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Wanting to start a Tyranid army, so far I've picked up the starter set, 20 termagants, and 9 genestealers (for cheaps!)
I'm not super familiar with nids and was hoping to get some advice on what to pick up next, and how to kit shield of Baal. Btw, I'm looking to avoid the flying circus

What's your meta like?
Flying circus is the only build for Tyranids. No other build exists.

Pick up a Hive Tyrant. even if you're not running a flying circus you're gonna want a Hive Tyrant as your HQ choice. if you wanna avoid all flying, try running with a swarmlord and hive guard escort. not nesscarily the most optimal but you'll have fun when you reach Melee

Blob Guard, Nurgle Chaos Marines, and Eldar. Its just a few buddies of mine, not super competitive but winning is fun


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Thinking about a dakkafex brood with gants there to give a cover save. The Hive Tyrant can outflank a troops unit right? What about a tervigon/termagunt outflank?

My personal favourite HQs with nids are the Deathleaper and Old One Eye. The latter is not particularly optimal, but is great fun to play - if he makes it into CC then he is just hilarious. If not, then he has soaked up a lot of fire and attention and its time to hit your opponent with all those stealers infiltrating in under the radar...

If you have the Shield of Baal set already you could fit the carnifex out with the Old One Eye setup and be ready to go. Use the gaunts to give him a cover save screen as he trundles up the field. As for the stealers, the various formations are your friends - Manufactorum Genestealers / Broodlord Hunting Packs / Children of Cryptus all help make them a bit scarier/more durable in various ways.

As for the Warriors, you need to put them wherever you need the synapse - with the above I put them near the gaunts and Old One Eye, taking the cover save. My preferred fit out is devourers and boneswords so they can do some dakka and some slugga if needed.

It is possible to avoid the Flyrant if you are just interested in having fun, but sadly not if you are looking to be overly competitive.