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HQ (269 pts)
Shas'o w. Airbursting Frag. Projector/Cyclic Ion Blaster (multi-tracker/target array)
Bodyguard (x2): Fusion Blaster/Plasma Rifle (Multi-tracker)

HQ (214 pts)
Ethereal
Honor Guard (x12): 11 w. pulse rifles, Shas'ui has markerlight

E (186)
Crisis Suit (x3): Fusion Blaster/Plasma Rifle (Multi-tracker)

E (186)
Crisis Suit (x3): Fusion Blaster/Plasma Rifle (Multi-tracker)

E (186)
Crisis Suit (x3): Fusion Blaster/Plasma Rifle (Multi-tracker)

T (120)
Fire Warriors (x12): All have pulse rifles

T (120)
Fire Warriors (x12): All have pulse rifles

T (120)
Fire Warriors (x12): All have pulse rifles

T (120)
Fire Warriors (x12): All have pulse rifles

T (120)
Fire Warriors (x12): All have pulse rifles

T (120)
Fire Warriors (x12): All have pulse rifles

F (157)
Pathfinders (x6): All marker lights.
Devilfish w. disruption pod.

F (157)
Pathfinders (x6): All marker lights.
Devilfish w. disruption pod.

H (95)
Broadside w. target array/gun drone. (drones there to take a wound from say a lascannon and is cheaper than shield drone)

H(165)
Hammerhead w. railgun and burst cannons/disruption pod/multi-tracker.

H(165)
Hammerhead w. railgun and burst cannons/disruption pod/multi-tracker.

Any opinions? Please give input.

This is a very interesting list, it has alot of fire power potential and i think it should do well against some opponents.

Unfortunatly there are alot of fast assualt armies out there and i am afraid you might only be able to get in 1 good turn of shooting before they catch you.

I personally don't like to run tau as a gun line, its just not fun to me, even though it is better, with that being said if i did do a gun line i would take a couple of kroot squads to make speed bumps in front of the fire warriors.

I always take shield drones on my broads cause its never just one stray lascannon, its usually more. Just my opinion though.

Never used an ethereal but the honor guard looks nice.

On the crisis suits i would take some as fireknives to help out midrange transport killing, or make a squad of deathrains they are really good at transport busting.

As tau the only semi effective way I have found of dealing with assaulty armies is not being static. I usually run small FW squads in DF and lots of battlesuits, and i try to make them chase me while I run away firing.

Agreed thats why I use 9 suits. Great idea I may use one big unit or kroot as a speed bump. Just so you know I use the devilish to keep two squads of fw mobile. The broadside is there just as an extra rail if they want to waste multiple las cannons let em. But I really like the kroot advice thank you.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh and I use plasma rifles and fusion blaster to throw out 3 shots that wound most models on 2 up and give no armor save. Marker light plus those absolutely destroy and the fusion blaster are there to pop transports as well it's 3 meltas that can hop in melta and hop out.

I would drop two of the FW squads and get two more Devilfish for all 4 FW squads can be mobile. And the extra tanks will help with target saturation.

I am very weary of transports honestly they are just free kill points in most cases. I would rather have 7 squads of full pulse rifles. Two less squads is a lot less dice less dice means more enemy models still killing me. Just don't care too muh for mech given how expedience devilish are compared to other armies, maybe if they were less expensive I would give it a go in the list.

Oh I completely agree they are way to expensive main reason I use them is los blocking cover for battle suits and you could reserve them to capture points late game

Oh I see yes I do that with my hammer heads late game that's why they have multi-trackers so I can move 12 and fire main rail. I try to keep my suits behind terrain I use they jump move to get up behind and dodge in and out constantly. I like the idea just too expensive of a shield for the suits and tansport.

Is there any reason why you bring a Shas'o with a TA? If you really want the extra wound, LD, and attack, just drop the TA and save 10 points. Otherwise, demote him to an 'el and save 25!

You might also want to stick a gun drone or shield drone on each of your suit squads. You are going to be moving very close to enemy vehicles/units with melta weapons, so they are going to quickly become a priority target. S8+ weapons are scary, and it would be a good idea to have something cheap to stick those wounds on.


This is certainly an interesting list. Someone at ATT ran something similar:

http://advancedtautactica.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=15550&p=193665

Yes your right I must of clicked the wrong hq when I built the list before class I never run the expensive one I always go with the cheaper suit.

I loved tau during 4e, and they were competitive.

In general, I don't see tau as competitive in 5e. It doesn't stop me from trying to help other tau players optimize their lists. However, unless you're a curb stomping, GT - winning, Vince Lombardi of 40k kind of general, tau are a serious underdog at any "competitive" environment, RTTs or GTs.

