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Last time I played 40k, more than ten years ago, Tau were brand new and I bought up pretty much everything.

As a result I didn't really have a competitive army, just one of everything and a lot of fire warriors. I've been playing marines in all forms since coming back, DA, BA and GK and a combination of marine fatigue and having just come into some unexpected cash (£75 of vouchers won at work) I thought I'd expand my Tau collection and make a competitive list.

I've put together the below list using as much of my old stuff as possible and from looking around the forum. This list would also mean buying two more Devilfish and a further Crisis suit with the voucher £. What do you think? Right place to spend or should I expand elsewhere? Some questions along the way too.

Almost 1,750
Shas'O with two bodyguards, two gun drones. Multitrackers, target locks, missile pod and plasma rifles all round
 
2x Crisis suit teams pretty much identical to the above except just Multi trackers, no target locks
Are the Shas'Vre upgrades worth it?

Kroot squad (12) with shaper carrying a Pulse rifle
Is it worth paying for the 6+ armour save? Are Krootox or Kroot hounds useful?

3x Fire warrior squads (6) with two Gun drones, a Shas'Ui with Markerlight
In a Devilfish with 2x seeker missiles
Are bonding knives important?
 
Hammerhead with Rail Gun, Smart Missile system and 2x Seeker Missiles

Broadside team (3) 2x Gun drones, Hardwired target lock, Shas'Vre with Twin-linked Plasma Rifles
 
Total = 1,741
Where would you spend the remaining points?

Welcome any feedback before I make these purchases, in addition I have more fire warriors, Pathfinders and Stealth suits, should it be worth swapping other things in.

Thanks,

NoWill4NoWay
 
  

HQ
Drop the gun drones, or change them to shield drones. Also, run your bodyguards as an elite choice, and just have your IC 'O run around with them. Saves points at the cost of target locks.

ELITE
'Vre upgrade is worth it in full squads, but in pairs just run them as simple suits.

TROOP
Never pay for the 6+ save. Kroot should be in cover, or will be dying anyways. Saving 1 in 6 from lasgun fire is not worth the points. Shapers are generally shunned, but they are nice to allocate wounds to.
Hounds are amazing, they are better in CC and cheaper than kroot. Many kroot squads are more hound that kroot.
Krootox are awful.

If you are running fire warriors in 6 man teams, a BK is not important. A markerlight is also wasted if you plan on keeping them in transports most of the game.
Drop the seeker missiles off of your transports. A disruption pod is an absolute must on any tau armor you field.

HEAVY
Put a multi tracker and d-pod on the railhead. Maybe even a target lock if you have spare points.

Change the gun drones to shield drones on the sides.Take a support system on each side. Advanced stabilization system is best. If you are going to load out the 'vre, a target lock would also be a good investment to get the railgun and plasma shots in together. I would drop the plasma and keep the target lock. A BK is best here, if you have the points, but is by no means required.

Hope this helps! Suits are the best thing the tau have right now, so if you plan to expand some more crisis or a second broadside squad would serve you well.

Dr. Sterling hit most of what I'd do. A couple of additions:

NoWill4NoWay wrote:Almost 1,750
Shas'O with two bodyguards, two gun drones. Multitrackers, target locks, missile pod and plasma rifles all round
 
2x Crisis suit teams pretty much identical to the above except just Multi trackers, no target locks

GDs out. Demote to Shas'el and have Target Array (keeping BS5), hwMT, 2 guns.

NoWill4NoWay wrote:Are the Shas'Vre upgrades worth it?

No. More points for no appreciable gain, The WS and Init are still sub par versus MEqs, and therefore don't affect h2h. As Dr. S stated, demote to single suit units. I'd add Team Leader, Target Array (for BS4) hwMT 2 guns.

If your game tables are short on LoS blocking terrain, then having Shield or GDs is okay, but if I have LoS blocking opportunities, then I like a small unit 'foot-print' without drones, allowing easier JSJ for safety.

NoWill4NoWay wrote:3x Fire warrior squads (6) with two Gun drones, a Shas'Ui with Markerlight

GDs out. MLight out too, as 6 FWs are royally fragile in the game.

NoWill4NoWay wrote:In a Devilfish with 2x seeker missiles

I'd skip Seekers, as I have and aversion to to one-use toys in 40k.

NoWill4NoWay wrote:Are bonding knives important?

Since the "Last Man Standing" rule went away from 4th ed, yes, giving FWs a chance to stay on the table like a Spehss Muhreeen, when even one trooper can secure an objective, yes have BKs for your FWs.
 

NoWill4NoWay wrote:Hammerhead with Rail Gun, Smart Missile system and 2x Seeker Missiles

Cover Save all the time? Yes, have a Dispod. Move & Shoot like a Fast Vehcile, that is Combat Speed all guns, or up to 12" and shoot the RG? Yes, have a MultiTracker.

NoWill4NoWay wrote:Broadside team (3) 2x Gun drones, Hardwired target lock, Shas'Vre with Twin-linked Plasma Rifles

Demote to Team Leader, upgrade to Shield Drones for their shared T and 2+ Armor Save they gain from the XV88s. Bond; worth it for rallying 2 suits, should they fail Morale.
 

NoWill4NoWay wrote:Total = 1,741
Where would you spend the remaining points?

More XV8s. I don't like giving "go buy this" advice, but that's what you need. You own 3. I got along well enough in 4e with 6 Crisis Suits. I rarely play in 5e, now, but these are what you lack.

NoWill4NoWay wrote: I have more fire warriors, Pathfinders and Stealth suits, should it be worth swapping other things in.  

They won't be. Stealths aren't as good as XV8s. You don't need more FWs. PFs? You could fit them in for 1850 as is.

A general piece of advice: Don't fatten up your list with GunDs and bling. Tau run best (these days) stream lined for more dakka. Padding your list with GDs, Seekers, MarkerLights, 'Vre upgrades and such gives the opposing player a chance to get more guns on the table, more effective guns.

Thanks both, great feedback hugely appreciated. With that all in mind I created the following.

Shas'El Commander - PR, MP, Target lock, Multi-tracker
 
3x Crisis suit teams (3 in each) - PR, MP, Multi-tracker

Kroot squad (10)

3x Fire warrior squads (6 in each), each with a Devilfish with DP

Piranha - with FB, DP and TA
 
Hammerhead with Rail Gun, Smart missile system, DP and Multi-tracker
 
Broadside team - (3) TA, Adavanced stabilisation system

So I've added 4 more XV8's, two Devilfish and a Piranha.
 
I've got a 84 points to spend, perhaps another Piranha, I like the idea of a couple of mischievous vehicle popping around and annoying my opponents. Maybe one more Broadside. Or ditch them both and add another Hammerhead?

Thanks again,

NW4NW

You cant take the TA and ASS on the sides. I would drop the array because you are already twin linked.

Another piranha is a great idea. Load it out same as above.

With the spare points you can take a target array on the 'el, a shield drone, some tank/suit upgrades, a kroot or 2, etc.

Otherwise you are looking pretty solid. Lots of anti armor weapons for all AV's, as well as good supporting anti infantry.

Sorry, just noticed only one system for broadsides. I actually meant target lock, take that or ASS if you had to choose?

One more piranha it is then and a couple more Kroot!

Cheers