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Hi dakka,

I need help constructing a 1000 point list that is decent at the Objective Game while also being able to take all factions head on.

I currently have:

HQ
Hive Tyrant
-Wings
-Twin Linked Devourers x2
-Electroshock Grubs
=240

Hive Tyrant
-Wings
-Twin Linked Devourers x2
-Electroshock Grubs
=240

Troops
Warriors x3
-Barbed Strangler
= 100

Warriors x3
-Barbed Strangler
= 100

Fast Attack
Harpy
-Heavy Venom Cannon
=140

Gargoyles x15
=90

Gargoyles x15
=90

Total = 1000

However, I feel that I lack presence on the field. I had intended on having Warriors sit back on Objectives and fire shots at Infantry, letting the FMC's deal with tougher targets, like vehicles and Monstrous Creatures and having Gargoyles tie up dangerous units or finish off units that are nearly dead, as well as scoot around the field claiming objectives.

I was debating over having Biovores instead of the Gargoyles and changing the Harpy to a Hive Crone, but I felt that I wouldn't have enough field presence, not to mention I wouldn't be able to claim objectives in the opponents end of the table.

I am a bit concerned with Monstrous Creatures, I don't really have a way to deal with them, except by forcing wounds of them through rounds of shooting, tarpitting them with Gargoyles or by having Gliding Monstrous Creatures charge into combat, which I don't really want to be doing.

Help would very much be appreciated - and I have Tyranid Dataslate 2 now so if you have any suggestions including the dataslates in the book, please don't hesitate to suggest it

Frozocrone wrote:
Hi dakka,

I need help constructing a 1000 point list that is decent at the Objective Game while also being able to take all factions head on.

I currently have:

HQ
Hive Tyrant
-Wings
-Twin Linked Devourers x2
-Electroshock Grubs
=240

Hive Tyrant
-Wings
-Twin Linked Devourers x2
-Electroshock Grubs
=240

Troops
Warriors x3
-Barbed Strangler
= 100

Warriors x3
-Barbed Strangler
= 100

Fast Attack
Harpy
-Heavy Venom Cannon
=140

Gargoyles x15
=90

Gargoyles x15
=90

Total = 1000

However, I feel that I lack presence on the field. I had intended on having Warriors sit back on Objectives and fire shots at Infantry, letting the FMC's deal with tougher targets, like vehicles and Monstrous Creatures and having Gargoyles tie up dangerous units or finish off units that are nearly dead, as well as scoot around the field claiming objectives.

I was debating over having Biovores instead of the Gargoyles and changing the Harpy to a Hive Crone, but I felt that I wouldn't have enough field presence, not to mention I wouldn't be able to claim objectives in the opponents end of the table.

I am a bit concerned with Monstrous Creatures, I don't really have a way to deal with them, except by forcing wounds of them through rounds of shooting, tarpitting them with Gargoyles or by having Gliding Monstrous Creatures charge into combat, which I don't really want to be doing.

Help would very much be appreciated - and I have Tyranid Dataslate 2 now so if you have any suggestions including the dataslates in the book, please don't hesitate to suggest it

Well I'm guessing you could run a Living Artillery formation, and that will give a lot of armys a tough fight, extra at low point totals. I would probably drop the Harpy, and maybe some gargoyles for some more OS Troops...

a Brood of Termagants, x15 is only 60 points, so you could grab two, and have points left over for the Harpy... If you lost all the FA, you'd have....320??? so you could add twin Dakkafexen, that would answer concerns about both vehicles, and MCs So that is something to consider as well.

In low point games Big Bugs rule! So I'd look to them first to make changes.

How about trying a pure Skyblight force? You can easily make that formation 1,000 points.

You lose a tyrant (so be warned that Synapse becomes an issue), but gain Objective Secured, respawning Gargoyles.

Hive Tyrant - Wings, Double-Dual Devourers, Grubs, Regeneration

Harpy - Heavy Venom Cannon

Harpy - Heavy Venom Cannon

Hive Crone

20 Gargoyles

15 Gargoyles

15 Gargoyles


[I figure with only 1 synapes creature, regeneration is probably a good plan! Expect to make many instinctive behaviour tests....]

@pinecone77

Big Bugs do indeed rule I'm tempted to try a list involving 3 Ripper bases with Deepstrike x2 for troops and then spending the rest on FMC to see how that goes in a 1000 point game. Should be fun with all the swooping around I'll certainly have a look into Dakkafexen, I enjoy the one I use in my TAC 500 point list

@locarno24

Unfortunately, the formations don't take up FOC charts so you still need a HQ and two troops. Taking the minimum points possible for the formation (Stranglethorns on Harpies, 10 Gargoyles in each Brood and Hive Tyrants with Wings only) comes to 805 points - taking the Tyranid Prime as the HQ (cheapest there is) will boost that to 930 at which point you can no longer fit two Troop choices in (Rippers being the cheapest come to 39 each).

