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Ok, it is widely known now that Escalation is not an "optional" thing. Lots of TOs are talking about not using it, but for now let's assume they're allowed. Please, no "well I just won't play that guy". This isn't the thread for that. Now, assuming competitive play with Superheavies, what will you do, fellow Nid players? I personally think the Harridan isn't that good, seeing how easily it will be grounded, then it's just an expensive MC.

1. Flyrants: At 2xFOC I run 3, anything else it's two. As I see it, assaulting two into any of the Tanks would be quite fun, as it's likely to kill the tank in a round or two. Problem is, SH walkers like the Revenant can use their "stomp" attacks to bad effect on Nids.

2. Ymgarls: Less for tanks, but vs Walkers (Revenant) this could be good as you can lock the unit in CC if you get the jump on it, and it only does d3 hits in CC I think, so you can lock it for a while. This isn't as good vs say, Baneblades.

3. Zoanthropes in Pod: Our classic anti-LR, three Strength 10 Lances sure isn't bad. However, I expect you'd need two squads to hope for much, because frankly you won't do enough damage to outright kill most SH creatures.

As Tyranids, I'm really only concerned about D-weapons. They look to be able to kill our MCs at a very stupidly fast rate. So, the Revenant, Shadowsword, and Necron stuff stand out, and Stompa in CC. THe Stompa we can out manuever or tie up, Revenant is toughest though of course. Shadowsword should be Flyrant bait. Necrons I just don't know enough about.

You point out the stomp when talking about the tyrant, and then mention ymgarls. They'll just get stomped to death.

Harpies for assaulting super heavies are cheaper, they also remove bubble wrap

Mawlocs can remove bubblewrapped super heavies

Spore mines can block areas behind aegis lines

Other than that... we just die. D weapons are pretty unfair tbh

I am not up on Escalation, but the Tyranid units in IA:Apoc have some special enhancements that deal wtih superheavies.

- Hierophant bio titans get some new biomorphs, that can automatically glance vehicles, do apocalypse barrages, make them capable of skyfire, etc.

- The Heirodule steelcrusher swarm has special rules dealing specifically with superheavies. They can do (almost) automatic penetrating hits and cause d3+1 hull points to be list.

most D weapons won't hit a flyrant or a harpy as they're generally blast. anything that can bring more than 1 SD shot a turn will take up most of the opponents army, just run up and hit it, as long as you have something fast enough.

do stomp attacks happen at initiative? if so ygmarls will probably rend it to death before it swings. then it'll explode and wipe out everything nearby - yay for titans.

Against Gargantuan Creatures, Zoanthropes can substitute Psychic Shriek for their standard lances. I think you'll average just under 1.45 wounds per hit (though I'll be the first to admit it's very random).

 some bloke wrote:
do stomp attacks happen at initiative? if so ygmarls will probably rend it to death before it swings. then it'll explode and wipe out everything nearby - yay for titans.

10 man unit mutating for attacks and charging.
40 attacks, 23 hit, 4 rends, 2 actually hit AV 12.
No, no they won't rend it out before it swings. You'd need 4 units of Ymgarls.

It seems like our best option is to bring a Harridan and hope it doesn't get grounded.

Just take 9 void shields, fill the 12" shield bubbles with gants/gargoyles and wait it out. I bet even a revenant would have trouble downing 9 voids without help.