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out of the four fast attack the Tau have...which are the best? pros and cons please i greatly appreciate your time

Of them you'll be using the pathfinders more simply because they're the cheapest, most cost effective markerlight delivery system in the codex....

Piranhas serve an entirely different function, much the same as Space Marine speeders so there's really no comparing them to the pathfinders.

The other two are non-viable with current rules IMHO. Drone squads are too expensive (sure they're jump infantry but they can't hit an elephant with a target painted on it) and have no staying power. Vespids die when someone sneezes on them, the only time I would use vespid is if the fight was in a city and I could hop them close to their target while denying LoS but even then, once they shoot something, they're dead.

agnosto wrote:Of them you'll be using the pathfinders more simply because they're the cheapest, most cost effective markerlight delivery system in the codex....

Piranhas serve an entirely different function, much the same as Space Marine speeders so there's really no comparing them to the pathfinders.

The other two are non-viable with current rules IMHO. Drone squads are too expensive (sure they're jump infantry but they can't hit an elephant with a target painted on it) and have no staying power. Vespids die when someone sneezes on them, the only time I would use vespid is if the fight was in a city and I could hop them close to their target while denying LoS but even then, once they shoot something, they're dead.

Thank you for your help. It is much appreciated.

Pahtfinders would be best. Think of it this way; think of all those BS5 shots you'll get when you've targetted a lot of enemy units

agnosto wrote:Of them you'll be using the pathfinders more simply because they're the cheapest, most cost effective markerlight delivery system in the codex....

Piranhas serve an entirely different function, much the same as Space Marine speeders so there's really no comparing them to the pathfinders.

The other two are non-viable with current rules IMHO. Drone squads are too expensive (sure they're jump infantry but they can't hit an elephant with a target painted on it) and have no staying power. Vespids die when someone sneezes on them, the only time I would use vespid is if the fight was in a city and I could hop them close to their target while denying LoS but even then, once they shoot something, they're dead.

+1 Agnosto has summed it pretty much perfectly.

Chaos Lord Gir wrote:

agnosto wrote:Of them you'll be using the pathfinders more simply because they're the cheapest, most cost effective markerlight delivery system in the codex....

Piranhas serve an entirely different function, much the same as Space Marine speeders so there's really no comparing them to the pathfinders.

The other two are non-viable with current rules IMHO. Drone squads are too expensive (sure they're jump infantry but they can't hit an elephant with a target painted on it) and have no staying power. Vespids die when someone sneezes on them, the only time I would use vespid is if the fight was in a city and I could hop them close to their target while denying LoS but even then, once they shoot something, they're dead.

+1 Agnosto has summed it pretty much perfectly.

I was considering giving 3 of my 8 pathfinders the rail rifle with the target lock....is this a good choice...and if i choose to use the markerlight on a squad of space marines for example...none of my other pathfinders will be able to use theirs on another squad of stuff...plus i cant use the markerlight and pulse carbine in the same turn...am i right?

i myself would use 2 rail rifles, tops. and you could give the shas'vre a h/w target lock and have him aim at something else and have the others unload markerlights in another direction. But they cannot use the markerlight and carbine in the same turn.

I would advise against rail rifles. You want as many markerlight shots as possible (IMO). Plus, there are plenty of other ways of getting high strength, low AP shots in the army.

PraetorDave wrote:I would advise against rail rifles. You want as many markerlight shots as possible (IMO). Plus, there are plenty of other ways of getting high strength, low AP shots in the army.

yeah...i am just realising that i chose the wrong army for how i want to play...i want to fire off as many shots as possible every round...not exactly easy with tau lol. I will make it work

I would have to agree that pathfinders are the best choice for FA. I field 2 8 man squads at 1500pts. In the 2k-2.5k range I tend to use a squadron of piranha for the 3rd FA slot. They are worse than SM speeders for the same points, but that is if your goal is to pop tanks. Tank busting is a secondary role for these skimmers. The primary goal is to create a wall that buys you 1-2 Extra turns of shooting (Usually only one but sometimes you get lucky). And if you still have any left after the enemies turn, you can try to kill a transport to slow them further. I just played a game where a squadron of 2 held some marines off for some midfield shooting.