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I'm putting together a Tyranid army and am in the process of learning 40k. I used to play alot of WHFB so I am more familiar with CC than shooting and it fits my play style better.It also seems to me that this is what nids are best at. So would it be possible to build a list with little or no shooting? Points isn't really an issue right now. I am thinking lots of large fast units, ripper swarms, Hormagaunts, to tie the enemy up long enough for the big guys to get there and do the real work. Thanks, Mr.Jody.

In today’s 40k world, where mech is king and there is almost always a can to crack. I’m going to say no. you must have some shooty. Be it a zoie or a guard, you need something to pop the transports to let your bugs in to the meat. if you try to kill transports with a charge, all your going to be able to do is kill one transport and then your assault unit is going to be standing 2 in from 2-melta guns and a power fist.

Although there are a few good assault bug lists out there,. But even in these lists you will find some degree of shooting.

I like the concept, but as above, you need a more effective way of dealing with mech, unless you can have acceptable losses, post up a list, and your intentions with it

You could run a list with winged hive tyrant, a few carnifexes, some meatshield hormogaunts, infiltrating stealers (normal or ymargal), trygon and some winged warriors/gargoles. U would lose a bit to shooting but when you get in they would die. They would have to chose between shooting carnies or the tyrant and who whichever they didn't would kill them.
Plz excuse spelling

I know most people say attacking in waves is bad but mt thought was large enough units that have fleet of claw or wings or such could tue up enemy units preventing shooting long enough for the big guys to get in. as for popping armor I thought maybe rending claws was the answer. I am really new to playing 40k so I really don't know any of the "cheese" if you wil lol. Thank's for the help.

Honestly I would say no, not possible. Tyranids especially need shooting in order to be effective. They are great at CC and killing infantry, but they need all the help they can get to hurt vehicles. Busting open transports at range is crucial so your gribblies can chew the soft pieces apart in CC.

Hive Guard, Zoanthropes, anything that can field Heavy Venom Cannons or TL-Brainleech Devourers, Tyrannofexes with rupture cannons. Stuff that can chew up AV10-12 at range is required.




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MrJody wrote:As for popping armor I thought maybe rending claws was the answer. .

Still need to hit and roll a 6 for the rend first. No one in their right mind is going to keep a stationary vehicle around to get instant-hit in CC. A smart opponent would make use of tank-shocks and sacrificial vehicles to mess up movement lanes and for you to try and roll 6s to hit.

A 10-man squad of genestealers throws 30 attacks on the charge. Assuming the vehicle moved combat speed and assuming the squad took 0 casualties, that means 15 hits. Out of those, you get 2.5 penetrating hits (assuming rear armor 10), and only .83333 wrecks. On average you will need a little over one turn to kill a vehicle. If it's a transport then the units inside will still have a chance to shoot up the stealers that are now standing around in the open (unless you were lucky enough to surround the entire vehicle).

I'd rather just shoot the transport to pieces and use those 30 attacks to kill 5.56 marines on average.

I see what you're saying. Even though math is not my strong point that was pretty plainly put. I do like the idea though of some units designed just to shoot up vehicles so the rest can get to the squishy guys inside. I'd still like to stay CC heavy so I guess I will just have to get what advice I can here and test out some differant lists. Thanks!

Yesterday I played a 500 point game VS Orks. My list was roughly as follows it was a beginner game and I can't find the list
HQ-Tyranid prime with scthying claws and devourer
10 genestealers with rending
10 genestealers with rending
3 ravaners with sything claws X 2

Between fleet of claw and the Ravoners 12 assault I was in CC on turn 2. Even assaulting into difficult terrain I was able to Clear the table including 2 killa kans without ever firing a shot. Granted the Killa Kans where the toughest armor on the table at 11 front but 20 Genestealers with rending still brought then down. My point? I think an all CC Nid army is possible.

Big difference between 500 and 1750 point games though... If you plan on running after vehicles you'll be gunned down very quickly by a lot of heavy weapons. Not to mention Land raiders, Monoliths, and walkers become much more viable at high points and your str 4 guys aren't going to do much, even with rending.

