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Hey guys as the subject suggests I'm looking for some help on how best to get to most out of this powerful creature.

*New to Tyranids btw

Well so far I have just finished reading the codex (great read so unique to the others) and i was thinking of Arming my Prime with Re gen and venom sacks. Re gen because at six wounds it will take a while to kill with this buff its borderline invincible. Venom sacks were for tougher targets.

As for deployment i was thinking of using the Trygon Prime to help with the flanking effort against my opponant. Doing this to allow reserve troops to spill forth from it burrow and charge from behind the enemy lines all the wile providing heavy fire support from the Prime. This would then force my opponent to split their forces to deal with the rear threat.

Let us know how to get the best from a Trygon Prime

The first Prime you refer to is the Tyranid Prime right? Because if you're going to arm a Trygon Prime with Toxin Sacs then that isn't a very good idea - it's going to wound most things on a 2+ anyway, and it would handicapping itself against the majority of the units out there. If it's supposed to be a Tyranid Prime though then you might want to give it Toxin Sacs, I personally wouldn't though.

Anyway, as a general rule people say to run 2 Trygons because if you only have 1 then chances are that it will die quickly.

You'd be surprised how quick TMC's get taken down, especially if you're only running 1-2

Do. Not. Use. Toxin. Sacs.

Toxin Sacs on a TMC (Tyranid Monstrous Creature) actually make you do less wounds. Instead of wounding on a 2+ (~83% chance) you wound on a 4+ with a reroll if you fail (75% chance) against most opponents. They're a waste of points. Use Adrenal Glands instead of Toxin Sacs on all TMCs.

Regen is good, but doesn't make it borderline Invincible It's only a 1/6 chance per wound to get something out of it.

Deep Striking the Trygon is fine, but don't count on the tunnel. Only Infantry (not Raveners because they're Beasts) can use it, and they will only be able to use it *if* the Trygon comes in the turn before the Infantry wants to use it - not the same turn.

To me, he's most useful as a fast Synapse charging from your deployment area to make sure your Hormagaunts, Gargoyles, etc. stay in Synapse.

rigeld2 wrote:To me, he's most useful as a fast Synapse charging from your deployment area to make sure your Hormagaunts, Gargoyles, etc. stay in Synapse.

Agreed, I don't have one yet, but this is what I've been planning on using it as when I get one.

Cool thanks for the help i will have to grab another one

Trust me, TMC's can go down real easily. I was playing a buddy of mine and he deep striked his Trygon Prime and I just shot the hell out of it with Psycannons and Riflemen dreads and killed it before he was even able to do anything with it. Thats the bad part about them, they don't have invulnerable saves... I have found the best way to run them in my opinion, all you have to do is run 3 of them. Your opponent will most likely not have enough firepower to kill all 3 until 1 or 2 of them are in his lines.
FWI: KEEP THEM AWAY FROM PALADIN DEATH STAR UNITS!!! TRUST ME!!!

Gorfan wrote:Trygon Prime how best to deploy one?

On a shelf.

Seriously, the Prime upgrade is overcosted and not necessary.

In response to surfboard66 when you say shoot the hell out of it how many units would a GK player have to dedicated to ensure a kill roughly. I was planning on running it with 2 Mawloc's, 2 Harpy's and Parasite of Mortex as far as MC's goes would that be enough MC to force the opponents hand to choose maybe one or two MC's to devide their fire?

Hope that made sence

rigeld2Do. Not. Use. Toxin. Sacs.

Toxin Sacs on a TMC (Tyranid Monstrous Creature) actually make you do less wounds. Instead of wounding on a 2+ (~83% chance) you wound on a 4+ with a reroll if you fail (75% chance) against most opponents. They're a waste of points. Use Adrenal Glands instead of Toxin Sacs on all TMCs.

You should Always upgrade your Tervigons with Toxin Sacs, and Adrenal glands, since it passes this to nearby Termagaunts. Other than that, I woulden't use those two Upgrades on a TMC.

