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I am looking for some competitive Tyranid units, so I can actually win some games. Which Tyranid units are best against Tau gunlines or Ork Spamkans?
I currently have 1 hive tyrant, 1 venomthrope, 1 zoanthrope, 1 carnifex, 4 ripper swarms, 40 hormagaunts, 20 borergaunts, 20 devourergaunts, and 10 gargoyles.
What are the best strategies and units I can take?
(I have terrible luck, and often lose to Tau gunlines using Serpent spam. The Tau guy who I usually play likes to camp dual hammerheads at the very edge of the board. He won't play unless we're using short board edge deployment. He also uses 3 crisis suits which are all seperate units, and two fire warrior gunlines.)
Peregrine - If you like the army buy it, and don't worry about what one random person on the internet thinks.
The most important thing to keep in mind when playing nids is that you are not playing a top tier army and thus, should nt expect to win most of your games.
that said, there are some units that can do very well in most situations , they are: flyrants, venoms, exocrines and biovores.
Build your army around those units and you should be able to win once in a while... when the dice favor you.
The new Malanthropes are definitely a competitive choice especially if using the living artillery formation.
I play:
40K: Daemons, Tau
AoS: Blades of Khorne, Disciples of Tzeentch
Warmachine: Convergence of Cyriss
Infinity: Haqqislam, Tohaa
Malifaux: Bayou
Star Wars Legion: Republic & Separatists
MESBG: Far Harad, Misty Mountains
Verviedi wrote: (I have terrible luck, and often lose to Tau gunlines using Serpent spam. The Tau guy who I usually play likes to camp dual hammerheads at the very edge of the board. He won't play unless we're using short board edge deployment. He also uses 3 crisis suits which are all seperate units, and two fire warrior gunlines.)
Minus the Hormagaunts, you actually have a decent army - you just need some more Zoanthropes, Venomthropes, Carnifexes with 2x Devourers and 2 Flyrants with 2x Devourers. Maybe 2x Mawlocs and some Biovores.
That said, you could do fine with what you have, but your main problem is your opponent. They sound like they're just trying to curb-stomp you at every turn, running 2 really strong armies and refusing to play you unless they do short edges so he can shoot at you for 3+ turns... yeah, very fair. You might need to find someone else to play, or ask them to tone it down politely.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/09/29 13:48:13
Andilus Greatsword wrote: That said, you could do fine with what you have, but your main problem is your opponent. They sound like they're just trying to curb-stomp you at every turn, running 2 really strong armies and refusing to play you unless they do short edges so he can shoot at you for 3+ turns... yeah, very fair. You might need to find someone else to play, or ask them to tone it down politely.
Seconded. I can't speak to the strength of your army or the best units, but your opponent is definitely being a d-bag. Tell them you aren't playing them anymore unless you can change up deployment sometimes - fairest way is to roll for deployment type. If they want to be ultra-competitive, they should let the dice gods dictate the battlefield and see how well they can cope with the outcome.
Battlefleet Gothic ships and markers at my store, GrimDarkBits:
Yeah, if your only opponent is that Tau player, thdn youre losing more because hes putting you in a situation where you have no chance. Hes actually in a grey area wherein hes technically cheating even though hes not really violating the rules.
Aside from that, I think you need more Monstrous Creatures, youre very light in the vehicle killing department.
CoALabaer wrote: Wargamers hate two things: the state of the game and change.
Had a wall of text I was about to post so I've decided to split this into spoilers so I'm not clogging up your page.
Tyranid units
Spoiler:
The best unit without a doubt is the Flyrant with two sets of Twin-Linked Devourers and if you can find the points, Electroshock Grubs. Supporting Psyker, 12 S6 shots or a Haywire Template for Lance formations, a FMC, most mobile unit Nids have to date...every competitive list should have two for a HQ, it does so much for it's points.
From there, it's subjective to what people value more. I can understand people stating Living Artillery formations and Malanthropes, they both have extremely useful abilities (Malanthrope in particular). Against your friends Tau, Biovores and Mawlocs should do wonders against the Gunline (particulary if you can get Living Artillery Biovores)
Personally, I love Carnifexes and would rate them 2nd best unit - they are the best AT that Nids possess (both Dakka and Wrecker variants) and can wield the TwinLinked Devourers that Flyrants are known to have, giving them multiple roles if they can't find any vehicles in charge range.
