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In the Tournaments and games I'm paying at the moment the running joke i to put Matt Ward's name on my trophies because I nail everyone to the wall with Grey Knights (purifier spam FTW), so I thought about using other armies to see if I could be as succesful with them. As Tau are widely regarded as the least competitive codex and some armies cause them such problems I thought I try with them. Here's the list with reasoning. What do you think and what could I improve?

HQ

Shas'el: twinlinked fusion, flamer 72

Shas'el: twinlinked fusion, flamer 72

ELITES

3 Crisis Suits:Deathrains: twinlinked missile pods, targetting array 159

3 Crisis Suits:Fireknives: plasma rifle, missile pod, multitracker 186

3 Crisis Suits:Fireknives: plasma rifle, missile pod, multitracker 186

TROOPS

6 Fire warriors:Devilfish, disruption pod 145

6 Fire warriors: 60

10 Kroot:4 Kroot hounds 94

FAST ATTACK

6 Pathfinders:Devilfish, disruption pod 157

Piranha: fusion blaster, targetting array 70

Piranha: fusion blaster, targetting array 70

HEAVY SUPPORT

2 Broadside battlesuits: targetting arrays 160

2 Broadside battlesuits: Advanced Stabilisation System 160

2 Broadside battlesuits: Advanced Stabilisation System 160

So i've got 17 battlesuits and all can crack vehicles. The list is about gaining fire superiority quickly rather than trying to go toe to toe over an entire game hence I've gone for more guns rather than survivability. I present no armour targets except fo rthe devilfish with 1 starting in reserve and the other presenting no threat level. The Kroot form and infiltration screen to prevent fast armies getting me turn 1. Or a road block to help deal with slow armies like Blood Angels, Orks and Nids. Likewise the Piranha's main use is to creat round blocks using the 1" rule to force people to go the long way round and prevent people from getting me in assault until turn 3 or perhaps even 4.

The commanders are suicide units to distract my opponent and again try to deter him from getting to my main army by dropping in behind him. Depending on when they arrive they could also be used to contest far away objectives in late game. I've gone with 2 lots of ASS on the Broadsides in case of DoW deployment (though that might not be an issue from saturday onwards) and to give my firepower a bit more mobility, the pathfinders support destruction of number 1 priority target. The TA Broadside unit like the Deathrains works independantly of the pathfinders and goes after priority 2 and 3 targets so use the extra reliability of the targetting array as they won't have ML support. The other Crisis teams lend fire support where needed and move in for the kill on exposed infantry once the braodsides and deathrains have popped transports.

Anyone?

Concerned about the lack of shield drones, I also would think that it would be best to get rid of the second group of fire warriors, I understand you would prob stick them in the pathfinder fish, but it would be far more cost effective to use a kroot squad of 12 and throw them into the pathfish.

As per the shield drones, there is simply enough anti armor 3 out there to gib suits instantly.

I also don't believe in suicide suits, for the simple fact that Tau is overpriced as it is and as such has problems bringing numbers to the board. I would find a way, if possible to make the Commanders Fireknives, give them 2 shield drones and attach them to the fireknife squads for that little bit of extra protection.

I can't believe I am saying this, but I believe you actually have TOO much antitank. 6 rails, 4 fusions (currently), 9 missiles... just seems like a ton of anti tank and not much horde stopping capability...

anyways, my 2 cents

I might consider taking a out a unit of broadsides (as was mentioned before, you have more anti-tank than you're likely going to need). Use the points there to give each of your other battlesuit squads (XV8s and 88s) two shield drones (or one shield + one gun). Then, take your two HQs, kit them with out (whichever way you like) with 2 shield drones and add them to the remaining XV88 squads.

That will give all your suits a measure of protection (so you don't auto-lose against LF SW) and make your XV88s extremely difficult to take down at range.

I also prefer T.L. PR on my ASS XV88s, but YMMV.

17 Battlesuits! I dont play Tau that sounds cool, i want one(To turn into a killa kan of course, but i still want one)

FiN,

List; looks good. Fly it as is.

Be sure to pack so booze though. Once a BA or other 'fast' list eats you, whiskey helps.

Seriously, I'd like to hear how it goes ... even through the 6e change over.

Boss Gutrippa wrote:17 Battlesuits! I dont play Tau that sounds cool, i want one(To turn into a killa kan of course, but i still want one)

In a 2k point list he could probably squeeze in 5 more, for a max of 22 battlesuits on the field.

The only change i would personly make, keep in mind this is personal preferance from back in the days when i played tau is to drop 1 commander unit. And use those points to upgrade the deathrain suits to fire knives. and then find points if your short, i dont remeber how much hard-wired targeting arrays are, any ways get them for all 3 squads. My thinkinking is this with the suicide hqs your not even gurenteed to scatter close enough to hit with the double dice range of the fusion blaster very short ranged if i rember (meltagun) and you have enough anti av 11-12 wich is what the deathrains are great at taking out and deathrains are not so good against horde only 2 shots at least fireknives have 3, 4 in the 12 inch zone. And they are beter against marines not by much but every bit helps. Thats my 2cents

Brothererekose wrote:FiN,
Be sure to pack so booze though. Once a BA or other 'fast' list eats you, whiskey helps.

This man speaks true.

You may have thought that loosing a couple units hurt when you played GK. Play Tau, and loosing a unit isn't just a twinge of hurt, it's absolutely devastating. Things can go bad so fast it's totally mind-boggling.

And thats why I also play SW.

I like where your heads at, max suits, good amount of broadsides, kroot, minimal FW's. From the looks of things you seem you want to deep strike your HQ's w/ the fusion guns right? IMO, this seems like a throw away and is not needed. Your railguns will do the heavy lifting, re-arms you el's with more shooty type weapons ie: pr/mp/cib/bc and take a TA so he's hitting on 2's. My only other words of advice would be to use the piranha as tetras, 4 markerlights a turn moving 12" w/ disruption pod and hitting on 3's is the real deal. You have them loadout to deal w/ tanks. Broadsides will do that for you. I'd also suggest shield drones on you broadsides as they will still be 4+ in 6th at least to my knowledge. Best of luck!!

Ya gotta switch at least one, probably two crisis suit units to anti horde and you really need some drones (preferably shield) to stop that insta death on your crisis suits)


i do hate crisis suits though, all that jumping around and shooting. its be a mean list, especially if your opponent cant close with deep strike or drop pods. gotta get drones though.

People saying I have too much anti-tank I have to disagree with as i have only about two thirds the anti-tank of my Grey Knight army at the same points level. But yes Hordes could be a concern. However most competitive Hordes are either Mechanised (Orks) or have MCs at their heart ('Nids with Tervigons) and my ability to do serious damage to them should give me the edge particularly with the amount of blocking units I have. So that just leaves shooty Hordes which I don't think Tau can beat whatever they take...

Once a BA or other 'fast' list eats you, whiskey helps.

BA Fast? They wait all the way until turn 2 assault they are slow

But cheers for the feedback Brothererekose, you're one of the Tau players I have most respect for on here

Though looking at 6th Ed and I'm hearing the Necrons calling... Looks like basically every army is slow now though as they've tried to erradicate the turn 1 charge