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I'm new to the game. I've played several games with my friends armies and finnaly decide i wanted my own. I really like the Tyranids and i am wondering if its possible to have a shooting tyranids army for 2000pt or if i should just change to another race.

I play Tyranids, and they can be made shooty, but in all honesty, their strength is really in their ability to close combat.

If you want a shooty army, you can do it with Tyranids, but races better suited for that approach are Imperial Guard, Tau, Space marines...off the top of my head. The Tau codex is old and largely regarded as weak. Imperial Guard and Space Marines are much more relevant to the rest of the game and generally will offer more advantages.

The next question is what points levels are you looking to collect/play at? Do you like the forces of good (human for the most part) or evil (like tyranids, chaos, etc)? Do you like lots of tanks and machines to do your shooting for you, or lots of infantry to swell your ranks?

As a user of various very shooty Nid builds I can tell you that, when built right, you can and will consistently out-shoot Tau, Necrons, Orks and especially Chaos Marines. Imperial Guard are in their own special league so don't even worry about trying to outshoot them, ever.

At 2000 points, Nids really start to shine because they can finally start to use more than just 2 or 3 Monstrous Creatures.

While it's true that CC is definitely a strong aspect of the Nids, the number of attacks you will get on the charge still falls far short of what a typical shooty build can put out. Another advantage of very shooty lists is that they make very little use of reserves, thereby avoiding one of the codex's biggest weaknesses. When facing an opponent that runs a reserve army, you will most likely be able to focus 90% of your army on his isolated right from the start of the game, putting you in a very advantageous situation.

One final word of warning, due to the amount of troops you can field and the cost of the bigger kits, Tyranids can cost you even more than Imperial Guard to deply properly.

Do you have any ideas yet as to what type of list you want to run or are you still pretty much in the brainstorming phase?

whats the shootiest unit for tyranids. and i reallyu like the idea of using some kind of artillery if its possible


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Whats the shootiest unit for tyranids. and i really like the idea of using some kind of artillery if its possible

Your anti-infantry shooty is pretty easy. Warriors with deathspitters, gaunts with spitters (quality) or fleshborers(quantity), probably some trygons. The issue is going to come with your anti-vehicle approach. The nids are limited or nerfed(zoes are good except for the fact that one librarian screws with your ability to fire) so that means guard units and don't be surprised that your enemy knows that and targets them...

The tyrannofex will tempt you. Don't take it.

The Tyrannofex is a boss but when you're looking for number of shots he is not where you want to be. That's where you take Dakkafexes...carnifexes with 2 Devourers with brainleech worms...whole lotta S6...

Devilgants can outshoot most anything.

20 gants in a pod with Devourers...thats 60 S4 shots. It's also 240 points. I believe

Tyranids can be extremely shooty...you just have to take the right upgrades. As for artillery...biovores can be effective cheap templates...you just have to make sure your elite slot is maximized.

Harpies can also deal out the templates.

Other shooty units include raveners or sky slashers with spinefists.

Hive Guard will most likely be your elite shooty choice unless you like the feel of Zoanthropes.

If someone tells you a nid unit is bunk...don't take it to heart...unless the word "pyrovore" was mentioned...then believe it.

Here's some good shooty units:

-Hive guard (beyond Line of sight, and 2 str8 shots, not bad for 50 points)
-Carnifex with 2 twin linked devourers- 12 str6 shots, with re roll to hit (alas no longer to wound, living ammo you are missed)
-Hive tyrant, armed with the same
-Devourer gaunts - a squad of 20 puts out 60 shots. Admittedly, only at 18", but against a marine squad, thats 15 wounds to save against on average.
-As for artillery- we have biovores. Not the strongest unit ever, and need some synapse babysitting, but str4 ap4 large blast hurts other horde armies a lot.
-Zoanthropes- mitigated by psychic hoods and runes of warding (eldar) but a str10 ap1 lance shot is still one of the best anti tank weapons in the game.
Tyrannofex- much maligned, and yes, the rupture cannon's str10 goodness can be hit or miss, but the chance to drop a shed load of flamer templates (3 with acid spray I believe) on people can ruin hordes. Plus its fairly resilient.
-Harpy with 2 twin linked heavy venom cannons- good as a mobile gun platform, just don;t expect tough.

So yes, shooty can work for nids, and not to be underestimated. There are stronger shooting armies out there (guard, I'm looking at you), but if you like the way nids look, and are interested then you have options. Hope this helps!

Hidden gem of the Nids: Biovores. Always field them in 3's. You'll never be displeased by their efficiency once IG or other 4+save units get kicked out of their transports. Even Long Fangs tend to go running with tails between their legs after getting hit by 6 spores.

