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I recently came into a large army of Tyranids on the cheap (Traded my Dark Angels), & with a few small purchases I can field this list. My questions are three-fold: a) how competitive is this list? b) If not, how do I make it better? & c) What is the best tactical use of said list?

Hq
Hive Tyrant w/wings & 2 tl-devourers-200 pts

Hive Tyrant w/wings & 2 tl-devourers-200 pts

Troops
Tervigon w/catalyst-175 pts

Tervigon w/catalyst-175 pts

15 Termagants-75 pts

15 Termagants-75 pts

Fast Attack
20 Gargoyles w/toxin sacs-140 pts

Harpy w/tl-heavy venom cannon-170 pts

Harpy w/tl-heavy venom cannon-170 pts

Heavy Support
Tyrannofex w/rupture cannon-265 pts

Tyrannofex w/rupture cannon-265 pts

2 Biovores-90 pts

So what does Dakka think?

Xam

I like it, though it needs Elite slots. I'd swap out the Tyrannofexes for some Hive Guard. 2 or 3 units of 2 would be adviseable, or otherwise some Zoans. Doing this should give you a massive barrel of spare points for other things. Maybe a Dakkafex?

My only experience w/tyranids is fighting against them, so why guard over the tyrannofexs?

Xambrien

I have a friend who plays tyranids so i know a bit about them. I would drop the harpys and get hive guard instead. Your list looks like it wants to stay shooty so why not keep it that way and i believe the hive guard will do a better job than the harpies. With 2 flyrants and 2 tervigons, i think the tyranofexes fit this list well because it leaves lots of monsterous creatues to shoot at so his opponent wont be able to focus on all of them and the tyranofex has a nasty gun and i believe its save is a 2+. The biovores can help you take out those enemy lists that have defence lines. But i would say thats a solid list that my guard would be terrified of lol.

Couple of things...

The Hive Tyrant (Wings, 2 TL Devs) = 260 not 200

That's 520 points not 400

Heavy Venom Cannons cannot wreck a vehicle, they can only glance it. This reduces their effectiveness tremendously and makes the Harpy ineffective. Stay with the Stranglethorn if you're going to use the Harpy.

Unfortunately, the Tyrannofex is a poor anti vehicle model, since it's slow to move (move 6" and shoot Rupture Cannon). Along with BS3 the rupture cannon isn't going to perform as well as you would hope. A Carnifex (with 2 TL Devs) in Spore Pod for 230 is much more reliable to take out a vehicle than the Tyrannofex.

I would make the following changes, hope you don't mind the suggestions:

HQ:
Flyrant (2 TL Devs, Hive Commander, 2 Biomancy) - 285 "Warlord"
Flyrant (2 TL Devs, 2 Biomancy) - 260

Troops:
Tervigon (AG, TS, 2 Biomancy powers) - 195
Tervigon (AG, TS, 2 Biomancy powers) - 195
10 Termagants - 50
10 Termagants - 50
22 Hormagaunts (TS) - 176
21 Hormagaunts (TS) - 168

Fast Attack:
10 Gargoyles (TS, AG) - 80
10 Gargoyles (TS, AG) - 80

Heavy:
Carnifex (2 TL Devs, Mycetic Spore) - 230
Carnifex (2 TL Devs, Mycetic Spore) - 230

1999 points

Screen you Hormagaunts with the Gargoyles. Have your Tervigons give Endurance/Enfeeble to Hormagaunts or enemies or Buff up with Iron Arm/Warp Speed. Reserve your Flyrants and the Devilfex's to counter you're enemies deployment.

Have fun... another option is to drop the Carnifex and add in Ymgarls. You can get two 10 man units of Ymgarls for the same points... they are very good at disrupting your opponent's army. If you are going to make the change to Ymgarls, I would really run 2 units of 8 and use the extra 92 points for more Hormagaunts with Toxin Sacs.

I second everything that rpricew said. I have pretty much the exact same list worked for when I want to run my Harpy. I just trade one hormogaunt squad for the harpy. Any version of this can be really overwhelming for a lot of armies.

Hey guys, thanx for the great advice! I like the look of having all those little gribblies running about. I'll post a new list after going over my models & your excellent advice.

Thanx!

Xambrien

Id drop the harpies and try to fit in a third tervigon

I'm a no for homogaunts. Stick to tervigon/gants for troops here.