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Just starting a new Tyranid army and I am really struggling to come up with an army list that looks viable :( I am hoping to build a decent list for 1000-1250pts just to get used to playing with Tyranids. I personally really like the idea of a fast/infiltrating CC army to tie up units whilst the rest of the army arrive, so was thinking about infiltrating Genestealers and a Flyrant/Ravener/Gargoyle pack racing up the board. In the mean time the Hormagaunts and Carnifex tag along behind (not sure where their synapse comes from) and the Exocrine hangs back a little from them (again need synapse for him too....)

If anyone could build me a decent list (it needs to be fun, and being completely obliterated every game isn't fun....) using the following models/units then that would be amazing! I know its a big ask, but any and all help would be very gratefully recieved
Ellie

Models I'd really like to use!:
Flyrant
Gargoyles
Raveners
Genestealers
Hormagaunts - preferably poisonous ones
Exocrine
Carnifex

I also really like the models for Trygon (Primes), Zoanthropes and Biovores if that helps Termagants are also pretty cool (but prefer Hormagaunts) as are Tervigons

Well you're in luck - the majority of units you picked are viable! Flyrant especially, best unit in codex.

I'd run:

Hive Tyrant w/ Wings, Twin-Linked Devourer with BLW x2, Electroshock Grubs
Hive Tyrant w/ Wings, Twin-Linked Devourer with BLW x2, Electroshock Grubs

Hormagaunts x11
Hormagaunts x11

Zoanthrope
Zoanthrope
Venomthrope

Gargoyles x10

Carnifexes x2 w/ Twin-Linked Devourer with BLW x4
Mawloc w/ Adrenal Glands


I honestly wouldn't use Toxin Sacs on Hormagaunts,a bit expensive and Nids work better with more models than upgrades. Raveners I find are outclassed by Tyranid Shrikes since they can take biomorphs and provide synapse and Genestealers aren't as viable as they once were in this shooty edition. Tervigons work in lower point games. Those extra Hormagauts are left over points.

For the Exocrine and Biovore, you really want to take them in a Living Artillery formation, which is a unit of 3 Biovores, Exocrine and a unit of Warriors with a Basic Biocannon (which grants Pinning and re-roll scatter dice) and I couldn't find points for it alongside Flyrants and Carnifexes. Exocrine works well by itself though.

The Trygon isn't competitive but a Mawloc certainly has a place and looks similar so I included it it. If you really want to use an Exocrine, you can change one unit of Hormagaunts to 3 Ripper bases w/ Deep Strike (costs 45 points), drop the remaining squad to 10 and have them screen the Carnifexes for a cover save and upgrade the Mawloc to the Exocrine.

I have also included a link to the Tyranids tactica page so you can get some general tips there.

Hope you enjoy your stay in the Hive Mind

EDIT: Originally misread, edited for a 1250 list.

Good advice, If there are models that you really like but are nt competitive it is still fine but do so knowing that you will struggle a lot to stay in the game if you go that path. Also be aware of that 7th edition is all about mobility and obsec resilient units

Not much to add...If you get the "Swarm" box, a Hive Tyrant box, and a box of Warriors, you can build a "fair" force, and it will be easy to customize for higher point games.

It will get you a "hoard" style force, that is not "the hotness" right now, but it will be playable, and "winnable". (and pretty affordable. )

How about all of them? I find a good mixed list can be alot harder for anything but the hardcore tourney lists to deal with than some of the "optimized builds at sub 1250.

HQ:
Flyrant w/egrub, 2xBL 240

Elites:
1 Zoanthrope 50
1 Zoanthrope 50

Troops:
10 hormiegaunts 50
10 hormiegaunts 50
10 hormiegaunts 50

Fast:
Gargoyles 60
Raveners 90

Hvy:
Exocrine 170
Carnifex w/2xBL 150

That gives you about 40 points left to play with at 1000pts. I would add rending claws to the raveners and and a body each to the gargoyles and hormie gaunts. First turn master of ambush and you can have the Exocrine and Carnie in the sweet spot turn one with a hormie screen.