Here's a sample of what i think of 2000pts shooty Nyds can work.

HQ

Tyranid Prime
- Lashwhip and Bonesword
- Deathspitter

Tyranid Prime
- Lashwhip and Bonesword
- Deathspitter

Elites
3x Hive Guard
3x Hive Guard
2x Zoanthropes in a Spore

Troops:
22x Devourer Gaunts
22x Devourer Gaunts

Fast
14x Gargoyles
14x Gargoyles

Heavy:
2x Carnifex with Twin linked Devourers & Stranglethorn Cannon
2x Carnifex with Twin linked Devourers & Stranglethorn Cannon
(went with Canon and Devourers for the sake of your pocket book, Carnifexes only come with one set of Devourers in box, Also strnglethorn ups your first turn shooting with its 36" range)

total: 1998 points

Have the primes join the Carnifexes to add BS and reduce enemy assaults to I1

Use the Gargoyles as mobile cover

Gaunts do thier Daka Thing

Hive Guards and Zoans tank hunt.
possible weakness is the Synapse. Cutting the gargs and reducing the dev gaunts to add 8 warriors with deathspitters may help (theyre also big enough to provide the carnifexes with cover.)

Karnac wrote:Here's a sample of what i think of 2000pts shooty Nyds can work.

HQ

Tyranid Prime
- Lashwhip and Bonesword
- Deathspitter

Tyranid Prime
- Lashwhip and Bonesword
- Deathspitter

Elites
3x Hive Guard
3x Hive Guard
2x Zoanthropes in a Spore

Troops:
22x Devourer Gaunts
22x Devourer Gaunts

Fast
14x Gargoyles
14x Gargoyles

Heavy:
2x Carnifex with Twin linked Devourers & Stranglethorn Cannon
2x Carnifex with Twin linked Devourers & Stranglethorn Cannon
(went with Canon and Devourers for the sake of your pocket book, Carnifexes only come with one set of Devourers in box, Also strnglethorn ups your first turn shooting with its 36" range)

total: 1998 points

Have the primes join the Carnifexes to add BS and reduce enemy assaults to I1

Use the Gargoyles as mobile cover

Gaunts do thier Daka Thing

Hive Guards and Zoans tank hunt.
possible weakness is the Synapse. Cutting the gargs and reducing the dev gaunts to add 8 warriors with deathspitters may help (theyre also big enough to provide the carnifexes with cover.)

The Tyranid Prime's Alpha Warrior ability specifically says it works on regular warriors that he joins but doesn't say anything about other Tyranid units he joins. You might run in to opponents who'll dispute you using them to boost a fex's BS.

Cutting out a brood of fex's and adding some warriors will avoid arguement, give you more scoring units, and free you up some points for biovores, which are good against horde opponents.

martian_jo wrote:

Karnac wrote:Here's a sample of what i think of 2000pts shooty Nyds can work.

HQ

Tyranid Prime
- Lashwhip and Bonesword
- Deathspitter

Tyranid Prime
- Lashwhip and Bonesword
- Deathspitter

Elites
3x Hive Guard
3x Hive Guard
2x Zoanthropes in a Spore

Troops:
22x Devourer Gaunts
22x Devourer Gaunts

Fast
14x Gargoyles
14x Gargoyles

Heavy:
2x Carnifex with Twin linked Devourers & Stranglethorn Cannon
2x Carnifex with Twin linked Devourers & Stranglethorn Cannon
(went with Canon and Devourers for the sake of your pocket book, Carnifexes only come with one set of Devourers in box, Also strnglethorn ups your first turn shooting with its 36" range)

total: 1998 points

Have the primes join the Carnifexes to add BS and reduce enemy assaults to I1

Use the Gargoyles as mobile cover

Gaunts do thier Daka Thing

Hive Guards and Zoans tank hunt.
possible weakness is the Synapse. Cutting the gargs and reducing the dev gaunts to add 8 warriors with deathspitters may help (theyre also big enough to provide the carnifexes with cover.)

The Tyranid Prime's Alpha Warrior ability specifically says it works on regular warriors that he joins but doesn't say anything about other Tyranid units he joins. You might run in to opponents who'll dispute you using them to boost a fex's BS.

Cutting out a brood of fex's and adding some warriors will avoid arguement, give you more scoring units, and free you up some points for biovores, which are good against horde opponents.

