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I've just bought a Tau Battleforce as my first 40k purchase. By default it gets 1 marker and 10 gun drones but it's been hinted I could convert a few (or all) into marker drones.

Now, I understand marker drones are really good, but what about gun drones? Are they worth it or I should go for as many markers as possible?

Gun drones are very worth it, so long as you have a clear idea of what you want them for. I primarily use them for harassment and to block charges. They are very good for screening your troops, and against low leadership forces pinning can be devastating. Alternatively they can add extra firepower and durability to an AI Battlesuit unit.

Gun drones are not to be underestimated. They can lay down some firepower pretty quick and force pinning checks which is pretty rare now that barrage/snipers/strafing run doesnt have it.

Markerdrones typically are not worth it unless you are running something with a drone controller, even just a random suit thats BS3. Yeah, theyre relentless so they never fire snaps but theyre BS2 so...not much better lol. I use a missilepod crisis suit trio with markerlight drones because the range compliments each other and commander buffy makes the 3 crisis suits nasty strong, tanks for the unit so theyre hard to remove, and makes the drones BS5 with a controller. Outside that unit or a stealth suit trio i really dont use markers.

Shield drones on the other hand....ignore them...seriously...ever since they lost their armor value equal to whoever theyre attached to they became way too easy to mop up since its a single wound 4++ save that can be stripped off with infantry fire so the real guns can still kill your suits. might as well use gun drones since they die just as fast but at least do some damage before they go.

I am actually trying to come up with a drone list for my crisis team. I will have a Commander, and 3 crisis suits. The commander will have drone controller and I am thinking of giving the commander 2 markerlight drones for the simple fact that it will almost always guarantee 1-2 marker counters on the unit he fires at. (this could help shoot off a couple of quick seeker missiles onto my opponents dreadnought)And 1 or 2 shield drone in the back of 2-4 gun drones But I have had success running this same unit config but with a couple shield drones and the rest gun drones. The shield drones really help when facing weapons that have a high AP like lascannons. but the gun drones hitting on 2s can really pack a punch. But the 4+ invuln save could be the difference of life an death as it has gotten me out of a jam when stuck in line of sight.