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So my local club is having a knock out tournament, roughly 24 participants at 1000 points, so an all comers list is needed and I am looking for some advice on my Tau list.
They are a new army for me after playing Tyranids and Space Wolves extensively.

HQ

Ethereal (50)

Elites

XV104 Riptide (210)
Ion Accelerator
Twin linked fusion blaster
Early warning override
Velocity tracker

Troops

8x Fire Warriors (177)
Devilfish
Disruption Pods
Smart missile systems

8x Fire Warriors (177)
Devilfish
Disruption Pods
Smart Missile systems

8x Fire Warriors (72)

Fast Attack

4x Pathfinders (44)
Puls carbines with Markerlights

4x Pathfinders (44)
Pulse carbines with Markerlights

Heavy Support

3xXV88 Broadsides (205)
Suit 1
Twin linked high yield missile pods
Twin linked smart missile system
Suit 2
Twin linked high yield missile pods
Twin linked smart missile system
Suit 3
Twin linked heavy rail rifle
Twin linked plasma rifle

Total:979

I have some points left over with no idea where to put them to benefit me, all help is welcome.
What do you guys and gals think? This is my first time posting so if its in the wrong place or format I apologise now.

Thanks

I would personally change the Ethereal for a Shas'O, as a primary commander the Ethereal is too weak and is easily sniped off for extra VP.

Are you running the broadsides separately or as a unit? Either way I would make them all HYMP with SM, the heavy rail rifle is just a bit meh this edition.

I always put Point Defence Relay on my Devilfishes to give the Firewarriors an extra ooophm if they are charged but that's just my personal preference.

Also why aren't you using Crisis Suits any particular reason?

My thinking was to sit the ethereal in the devilfish while two squads sit back and fire and the third are in the other devilfish moving where needed.

The broadsides I was running as a unit to make sure I dont give victory points for each suit.

Point defence relay is a good shout indeed!

No real reason on not using suits, I just personally like the idea of fire warriors supported by the ethereal, at 1000 points I thought they fit better with the rest of the army.

Is there anything wrong with the thinking and anywhere I could do better?

Thanks

Some advice:

1. Drop the Devilfish, they are absolute garbage this edition, they are Chimeras that suck at being Chimeras and cost over 50% more.

2. Broadsides, HYMP or not at all, Rail Rifle is terrible when its the same cost.

3. Riptides, Don't give it a VT if it has an IA, the support system does not match the weapon system in its role.

4. Pathfinders are mediocre, they are probably the worst markerlight source we have open to us, this is because they compete with the durability of the Tetra and Sky Rays and the accuracy of Marker Drones + Commander.

At 1000, I would run, keeping with a fire warrior theme.

Commander with 2 Missile Pods, Drone Controller, Target Lock and 2 Marker Drones (152)

Ethereal (50)

Fire Warriors (12) (108)

Fire Warriors (12) (108)

Fire Warriors (12) (108)

4 Marker Drones (56)

3 Broadsides with HYMP, SMS and Bonding Ritual, 6 Missile Drones (285)

Sky Ray with Blacksun Filter, SMS and Distruption Pod (131)

998

You would take the riptide out completely? Thats the bit im hoping people will struggle with at 1000 points.

I like the original list and if I played Tau thats how I would run it. Devilfish get a lot of flak but I love them, so it's personal preference. Good Luck.

The biggest issue with the Devilfish is opportunity cost. You could get two more units of fire warriors for the cost of the two devilfish. So you increase survivability by increasing numbers. But you get a lot more offensive output.

Think of it in terms of "better" not binary good or bad. The points are better spent elsewhere.

My thinking behind the devilfish is that in this tournament there will be 5 objective games out of 6, devilfish are an awesome transport to get from a to b with a 3+ cover save, thinking of an all comers list, i see the merit of haing more troops but when I may face Imperial Guard ordnance, that 3+ seems ideal.

BigBadgerBear wrote:You would take the riptide out completely? Thats the bit im hoping people will struggle with at 1000 points.

Well, you wanted a fire warrior + ethereal theme, so you had to give something up and at 1000 points, the consistency of a Sky Ray and HYMP Broadsides is very good.

BigBadgerBear wrote:My thinking behind the devilfish is that in this tournament there will be 5 objective games out of 6, devilfish are an awesome transport to get from a to b with a 3+ cover save, thinking of an all comers list, i see the merit of haing more troops but when I may face Imperial Guard ordnance, that 3+ seems ideal.

How are you getting a 3+?

Also if you know what lists are getting taken, that would really help us with helping you.

Flat out is a 4+ jink with a +1 from disruption isnt it?, unfortunately you know as much as I do on the list, its 1000 points and so far I know there is a GK player, Khorne marines, IG, Tyranids. one necron player. majority is space marine though.