Personally, I think Skyblight becomes viable at 1250, where you can fit that third Hive Tyrant in (taking Deep Strike Rippers for troops) and have them all with wings and Electroshock Grubs. With the Rippers and rest of the Skyblight, will come to 1235. It works even better at higher point games where you can invest in the Skyblight Gargoyle Broods and use FOC in your Primary Detachment (more FMC/Gargoyles!) That's when the fun really begins


I do thank you for your suggestion though, if I ever decide to play Unbound, Skyblight will be the way to go (quick note about Synapse, Harpies/Hive Crones both have Ld 10, meaning they should be OK. Gargoyles could be a problem with 6, but Hunt isn't as bad as Lurk or Feed for a shooty unit).

Cool, I think you'll get a lot of use from a Dakkafex or two. Personally, my "go to" build for low point games is a Tyrannofex, Adrenal, Thorax Hive for 200 if I find points laying around (I never do) I would likely toss in Regen, just for the effect it has on foes (morale breaker. ) Then I build the rest of my list around it....

I've used this cost compare model here on DakkaDakka I believe...Tyranofex, Adrenal, Hive, plus two Zoeys...300
Dakkafex Brood, x2 also 300

Me? I prefer the first, but the second has abilitys the first lacks, both are very strong rocks to build a list around.

I actually prefer the first list you posted too. It's got more targets so increases target saturation and has good Psychic defence to boot with the Zoanthropes Personally I wouldn't take Regeneration, whenever I do my opponents make sure to focus fire the MC with it so that it doesn't have the chance to.

That 2+ T6 is rather tasty I might replace all the Fast Attacks with it and take the T-Fex with some sort of AI Thorax Weapon (Two Zoanthropes and Two Electroshock Grubs should handle Vehicles fine) and upgrade Devourers to Deathspitters on the Warriors. Or even get Hive Commander and Outflank one set of Warriors. Ooh the possibilities!

Frozocrone wrote:
I actually prefer the first list you posted too. It's got more targets so increases target saturation and has good Psychic defence to boot with the Zoanthropes Personally I wouldn't take Regeneration, whenever I do my opponents make sure to focus fire the MC with it so that it doesn't have the chance to.

That 2+ T6 is rather tasty I might replace all the Fast Attacks with it and take the T-Fex with some sort of AI Thorax Weapon (Two Zoanthropes and Two Electroshock Grubs should handle Vehicles fine) and upgrade Devourers to Deathspitters on the Warriors. Or even get Hive Commander and Outflank one set of Warriors. Ooh the possibilities!

I've had the same experience, but perversely, I Want the foe to shoot the Tyranofex. I usually like to make a mini "deathstar" out of a Tyrannofex, the Zoey Brood, and a unit of Hormagaunts (Tyrano has Adrenals, Zoey is Jump infantry) if I have a veno, all the better. In low point games tyranofex is often a unsolvable problem. In a weird way, Tyranofex often acts as a screen for the bubblewrap, because it attracts all the fire. Ignoring Tyrano is not an option with two Troop deleting Templates...of Doom!

Oh yeah definitely, every shot into the Tyrannofex is a shot not into the Hive Tyrants! I've faced off against my friends Double Riptide list far too often to see how resilient a 2+ and FNP is...

And it's possibly got the best Instinctive Behaviour for it too so it can go wandering about

Hey pinecone, what are your thoughts on the Haruspex?

I'm thinking with the Hive Tyrants flying around and Gargoyles getting into the face of infantry they will be target priority, letting the Haruspex get up and start smashing vehicles with Armourbane CC.

Frozocrone wrote:
Hey pinecone, what are your thoughts on the Haruspex?

I'm thinking with the Hive Tyrants flying around and Gargoyles getting into the face of infantry they will be target priority, letting the Haruspex get up and start smashing vehicles with Armourbane CC.

Sorry, I don't own one. So I've never used it. Isn't it an Elite? My Elite slots always belong to Zoey, and Veno... If it's FA, I can grab a Crone...? So like many fun units, I just don't have room for it in a list.

I would suggest giving it bubblewrap, a canny foe will want to Melta it's Maw off. It does suggest a solution to Walkers though...and we have very few answers otherwise.

Ahh, fair enough, I did have a list in place and was just about to slot in an Exocrine but found myself 10 points over 1000...the Haruspex fitted in perfectly

Yeah, it is Elite, but I find the Elite kinda of bare, I'm starting to move away from Zoanthropes :O they've been failing psychic powers too often for me these days Malanthropes seem to be the stand-out unit these days