*re-reads* they would be right to dispute. id either do the warrior option or convert the primes into a shooty tyrant or catalyst spamming tervi

Karnac wrote:
*re-reads* they would be right to dispute. id either do the warrior option or convert the primes into a shooty tyrant or catalyst spamming tervi

I've always loved my dual tl dev tyrant. I think it needs a cowboy hat and a Marlboro hanging out of it's mouth. 12 st6 shots with rerolls is brutal. The lack of AP and the 18" range are mild setbacks compared to the volume of shots you'll be letting loose with.

Since tervigons don't have a model yet they might be difficult for a new player to get a hold of or model. Maybe something to aspire to as you build your army OP.

Ok i used your advice and proxied a couple games using those lists. And suprisingly found Tyranids are not the best at shooting so now I want to do a NIDZILLA army for 1500pts I already have 1 carnafex and 36 hormagaunts what else should i get?

Sorry to have to break this to you but Nidzilla and 1500 points are 2 concepts that don't quite coexist.

Also, I routinely out-shoot most armies except for Imperial Guard so when you say you don't find Nids to be shooty enough, could you explain that a bit? What were the lists you were using and against what army lists? Just curious.

Shooty nids does work. The problem is anti-vehicle and there you have 3 choices. Zoanthropes that get nerft by anti-psyker stuff, Tyrannofex that - to me - are overcosted, and hive guard that get pressured taking out high AV vehicles.

Start with 2 or 3 units of hive guard. That leaves your anti- high AV to close combat for that I recommend tervigons and trygon or trygon prime. Tervigons qualify as troop choices as long as you take a unit of gaunts to go with them. Take 10 man (bug) units of devourer gaunts at least. Carnifexes and warriors are good but are not very cost efficient. Now the other thing is your devourer gaunts cost a lot so think about screening them with something relatively cheap. Hormagaunts or higher priced gargoyles will do the job nicely. The joy of this army is 3d6 fleshborer gaunts for every tervigon - every turn - UNTIL you roll doubles. Very hit/miss with one but prettu dependable with 3 or more tervigons.

So start with 3 tervigons, 30 spitter gaunts , 1 trygon prime, and 6 hive guard. Now with 3 tervigons, I would figure you need 3 turns worth of gaunts per tervigon, with an average of 10.5 that means 95 fleshborer gaunts! Now whatever points you have left over can go to whatever you like to fill out your points. The tervigons can be troops or HQs as needed so you can go with dakka tyrants, prime and warriors, zosnthropes or more trygons if you like. You could even add 2 tervigons but remember then you need about 62 more fleshborer gaunts.

The MCs take out the big vehicles while your shooty stuff drops the troops. Use your tervigons to either provide feel no pain or catalyst them into combat. The hive guard spill the "goodies" inside the rhinos and chimeras.

You want to try a fex list? I think it is over costed but while a major points investment, think about a squadron of fexes with two talons and plasma backed up by a tervigon. The tervigon gives them feel no pain and perhaps catalyst to allow them to fleet and charge. Again more points but think about regen. I think this may work but it is going to be very susceptible to melta guns and mght be okay against long fang spam.

If you're gonna try nidzilla at 1500 go heavy on screamer killers. Carnifex's with sytals and bioplasma.

Brood of 3 is 540.

Of course that's a third of your points...

3 gaunt broods two ten strong and one 12 strong 160pts.

4 Tervigons with toxin sacs, adr. glands, and catalyst... 800pts.

1500pts with 7mc. Plus the Tgons will be pooping out more grunts to capture objectives.

The only shooting would be the guants, so lets face it, this if the opposite of the last army list. You'd want to get those gaunts in assault for the toxin sacs so shooting is a moot point...

martian_jo wrote:If you're gonna try nidzilla at 1500 go heavy on screamer killers. Carnifex's with sytals and bioplasma.

Brood of 3 is 540.

Of course that's a third of your points...

3 gaunt broods two ten strong and one 12 strong 160pts.

4 Tervigons with toxin sacs, adr. glands, and catalyst... 800pts.

1500pts with 7mc. Plus the Tgons will be pooping out more grunts to capture objectives.

The only shooting would be the guants, so lets face it, this if the opposite of the last army list. You'd want to get those gaunts in assault for the toxin sacs so shooting is a moot point...

Brilliant. He asks for a shooty list and you offer him a bunch of MCs and gants with 12" range and BS3 ...

For shooty, try this for 1,750:

HQ hive tyrant 2 TL devourers, 2* guard 1*lash whip 325
ELITE 3*2 hive guard 300
TROOP 5 warriors (4 deathspitters, 1 venom cannon) 185
TROOP 5 warriors (4 deathspitters, 1 venom cannon) 185
TROOP Tervigon, AG/TS/catalyst 195
TROOP 18 termagants with devourers 180
HS 2 * Carnifex 2 TL devourers 380.

