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I'm using some Chapter house resin arms to convert my 5th ed tyrant into the swarm lord, so I was wondering how other nid players go about fielding him effectively, and what their thoughts on his practical applications on the table, and by this I mean more then that he kicks ass in CC, that we all know that, but how best does he support a nid army. Also, I know chapter hous sells mycetic spore proxies, I was wondering if there are any other companies out there selling similar resin kits?

It really depends on what i'm going against for swarmy. Last night I played a SW player who was not too worried about him; believing that thunderwolf cav could kill anything.... So Anti-Deathstar is one use. Alternatively, you can use him as a giant fire magnet if your opponent is terified of him. Draw him into somewhere he doesn't want to be, or give him Catalyst and let him soak up those high strength shots. Give him a few puppies (tyrant guard) to keep him company, and send him into the front lines.

As far as other mycetic spores, another option is from MegaBloks. They are a kids toy called Plasma Hatchers. They make pretty pro pods with minimal work.

Point him in a direction and go. He's a walking Cuisinart.

Understand what he is:
1) A force multiplier -

• "Preferred Enemy" is a really nasty upgrade to be able to toss around at will: it turns Termagants (with Tervigon support) into a significant threat, and makes Gargoyles downright fantastic. Genestealers, most of the time, don't need it.
  
• The bonus to reserves is very handy, if you're using reserved elements (especially Ymgarl).
  
• Rerolling outflanking is situationally useful, and is a good way to use smaller units of 'stealers.
  
• His psychic powers, should you ever be close enough to use them, are nice.
  
• His large synapse bubble is good to babysit with.

2) He's a really nasty counter-assault unit, but this is his secondary role. He's not fast enough to engage something that doesn't want to be caught.

Best usage I've found: Swarmie & a lash whip guard escort your Tervigon(s) & Hive Guard (and often a T-fex) to the middle of the board, screened by 'gants. Slow-moving armies win games by controlling the middle of the board. Meanwhile, things like infiltrating and/or outflanking poisoned 'stealers, gargoyles, & Ymgarl are applying pressure to your opponent, constraining their movement options and generally making life hard on them.

Paulson games is where i got my Bone sabers. They look really good and they look really good. And the Swarmlord is one of the best HQ's for nids, and not only because he is pure rape in CC He can just bestow who ever he wants within 18 inches with furious or prefered enemy which is great. He's also really good with Genestealers because of his reserve powers. And if you paroxysm a squad of anything they hit gants on 5+...thats just funny to watch... But anyway he's expensive so your taking a pretty sizable chunk out of your points but he is a really worthwhile investment. But run him with Tyrant guards cause everyone is gonna shoot at him


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Janthkin: I thought i should also mention that the rules for screening mosterous creatures is now true line of sight. They dont get cover unless theyre at least 50% obscured by something...which means your not gonna get cover for much, Gargoyles on varying sized flight bases actually works but thats about it. Plus side to swarmlord though if he's with tyant guard and theyre in cover he is. Half the squad in cover baby

Feeder_of_life wrote:Janthkin: I thought i should also mention that the rules for screening mosterous creatures is now true line of sight. They dont get cover unless theyre at least 50% obscured by something...which means your not gonna get cover for much, Gargoyles on varying sized flight bases actually works but thats about it. Plus side to swarmlord though if he's with tyant guard and theyre in cover he is. Half the squad in cover baby

And that's why I talk about using the Swarmlord with a lash whip guard, yes.

Lash Guard are a must...you can then put a Prime in there with a regen if you want it even harder to kill...almost never necessary though.

When you take the Swarmlord what you're basically doing is putting a giant target on the board...now this is a good thing...it allows many other multiwound models that could be insta squished to move about unhindered.

Janthkin actually has a pretty good grasp of the Swarmlord's capabilities as opposed to what I have heard of most people. The Swarmlord is not a TH/SS blob of doom...he is something that affects the army in an enormous way...it allows synergy to be maximized within the codex.

I recommend two Tyrranos on the same board...tervigons as troops...and then add in your own flavor...