Regen is good, but doesn't make it borderline Invincible It's only a 1/6 chance per wound to get something out of it.

Regen is a waste of points.

Deep Striking the Trygon is fine, but don't count on the tunnel. Only Infantry (not Raveners because they're Beasts) can use it, and they will only be able to use it *if* the Trygon comes in the turn before the Infantry wants to use it - not the same turn.

Deep striking is asking for it to become a pincushion that turn. With it's large base, and Fleet, You should be able to get into combat by turn 2 anyway.

To me, he's most useful as a fast Synapse charging from your deployment area to make sure your Hormagaunts, Gargoyles, etc. stay in Synapse.

The Parasite of Mortrex can do this for cheaper, and hide in a unit of Gargoyles since it's an IC.

Thanks Sasori

any other playing tips for the Parasite of Mortex?

Gorfan wrote:Thanks Sasori

any other playing tips for the Parasite of Mortex?

If you run Gargoyles, AD Glands and Toxin Sacs are a must. Gargoyles can do quite a bit bit of damage to just about anything. If they get the charge, they are STR 4 for the first round of combat, so get the reroll on failed poison wounds. Don't forget the blinding venom on their shooting weapon as well.

Raveners are Great with Rending claws, and no shooting weapon. They have the beasts special rule, so they have fleet and can assault 12' You can generally close with these guys very quickly. You just need to watch out for ID.

Overall, the Parasite is the best choice for cheap and very mobile synapse.

Trygons play best in pairs and only one needs the prime upgrade for synapse. Adrenal glands on both, for S vs vehicles and the I vs infantry.

D/S is often risky with these as they are left in the open for a turn where they can be shot to pieces. Only worth looking at if you go all reserves.

Main use is to walk them across the board. Run Hive guard, tervigons all together to ensure they have at least a cover save and posssibly FNP as well. Don't worry about the odd wound they receive, as once in CC they will be fine. With the ability to re-roll all misses then they are one of your best bets at killing heavy mech. They are not invincible in combat with infantry, only very good. Beware of units with high I and/or force weapons. Banshees not a problem as even though they have I10 they go at S3, but TH/SS termies or tooled up ICs can bring some hurt.

When you get into 12-18" range for their shooting, I often tend to run instead using fleet to assault as you want them in CC as soon as possible, so you only really go prime for synapse (and SITW) and not the extra shots. You don't want to delay CC for a turn because you stopped to fire their weapons.

Trygon's will be the first thing to get shot. Runn 2 of them at hieger points cost because one of them needs to reach the oponent. You can also throw feel no pain on them from the tervigon vs the right oponent (long fangs, chimeras etc.)

If you runn primes be prepeared that the prime will be the first that die. Also, consider running 6 ravagers with rending claws. It has just as many wounds and it is better in many circumstances.

Raveners will fit well with my snake like fleet i will have to grab some.

I will write an army list tonight and post it in an hour or so.

thanks for the guidance everyone

NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TOXIN SACKS! DON'T DO IT MAN! JUST TURN AROUND AND WALK AWAY! YOU CAN ESCAPE WITH YOUR LIFE, IF YOU JUST TURN AROUND AND WALK AWAY! JUST WALK AWAY!

The trick to a trygon is relative to what you want to accomplish. Usually deepstrike is safest and fastest. Plus he's very save deepstriker cause he doesnt mishap except off the board. But sometimes walking him is a good idea. Usualy if you want a big distraction on the field for some reason.

I plan on messing around with a Venomthrope list, so I plan on walking 2 of them. I'm not sure I'd spring for a 3rd, though. Dakkafexes are too tempting.

I assume the general consensus is to walk them, as DS-ing them only works in a Reserve list, I'd assume; to easy to shoot 1 to death.

odorofdeath I think 3 will be a lott since you are already spending 420 points on them and 110 (?) on the venomthropes. Be shure to grab the hive guards since that 24" range will be abel to keep up with the trygons. Zoanthropes are neat and very good, but you need those transports open by the time the big worms come in. Also, with so little shoting you need the reach vs eldar.

