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Hey folks,

I've been looking to make a tau army that's got a competitive edge, but as I am mostly into modelling/painting, gives me some cool stuff to paint and model. This means each type of battlesuit is a must (I love 'em).

This is what I have at the moment:

Commander
Cyclic ion blaster
missile pod
drone controller
target lock
iridium armour

2 x Bodyguard
4 x missile pods
2 x target lock
onager gauntlet
neuroweb jammer
6 x gun drones

Riptide
Ion Accelerator
2 x SMS
Early warning Override
Positional Relay

3 x Crisis suits
3 x burst cannon
3 x fusion blaster
2 x target lock
6 x gun drones

6 x Stealth suits
2 x fusion blaster
2 x target lock
4 x counterfire defense system
shas'vre
homing beacon

12 x Firewariiors

12 x Firewariiors

12 x Firewariiors

10 x Pathfinders

10 x Pathfinders

10 x Pathfinders

2 x Broadsides
2 x missile drone
target lock

2 x Broadsides
2 x missile drone
target lock
2 x HYMP

2 x Broadsides
2 x missile drone
target lock
2 x HYMP

Still have a little points and a few hardpoints left to fill, and am thinking the FW should be split down into smaller squads. But would love to hear what you think, good and bad?

HQ: Each suit can only take 2 drones. So, I'm assuming 2 of those 6 GDs are actually on the commander.

Elites: don't see a big benefit of the CDS on the sealth, maybe a DC+ drones would be better. I'm not a fan of BCs on crisis suits. I would switch to PR+FB and drop the Target Lock (maybe make the PR TL instead).

Troops: need more troops. at 2000, you should have at least 4 good scoring units. If you dont want to cut points heavily elsewhere, I'd drop all three units to 10m then use the reamining 6 to start a fourth unit of 10.

Fast: 10 pathfinders is a bit heavy, probably only need 6.

Heavy: Dont see the point of target locks on HYMPsides, since the whole idea of them is to spam missiles in the first place. I'd throw VTs on one unit.

I would argue to keep the Counterfire defense systems on the stealths because hitting on 5s is so much better than hitting on 6s and could really help to save the unit from being charged.
if you kill enough enemies from a charging unit to not get charged and then follow up with another volley in the shooting phase you can really cripple that unit.

Another option that could open some points is to take ATS instead on the stealth suits.

precision shots are surprisingly common when you roll lots of dice, and it helps to knock out power/special weapons out of squads which can cause trouble.

3 pathfinders might be excessive. maybe drop one squad and mix the others into 3 squads of 7 then add some more fire warrior or kroot.

Thanks guys, really helpful.

Gonna tinker with the list, with what you've said in mind

Although I now don't know what to take on the stealth's, ATS or CDS Both of those would work well

Here's the redo of the list:

Commander
Cyclic Ion Blaster
2 x Missile Pod
Drone Controller
Iridium Armour
2 x Gun drones

2 x Bodyguard
4 x Missile Pod
2 x Target Lock
Onager Gauntlet
Neuroweb System Jammer
4 x Gun Drones

Riptide
2 x SMS
Early Warning Override
Positional Relay

3 x Crisis Battlesuits
4 x Burst Cannon (Invasive Rhamnus: Thought about changing out the bust cannons, but I love the look so choose to keep them, even though they probably arent the best to have on them)
2 x Fusion Blaster
2 x Target Lock
Drone Controller
6 x Gundrones

6 x Stealthsuits
2 x Fusion Blaster
2 x Target Lock
4 x Counterfire Defense System
Shas'vre
Homing Beacon
2 x Gun Drones

10 x Firewarriors

10 x Firewarriors

10 x Firewarriors

10 x Firewarriors

6 x Pathfinders

6 x Pathfinders

6 x Pathfinders

2 x Broadsides
4 x Missile Drones
Target Lock
Drone Controller

2 x Broadsides
4 x Missile Drones
2 x High Yeild Missile Pods
Velocity Tracker
Drone Controller

This works out at 1999pts, the last list was actually about 2200 so had to drop a squad of broadsides. The idea is to keep the Battlesuits(commander, bodyguard and crisis) in reserve, with the stealths and riptide advancing so their homing beacons will be put to good use. This is why I think the CDS on the stealths will be good, as they will probably be in a vulnerable situation. This leaves the FW, Pathfinders and broadsides to set up a gunline and make good use of supporting fire.

Let me know what you think?

Your commander is wonky because he has 3 weapon systems and can only ever fire two. unless you twin linked the missile pods but i don't think so. the pos relay on the riptide seems little wonky too as you don't seem to be outflanking much anything.

my 2 cents