Your Tau Friend
Spoiler:
He's being TFG, or at least, unsportsmanlike. Roll off to determine deployment as you should do, or get him to not camp the Hammerheads. (Actually a Hammerhead may not be that bad if it's a railgun variant, 1 shot at BS3 isn't going to do much damage to T6 or a horde). Also check his Codex matches up with what he says, if he's being particular about how to deploy, he may be being particular about what he tells you - this isn't being annoying, this is making sure your friend (who seems intent on not just winning but crushing you) isn't cheating (not saying they do, just make sure they aren't)
Remember make sure that there is a lot of cover on the battlefield, although Tau are known for having lots of Ignore Cover, they might not always have it.
If he won't listen to you and wants to continue camping on open field, remember you don't have to play him, find someone else who is willing to play you without a particular set-up.
Tactics against Tau
Spoiler:
Remove the Pathfinders first, Tau become more manageable when you can remove Marklerlights, the majority of their shooting is BS3. After killing Marklerlights you want to get rid of the shooty units (Crisis Suits) and Objective Secured (Fire Warriors), once that is done you can mop up.
Also you're playing Tyranids, you have access to a bunch of Psychic Powers, this is one of three phases that you should dominate or at least maintain control over. The Horror and Paroxysm will help reduce the amount of shots coming your way, while Catalyst will keep your guys alive. If you can get either one, Warp Lance and Psychic Scream (or Shriek) will cause damage when you get in range. You're generally more mobile than Tau in the form of your FMC's and little gribblies (Bounding Leap Gaunts and Gargoyles can quickly close the gap and if they get shot, your big bugs can continue to cause damage) and Tau are just notoriously dreadful in CC. If you can get any unit in CC (aside the FarsightBomb, which can counter it in sheer weight of attacks), expect that unit to be wipe out or stuck in combat for a long time).
Another thing to remember against Tau...play Maelstrom. Tau are not very mobile, in particular gunline Tau (oh hey, look what your friend is running!).
Which handily brings me on to my next point which can be used for any battle really...always play to the mission. You could be shot to smithereens and have two models left on the board but if you have 8 Victory Points from Objectives to your opponents 7...well, score a win for the Tyranids!
I am currently 4-1 against my friends Tau, who likes to spam Riptides(pro-tip, ignore them or tarpit them) and gunline. I'm not a master tactician, but if I can have a solid record against them, so can you.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/09/29 16:16:28
Verviedi wrote: I am looking for some competitive Tyranid units, so I can actually win some games. Which Tyranid units are best against Tau gunlines or Ork Spamkans?
I currently have 1 hive tyrant, 1 venomthrope, 1 zoanthrope, 1 carnifex, 4 ripper swarms, 40 hormagaunts, 20 borergaunts, 20 devourergaunts, and 10 gargoyles.
What are the best strategies and units I can take?
(I have terrible luck, and often lose to Tau gunlines using Serpent spam. The Tau guy who I usually play likes to camp dual hammerheads at the very edge of the board. He won't play unless we're using short board edge deployment. He also uses 3 crisis suits which are all seperate units, and two fire warrior gunlines.)
Umm, sounds more like you need to just not play against that guy. You can't always have the same deployment, just because it benefits you.
That being said, there are quite a few tings that can mess with him. I'm not going to say that these things are "competitive", because apparently people's idea of competitive is spamming flyers and as many things with Devourers as possible.
So, first off. Deep Striking units. Mawlocs could take out a bunch of fire warriors, especially tag-teamed with Deathleaper. As well as a Trygon prime. Doesn't mishap most of the time, can shoot, and would annihilate the Hammerheads as soon as it touches them. Plus, they would take a crap ton of fire power to kill, so would allow the rest of your army to advance, or he could ignore them, and they would annihilate everything, pretty much.
