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Hi there, a few of us have just got into the game and we're trying to put together a TAU list. I have put this list together but as I have no experience with TAU I cant tell if it would hold its own. The other players in the group have Eldar and Necron armies.

HQ

Commander with - MSSS and Irdium battlesuit

Elite

3 x Crisis Shas'ui with Advance targeting - fusion blaster and twin linked fusion blaster.

Riptide with - Heavy burst cannon - Twin linked fusion blaster - Early warning overide - velocity tracker.

Troops

6 x fire warrior - With Devilfish (Twin linked smart missiles and Disruption pod)
6 x fire warrior - With Devilfish (Twin linked smart missiles and Disruption pod)
6 x fire warrior - EMP - With Devilfish (Twin linked smart missiles and Disruption pod)

Heavy

Xv88 Broadside Team x 3 with Early warning override Twin linked high yield missiles & Twin linked smart missiles - 1 marker drone - 2 Missile drones
Xv88 Broadside Team x 3 with Early warning override Twin linked high yield missiles & Twin linked smart missiles - 1 marker drone - 2 Missile drones

That comes to 1496.

Should I drop the Missile drones for more marker? All advice would help us.

Many thanks

I don't play Tau but I have experience playing against my friends Tau (Triple Riptide, no less) so I applaud you for only using one Riptide

I would look into Markerlight support from Pathfinders, maybe removing two Broadsides (one in each unit) for two units of 6 Pathfinders and moving the Devilfish from the Warriors to the Pathfinders so that they can get to cover quicker. I'd also also look into getting Velocity Trackers on the Broadsides to deal with reserves.

The Riptide also works better with the Ion Cannon for just five points, although if you have the Farsight Supplement, a Earth Caste Piloting Array works amazing with the Heavy Burst Cannon.

As I said I don't play Tau so maybe the Tau players can offer more (or better advice)

Ok, actually not bad at all for your first list. Couple clean up items:

Lose the ATS on the Crisis team. And don't twin-link the second fusion blaster. Just double up on normal fusion.

I would switch to a cheaper Riptide and use it for a different purpose. 190 will get you an Ion Accelerator and EWO. You already have plenty of AA with the Broadsides; even without skyfire; they're twin-linkage will be plenty.

Speaking of Riptides and Broadsides, don't purchase them within the primary detachment, bring them as the Firebase Support Cadre. For free, you get Tankhunter and PE: Space Marines. Pretty good now that SM are one of the top-tier armies.

Lose EMP on the Firewarriors.

So, how about this:

Commander: Iridium, NWSJ, Drone Controller, Target Lock, x2 Missile Pods, x2 Marker Drones- 179 (Tanks for drones, BS5 marker lights!)

3 Crisis: x6 Fusion- 159

6 Firewarriors: Devilfish with Dpods, SMS- 159
6 Firewarriors: Devilfish with Dpods, SMS- 159
6 Firewarriors: Devilfish with Dpods, SMS- 159

5 Marker Drones- 70

Firebase Support Cadre:

Riptide: IA, EWO- 190
3 Broadsides: HYMP, SMS, x3 EWO- 210
3 Broadsides: HYMP, SMS, x3 EWO- 210

Fortification:

Imperial Bastion- 75

Total: 1500

Follow the Shrikes advice. Its all good and his suggested list is strong. The FBSC is superawesomeamazinglolz and I love it (so much I ran 2 at 1500).

But effectively I could copy and paste his advice as I would have said exactly the same things.

A small tweak that I'd recommend:

-Do not bother with the SMS on the Devilfishes. It is basically a 38 point upgrade after you factor in the cost of the drones, which is way too expensive for the minor buff to firepower. Besides, the 7th edition changes to jink are only good for Tau vehicles if those vehicles do not shoot. So your Devilfishes should be cruising around Flat Out, nabbing objectives, and enjoying a 3+ cover save.

Hey thanks,

The Firebase Support Cadre I knew nothing about and that sounds amazing. I will definatley do that.

I'll drop the SMS and marker drones from the devil fish that makes sence, should I maybe stick marker drones with the broadsides instead then?

Well, no, you don't have the points. The one weakness in the above list is that there is only one marker light source. However, that is mitigated by the Broadsides already being twin-linked; and the marker light source is extremely reliable at BS5. The main beneficiaries of the markers will be the fusion Crisis and the Riptide.

Did you understand what I meant about the Commander tanking for the Marker Drones? He (and his 2 purchased drones) attach to the marker drones purchased through the Fast Attack slot.

Sorry if that was unclear.