What to do with Kroot?

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**dementedwombat**

I'm looking for some advice for what to do with infiltrating kroot. I had some points left over in my 1500 pt tau list so I bought 12 kroot. Last game I just infiltrated them in a building about 15" from the enemy objective and they all died first turn because he diverted some shooting into the building.

Is that a proper use of the unit? I bought them as a cheap throwaway distraction unit to infiltrate close to an objective and make the enemy waste a turn killing them instead of shooting at units that matter.

I'm curious both whether 12 kroot is a reasonable expense for having ~75 points free and what to do with them if they are a reasonable choice. Right now I either infiltrate them as I said before, or set them in front of my firewarirors as a sacrifice to absorb the first charge that reaches my lines.

**chrisrawr**

I prefer to Outflank them. Having a Hound with them can be really useful, because it lets you re-roll which side to come in on.

**coreyzat**

There are 3 uses for kroot:

1) Outflank and harass the opponent's backfield.
2) Stick in some cover with sniper shots and plink away at targets of opportunity (i.e. MCs or hoping to get precise shots on hidden weapons)
3) bubblewrap. With a properly bubblewrapped gunline you'll get 2 overwatches and a shooting phase to eliminate anyone dumb enough to charge your line.

**dementedwombat**

Alright, so I buy them a hound and outflank them. One unit will not bubble wrap anything effectively unless they're guarding the door to a building or something and I don't really need the snipers all that much since if I really need something dead I can generally kill it through weight of firepower anyway (i.e. dropping a Riptide ion plate on it).

It might help give my list some actual offense, which I seem to be very short on. I usually just play defense and shoot the other guy to bits as he comes at me.

**Jancoran**

Just remembr...you dont need the objective in turn 1. so dont trytotake it in turn 1.

This is a lesson every General must embrace heartily. Just a side not.

As for kroot infiltrating, make sure you take the entire Kroot compliment. Hounds and Krootox make for a much better unit. and outflanking them is good.

**Krellnus**

It will help if you provide us with some lists you tend to run so we can first get an idea of what synergies you need.

**dementedwombat**

I've only actually played a couple games with the codex. At this point I've made 2 lists, both for 1500 pts. The first one I feel is pretty good generally, but it's kind of designed to counter one specific list (tyranids that make me take lots of leadership tests or run off the board, along with the Doom of Malanti in a spore). The second one is a more casual list I made for fun and haven't gotten to play yet. I don't think it would do very well.

Also, manually editing my BattleScribe roster to remove points costs and rules is really really annoying.

Reasonably good list (1500 pts):

Spoiler:

"just for fun" list (1498 pts):

Spoiler:

**Cryogen**

Jancoran wrote:
Just remembr...you dont need the objective in turn 1. so dont trytotake it in turn 1.

This. So much this. Don't be in a rush to hold objectives with our fragile troops.

On that note, the main reason Kroot are in my list is generally as an option for taking objectives later in the game. I like to run around 15 and at least one hound, always with sniper rounds. I may infiltrate them sometimes, generally only if I deploy second and I see a great opportunity for them. Mostly I'll outflank them. I hope they come in late, and ideally they'll come in on a side where they have a good chance of taking over a weakened/abandoned objective (this is why I have the hound, to reroll outflank side). Sometimes I need them elsewhere, like coming on close to my own side to help defend. This is why I find them a worthwhile part of my list - the flexibility in deployment.

Kroot die really easy, but I find them really useful. Just don't be aggressive with them, they aren't good in CC any more. (not that they used to be great anyway)

**Wolfnid420**

You say you dont need snipers, but when all of a sudden they pop a transport or rend a few things they all of a sudden just became way more worth their points. Same with random MCs and such. Especially if you are plaing nids often.

Also, unless you are anti missle side i would recommend them a lot, again, especially against nids. If you are unsure about them, just swap out one squad and tally up how much each broadside squad kills and see what happens

**dementedwombat**

I'm not anti missileside. I'm pro strength 8 weaponry with interceptor to instant death the Doom of Malan`ti when he falls out of a pod in the middle of my firewarrior formation. Since the list I play most often involves that gimmick I've gotten in the habit of adding in strength 8 interceptor weapons anywhere I can.

**Wolfnid420**

So thats why they have interceptor! I was like, I hope you aren't shooting at fliers much with those lol but fair enough if you have a purpose for them then more power to ya!

**Vineheart01**

with any army you should have some scoring units in reserve if you can because its at least 1 turn of free no-risk living for that unit. Turn 4 is when i start moving towards objectives, and turn 5 i usually dont do anything with scoring units but move/run towards objectives. And my nonscoring prioritize his scoring or denying units that are able to do either cap or deny.

Kroot will rarely if ever hold objectives. i wouldnt even worry about it with them. ive never used them personally. Never have the points left over.