Also, because he apparently only likes that certain deployment, use that to your advantage. Use the Hive Commander upgrade for a flying Hive Tyrant, go pick up a Tervigon, bring it as a troop choice, and Outflank it with the Miasma Cannon. Here's a Poison 2+ AP4 template, and that's a dead squad of Fire Warriors. And, give his Electroshock Grubs, so before your Tervigon charges into that other Hammerhead, it can still chip a hull point off. And of course, now you have some more Termagants spawning on his side of the board as well.
1) Flyrant with TLBL Devourer
2) Malanthrope
3) Living artillery node. Biovores and Exocrines rock!
I completely forgot about that. The Living Artillery Node is by far one of the best, and my favorite, formation. The Exocrine will kill anything is shoots at with an Armor save, and the Biovores will tear his Fire Warriors a new one all day long. Plus, using a Barbed Strangler could help. 36" Pinning gun could help tone down his fire power.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/09/29 16:35:59
Verviedi wrote: I am looking for some competitive Tyranid units, so I can actually win some games. Which Tyranid units are best against Tau gunlines or Ork Spamkans?
I currently have 1 hive tyrant, 1 venomthrope, 1 zoanthrope, 1 carnifex, 4 ripper swarms, 40 hormagaunts, 20 borergaunts, 20 devourergaunts, and 10 gargoyles.
What are the best strategies and units I can take?
(I have terrible luck, and often lose to Tau gunlines using Serpent spam. The Tau guy who I usually play likes to camp dual hammerheads at the very edge of the board. He won't play unless we're using short board edge deployment. He also uses 3 crisis suits which are all seperate units, and two fire warrior gunlines.)
Umm, sounds more like you need to just not play against that guy. You can't always have the same deployment, just because it benefits you.
That being said, there are quite a few tings that can mess with him. I'm not going to say that these things are "competitive", because apparently people's idea of competitive is spamming flyers and as many things with Devourers as possible.
So, first off. Deep Striking units. Mawlocs could take out a bunch of fire warriors, especially tag-teamed with Deathleaper. As well as a Trygon prime. Doesn't mishap most of the time, can shoot, and would annihilate the Hammerheads as soon as it touches them. Plus, they would take a crap ton of fire power to kill, so would allow the rest of your army to advance, or he could ignore them, and they would annihilate everything, pretty much.
Also, because he apparently only likes that certain deployment, use that to your advantage. Use the Hive Commander upgrade for a flying Hive Tyrant, go pick up a Tervigon, bring it as a troop choice, and Outflank it with the Miasma Cannon. Here's a Poison 2+ AP4 template, and that's a dead squad of Fire Warriors. And, give his Electroshock Grubs, so before your Tervigon charges into that other Hammerhead, it can still chip a hull point off. And of course, now you have some more Termagants spawning on his side of the board as well.
1) Flyrant with TLBL Devourer
2) Malanthrope
3) Living artillery node. Biovores and Exocrines rock!
I completely forgot about that. The Living Artillery Node is by far one of the best, and my favorite, formation. The Exocrine will kill anything is shoots at with an Armor save, and the Biovores will tear his Fire Warriors a new one all day long. Plus, using a Barbed Strangler could help. 36" Pinning gun could help tone down his fire power.
I will buy another Venomthrope, and proxy an expcrine to try it out.
Peregrine - If you like the army buy it, and don't worry about what one random person on the internet thinks.
Verviedi wrote: I am looking for some competitive Tyranid units, so I can actually win some games. Which Tyranid units are best against Tau gunlines or Ork Spamkans?
I currently have 1 hive tyrant, 1 venomthrope, 1 zoanthrope, 1 carnifex, 4 ripper swarms, 40 hormagaunts, 20 borergaunts, 20 devourergaunts, and 10 gargoyles.
What are the best strategies and units I can take?
(I have terrible luck, and often lose to Tau gunlines using Serpent spam. The Tau guy who I usually play likes to camp dual hammerheads at the very edge of the board. He won't play unless we're using short board edge deployment. He also uses 3 crisis suits which are all seperate units, and two fire warrior gunlines.)
Not much to add...my "go to" answer to Gunlines Tau or otherwise is Mawloc. But not everyone likes Mawloc, so you should Proxy and test it out first.
But not everyone likes Mawloc, so you should Proxy and test it out first. 