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Helping a buddy get a Tau army built and there isn't a ton of info out there on Tau like other Codices. Any and all advice would be appreciated!

HQ-

Shas'el Commander - TL Missile Pod, Drone Controller 2x Shield Drones
Bodyguard Shas'vre A. - TL Missile Pod, Targetting Array
Bodyguard Shas'vre B. - TL Missile Pod, Targetting Array


Troops-

Firewarriors - 6x, Devilfish, Disruption Pod

and then Either:

A. Firewarriors - 6x, Devilfish, Disruption Pod
OR
B. 16x Kroot 5x Kroot Hounds


Elites-

Shas'vre - Airburst Fragmentation Projector, Cyclic Ion Blaster, Multitracker
Shas'ui A. TL Flamer, Drone Controller, Shield Drone
Shas'ui B. TL Flamer, Drone Controller, Shield Drone


Fast Attack-

Piranha - Fusion Blaster, Disruption Pods, Targetting Array, Flechette discharger
Piranha - Fusion Blaster, Disruption Pods, Targetting Array, Flechette discharger


Heavy Support-

Broadside - Multitracker
Broadside - Multitracker

That's 1000 Points


I'm assuming it'd be better to run all the Units as seperate elite, heavy support, and fast attack choices.

Idea here is that commander and retinue and broadsides take care of armor and MC's / heavy troops Firewarriors stay off board for late-game objective grabbing. Kroot do what is needed(infiltrate, come in late for objectives, bubblewrap, charge infantry etc). Piranhas harass and the elite choice suits roast infantry and deepstrike as needed.

I know everybody hates Tau, but they seem interesting enough to play and work kinks out of.

GIVE ME SOME ADVICE!

Hey buddy!

Check out the crisis suit math-hammer guide in my signature, it should give you a good idea of the killing power of various tau suit configurations.

Remember that Broadsides are T4, a single missile launcher will double them out. I would squad them up, with at least one shield drone and a bonding knife.

Also I'd suggest getting some Pathfinders on the board, and that would save you the points of buying your Fire Warriors a devilfish (since the pathies come with one they can use.)

I'd probably run 1000 points something like this, although if you know that you're going to be facing a lot of horde armies, maybe the flamers are better:

HQ
Shas'El /w Burst Cannon, Plasma Rifle, Targeting Array, Hardwired Drone Controller + 1x Shield Drone, Bonding Knife

Elite
3x Crisis Battlesuits /w Burst Cannon, Plasma Rifle, Multitracker
3x Crisis Battlesuits /w TL Missile Pod, Flamer

Fast Attack
6x Pathfinders /w Markerlights @157p
-Pathfinder Devilfish /w Disruption Pod
Piranha Light Skimmer /w Fusion Blaster, Targeting Array, Disruption Pod @75p

Troops
6x Fire Warriors @60p
12x Kroot Carnivores /w 6x Kroot Hounds @120p

Hammerhead Gunship /w Railgun, Multitracker, Disruption Pod @165p

What about deep-striking units or infiltrators like Marbo?

How would you counter that? (assuming the deep-strikers and infiltrators
landed near their target)

HQ

You should probably take your commander as a lone 'el. Bodyguards are generally wasted points unless you want to abuse their ability to hard wire. Because you are not hard wiring, I would make them their own unit.

Elite.

Flamers on a suit are terrible, and only have their place on TL missile pod suits as they are dirt cheap and can be effective in emergencies or late game. The AFP and Cylic ion blaster should always be on a model with BS5, meaning an 'O or 'el with an array to maximize hits. The suits need longer ranged guns to handle heavy infantary/light armor(typical role of crisis suits).

Troops
This looks pretty good. Kroot blob vs warriors in a dumbfish is a toss up in how you play. Kroot are great meatshields and countercharge while a dumbfish with warriors can hold objectives.

Fast.
Drop the flechette dischargers, piranha should be moving 12 each turn meaning units need a 6 to hit them. If an opponent is desperate enough to assault tau armor you are probably winning anyways.

Heavy.
Combine them into one squad, 2 shield drones, and bond them. put a HW target lock on the 'vre so you can still shoot at 2 units a turn.

Still, what would you do to have a safeguard against deep-strikers?