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So just a few quick questions if noone minds...

I've loved Tyranids for a while now, but have never had the inspiration or budget to start them....well after finishing up my Dark Eldar I may look into starting a new army. If I did, Tyranids would be the first choice at the moment. But let me cut to the chase, a few questions!

1.) How are they doing in this edition? I know as a Dark Eldar player, I'm able to beat the people at my FLGS quite handily, but I also see GK being a threat.
2.) What are some off the prime choices? Around here I see alot of Genestealers, Trygons, Tervigons and Hive Guards. However, I really like the Gargoyles, and the Death Leaper, would these have any place in an army?
3.) Any must have "Tyranid" knowledge in order to play?
4.) How much does an average 1,000-1,500 point army run you?

Thanks in advance!

1.) most people thin nids are not doing well this edition. many people feel the loss of eternal warrior from synapse was a severe blow, and that most of the monstrous creatures went up in cost made all of the previous nidzilla players severely butt hurt.

2.) Depends on points. regardless of points hive guard seem to be a prime choice. tervigons are also a prime choice. Most people do not like death leaper for the same reason they do not like lictors, cannot assault the same turn it deploys. Deathleaper I see as situational, he is there as another antipsyker element in the army, but this is only handy when your opponent has 1 main nasty psyker. Genestealers and termagaunts seem to be the troops of choice, with hormogaunts being seen as inferior. I actually have yet to see a trygon played by anyone. Raveners also seem popular.

3.) Nids work similar to orks. Pick a theme and stick to it. Nid players must have decent converting skills. many of the MC units do not have models, you must make them :(

There is an incredibly useful and comprehensive discusion on this topic started by hulksmash. Run a search or look in the sticky manchu put together at the top of the forum. It covers everything in great depth and will teach you loads.

Thanks for the response!

Having used to play space marines, I know how annoying hive guard are...but I can see why people dont take death leapers, not being able to assault the turn they come in is a huge downfall, I just love the looks of the model.

Also, whats your opinion on gargoyals? I've always thought having a huge horde come in from reserve would be awesome, and now that they are in plastic, its a lot easier.

I saw Hulksmashes topic, but didnt read through all the pages, I'll check it out, thanks.

Compared to the other 5th edition codex many feel nids got quite the shaft. I love their models and love their fluff but their rules def are lacking. On the other hand there were a few nid players that advanced to ard boyz semis so a good general with a good list CAN win.

Genestealers are quite amazing. Seriously buy as many as you can. Being able to infiltrate or outflank these boys vs tanks can cause a lot of damage. Hive guards are very good because they offer some high str fire power to the army. Gargoyles are really good too, because they can provide a nice screen for your big stompy winged tyrant. Tervigons are amazing as well, the ability to get free troops is awesome in point capture games and they can be taken as a troop choice! People debate on Carnifex vs Trygon but I've sided with Trygon. Better stats and survivability. As already stated many models in the nids dex don't have official models so conversions are a must. Another problem with the dex is there are a lot of units that aren't worth reading. Pyrovores, biovores, shrikes, lictors, deathleapers all are crap or just way too situational to use in a standard list.

I'm more worried about having fun than winning, I have my Dark Eldar if I want to win all the time, however I don't want an army that is just going to get smashed over and over!

I appreciate the advice, and I completely forgot genestealers! I love those guys, I believe I even have a few from the old 4E starter set.

I think if I were to select a Heavy Support I would side with the Trygon as well, not even for gaming reasons, but I just love how intimidating that thing is when it pops up in your deployment zone.

Nids can make for a good competitive or fun army. If I ever for back into nids it'd be my fun army. I also loved painting them, the few models I did paint all came out amazing. Though Orks are a really fun army to play as well

Check out Janthkin's posts on bugs. He's the top rated Nid player in the USA right now and has beat hard core tournament lists at every points level with his bugs. He is probably the best source of information about them on Dakka.

l0k1 wrote:Another problem with the dex is there are a lot of units that aren't worth reading. Pyrovores, biovores, shrikes, lictors, deathleapers all are crap or just way too situational to use in a standard list.

