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Heyas, so I might be getting a tau army and I wanted too have a go at making a list. I want too play in competions etc so I want a little bit of cheese, but still fun too play. Gimme your thoughts

HQ
Shas'el - Missile Pods, Plasma Rifle, Multi - Tracker
Bodyguard - Missile Pods, Plasma Rifle, Multi - Tracker

Elites
2 x Crisis Suits - Missile Pods, Plasma Rifle, Multi - Tracker

2 x Crisis Suits - Missile Pods, Plasma Rifle, Multi - Tracker

3 x Stealth Suits

Troops

12 x Firewarriors

12 x Firewarriors

12 x Firewarriors

Fast Attack

6 x Pathfinders - Devilfish, disruptions pods

1 x Pirhanna - Fusion Blaster

Heavy Support

2 x Broadsides - 2 Shield Drones

Hammerhead - Railgun, disruption pods

Hammerhead - Railgun, disruption pods

Total 1497

So ye pirhanna will zoom of and die in a blaze of glory, hopefully taking at least its points worth in tank on the way. Stealth team maybe hold an objective etc, rest is pretty obvious pew pew.

Split the x12 FW squads into x6 FW, splits your fire to where you need it and limits your losses when they assult you if you want to run that many FW. Maybe drop the plasma off a crisis squad and either run TLMP or BC/MP to free up some points. Add Target Locks to stealthsuits and deepstrike them (pathfinders real value is re-rolling deepstrikes off their Devilfish!) for the only effective way I've found to use them. In the right spot raise havoc.

Here is a linked that helped me out a lot learning to run Tau. The list can always be tuned to your taste, but the tactics are solid.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/433516.page

Stealth suits -- I'd really encourage you to drop these in favor of Crisis suits. Crisis are more expensive, but they are really a lot better. With the small number of railguns, you will probably want more missile pods for taking out Rhinos, so swap out these stealths for 2 Deathrains (TL Missile pod).

If you want your Piranha to actually kill anything, you should probably consider giving it a Targeting Array. Otherwise, it's role is going to be to zoom somewhere and say, "look! I'm in your way!" A disruption pod can sometimes be a good investment as well.

Bring Multi-trackers on your Hammerheads. Target Locks can be useful if you have the points.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Tun_Tau wrote:Here is a linked that helped me out a lot learning to run Tau. The list can always be tuned to your taste, but the tactics are solid.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/433516.page

Note that the guy in that post runs a pretty unconventional Tau list. It can work, but you need to have a really good handle on your opponent's list to be able to run that sort of tactic effectively.

I'd honestly drop the plasma rifles in your Elite Suits and swap them out for burst cannons instead so you have a little more anti-horde bite. The Stealth Suits aren't 'ideal', considering the Crisis Suits can hold up better; maybe replace them with another Suit Team.

Pirhannas are utterly useless. For the points you spend on a Pirhanna could be better used on Crisis Suits.

KplKeegan wrote:I'd honestly drop the plasma rifles in your Elite Suits and swap them out for burst cannons instead so you have a little more anti-horde bite. The Stealth Suits aren't 'ideal', considering the Crisis Suits can hold up better; maybe replace them with another Suit Team.

Pirhannas are utterly useless. For the points you spend on a Pirhanna could be better used on Crisis Suits.

Yeah.......... I wouldn't recommend completely listening to that.

Piranha have a role. They are great at lane denial, they are the fastest moving unit in an otherwise fairly slow 'dex, and they carry the cheapest fusion blaster upgrade. Not bad when you consider.

Also, Plasma Rifles are the best weapon available to Crisis Suits. Fantastic weapon.

Stifflersthedog wrote:Shas'el - Missile Pods, Plasma Rifle, Multi - Tracker

Add Target Array for BS5

Stifflersthedog wrote:Bodyguard - Missile Pods, Plasma Rifle, Multi - Tracker

I'd add the TAs to them too, unless you ... **

Stifflersthedog wrote:2 x Crisis Suits - Missile Pods, Plasma Rifle, Multi - Tracker
2 x Crisis Suits - Missile Pods, Plasma Rifle, Multi - Tracker

If you decide to dump the FWs down like Tun_tau suggested, then upgrade one to Team Leader, with a Target Array and hwMT.

Like the other guys said, fielding different load-outs, like BC/MP or TL-MP is good for the variety of things your opponents will offer to be shot at.

Stifflersthedog wrote:3 x Stealth Suits

As a couple other guys posted, lose 'em. 3 aren't enough fire power for a good anti-Infantry unit. And adding a FB is over pricing a one gun tank killer.

**
Split off the two bodyguards and have them fill this slot. Your HQ can still attach to them for protection.

Stifflersthedog wrote:12 x Firewarriors
12 x Firewarriors
12 x Firewarriors

I dunno if I'm board with Tun_tau's advice on splitting 'em down to 6 units of 6. Maybe 2 units of min sized dudes, and then the other twelve go in the PFs' D'fish.

Stifflersthedog wrote:2 x Broadsides - 2 Shield Drones

Upgrade one to Team Leader, have A.s.s. or Target Array. Bond.

Stifflersthedog wrote:Hammerhead - Railgun, disruption pods
Hammerhead - Railgun, disruption pods

Add MT for Move&Shoot like a Fast Vehicle. I like Target Lock so the BCs gun goons and the RG hits a tank.

Overall, okay. Kroot are a good addition for bubble wrap, and/or Outflanking.

Number one issue for me is I don't see a single Bonding Knife in that list. For 5 points a pop on any unit containing more than 2 models they can stop you from running off the board if you fail a morale check under 50%.

So far I have yet to have a unit flee off the board that had a Bonding Knife.

Cottonjaw wrote:

KplKeegan wrote:I'd honestly drop the plasma rifles in your Elite Suits and swap them out for burst cannons instead so you have a little more anti-horde bite. The Stealth Suits aren't 'ideal', considering the Crisis Suits can hold up better; maybe replace them with another Suit Team.

Pirhannas are utterly useless. For the points you spend on a Pirhanna could be better used on Crisis Suits.

Yeah.......... I wouldn't recommend completely listening to that.

Piranha have a role. They are great at lane denial, they are the fastest moving unit in an otherwise fairly slow 'dex, and they carry the cheapest fusion blaster upgrade. Not bad when you consider.

Also, Plasma Rifles are the best weapon available to Crisis Suits. Fantastic weapon.

A suicide suit can achieve the same result a Piranha and costs less, and having the weakest armor and being open topped just adds to the fragile nature of the vehicle.

I didn't say drop all the plasma rifles, however, there's no need to buy an excess of them.

Jefffar wrote:Number one issue for me is I don't see a single Bonding Knife in that list. For 5 points a pop on any unit containing more than 2 models they can stop you from running off the board if you fail a morale check under 50%.

So far I have yet to have a unit flee off the board that had a Bonding Knife.

It's not 5 points. It's thrice that. An FW needs to be upgraded to 'Ui, costing X points and *then* you can bond. Three times the cost you cited.

I agree, though. Big 12-packs of FWs ought to be bonded. I do bond mine.