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Hey guys/gals I recently made contact with some old friends who still play warhammer 40k. I want to start building a new army, but I'm having trouble deciding which one to play. I previously played CSM (both nurgle and emperors children) but want to switch up the play style a bit. I gave away all those models years ago so this new army would be built completely from scratch.

I read the new 6th edition rules recently and from what I have read on forums and the like the new meta revolves around shooting( which I always preferred). I would enjoy a more balanced army that can do well in CC or shooting depending on the list. I am not interested in a space marines army of any kind or an orc army. I have narrowed it down to either Tyranids (heavily leaning towards), Dark Elder(shoot and kiting sounds really fun), CSM(once again), and maybe Tau (but they seem rather unforgiving if mistakes are made).

If you could please guide or advise me from personal experience the pros/cons of the armies and which you believe would be the most fun to play in a casual/ slightly competitive setting.

Thanks for your time.

Shooting and melee are very much balanced in this edition, while shooting got a little better, charges got longer and there's many ways to get re-rolls. Also the changes to the AP of CCW weapons mean stuff with a 2+ is even better than it was.

If you liked CSM, try going back to them. They can do full on shooting, melee, and/or a balance of both very well. They also have lots of shiny new toys you might like. Playing them might also help with your adjusting to the new edition since you remember what they used to be like.

Nids have another codex in the pipeline, so I would hold off on them.

Dark eldar are a good pick, but I recommend you choose them 2nd or after a great deal of research and learning the new ruleset.

Finally, tau, they shoot harder than they used to but still suffer from not liking to take damage. Or getting in melee with anything, ever.

Please keep in mind there are also supplements, such as the black legion CSM one and farsight Tau one. Each changes things up such as the CSM one allows chosen as troops without taking abbadon and has different artifacts, the tau lets you take battlesuits as troops and has different special wargear.

Out of all of your possible armies you may like. I think tau is probably the best shooting army. They are for sure the most competettive army from your possible list.

Tau can really shoot people faces off. They also have very good allies that can shore up some of their weak spots.

Nids - These guys are going to be getting an update in the next year or so I'd advise you to hold off until then (possibly a second army). If you really have your heart set on nids, you can make them work, but their options are very limited to remain competitive.

Dark Eldar - These guys are fantastic! The models are excellent and the codex has such great internal balance that you'll have a hard time trying to settle on just one list. Whats also cool is that in most areas DE are somewhat rare so you won't be playing the same army as everyone else. There is a learning curve, but it isn't nearly as steep as many make it out to be. After a few matches you'll quickly get the hang of them and from there you'll have an army where YOU set the pace.

Tau - (My personal favourite) - You have two choices with Tau: 1. You can build a highly competitive list which is comprised of riptides, FWs, and broadsides. This list will do well in most situations and is easy to use. The downside is that it is very dull to play and to play against. You basically sit there and shoot your opponent while they shoot back (but not as well as you). 2. Build a semi-competitive list involving more mobile units such as crisis suits, devilfish, and smaller FW squads. This style offers a much more engaging army, requiring planning/positioning. With this style army you'll win some and lose some, but it is much more enjoyable.

CSM - These guys are pretty solid, but you are "forced" to stick to certain units if you want to win in a competitive environment. If you like plague marines, noise marines, cultists, obliterators, havocs, and helldrakes then you'll enjoy the codex. If you want to use defilers, terminators, landraiders, berserkers, or 1k sons then this is not the codex for you. You've also been there done that with CSM, unless you really miss them, I'd take the opportunity to try something new.

Summary: I'd recommend either Dark Eldar or a farsight enclave Tau army. Both of these excel at shooting, but require constant movement - this makes the armies really fun to use. Sure they can be tricky to learn, but you'll grow into them as they are long term choices. Far to often a player is recommended to choose an "easy" army, only to have them get bored and switch to the army they wanted originally.

This is so personal, that's it's hard to be definitive, but I'll have a go.

We play Nids, and are preparing an Ork army. Talked friends into buying CSM, Necron and Tau. Even though Tau have massively improved, in some ways they're quite a boring force to play, especially if you like CC.

Nids are great fun, you can win with them, and they might well get a buff soon. The variety of good builds is not as narrow as some suggest, altho you're v likely to end up with a flyrant and 2 Tervigons. Orks are great fun, but not competitive and who knows how long an update will take. Meanwhile, CSM give you great choice, and the models are terrific - we're having a great time helping our friend with his army. So, our suggestion would be Nids or CSM.

Tyranids all the way. You can run them as a horde, or elite small squads, or big monsters, or all deep striking units, or... etc.

They are incredibly customizable.

Put it this way for CC, or assaults in 6th edition. Ask Nid players and ask them how much dust do their Genesltealers have.

Most Nid players don't use Stealers anymore in 6th edition.

Make that of what you will. Hopefully when we get a new codex, either in Nidvember, or next year, they will come back and hormies will be a very good choice again as well.

Of your choices, CSM have the most variety. Tyranids are primarily an assault army, Tau are a shooty army, but Chaos can do either with success. Dark Eldar can do this as well, but they are far less forgiving about mistakes. As this is your first time back, you don't want to jump into an army, buy a codex and a bunch of models, and suddenly realize their playstyle isn't for you. CSM have the biggest 'safety net' as far as lists and strategies.

Lessay you buy a bunch of Chaos stuff for your awesome new shooty army. A few games later, you come to realize that hey, you don't actually like shooting all that much. The majority of CSM units can be utilized for a number of roles, unlike Tau, DE and Tyranids. Wyches will only assault, Termagaunts will only swarm, and Pathfinders will only do markerlight spam. Your unit of CSM troops can fulfill a variety of roles, as can their various support units.

Personally I would say borrow a friend's army or do some heavy counts-as to get a feel for 6th edition before you dive in headfirst and throw your wallet to the wolves.

I personaly realy like the Dark Eldar...

A highly mobile, good shooting and good CC army. Toughness creatures have it rough against them since almost all DE wound on a 4+ regardless off toughness... Bye riptides,Nids,wraithlords!

Yes their armour is as low as it can get,.. but hey! Jink rule everywhere! You can litteraly give your opponent way to much units to shoot out.

My Necrons have it rough against them and my Orks simpley get annihalated in a 1 vs 1... I also see many SM armies having it rough against DE..

But the most important choice will be what army you like best,.. though viability is important as well. we recently welcomed a Tyranid player in our group, but he doesnt play that often since his codex is way too outdated to play competetive...

organicpesticide wrote:
I have narrowed it down to either Tyranids (heavily leaning towards), Dark Elder(shoot and kiting sounds really fun), CSM(once again), and maybe Tau (but they seem rather unforgiving if mistakes are made).

The time to start Tyranids is likely right now. New Codex will possibly be here before Christmas, and you can still shop some of the basics / classics now at the pre-new-Codex-price-hike now.

Get a Battleforce now and start painting, maybe plastic Hive Tyrant on top (something you'll always be needing and the model is fairly new). By the time you have them painted up nicely, the new codex with all the new toys may well be here.