I'd agree on most of those units except the biovores. IMO they are a very good unit that is often under-estimated in a tyranid army, especially since they're sharing the same FOC slots with trygons, carnifexes and tyrannofexes.

I normally run 6 in my tyranid army and they usually easily make back their points and then some. Moreoever, they fill a niche that my army needs and that is ranged anti-infantry.

But one of the most important things about tyranids is the overall synergy of the army. Nids are more reliant on units supporting other units more than almost any other army right now. If you can design an army with that in mind - how each individual tyranid unit can complement one another - then you will have a competitive (and even a fun) tyranid army.

Gargolyes can be good, run them in 15+ broods w/ AG/TS for 8pts a piece.
Tervigon putting FNP on them does not hurt either.

I use them as a counter assault group or main assault group depending on the situation. Just make sure they get to assault and not assaulted.

In 2500 pt games with prefered enemy (from SL or HT) + getting to assault + AG/TS is devistating. Say you have 20 gar brood. 40 atk, 30 hit (6 which are auto wounds), 18/24 left wound (vs T4 or less). Thats 24 wounds = 8 MEQ DOA.

Must have knowlegde.


To win,think like a nid.Use the Termagants as cover for warriors.Use warriors as cover for Tyrants.Use tyrants as the focal point of your army.Use the fluff as a tactica.To this end,tou will need a hybrid list.

Now,before I gte scorned,it is a good tactic because,with a Nidzilla list,AT weapons like MM and LC can devastate you.If you take a horde,then flamers and blasts will be a curse.Taking a mixture means that a player tooled up for anit-horde will not have the equipment to properly deal with MC.Likewise,as player all tooled up with AT weapons will not be aably cope with hordes.Taking both means that your opponent is hard pressed for firing options,and you can ensure that most of your bugs make it to CC.it also looks spectacular and is fun to play.

I have to agree biovores aren't trash, I had 3 hidden out of los dropping pie plates on my orks all game; it was not pleasant.

With my experience playing nids, I feel that the general opinion is correct.

However, I always never have enough cash to collect the bigger models. Thats why I went to my FLGS aand flipped through the unsorted section. by slowly buying up all their individuals, I came up with about 1200pts of nid. Then christmas rolled around and I was lucky enough to recieve a trygon in the mix. Huzzah!

So this is how I run my armies:

HQ:
PRIMES. People often denote them but they certainly have saved me once or twice. Plus, since I can't seem to afford a tyrant, It's what Ive got to run with. Make a model that you love, then play it as a prime.

Elites:
I run Zoa's. They are the only psychic oriented model in the army. I would also advise hive guard. they are one of the few good anti-tank weapons we have, so we might as well use them.

Troops:
One warrior brood, using the prime for support. also, run a venom cannon, as small pie plates can be handy in emergencies.

Stealer rush, with AG/TS, a pimpin' Broodlord, and Scythings. These little engines of destruction can be placed at just over 12 inches away, make a full move, run, and then assault, possibly covering 18in. or more! then the flurry of rending and re-rolled ones causes a nightmare of CC.

Rippers. Yes, you all may laugh, but I find rippers to be very handy, should you use them like I. I'll describe their tactics later, with another unit choice.

HV:
Trygon prime. yes he is pricy, but I run a prime with all upgrades. I also run the rippers with all upgrades, including tunnel swarm and spinefists. That way, I use them as a meat-sheild for my trygon prime. Plus, when I charge in with 33 att, those little guys eat right through infantry, especially non-cc units like tau (My best friends army. Since he doesn't spam kroot, his CC is left desiring. perfect for a little horde of OMNOMNOMS)

Genestealers are the poster boy for the Tyranid list now, use because they are solid choice and excellent to use for every list! Back in the day you wanted to get rid of the carnies as fast as possible or they could make you have a bad day. Now you just run around and laugh at them...