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Hello everyone. I am having quite a problem with the Tau player at my FLGS and thought it might be time to win at least once. I'm not certain of the list, but he will most likely be fielding lots of flamers and 6 broadsides

So, I ask you Dakka - how should a guard player deal with this?

DakkaDakka wrote:

An Outflanking powerblob courtesy of Al'Rahem will definitely put pressure on him.

Myself, I run a Mech list, so I would attempt to advance as quickly as possible.

If you run infantry, then stick to cover, and use plenty of Incoming! to help negate shooting.

Yes, tau can have serious problems with guard special mobility. His crisis suits may be tough to catch, but if you land a 2x plasma+plasma pistol stormie squad right behind them, they're going to be gone...

Also, I've found that it's startlingly possible for guard to out-shoot tau. Tau have better guns, but they're much more expensive, so if you spam crappier guns (which we can), you can actually put down more hurt at range if you do it right.

Also, tau are deathly afraid of close combat. If you bring a LOT of dudes and just charge them in, your opponent is ultimately going to be obliged to fall back lest he lose a bunch of stuff in close combat. Use this to your advantage on objectives-based games.

Mastermind wrote:Hello everyone. I am having quite a problem with the Tau player at my FLGS and thought it might be time to win at least once. I'm not certain of the list, but he will most likely be fielding lots of flamers and 6 broadsides

Really? Are you running an all infantry list with a few vehicles? You can out shoot tau ANY day of the week, I fail to see why your having trouble with them.

Load up on missile launchers and shoot his crisis teams, park your vehicles behind stuff to grant them a cover save, don't bunch up your infantry and charge into melee when the opportunity presents itself. You shouldn't be having any problems at all with a tau player that's bringing his battle suits into flamer range.

I can imagine 3 twin linked flamers are removing up to 20 models from the table if done correctly. Do not underestimate flamers versus guard.

Hit his broadsides first if your tank heavy, then his flamersis suits wont be able to damage your tanks. It will be an uphill battle for him from there.

Jaon wrote:I can imagine 3 twin linked flamers are removing up to 20 models from the table if done correctly. Do not underestimate flamers versus guard.

But don't underestimate proper spacing versus flamers.

Plus, if they're flaming you, they're in close combat next turn. Goodbye suits...

Ailaros wrote:

Jaon wrote:I can imagine 3 twin linked flamers are removing up to 20 models from the table if done correctly. Do not underestimate flamers versus guard.

But don't underestimate proper spacing versus flamers.

Plus, if they're flaming you, they're in close combat next turn. Goodbye suits...

It's not actually given that Guardsmen can defeat Crisis suits in close combat, unless they have Power swords with Sergeants/Comissars...

well, even if they don't have power weapons, then they're still going to have plasma and FRF at their disposal.

Plus, you'd have to deepstrike them suicidally close to your opponent to have any chance of real damage.

I fear fire warriors a million times more than flamer suits.

Ailaros wrote:Yes, tau can have serious problems with guard special mobility. His crisis suits may be tough to catch, but if you land a 2x plasma+plasma pistol stormie squad right behind them, they're going to be gone...

But doesn't that kind of team cost you 125 points? I'd rather use Marbo...

Without knowing any more details of the op's list and which gives him problems, it's difficult to give precise advice. Both Guard and Tau have multiple ways to screw each other. One thing which Tau players fear, is Hellhound. It will just murder Tau troops.

Ideally, I would run a list of 150 assaulty men. The thing is I'm quite limited on the models. I can have all the vehicles I want but my FLGS just doesn't have any guardsmen. I guess I'll proxy a handful of marines and orks .

So far, the combined efforts of my elite and HS squads dropped 1 broadside. But then again he misread the rules in a horrific fashion, leading us both to believe that tau shield drones can have all wounds assigned to them from 1 round of shooting and that don't cause panic. Considering that they were parked on top floors of ruins with assault insurance and me having to take vehicles due to lack of models... not very nice.
I guess I'm prepared for next week at least.


Anyhow, what I'm looking to do is completely destroy his army, and it's personal this time
What I need is a blatant counterlist.

What to expect: 48x48" table (could make that 100x48), most likely annihilation, 2-3xfirewarriors, 1xkroot, stealthmeltas, 4 broadsides + hammerhead (or six broadsides), lots of suits, 200+ point big shooty guy, max shield drones everywhere.

Hmm, I guess it's AV12 rush then. Chimeras and at least one Hellhound. If you're attacking, go all out. Don't send stuff piecemeal. Move 12" forward and pop smoke. Take Marbo and blow up some group of Suits or Broadsides. Have a firebase with lascannons in the back. Tau will kill exposed Guard infantry really quickly (even Stormtroopers), so don't try to assault on foot. If you plan to take Heavy support (tanks etc), take something which shoots at least S8, that will insta-kill battlesuits. If you take tanks, don't over-equip them.

Backfire wrote:Hmm, I guess it's AV12 rush then. Chimeras and at least one Hellhound. If you're attacking, go all out. Don't send stuff piecemeal. Move 12" forward and pop smoke. Take Marbo and blow up some group of Suits or Broadsides. Have a firebase with lascannons in the back. Tau will kill exposed Guard infantry really quickly (even Stormtroopers), so don't try to assault on foot. If you plan to take Heavy support (tanks etc), take something which shoots at least S8, that will insta-kill battlesuits. If you take tanks, don't over-equip them.

^ This.

I play tau, and have to say most of the time I beat guard is when they play too conservatively. You cant give tau any time to shoot at you...you are going to lose vehicles, thats fine be ok with it.

All the other advice here (outflanking, marbo, etc.) is all good as well.

Of course, I have played many games, and I have to say the biggest challenge is the player, not the army. Sure, some codexes are better than others (I won't name names, thats a whole other can of worms), but *most* of the games I lose its because I either made mistakes, or the other guy was just better.

Good luck...