12 S8 shots, 36 S6 shots, 2 S6 blasts, 24 S5 shots, 54 S4 shots. It's not a great list and DE/IG can do shooting better, but this about as shooty as Nids can go.

Nid shooty still has to have a CC element to it. As you stated it is never going to match DE/IG. The tervigon is probably the best of all worlds:

- A monstrous creature that can down enemy vehicles.
- A force multiplier with Catalyst and FNP.
- Poops out troop choices.
- IS a troop choice.

Now admittedly flesh gaunts are not the greatest shooters but they are also not bad at throwing into HTH - especially against enemy shooter stuff. Sure they may not win but then again hopefully the long fang squad or loota squad won't fire at you for a round.

The blast templates are not that critical to bugs - if someone wants to try to out-hoard you, let him try. You need high volume and high strength shots. I would send you to your codex and find out what qualifies. (Off hand I am going to say hive guard, MC devourers and perhaps Venom Cannons and bioplasma - not forgetting the zoanthrope shot.)

WastedTimeInterval wrote:Ok i used your advice and proxied a couple games using those lists. And suprisingly found Tyranids are not the best at shooting so now I want to do a NIDZILLA army for 1500pts I already have 1 carnafex and 36 hormagaunts what else should i get?

ruminator wrote:

martian_jo wrote:If you're gonna try nidzilla at 1500 go heavy on screamer killers. Carnifex's with sytals and bioplasma.

Brood of 3 is 540.

Of course that's a third of your points...

3 gaunt broods two ten strong and one 12 strong 160pts.

4 Tervigons with toxin sacs, adr. glands, and catalyst... 800pts.

1500pts with 7mc. Plus the Tgons will be pooping out more grunts to capture objectives.

The only shooting would be the guants, so lets face it, this if the opposite of the last army list. You'd want to get those gaunts in assault for the toxin sacs so shooting is a moot point...

Brilliant. He asks for a shooty list and you offer him a bunch of MCs and gants with 12" range and BS3 ...

For shooty, try this for 1,750:

HQ hive tyrant 2 TL devourers, 2* guard 1*lash whip 325
ELITE 3*2 hive guard 300
TROOP 5 warriors (4 deathspitters, 1 venom cannon) 185
TROOP 5 warriors (4 deathspitters, 1 venom cannon) 185
TROOP Tervigon, AG/TS/catalyst 195
TROOP 18 termagants with devourers 180
HS 2 * Carnifex 2 TL devourers 380.

12 S8 shots, 36 S6 shots, 2 S6 blasts, 24 S5 shots, 54 S4 shots. It's not a great list and DE/IG can do shooting better, but this about as shooty as Nids can go.

Just giving the man what he asked for. At 1500 pts shooty nidzilla doesn't work well. This way he's got lots of little ts ag gaunts to swarm the enemy with. Your list is good and shooty, proving nids can do it decently.

HQ

Hive tyrant (195)
Lash whip and bonesword, Heavy venom cannon,
(the tyrant can stay in the throwing strength 9 36" small blasts from across the board.)

Elite

Hive guard x2 (100)
Hive guard x2 (100)
Zoanthrope x2 (120)
(the hive guard and Zoanthrope will make up your anti-armor fire, the guard are great for popping transport, the Zoanthrope cuts through main battle tanks like butter.)

Troops

Termagant x10 (50)
Termagant x10 (50)
Termagant x10 (50)
Tervigon (185) [can be converted from a carnifex]
Catalyst, Toxin Sacs
Tervigon (185)
Catalyst, Toxin Sacs
Tervigon (185)
Catalyst, Toxin Sacs
(With 3 Tervigon pumping out an almost endless supply of troops, and with 6 toughness 6 wounds a piece they're annoying to take of the board. )

Fast

Harpy (170) [can be converted from a trygon]
Twin-linked Heavy venom cannon
Harpy (170)
Twin-linked Heavy venom cannon
(2 harpies flying around will bring havak to an enemy line with strength 9 blasts that reroll to wound)

Heavy

Biovore x3 (135)
Tyrannofex (280) [can be converted from a carnifex]
regeneration
(3 biovores and a tyrannofex will ensure the death of quite alot of infantry, he's expensive but trust me when a tyrannofex barrels down on a troop position they will give way quick!)

Total: 1975 (25 points to play with)

Here's a list I think you will like, boasting 5 synapse creatures, 7TMC, a lot of troops, templates, and 4 broods can open up fire turn 1.