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I have yet to run these guys in a game, but on paper they seem pretty nice. I know they compete for Elite slots, which is understandable, but this hardly seems like a reason to write them off. I plan on trying 2 squads of 3 Hive guard and a brood of 2 Venomthropes this weekend. I've been researching the internets and found a lot of folks that have tried the Venomthrope and swear by it. Between FnP from tervigons and 5+ cover from the spore cloud, this can result in some very hearty bugs. In a footslogging CC oriented list, like I run, a 5+ cover save is golden. If you have the points, regen would fit nicely too. Not to mention they cause dangerous terrain tests which although not a game changer can be really annoying against Orks or GK's (lets face it, you kill so much as 1 GK terminator because of dangerous terrain, you'll be laughing all the way to the bank!).

So do people have opinions in favor of these guys? Or am I barking up the wrong tree? Any good stories or uses for Venomthropes? Is there a downside to them that I'm not seeing, other than they take up an Elite slot? (which I already don't really consider a big downside).

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

I have 3, and love them. I run a brood of 3 with 2 Primes attached to soak up S8+ fire. Simply fantastic.

I've heard of that trick before, running Primes with them to further prevent instant death. Its a great sounding tactic but it can get expensive. Unfortunately I'm working on an 1850 point list and just simply can't afford the Primes.

If you make them work then please do share! I would love to see them bad.

The problem with them is that they compete with S8 and S10 Lance + genstealers in the elite, and in the fast attack you can grab the gargoyle screen for 4+ save.

I used to use them in my Hammer and Anvil list, Genestealers, Vemonthropes, and Swarmlord making up the hammer and the rest making up the Anvil. Vemonthropes really shine when you put them behind monstrous creatures.

One story which is so rare but, it happened. A guy tried to assault the Venoms and squad was wiped out because of the spore cloud. What are the odds! He cursed them for a month.

Genius! Lol. Venomthropes behind a Tervigon sound brilliant. Doling out FnP to MC's/units as needed depending on threats and 5+ cover for all makes for some very tough units.

For me, Zoanthropes are null. I've used them before, but they are so clumsy it seems. You need to get a spore for them, then you have to pass a psychic test, then roll to hit, pen, and damage table. I'd gladly take Venomthropes over them. In regards to hive Guard, my answer is to group them in squads of 3. This lowers the number of targets you can engage, but that is a relatively insignificant drawback. I haven't played with Yarmgls, so I can't comment on them. Doom is just for plain ol' fun games. Lictor's are a shadow of their former glory.

broodstar wrote:I used to use them in my Hammer and Anvil list, Genestealers, Vemonthropes, and Swarmlord making up the hammer and the rest making up the Anvil. Vemonthropes really shine when you put them behind monstrous creatures.

One story which is so rare but, it happened. A guy tried to assault the Venoms and squad was wiped out because of the spore cloud. What are the odds! He cursed them for a month.

Too bad they semi-nerfed the Venomthropes in the recent FAQ :-/

Q: Do enemy models assaulting a Venomthrope brood,
or another frindly Tyranid unit within range of its Spre
Cloud, have their Initiative reduced to 1 for assaulting
through the cloud? (p45)
A: No, as the Spore Cloud is not a piece of terrain.

Yay for changing the rules. You still do take a dangerous terrain test though, which is nice.

That's what the lash whips are for.

broodstar wrote:That's what the lash whips are for.

Doesn't help when someone assaults the Carnifexes your spore cloud is protecting.

I've seen them used. They always attract a lot of attention in the beginning of a game. Usually that saves some other unit from eating str8 fire.

rigeld2 wrote:

broodstar wrote:That's what the lash whips are for.

Doesn't help when someone assaults the Carnifexes your spore cloud is protecting.

Dude if a squad is in assault with a Carnifex brood they are F'ed, because everybody else is has made it to the line.

broodstar wrote:

rigeld2 wrote:

broodstar wrote:That's what the lash whips are for.

Doesn't help when someone assaults the Carnifexes your spore cloud is protecting.

Dude if a squad is in assault with a Carnifex brood they are F'ed, because everybody else is has made it to the line.

a) not always
b) not my point, and you're obviously not bothering to understand my point so I'll just drop it.

I love Venomthropes, they are easily the best Elite choice and as a bonus are one of the best looking models in the game, if a little fragile.

They die quickly with only the 5+sv but when backed up they are epic, they can even hold out on their own in combat thanks to the spore cloud, lash whips and poison.

Other than possible competition for Elite slots I see nothing wrong with Venomthropes, personally I hate dealing with them with my GKs, stupid bugs don't deserve a cover save

They fulfill the same thing as a Big Mech with KFF, keeping your large units a save they will almost always get and allowing them to get into close combat/close range without dying. Venoms are a solid pick.

^^ Reassuring to hear a GK player doesn't like these I'm worried about playing GKs in a practice tourny for Adepticon this weekend.

Venoms will def be included, I'm heading to the FLGS to pick up two of them today!

They are amazing units. I think you'll like 'em!

Quick note: defensive grenades remove *all* assault bonuses. So BA armies are especially screwed up by Venomthropes.

odorofdeath wrote:Quick note: defensive grenades remove *all* assault bonuses. So BA armies are especially screwed up by Venomthropes.

All assault bonuses? I thought it was just bonus attacks? That's amazing, I'll have to check me BRB!

And yeah, Venomthropes rock. Hide them behind a MC or 2 and the opposition will have a heck of a time trying to snipe them. They usually don't survive long enough to provide their CC debuffs, but if they do then your enemy will curse them even more. They're no slouches in CC either, what with wounding on a 2+ with potential for rerolls and Toxic Miasma. Amazing force multipliers, I almost always run a brood of 2 in my lists.

OIF Knight wrote:^^ Reassuring to hear a GK player doesn't like these I'm worried about playing GKs in a practice tourny for Adepticon this weekend.

Venoms will def be included, I'm heading to the FLGS to pick up two of them today!

Just be careful of Vindicare assassins, I use mine to take shots at Venomthropes as the first shot each turn. One Turbo-Penetrator round that a Venom is pulverized.