Maelstom games will be more fun that Eternal War games with this list, but should be fun, and help you get a solid handle on how to play nids as you buy a more "competitive" collection. Should all so keep the cost some what down with only 3 big models in it.

Those look like pretty cool lists to paint Out of interest, if I changes the models I wanted to:

Definitely:
Flyrant (240)
Exocrine (170)
Gargoyles (x10 = 60)

Would like (but only if they actually added something):
Hormagaunts
Zoanthrope

Anything other models/units that you think would work too, but preference for the above....

What would suggestions be then? Sorry for the many questions, just trying to have an idea what I need to buy/paint in order to have a fun 1250pt army there

Ellie x

Living Artillery for Exocrine (so Biovores and 3 Warriors with Venom Cannon, with Exocrine is 390 points).

Zoanthrope in two seperate broods is 100 total and gives you 4 WC for powers.

I like Hormagaunts in units of 10 these days, they survive more (I have multiple units, so less enemy shooting at them , although you'll find the MC get hit first).

My living artillery is 400 as i give them Deathspitters with Venom cannon, has worked wonders for me so far

But nothing to add really. id say maybe add a venomthrope somewhere for some cover? or even get a malanthrope. But other than that.... all the points were hit.

From personal preference I love to have tons of troops.

Well, this just off the top of my head, so double check the costs...

HQ: Winged Dakka'rant, Thorax Hive (Electro-bugs) 240

Troops: Termagants, x20 (I like Spinegaunts, but vanilla work fine. ) 80
Troops: Termagant Brood, x20 80
Troops: Hormagaunts, x15 75
Troops: Hormagaunts, x15 (I reserved 10 Hormagaunts, and converted them into "Devilgaunts" (Termagants, with Devourers) (that's 80 more points to field them, and that'll "unlock" a Tervigon as "troops)
Troops: Warrior Brood, x3, Strangle Cannon 100, adding Deathspitters is +10, rending Claws, the same...so 100 to 120 points

Fast Attack: Gargoyles, x10 60 points

Heavy: Dakkafex, (TL: Brain Leeches) 150, 165 with Adrenal Gland...

That runs 760, without the Devilgaunts.

Add a Tervigon, Thorax Hive (Electro-bugs) for 205 (Should be cheap on E-bay, Tervigons are currently Very unpopular) that's around 1045

I'd look at adding some Zoeys (Zoanthropes) and Venothropes (Venos) Styles vary, I prefer two Broods of Zoeys, and one Veno. Many prefer it the other way round. That adds a minimum of 145 for two Zoeys, 140 for two Venos.

I'd then toss in a second Dakkafex. That puts you at 1340 ( add or subtract to get you point level).... and you can win as many as you lose. As you play you'll find what sort of list works for you, and you can add in Big Bugs to match your style.

The most popular, and most powerful addition is a second Winged Tyrant. (and that puts you at 1480, add Hive Commander, and consume the galaxy. )

My personal "style" is Lots of Troops. But 7th has moved away from that build strategy. But you can still win a fair number of games by just plain dominating the table space.

I hope this helps some. This is based on the Swarm Box, a Hive Tyrant, and a box of Warriors. Good luck! And welcome to the Hive Mind!

Two possible directions:

1. What I play:
Add second flyrant, venomthrope, 2 zoa, with a few good rolls you can have things like paroxysm, catalyst (MVP), warp blast out of 4 possible sources.
The rest is either 2 dakkafex and some troops, or troops, gargoyles, dakkafex.

2. Horde:
Assemble warriors, terma and horma for the Endless Swarm formation, that's a minimum of 30 terma and 30 horma.
You need 2 more troops for primary detachment, I suggest building 2x3 DS ripper swarm bases.
And you will need some more synapse for the horde, because everyone will be gunning for them instead of the 4+ returning gaunts.
2 zoa and 1 malanthrope if you can get one.