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Hi all! Looking to get back into the game and Tyranids is probably where I'm going to be headed... any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I'm looking to make a shooty nid army! And if possible, a shooty MC army! I'm looking to start at 1000pts and it's going to be for small tournaments and games against pretty competitive players in the meta.

So this question to the Tyranid players out there who've had good success, what is our best units/models for a good shooty Tyranid list?

Shooting units:
Flying Tyrants with 2x devourers
Carnifexes with 2x devourers
Exocrines
Biovores
Tyrannofexes
Termagants w/ Devourers
Hive Guard
Hive Crone

Support:
Venothropes (gives out shrouded -- makes your shooty units more resilient against many shooty opponents)
Malanthropes (If forgeworld is allowed in your area)
Warriors (can unlock more of the shooty units via detachments, provides synapse adn can shoot a small bit)
Mawloc (not a shooty unit but works well in conjunction)
Zoanthropes (synapse and bumps psychic power of army up if you want to go that route)
Rippers (cheap troop)

 winterman wrote:
Shooting units:
Flying Tyrants with 2x devourers
Carnifexes with 2x devourers
Exocrines
Biovores
Tyrannofexes
Termagants w/ Devourers
Hive Guard
Hive Crone

Support:
Venothropes
Malanthropes (If forgeworld is allowed in your area)
Warriors (can unlock more of the shooty units via detachments, provides synapse adn can shoot a small bit)
Mawloc (not a shooty unit but works well in conjunction)
Zoanthropes (synapse and bumps psychic power of army up if you want to go that route)
Rippers (cheap troop)

Thanks! But which one of those are actually competitive/ worth playing? I know what they are as far as models but I haven't played nids since 5th edition lol

He basically gave you the list of all the competitive units in the book. The list of good shooty nids and competitive units are highly correlated.

 syypher wrote:
Hi all! Looking to get back into the game and Tyranids is probably where I'm going to be headed... any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I'm looking to make a shooty nid army! And if possible, a shooty MC army! I'm looking to start at 1000pts and it's going to be for small tournaments and games against pretty competitive players in the meta.

So this question to the Tyranid players out there who've had good success, what is our best units/models for a good shooty Tyranid list?

Every good Tyranid list starts with a Flyrant. Two Devourers, and Electroshock Grubs. At 1000 points you can get away with one, but once you hit 1250+ you need to take two Flyrants.

For troops, there are two options really. Either take small ripper swarms so you have lots of points left, or big gant units with some Devourers mixed in. Warriors can also be pretty shooty.

Elites have a few options, like Hive Guard (decent units) or Zoanthropes (better units)

Fast Attack has some options in either the Crone or Harpy, while Gargoyles can shoot but are better as a tarpit.

Finally, Heavy Support is the big one. Dakkafex rock, as do Exocrines, and Biovores. Tyrannofex are good shooty units too, and Mawlocs are good but not shooty.

Here's a sample list:

I only listed the ones worth playing. All of those are competitive for one reason or another. Specifics kinda depend on your local format. Forgeworld legal? Dual CAD? Formations legal? Missions used?

Rough sketch of a list: Core of most lists is two flying tyrants (although at 1k you can maybe start with one). A venomthrope + zoanthrope or malanthrope is pretty standard now too. After that a mawloc and/or biovore is a good add to bust up back field units and objective secured units. Then from there it becomes very much a personal choice. Some prefer volume short range fire of dakkafexes, other prefer the longer range high AP of exocrines, others like the durability of a tfex.

 jifel wrote:

 syypher wrote:
Hi all! Looking to get back into the game and Tyranids is probably where I'm going to be headed... any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I'm looking to make a shooty nid army! And if possible, a shooty MC army! I'm looking to start at 1000pts and it's going to be for small tournaments and games against pretty competitive players in the meta.

So this question to the Tyranid players out there who've had good success, what is our best units/models for a good shooty Tyranid list?

Every good Tyranid list starts with a Flyrant. Two Devourers, and Electroshock Grubs. At 1000 points you can get away with one, but once you hit 1250+ you need to take two Flyrants.