Why?
Tau 'peak' at 1500 to 1750. Any power armor army is going be soo much harder at 2k+, nevermind 2500. And it's far, far worse to try Gun Line. And, yee gods, at 2500? Sorry, dude. Not being mean, just hoping to re-direct you to 1500 where the absence of the many FWs will put your Helios army into a better place, where the shift of power is favored slightly in tau hands. SM lists don't hit a good stride until 1750. And at 2500 they get *all* the toys that make them rock. You're already there with 11 suits and 3 railheads. They only other units that are good are piranha squadrons. The rest of your list is Fire Warrior fat, over 1,000 points of easily eaten infantry.

3 FW crews, minimized & mounted, or maxed and gun-lined, will serve you far better than a ... blue-faced tide?


Also:
Afp and CiB as a combo are counter intuitive: One is anti-horde the other MEq killer. Better to go with:
Choice A: AfP/BC or MP for that guy.
*Or*
Choice B: PR with the CiB.

Ethereal & HonorG? Possibly the biggest sissy unit over 200 points in 40k. I can hear the drool hitting the battle mat of your next BA player.


Only 3 RGs? I own 3 b-sides and many Railheads, but not enough to field at 2500 ... even if given an Apoc game, ignoring the FoC. I take it that these are all ya got.

And though there are 11 helios, I don't see them as viable anti-T, since they're likely to get caught before getting close enough to make the 'melta' range of the FBs effective.

Overall, until you *own* 9 b-sides or are playing Apoc, play your list at 1500.Trim 4 FW units out and gone, especially the etheral's crew.

The only thing I can think of to properly field a 2500 point list, with your 11 Helios and Heavy Support (at least the full trio of XV88s) would be to field full squadrons of Piranhas, kitted out.

Most deff not droping pathfinders in my fast slot. They make they suits way more effective. I can understand dropping the the ethereal. But in his place I would make a squad of Suits, all equiped with fusion blaster/plasma rifle. I do not like taking 3 broadside, though I see why one would (too expensive big wast if caught in CC). Hammerheads are cheaper drop pies and can move away. I keep maxed out squads of fire warriors to put a lot of rounds down field. They outrange any unit and glance rhinos (giving time for suits to get in range). Though I do realize how weak they are in the oppen full squads of fire warriors with the support of those suits are a force to be dealt with. BA players my be able to drop in, but they wont be able to get enough on the table to withstand all that firing. Nor will they be able to put enough shots into my guys to kill them (yes may get a full squad or two), but not enough to stop me from hounding them next turn. It is a skill army that is for sure. lol.

Soccerlfb6 wrote:Most deff not droping pathfinders in my fast slot. They make they suits way more effective.

Sorry, I meant this if *I* were to try for 2500 after going 12 XV8s and 9 XV88s.

For you, definitely leave your PFs in.

Soccerlfb6 wrote:I can understand dropping the the ethereal. But in his place I would make a squad of Suits, all equiped with fusion blaster/plasma rifle. I do not like taking 3 broadside, though I see why one would (too expensive big wast if caught in CC). Hammerheads are cheaper drop pies and can move away. I keep maxed out squads of fire warriors to put a lot of rounds down field. They outrange any unit and glance rhinos (giving time for suits to get in range). Though I do realize how weak they are in the oppen full squads of fire warriors with the support of those suits are a force to be dealt with. BA players my be able to drop in, but they wont be able to get enough on the table to withstand all that firing.

Why Deep Strike? I'd put 'em on the table. It'd only take 3 jumpers to nail any unit you're fielding.

Soccerlfb6 wrote:Nor will they be able to put enough shots into my guys to kill them (yes may get a full squad or two), but not enough to stop me from hounding them next turn. It is a skill army that is for sure. lol.

Well, I see what you're going for, but if your opponent spends 1k plus in tacticals and rhinos. and has 1500 to spend on Heavies and elites ... you just got out spent on effective units.

Heck, if you were in the LA area, I'd make a TAC vanilla list at 2500, and show you where the power curve slips away from tau. First a 1500 game, you might win. And then 2500 you might not get tabled. Seriously.

Try it with a local player. Your list, minus 3 FW units, and the etheral crew gets benched too, at 1500. Then play a game with the present list. You'll see. Vanilla marines, not BAs or SW. Either of which, of course, will do the tau far worse.

Personally i do like this list a lot but i would like to drop the etheral in favor of another 3 suits. This being said id really like to give this list a shot at a local 40k shop in town thats having a comp 2500 tourney on March 10th, so any advice as for running this list would be well recieved, ive not really seen much tourney action in 5e unforunately.

When I play the list I gun line, however I keep the devilish apart. So if someone come at get in and flat out away. Stay as mobile as possible, know your goin to lose guys so account for your losses. Light up priority targets and shoot them up with the suits. 9 ap one and two shots hitting and wounding on twos is awesome. Let alone you'll have three to five depending on your tweek to the list. Just kill what ever is closest to you be weary of anything that scouts or infiltrates and set up accordingly.