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Hi folks, been using the forum a while but only just got to sign up. I've been gaming on and off for something like 25 years. Yes you read that right

Anyway, not had a game in ages but recently dusted off the old Nids and am looking to grab a few games. these will largely be against SMs. (Chaos, Blood Angels and Ultra which is what the three people I tend to game with use). I then went out and bought a Trygon for no other reason than I liked the model and he is what Im currently painting up. I have a stack of mini's from last time around (around 3K points) but not much of the new stuff. My next purchase (soon) will likely be a Tervigon. Then some gargoyles, then a new winged tyrant then.... well, you get the idea.

My last force as I recall my most popular choices were the Biovore (was just fun and gave the enemy something to dodge, but often didnt do much unless playing things like IG) and Genestealers who would scare the pants of anyone I played.

So, Im looking to start with a 750pt force v SMs. This is my initial thought but I'm happy to listen and adapt taking advise more those more used to the new codex. Also, see my sig

== HQ ==

Tyranid Prime
Tyranid Guard [140]

== Troops ==

6 x Genestealers (Toxin Sacs)
1 x Broodlord (Scything Talons) [167]

10 x Termigants
1 x Tervigon (Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs) [230]

== Heavy ==

1 x Trygon (Adrenal Glands) [210]

Total 747

My thoughts were that the Trygon and/or Tervigon would attract any devastator sq to begin with. this should give the 'stealers a bit of time down the flank (likely to aim for said devastator sq) . Not sure about the HQ I've chosen, that was more a case of "what can I afford" as I chose it last. The Trygon to draw fire and then head for the oncoming rhino and troop.

Tyrant guard can only be taken if you take a hive tyrant, so you can't take 1 with the prime.

The Prime wants lash whip and bonesword, as these make him very scary in combat. Also he needs a unit of some kind to join to so he doesn't die too fast.

Broodlords are a bit hit and miss, I prefer to have the extra bodies rather than pay lots for him. Toxin sacs are brilliant on them, especially against marines. You could also do with a larger brood size.

The standard (i.e. generally regarded as best) loadout for a tervigon is: toxin sacs, adrenal glands, and catalyst. Catalyst giving out FNP can be very useful.

Trygons are very good in small points games, and adrenal glands are a good fit for them.


When you next buy models consider hive guard, as what the tyranid codex lacks is anti-tank, and hive guard are one the best units in the codex. (You can also convert them from warriors for cheaper..)

Hope this is useful.

Thanks for the quick reply, appreciate it.

I'll give this a tweak. Maybe drop the broodlord for more 'stealers and the other amends you suggest. I could add the Prime to the 'stealers? That will kinda give me 3 focus groups.

So, back to looking at this and so far I have:

== HQ ==

Tyranid Prime (Lash whip + Bone Sword)

== Troops ==

10 x Genestealers (Toxin Sacs)

10 x Termigants
1 x Tervigon (Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Catalyst)

== Heavy ==

1 x Trygon (Adrenal Glands)

Total 720

So I have 30 points left. Is it worth grouping the Prime with the stealers from others experience? Also with the last few points, couple more stealers or upgrade the first 10 Termigants?

After this, I am planning to add some Hive Guard as suggested and maybe some Gargoyles that seem a popular fast attack. From there maybe add a winged tyrant of sorts that would go with them. Just some ideas.

Dorrin wrote:So, back to looking at this and so far I have:

== HQ ==

Tyranid Prime (Lash whip + Bone Sword)

== Troops ==

10 x Genestealers (Toxin Sacs)

10 x Termigants
1 x Tervigon (Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Catalyst)

== Heavy ==

1 x Trygon (Adrenal Glands)

Total 720

So I have 30 points left. Is it worth grouping the Prime with the stealers from others experience? Also with the last few points, couple more stealers or upgrade the first 10 Termigants?

After this, I am planning to add some Hive Guard as suggested and maybe some Gargoyles that seem a popular fast attack. From there maybe add a winged tyrant of sorts that would go with them. Just some ideas.

I'd honestly go for 2 Tervigons over a Trygon if you are intending to bump this list up to 1500-2k eventually. Trygons just tend to die very quickly. At 750 tho this list looks great!

I like it, with my currant IG list I would have trouble fighting this list.

I would hesitate to put the prime with the stealers, as they then lose the infiltrate/outflank ability, which is one of their strengths. If you were to join the prime to the termagants for some ablative wounds, then switch him into a spawned units of 'gants from the tervigon, he gains their adrenal gland and toxin sac special rules too- not too shabby.

As for the list as a whole, I like it. It offers several difficult choices for your opponent, and gives you the opportunity to decide what to do and leave you opponent to react.

They would also lose fleet, since the prime isn't. Prime also is not a termagant, so gains no benefits from the tervigon.
Drop the guard, add more genestealers.

Try and put the prime with the termagants, and give him a lash whip. This way he tervigon, initiative 1, will strike simo with the enemy.

More genestealers is always the answer.

The FAQ now makes it so that ICs joining a unit of gants within range for brood progenitor get the speical rules for it too, which is a nice bonus. Of course they still suffer the wounds penalty if the tervigon is killed.

Just a quick update to conclude this. I had my game last night. 750pts v Chaos Marines. I was expecting Khorne and so a good close combat battle but he fielded a ranged army that say back.

With this in mind I dropped my stealers to infiltrate and the Trygon to reserve.

Round one I forgot to spawn gaunts. good start. I also forgot to use Catalyst, better start. The stealers used some tree's to get closer to his two vehicles which were alos blocking los from his marines.

I ran the prime with the gaunts and tervigon. Wasnt much cover so they got shot to bits losing most of the gaunts and maybe one would on the tervigon.

Next round the Trygon popped up right in front of him and had the desired effect. My stealers assaulted his tank and done nothing (something like 12 attacks, 3 6's and 3 crew stunned which as he had demonic possession didnt make a difference!). But a few of the stealers hit the adjoining rhino which exploded taking a stealer with it.

My other brood ran closer to his line of marines but this time all of his fire power tore in to the Trygon. It did take out one marine with its bio pulse before falling to a hail of shots (2 units of 10 marines plus a havoc squad).

But, while it was a bit of a sacrificial lamb, it had the desired effect. This freed up everything else to assault the next round.

I had spawned 8 gaunts (rolling a double at the same time, bah). When these landed in CC the prime showed his worth. He took out the HQ marine (in term armour) and even the gaunts took down 2 marines in CC (oh how I cheered). The tervigon was using catalyst on the gaunts which saved one or two. The tervigon itself didnt do a great deal but did attract fire and CC attacks.

the stars of the show though were the stealers. They went on to wipe out the next marine squad (6 went down in the next assault and the remainder in a sweeping advance) and they went on to take out the havoc squad. The other unit took out the other marines though losing the gaunts in the process.

That was pretty much the end. He was left with his tank and I went left with the Tervigon, Prime and 6 stealers.

End result was 5-3 to the Swarm.

Not sure Id change anything if facing marines in another 750pt. This worked well and I think the only strategy to consider is whether to run the Trygon in from the start or keep him in reserve. I suspect having him on from the start could pull more fire giving the others a chance to get closer.

Needs Hive Guard if you're looking to bump it up to higher points. Other than that, I like it.
Genestealers with toxin sacs are great against SM.

My base 750 pts for lower points values is:

HQ tervigon, ag,ts,st,catalyst 200
EL 3*2 hive guard 300
TR 10 termagant 50
TR tervigon as above 200.

750 on the nose and very little can compete with it at that level.