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Im considering getting a Hierodule to use in game of Apocalypse, as we have little to no Super Heavies, Gargantuan Creatures etc in our group to make the game feel like its really a different animal, rather than just 40k big style. Ok it is largely 40k big style, but you get my meaning.

I really like the Hierodule models, and I particularly like how they arent anything like the cost of the Hierophant or Harridan

Im torn between which one to get, and to know if they are even worth it in the game? Do they actually cause much damage, or are they easily dealt with in general? (bare in mind we have very few D strength weapons)

So which one do people think is best, Scythed or Barbed? And how well do they perform in game?

Either way, for pure size, they look great fun to use at least!

That depends, do you want shooty or stabby?

Personally, I prefer stabby (but thats because I don't believe tyranids should have ranged capabilities whatsoever, and thus play my nids without a shooting phase...), but I think the shooty is better for the cost overall.

chaos0xomega wrote:
That depends, do you want shooty or stabby?

Personally, I prefer stabby (but thats because I don't believe tyranids should have ranged capabilities whatsoever, and thus play my nids without a shooting phase...), but I think the shooty is better for the cost overall.

Thats the thing, im not sure which I prefer, I can see the good and bad in both.

Also, Tyranids have some very good shooting capabilites. And its perfectly fluffy to use them. Why do you feel they should be melee only?

I'd say barbed, it will still tear stuff up in CC but also gives it some shooting which is useful on the often massive Apocalypse boards.

I like the scythed hierodule. It is agile so it can run and still fire it's hell storm flamer.

Also they make good tyrannofexes with "acid spray" in standard games.

 tetrisphreak wrote:
I like the scythed hierodule. It is agile so it can run and still fire it's hell storm flamer.

Also they make good tyrannofexes with "acid spray" in standard games.

In the new book cant the Barbed run and still fire one cannon though?

Get both

 Kaime wrote:
Get both

My brain shouts 'DO IT!!' but my bank account screams 'NOOOOOO!!'

Yep, that's the Agile rule it has. And the Scythed Hierodule isn't in the Apoc book, maybe it'll be in the FW book.

Barbed is the one id go with.

Im not sure if both have a psychic power or not. If i remember correctly the scythed one does. Trade it out for a biomancy power if you can? not sure again. havent played apocolypse with tyranids since 5th ed.

Aesthetically I prefer the scyhthed, but gameplay wise the barbed one is better.

The nice thing about nids though is that it is fairly easy to use a unit and just make it something else. For example, I have a horde of hormagaunts that I just use as termagaunts. They're the exact same size and it's even believable from a fluff standpoint if you consider how a hydralisk fired its spines. I've not had anybody put up a fuss about me doing this. It's pretty easy to remember that all the hormas are actually termas

Only the Barbed Hierodule got updated rules in the new Apoc book, although I think Forge World are releasing a new Imperial Armour Apoc book with rules for the other one soon.

It really comes down to the typical Apoc games you play. While the ranged weapons on the Barbed Hierodule are decent, 6E really made GC's more vulnerable to Destroyer weapons. If you're up against too many of those, the only real way to protect your monsters is to keep them in melee.

Or just compromise and buy a Harridan instead :p

The Barbed Hierodule is like 200 Points cheaper and x3 as good! The Differences between them are really one set of scytals vs 2 and 2 awesome Bio-Cannons vs a meh flamer.

Oh and the Barbed Hierodule is a little bigger too.

The Scythed Hierodule doesn't have updated rules yet, those are coming soon. It will probably get a lot cheaper.

The Scythed Hierodule doesn't have updated rules yet, those are coming soon. It will probably get a lot cheaper.

Any possibility it will be updated to a plastic kit as the Nid superheavy that all races are rumoured to be getting?

 Ratius wrote:

The Scythed Hierodule doesn't have updated rules yet, those are coming soon. It will probably get a lot cheaper.

Any possibility it will be updated to a plastic kit as the Nid superheavy that all races are rumoured to be getting?