What are you thinking about in troops? I am sugesting 2 tervigons to cast FNP on the Trygons. Perhaps only 1 and one in HQ, othervice you are looking at primes. (The hive tyrant if nicem, but he is not that good in a non horde list.)

Gorfan wrote:In response to surfboard66 when you say shoot the hell out of it how many units would a GK player have to dedicated to ensure a kill roughly. I was planning on running it with 2 Mawloc's, 2 Harpy's and Parasite of Mortex as far as MC's goes would that be enough MC to force the opponents hand to choose maybe one or two MC's to devide their fire?

Hope that made sence

I'll just tell you what happened..
I was playing my buddy and around turn 4 or 5 his Trygon was getting really close so i decided to kill it. I shot a total of 4 TL Autocannons shots, 16 Psycannon shots, 12 Storm bolter shots. and 3 Heavy Bolter shots at it. That killed it one turn.

Heres my story about Force Weapons..
I was playing the same guy and it was around turn 3. My Paladins, and Grand Master deep strike equipped with 1 Brotherhood Banner, 1 apothecary, a ton of Halberds, and the Grand Master has all these crazy grenades. THIS IS MY POWER UNIT, WHEN I CHARGE AN UNWOUNDED TRYGON WITH THEM I KILL IT NO PROBLEM!! The grenades F's up the unit I'm charging so much that they could end up beating themselves up. Also the brotherhood banner allows me to auto activate force weapons.

Sorry for the late reply my power went out here is the list.

HQ
Pom
Tervigon (C)

Elites
Zoanthrope x2

Troops
Genestealers x 16 (st,ag,bl,st,ag)
Termagaunts x 19

Fast Attack
Gargoyles x 20
Raveners x5 (rc)

Heavy Support
Trygon (ag)
Trygon (ag)
Trygon Prime (ag)

Works out to be 1745

Hmm, maybe try the following alterations:

1. Make your Tervy a troop tervy and give him AG/TS
2. Reduce the Gant unit to 10
3. Drop the st,ag and bl on the stealers and add ts
4. Trim down on other units to get 2 x 2 hive guard (maybe drop Prime on the Trygon, 1 Ravener and some stealers)

Just some thoughts, but you definitely want at least 1, if not two broods of Hive Guard for this point level in addition to what you have.

If you are using a Trygon Prime, I suggest popping it up out of LoS from everything but you want it to shoot, which should be a squishy group of infantry.

Unfortunately you can't usually rely on LOS blocking terrain blocking a Trygon. If you really want a buried Trygon, BYO your own 50% cover by taking a spod (with Zoeys or Dev Gaunts). The only problem with this is you still need to get lucky, by getting your spod in the same turn or before your Trygon, and then having your Trygon not scatter out of cover from your spod.

Really, it's just better to run your Trygons. If you want an MC to appear amongst they're lines, get a fex in a spod where you can position the fex out of LOS from missile spam (behind the spod) and drill one of his infantry units with tl devs on delivery. Then hope he doesn't have enough mobile firepower to take your fex down that turn (FnP helps here if you can get range).

Gorfan wrote:Sorry for the late reply my power went out here is the list.

HQ
Pom
Tervigon (C)

Elites
Zoanthrope x2

Troops
Genestealers x 16 (st,ag,bl,st,ag)
Termagaunts x 19

Fast Attack
Gargoyles x 20
Raveners x5 (rc)

Heavy Support
Trygon (ag)
Trygon (ag)
Trygon Prime (ag)

Works out to be 1745

Alright, for all comers list, here is What I suggest you do


I'd Make the Tervigon a Troop choice, and giving it Toxin Sacs, and Adrenal Glands. This allows ALL gaunts nearby the Tervigon, to benefit from the Toxin Sacs and AD glands

Drop the Gaunts down to 10, and keep them bare.

