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So here's my tweaked Mech Tau list, this time with no Forgeworld units. Pure codex, no Kroot, just pure Tau Mech Goodness for the Greater Good.

HQ: 50
Ethereal

Elite: 404
2x Crisis with PR/FB/EWO, 2 Gun Drones, Bonding Ritual - 140
2x Crisis with PR/FB/TL; Crisis 'vre with C2 Node, Multispectral Sensor Suite, Drone Controller; 6x Marker Drones - 264

Troops: 615
9 FW with EMP; Devilfish with SMS and 2x Seekers - 205
9 FW with EMP; Devilfish with SMS and 2x Seekers - 205
9 FW with EMP; Devilfish with SMS and 2x Seekers - 205

Fast Attack: 381
6x Pathfinders with 3x Rail Rifles, EMP; Devilfish with SMS - 213
Sunshark Bomber with Decoy Launcher and TLMP - 168

Heavy Support: 400
Skyray with SMS and BSF - 116
Hammerhead with Ion Cannon, SMS, BSF, 2x Seekers - 142
Hammerhead with Ion Cannon, SMS, BSF, 2x Seekers - 142

It's not terribly conventional. I took the 'Vre ML unit because it's cheaper than a Mark'O, and I find that getting more than 4ish ML hits on a single unit isn't as useful in many circumstances. The two supporting suits get TL weapons for free that ignore cover; the fact that it also makes the Marker Drones TL BS3 as well just means that it's almost as effective in throwing out ML hits as a Mark'O with 6 ML drones. The list also contains 4 Fusion Blasters and 4 Plasma Rifles (some with EWO), for AP1/2 goodness, plus another 3 Rail Rifles for fun. In addition to the 6 marker drones I've got 4 more BS3 and 2 more BS4 markerlights, 3 of which are Skyfire... that really opens up the anti-air opportunities, especially with 16 seeker missiles in the list. I'm a touch light on troops, but with 7 AV12+ skimmers on the board, I'm hoping that pure target saturation will give them additional survivability. I don't have to hold objectives from Turn 1 onwards, I have to have more than my opponent does at the end of the game.

Thoughts and criticisms?

I'd like to see Piranhas instead of Bomber. With the Skyray they can give some fusion love to dangerous flyers. Their movement blocking is amazing too. I'm not sold on that many Devilfish. I'd probably drop the Pathfinder one and grab more Pathfinders. Maybe consider a Riptide, it meshes well with mech.

I may have to give some more thought to Piranhas; I'd pretty much written them off as unnecessary. If anything I'd probably run more FB/PR suits, possibly TLFB/PR with a couple gun drones. I guess it's just personal prejudice, but I can't help but think that Crisis are more survivable than Piranhas on average. There is something to be said for their harassment though, and their ability to drop off a gun drone squadron to take care of weak backfield objective holders.

I'd rather not lose the PF DFish to be honest, for thematic reasons as well as survivability reasons. The PF are there to bring backup MLs and some S6 AP1 Rapid Fire support. EMP grenades are pretty much a bonus and intended primarily to allow for some backup anti-armor in the endgame phases. Being able to mop up LRs / Drop Pods / insert random tank here can really help in Purge or Big Guns missions.

Riptides... I really do want to run 1-2 to try them out. If I drop my bomber, the gun drones from the EWO squad, I'd be able to fit in a Riptide with Ion / Plasma and EWO. That'd synergize well with the rest of the list; I could even turn that EWO Crisis Team into a TLFB/PR for deep striking anti-armor fun. I'll have to think about that one pretty hard, thanks for the suggestion.