Why not just throw some trygons in there? They can get to the vehicles pretty quick and get into cc with them (granted it doesnt get tied up in combat before it reaches them) or even a mawlock, or hell even venomthropes supporting hormagaunts? That is a ton of glances per turn with the frag and krak grenades they get from the venomthropes special rule


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Why not just throw some trygons in there? They can get to the vehicles pretty quick and get into cc with them (granted it doesnt get tied up in combat before it reaches them) or even a mawlock, or hell even venomthropes supporting hormagaunts? That is a ton of glances per turn with the frag and krak grenades they get from the venomthropes special rule

I have found, that as the points go up, Nids effectiveness goes down when trying to do all CC. I tried to do the all C Nid list, worked great aginst my regular opponent (Imperial Guard), but as the points went up, and he was able to get more armor, my effectiveness has tanked. You will find, that it is very discouraging trying to chase vehicles around the board with your MC, then when you finally catch one the contents hop out and blast you to death.

Get some Hive Guard, they are fantastic against AV 10-12. I am really looking foreward to them releasing a tyrranofex kit. Even though it is expensive, I really want to try out a couple. I think they could be the punch a CC list needs, High Toughness, can be effective in CC, but can also advance with the swarm, pop a vehicle, and let all your other bugs get to the tasty insides.

Okay because everyone seems to be dabating wheather it is possible or not i will simply create one, remember this will include NO SHOOTING ABILITIES.

be right back.

I think it would be possible at a push. Whilst the lack of Tervigons, Hive Guard and Zoanthropes would hurt, Raveners and Genestealers can provide fast moving rending en masse whilst Trygons, Carnifex's and Tyrants should be capable of ripping tanks open.

It'd be much harder than a list that contains a mix, but I think it would be doable. This would also depend slightly on your meta also...

No shooting list, gonna be hard, and before comments, this obviously isn’t going to be competitive at high levels but im trying my best!

!-WARNING-! The following shall entail NO SHOOTING:

HQ
Hive tyrant OA / Wings - 255

ELITE
Venomthrope - 55
Venomthrope - 55

TROOP
Genestealers x 15 TS / sytal - 285
Genestealers x 15 TS / sytal - 285
Hormagaunt x 20 TS – 160
Hormagaunt x 20 TS – 160

FAST ATTACK
Warrior shrike brood x 3LW/BS - 150
Warrior shrike brood x 3LW/BS - 150

HEAVY SUPPORT
Carnifex CC / spod 225
Carnifex CC / spod 225

2k points. Warrior shrike were the only synappse that wouldn’t shoot and were FA
I told you it wouldn't be compettitive .. :(

I still say I love the idea, (I like to play my bugs chargy as well), but can there be a small degree of shooting, or you want it strictly CC.

You could run ogre gaunt spam. Run head first down the field and cross your fingers. The only thing you need to really worry about are…..well the list is long……but it may be fun

Thanks for all your input. I just gotta try it now.

Good luck

Honestly, I'd like you to prove us wrong, cause I LOVE CC charging bugs myself, but I just don't see it viable sadly... not when I've seen 90 hormagants wiped off of a board on the first round from a small tactical army like dark angel deathwing build

Yup that's the issue is getting dhot up before I get into CC. Gotta use lots of fast bugs and hope they can hold for the big guys to get there.

What about lictors?

old lictors could have worked, new lictors suck

Gotta have the Hive Guards, after that everything can be cc

3 units of 6 shrikes with rending claws work for me or 1 big unit ofthrikes and 2 units of raveners, mainly you need to spam rending and MC

I watched a "no-shooting" nid list get torn to shreds today by thunderfire cannons and sterrnguard. I very much support the suggestions that you bring some ranged firepower. The hiveguard saved the big bugs for a few turns though, so I have to recommend them. However, if even a few bugs had something ranged to counter the thunderfire with, probably 30% of the nid list would have lived to earn some points back.

I'm thinking lots of Genestealers with scything claws and toxin sacs with a Broodlord in each unit. Then bring on the MC's. I'm pretty partial to Carnifaxs. Shrieks seem like a good way to go also.

Ugghh I forgot how much painting is involved with a horde army lol.