Drop all those extra upgrades from the Genestealers, and just give them Toxin Sacs. You may also want to split them into 2x8

If you are going to run Gargoyles, you need to give them Toxin Sacs and Adrenal glands. It's Huge.

Raveners are good.

You really don't need the Adrenal glands on the Trygon. You will be hitting the rear armor of vehicles in Close combat, and 90% of the time, it's going to be 10. Even against AV 14, you are still quite likely to open it up. You also Have the Zoeys for Av 14.

You really need some Hiveguard, 2x2 would be best.

ruminator wrote:Trygons play best in pairs and only one needs the prime upgrade for synapse.

That is a lie. Trygons operate just fine without synapse, Rage isn't that much of a liability for a model that want to run forward as fast as it can, and dont forget that you aren't forced to charge the closest target, usually you can come within charge distance of more than one unit.

N.I.B. wrote:

ruminator wrote:Trygons play best in pairs and only one needs the prime upgrade for synapse.

That is a lie. Trygons operate just fine without synapse, Rage isn't that much of a liability for a model that want to run forward as fast as it can, and dont forget that you aren't forced to charge the closest target, usually you can come within charge distance of more than one unit.

I think you're a bit harsh on the critique there ... a lie? I stand by my opinion that, if running 2 trygons, only one needs prime (ie not both). The title of the thread is about how to use the prime, so that's what I commented on. Inference he was going to use a prime anyway.

While they have IB-feed, without synapse they can lose combat and flee, which can be okay but can also leave them open for shooting the next turn. Rage is not controllable to the extent you imply, having to move towards the nearest unit may mean away from the unit you want to charge. Also, no opportunity for shooting if you're already within charge range at the end of movement.

You're right of course, that's not a lie per se. I just get irritated when someone states that something is NEEDED but can't provide a reason as to why.
The impact of a Trygon failing an IB test is really insignificant to the point that it's not worth it at all to pay 40 points to buy a shoot-me-first sign for one of your Trygons.
I've run 2-3 Trygons (with AG) for 10 tournament games and some 30-40 practice games during the last 12 months. Never once needed the Prime upgrade or wished I had it. So I'm not just theorizing.

N.I.B. wrote:You're right of course, that's not a lie per se. I just get irritated when someone states that something is NEEDED but can't provide a reason as to why.
The impact of a Trygon failing an IB test is really insignificant to the point that it's not worth it at all to pay 40 points to buy a shoot-me-first sign for one of your Trygons.
I've run 2-3 Trygons (with AG) for 10 tournament games and some 30-40 practice games during the last 12 months. Never once needed the Prime upgrade or wished I had it. So I'm not just theorizing.

I am finding SITW more and more useful vs grey knights, for one. That ability to shut down their CC boosts is worth the points in itself when playing GK. Not many tournaments now where you won't bump into GK ...

Synapse? Fine if I run mutliple tervigons, but if not then extra synapse can be good. In say a POM list the main synapse is often with the gargoyles and trygons may not always remain within this bubble. If you're running 3 trygons then you will be short on synapse on most lists less than 2k, certainly if you need to babysit hive guard.

I find failing any IB test generally costs me dear, regardless of the unit involved. You have obviously fared better than I.

If you've never run a trygon prime and never intend to, then maybe a thread on how best to use one is not the place for too much critique. OP wants to use a trygon prime, so help him on how best to run one. Next someone will be on here saying to drop it and take a tyrannofex instead!

it's pricey but it can pay off.

Run it behind a pair of Carnifexes each with 2x twin linked devourers. They're big enough to provide it a mobile 4+ cover save to advance up the feild and 2 dakafex with a Trygon prime can lay down alot of firepower.

Tervigons are another option for cover saves.


If you are going to deep strike it you really need to make sure something comes through the deep strike hole it makes. Un-supported its doomed.

What about Venomthropes? They're practically made for giving cover to big fatties like Carnifexes