Best way to kit a Carnifex?

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**DaPino**

At my LFGS, I see people almost exlusively field carnifexes with double TL devourer with brainleech worms. Why is that?
I'm going to start a Tyranid army pretty soon and I'd take 1x TL devourer and 1x stranglethorn cannon. I get that the TL devourer has more hit-potential but if you take the cannon you can start shooting sooner.

Is it because people will most likely run on the first turn(s) because the goal in the end is to get that thing in melee?

**digital-animal**

You kind of answered that question yourself - I like running them that way because I feel like they can be a durable 'killy' unit even maintaining decent anti-air when needed. I think the opinion on using them varies because you're right it's nice to have that ability to have some long range shooting available but for me whenever I take Carnifex I want them moving forward fast to really threaten my opponents. (with Adrenal Glands when I have the points) and so yes I might have to dedicate a turn to moving up but it's worth it. Once those double devourers get in range they hurt and if it's a target that requires some more punch they will be Str10 on the charge with their special HoW. Also not many units want to charge a full brood of dakkafex with devourers. 36 Twin-linked shots is...obviously good.

**pinecone77**

DaPino wrote:
At my LFGS, I see people almost exlusively field carnifexes with double TL devourer with brainleech worms. Why is that?
I'm going to start a Tyranid army pretty soon and I'd take 1x TL devourer and 1x stranglethorn cannon. I get that the TL devourer has more hit-potential but if you take the cannon you can start shooting sooner.

Is it because people will most likely run on the first turn(s) because the goal in the end is to get that thing in melee?

Gunfex is a fine build, the extra range is a very welcome feature.

But all in all, Dakkafexen are just plain awesome.

(for one thing they are "OK" as AA) I suggest you use magnets, so you can try both builds. The local "meta" will strongly influence what is the "best build".

If you run Battleforged, and roll on Strategy, you have a 1 in 3 chance of getting "Master of Ambush" and being able to infiltrate up to three Dakkafexen is a crushing advantage. Doing the same with Gunfexen, is also good...but not as great.

**AlmostMercury**

For the record, a re-roll on a 6 sided die isn't 33% it's more like 25%.

**SharkoutofWata**

Massive Crushing Claws and a Strangle Thorn cannon with a bone mace tail. Because these are biomorphs for a Carnifex. Them whimpy looking Trex Devourer arms look stupid and you absolutely shouldn't listen to this advice because it has no basis on actually using the Carnifex and is completely about how it looks.

If backed up by an Exocrine, the Carnifex with Devourers is a great unit, but some armies don't have big dedicated gun bugs so the Carnifex needs to carry that cannon forward. It all depends what role needs to be filled really. Can you afford to skip on the big gun or do you HAVE to have it and wait longer to get into the assault? Sometimes two turns longer..

**Skullhammer**

I mix and match normaly i use a brood of two with strangle and dakka as the pinning is very useful and the dakka works as aa/ charge/close in shooting my other brood uses crusher claws adrenals and talons there job is to get close fast and wreck stuff and they work out at roughly the same points either way. Of course im strange as i use lots of stealers as well more pinning the better.

**vipoid**

DaPino wrote:
At my LFGS, I see people almost exlusively field carnifexes with double TL devourer with brainleech worms. Why is that?
I'm going to start a Tyranid army pretty soon and I'd take 1x TL devourer and 1x stranglethorn cannon. I get that the TL devourer has more hit-potential but if you take the cannon you can start shooting sooner.

Is it because people will most likely run on the first turn(s) because the goal in the end is to get that thing in melee?

I think it has to do with potential targets. If you're taking a Stranglethorn Cannon, then you're basically limiting yourself to anti-infantry (anything else and the blast is wasted). And, let's be fair, nids really don't struggle with infantry.

However, if you take 2x Brainleech devourers, then you can take on infantry, MCs, light transports and even fliers.