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Hey everyone, I'm new to tau and have done some research, the end result is what seems to me to be a well wounded list. All feedback is welcome, I'm looking to learn as much as I can.

Tau 1500

HQ:
Shas'o -140
Cyclic ion blaster
Airburst frag projector
2x shield drones

Troops:
10x Fire Warriors-155
Shas'ui
Shield drone
Marker drone

Devilfish-90
Disruption pod
Blacksun filter

10x Fire Warriors-155
Shas'ui
Shield drone
Marker drone

Devilfish-90
Disruption pod
Blacksun filter

10x Fire warriors-100


Elites:
3x shas'ui-186
3x plasma rifle
3x missile pod
3x multi tracker

3x shas'ui-186
3x plasma rifle
3x missile pod
3x multi tracker

Fast attack:
3x Piranha-240
3x disruption pods
3x filechette dischargers
3x fusion blasters

Heavy support:
2x broadsides-151
Hard-wired Blacksun filter
Target lock

Hammerhead- 145
Rail gun
Disruption pod


1498

You can either keep your suits as the generalist Fireknifes or specialize them if you want.

I would drop the drones on the FWs, and one of their DF to get a pathfinder squad. I mean, the two marker drones are the same cost as 5 pathfinders.

Move those shield drones to the Broadsides, they will draw fire and the shield drones will save them. You probably want both Broadsides firing at the same thing as well.

And I may be misreading the Tau codex, but I don't think the Hammerhead's secondary weapon is optional. Take the burst cannons for more dakka!

I agree with pretty much everything said above. Drop the drones from the FW, especially if they're going to be riding in your fish. I'd also drop the BSF from the devilfish and slide one onto your hammerhead. The railgun will be shooting from a greater distance 100% more than a devilfish so it's better spent on the hammerhead. As stated, slap a secondary weapons system on your tank and it's good to go.

If you're going to take piranha, I'd try to find the points to get them all TA's. The last thing you want is your melta shot missing. Personally, I'm a fan of suits, so I'd swap the piranha squad out for a 3 man helios squad. It's cheaper points wise and offers a bit more tactical flexability than the piranha squad. I used to run FK squads exclusively until I started specializing my suit squads. I tend to always include 1 unit of FK suits and 1 unit of DR suits no matter what size list I'm building. I've found it gives me more flexability than just running all FK setups. Keep us posted on how your list performs.

Taking both of your advice (plus that "mandatory hammerhead stuff ) I edited the List a little, here's how it is now. comments?

Tau 1500

HQ: 140
Shas'o
Cyclic ion blaster
Airburst frag projector
2x shield drones

Troops:270
9x Fire Warriors

9x Fire Warriors

9x Fire warriors

Elites:345
3x shas'ui
3x plasma rifle
3x fusion blaster
3x multi tracker

3x shas'ui
3x TL missile pods
3x Targetting array

Fast attack:385
3x Piranha
3x disruption pods
3x filechette dischargers
3x fusion blasters

5x Pathfinders
Devilish
Disruption pod

Heavy support: 366
2x broadsides
2xHard-wired Blacksun filter
4x shield drones

Hammerhead
Rail gun
Disruption pod
Blacksun filter
Burst cannons


1496

Couple of things that stand out to me. Your commander does not have a MT, so he can't fire both weapons. You don't want to choose either/or when you have 2 weapons so I'd find a way to get him one. I'd also try and find the points to put a MT on your hammerhead as well. A fast AV13 tank with a railgun is great.

You can't have 2 broadsides with 2 HWBSF unless you have them in 2 squads of 1 broadside each. If they are in a squad, one can have a HWBSF but he needs to be upgraded to at least a team leader. Also, 4 shield drones seems a bit much. Consider one broadside with a BSF and one with a drone controller for the shield drones.

Also, I feel you have too much fusion in your list. I'd go with either the helios squad or the piranha squad, but probably not both. Personally, I'd keep the helios for deep striking tactics and exchange the piranha squadron for a fireknife team. Hope this helps.

I decide to go with the piranhas, mainly because as of now I have the models and I want to try them out. But anyways, here the revised list with the multitrackers added I was still able to swing 3 shield drones on the broadsides while adding all the other upgrades.

Tau 1500

HQ: 145
Shas'o
Cyclic ion blaster
Airburst frag projecter
2x shield drones
Multi tracker

Troops:270
9x Fire Warriors

9x Fire Warriors

9x Fire warriors

Elites:345
3x shas'ui
3x plasma rifle
3x missile pods
3x multi tracker

3x shas'ui
3x TL missile pods
3x Targetting array

Fast attack:385
3x Piranha
3x disruption pods
3x filechette dischargers
3x fusion blasters

5x Pathfinders
Devilish
Disruption pod

Heavy support: 336
2x broadsides
Shas'vre
Hard-wired Blacksun filter
2xDrone controller
3x shield drones

Hammerhead
Rail gun
Disruption pod
Blacksun filter
Burst cannons
Multitracker


1498

Just a quick opinion. I would take at least 3x12man groups of fire warriors. and go from 5 to 8 path finders...Marker lights are your friend. Also give your FW a marker light or BSF. I have never used piranahs nor have I ever seen anyone at my FLGS use them so thats up to you. lol

I find that the Shas’o upgrade isn’t really worth it as he is still easily ID. I prefer taking 2 Shield drones and a TA to bump up that BS. Personally as well I find that the CIB and AFP don’t really work too well for my taste as it puts your HQ in the 18inch range which be dangerous business. I think an Shas’el PR, MP, TA, HWMT, HWBSF, HWDC, 2 SD for 130 works best as it keeps him a good distance while making it slightly more dangerous up close. Stick him with 3 stock fire knives or Death rain with gun drones then you have a big body of long range harassers with a decent wound pool.

For broadsides I usually go stabilizers with team leader upgrade + BSF, Target Lock so that I can threaten multiple targets. If not stabilizers then gun drones for a wound pool though when they die it can cause Ld checks so I don’t like using them in low model count units.