For troops, there are two options really. Either take small ripper swarms so you have lots of points left, or big gant units with some Devourers mixed in. Warriors can also be pretty shooty.

Elites have a few options, like Hive Guard (decent units) or Zoanthropes (better units)

Fast Attack has some options in either the Crone or Harpy, while Gargoyles can shoot but are better as a tarpit.

Finally, Heavy Support is the big one. Dakkafex rock, as do Exocrines, and Biovores. Tyrannofex are good shooty units too, and Mawlocs are good but not shooty.

Here's a sample list:

Spoiler:

Flyrant, Devourers, EG

Zoanthrope
Venomthrope

15 gants, 10 devourers
3 Warriors, Barbed Strangler

Hive Crone

Dakkafex (carnifex with Devourers)
Dakkafex

This is 990 points, so you could throw an upgrade somewhere if you'd like. But, it has a lot of shooty to it! There's enough haywire to deal with one or two big vehicles, and enough strength 6 to murder small ones. Each Fex has 12 TL strength 6 shots, as does the Flyrant, which is a lot! Overall this list can deal with a lot of threats, just advance around the Venomthrope (not shooty, but he gives shrouded to his friends to let them shoot for longer).

You rock! Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for catching me backup!!!!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
If I want to run a Tyrannofex... what do you usually load them out with? What's their optimal gun?

Also the Hive Crone, why is it good?

Thanks guys.

 syypher wrote:

 jifel wrote:

 syypher wrote:
Hi all! Looking to get back into the game and Tyranids is probably where I'm going to be headed... any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I'm looking to make a shooty nid army! And if possible, a shooty MC army! I'm looking to start at 1000pts and it's going to be for small tournaments and games against pretty competitive players in the meta.

So this question to the Tyranid players out there who've had good success, what is our best units/models for a good shooty Tyranid list?

Every good Tyranid list starts with a Flyrant. Two Devourers, and Electroshock Grubs. At 1000 points you can get away with one, but once you hit 1250+ you need to take two Flyrants.

For troops, there are two options really. Either take small ripper swarms so you have lots of points left, or big gant units with some Devourers mixed in. Warriors can also be pretty shooty.

Elites have a few options, like Hive Guard (decent units) or Zoanthropes (better units)

Fast Attack has some options in either the Crone or Harpy, while Gargoyles can shoot but are better as a tarpit.

Finally, Heavy Support is the big one. Dakkafex rock, as do Exocrines, and Biovores. Tyrannofex are good shooty units too, and Mawlocs are good but not shooty.

Here's a sample list:

Spoiler:

Flyrant, Devourers, EG

Zoanthrope
Venomthrope

15 gants, 10 devourers
3 Warriors, Barbed Strangler

Hive Crone

Dakkafex (carnifex with Devourers)
Dakkafex

This is 990 points, so you could throw an upgrade somewhere if you'd like. But, it has a lot of shooty to it! There's enough haywire to deal with one or two big vehicles, and enough strength 6 to murder small ones. Each Fex has 12 TL strength 6 shots, as does the Flyrant, which is a lot! Overall this list can deal with a lot of threats, just advance around the Venomthrope (not shooty, but he gives shrouded to his friends to let them shoot for longer).

You rock! Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for catching me backup!!!!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
If I want to run a Tyrannofex... what do you usually load them out with? What's their optimal gun?

Also the Hive Crone, why is it good?

Thanks guys.

Well, I am a big fan of Tyranofex, with Adrenal Gland, and a Thorax Hive...for 200 points the Adrenal is "optional" but adding Fleet (and Furious charge) is a good upgrade (IMHO) this gives you one Template, with Torrent, and a second Template (I most always use Electro-bugs) The Hive Crone has 4 Haywire "missiles", and is a FMC. It also has an enhanced Vector Strike (8 STR) and a Acid breath Template.

It helps suppress enemy Fliers, and tempts shots that otherwise would go vs the Winged Tyrants. One of the popular builds is using the "Skyblight" Formation, and it uses several FMCs (Crone, Harpy x2, lots o'Gargoyles...)

If your meta is Flier light, then it's likely not needed...