.

Carnifexes? Give up the fight and admit GW wants your money. Buy Trygons. They're better in every single way. Putting multiple carnifexes in a unit really does not help nearly enough. All wounds must be allocated to the same identical model in a until it's dead then on to the next model. Trygons will live longer with the same toughness, armor and two more wounds for less points and get to the enemy faster where they do more damage with more attacks plus shooting for free. Also synapse if you want to spring for the points.

Lictors suck, every single thing he could possibly do to help everyone else arrive from reserves only works the turn after he arrives. Reserves literally CANNOT come in on 2+ on turn 2 because he does not help them even if he comes in. This is so unreliable it is honestly not worth consideration. Outside of that all he has is his assault stats. Three Ymgarls, 69 points. 1 Lictor 65 points. Both elite slots. A pack of nine Ymgarls is going to tear stuff up so much harder than three Lictors that it hurts to think about. Lictor shooting is a joke and does not make up for the lack of combat ability. Also Ymgarls don't stand around for a turn waiting to die. Only thing I will grant is that canny opponents will squat on all the terrain near them to refuse you deployment. A few moments thought and a different piece of terrain not in the middle of the opponent's deployment zone solves this and if you're really that worried about it you don't have to use the Dormant rule. Lictor has no such choice.

oni wrote:Why? Because no one truly plays for fun anymore.

What's fun about using a unit that is so crippled that it cannot even do what is designed for? The Pyrovore fits that bill. It's awful.

Element206 wrote:I never see Raveners or gargoyles. -- when I build my own tyranid army someday, I am definately taking raveners

I use two squads of 22 gargoyles in my 2500 list, with winged tyrants supporting them. Awesome little guys.

Raveners are one of my favourite units in the dex (I have 3 metal and bought 2 boxes of plastic ones (and yes they are too expensive)) and I try to include a brood in almost every list. Yes they have a lousy save and suffer instant death from the str8+ weapons but for me raveners have performed well against infantry and in the anti-vehicle role.

Venomthropes are also useful depending on the list and I have one (might get a second) for my assaulty swarm of hormies, raveners, trygons list.

Biovores - I can't always fit one in my list but I try to squeeze one in if possible.

I haven't seen any Gargoyles in a while. Pity, I kinda liked fighting them.

Trygon Prime: I use two. I find that the Extra Synapse can be worth the points. The boosted shooting is just Icing.

Raveners: Comparable to Stealers, but vulnerable to ID and not scoring. Faster, and more durable vs. small arms. Not much that beats out a stealer, so there are generally better areas to spend points.

Biovore: Basically, these guys hust do what the rest of the list is good at. Killing infantry. Sure, they do it at better range, but there is the ever-present threat of shooting your own horde. Too risky, and do not do anything special.

Harpy: Fragile. Shredded by Heavy Bolters/Assault Cannons/Autocannons, Insta-Gibbed by Demolishers/Railguns, and just bait for fire warriors.

Mawlocs: compete with a better choice (Trygon). Not the worst offenders here, but are just too much of a gimmic, not enough of a threat.

Pyrovore: For the cost of a Terminator with a heavy flamer, you get a... heavy flamer. That's it.

Venomthropes: Useful, but good tactics do these guys jobs better. Also, compete with Hive Gaurd.

Carnifex: for +25% of the cost, Trygons give +50% of the combat ability.

Lictor: Useless until they deploy, which is likely after you need them.

Altogether, I would put them like this:

Usable:
Trygon Prime
Venomthrope

Possibly Useful:
Biovore
Harpy
Mawloc
Ravener
Carnifex

Virtuaslly Useless:
Pyrovore
Lictor