GWS Stated they would no longer steal Forgeworld Kits so no. It's just getting a rules update in Imperial Armour Apocalypse 2 Second Edition which should be out in the next couple of months.

 Zande4 wrote:

 Ratius wrote:

The Scythed Hierodule doesn't have updated rules yet, those are coming soon. It will probably get a lot cheaper.

Any possibility it will be updated to a plastic kit as the Nid superheavy that all races are rumoured to be getting?

GWS Stated they would no longer steal Forgeworld Kits so no. It's just getting a rules update in Imperial Armour Apocalypse 2 Second Edition which should be out in the next couple of months.

The barbed hierodule's rules in the new APOC are the same as they were before. I would imagine in the time between now and the update for is APOC 2e, the scythed hierodules current rules and points costs will be an acceptable representation on the battlefield.

Scythed Hierodule, look more cool

 HerbaciousT wrote:

chaos0xomega wrote:
That depends, do you want shooty or stabby?

Personally, I prefer stabby (but thats because I don't believe tyranids should have ranged capabilities whatsoever, and thus play my nids without a shooting phase...), but I think the shooty is better for the cost overall.

Thats the thing, im not sure which I prefer, I can see the good and bad in both.

Also, Tyranids have some very good shooting capabilites. And its perfectly fluffy to use them. Why do you feel they should be melee only?

Because I like thinking of them as a ravenous swarm of giant alien reptile-insects. Considering that they are 100% organic, and few organic creatures on this planet have biological projectile components to them, I prefer to keep my Tyranids without them. I make the rare exception for things which "make sense" (Carnifex bio-plasma, trygon bio-electricity stuff, psychic powers, scythed heirodule flamething, pyrovore flame thing, but tyranid "guns" are out for me).

 tetrisphreak wrote:

 Zande4 wrote:

 Ratius wrote:

The Scythed Hierodule doesn't have updated rules yet, those are coming soon. It will probably get a lot cheaper.

Any possibility it will be updated to a plastic kit as the Nid superheavy that all races are rumoured to be getting?

GWS Stated they would no longer steal Forgeworld Kits so no. It's just getting a rules update in Imperial Armour Apocalypse 2 Second Edition which should be out in the next couple of months.

The barbed hierodule's rules in the new APOC are the same as they were before. I would imagine in the time between now and the update for is APOC 2e, the scythed hierodules current rules and points costs will be an acceptable representation on the battlefield.

It's 135 points more expensive then the variant that is superior in every way. That's no tacceptable! It used to be 200 points cheaper so I'm going to assume its going to get a nice little price drop.

A new Apocalypse book has been confirmed and will contain updated rules for the Scythed Hierodule, I recommend holding out until then before making a decision.

 Zande4 wrote:

 tetrisphreak wrote:

 Zande4 wrote:

 Ratius wrote:

The Scythed Hierodule doesn't have updated rules yet, those are coming soon. It will probably get a lot cheaper.

Any possibility it will be updated to a plastic kit as the Nid superheavy that all races are rumoured to be getting?

GWS Stated they would no longer steal Forgeworld Kits so no. It's just getting a rules update in Imperial Armour Apocalypse 2 Second Edition which should be out in the next couple of months.

The barbed hierodule's rules in the new APOC are the same as they were before. I would imagine in the time between now and the update for is APOC 2e, the scythed hierodules current rules and points costs will be an acceptable representation on the battlefield.

It's 135 points more expensive then the variant that is superior in every way. That's no tacceptable! It used to be 200 points cheaper so I'm going to assume its going to get a nice little price drop.

But all their ammunition is living! And it's fired using gas bladders and other organic methods
Of making something shoot! That's why nid guns are so damn awesome!!!!!

Three year necro for a first post. Coming out swingin!

Modsssssss!

Hi, please don't resurrect threads by posting in them when they're this old. It's called thread necromancy (threadomancy) and it's against the rules. Everyone does it first time, but keep it in mind in future. Thanks