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Are there any advantages of one over the other? I'm still assembling my Wrath of the Hive Mind box, and I wondered which way you think would be best. I'm considering running swarmy Nids with some heavy backup (Exocrine or two eventually)

Thanks in advance

SG

Well, currently a hive tyrant with wings and twin-linked brainleech devourers is the most durable and shooty tyranid unit in the game short of maybe a barbed hierodule or other super heavy. They're generally recognized to stand head and shoulders over every other tyranid MC (or maybe even tyranid unit) in the codex.

That said, it's really up to you. The swarm lord is good at what he does if he can get there, but he'll generally be shot up before he reaches combat in competitive environments. In more friendly games, his chances of reaching combat are better, especially if you give him some hive guard.

The regular non-winged tyrant is basically a worse-but-cheaper swarmlord. He'll lack the extra punch and special shenanigans of the swarmlord, but the price difference will pay for about two of the hive guard he may or may not be hanging out with (depending on what gear you give him). I feel I ought to mention that you don't have to give your tyrant wings to benefit from the TL devourers, though you will lose some survivability.

For competitive settings, flyrant or bust. Otherwise, make the giant monster *you* want to see on the table.

*Tyrant Guard I think it's the same box right now but the weapons are very specific.

I use a walking Tyrant in every game, and sometimes she is the lynchpin in my army and others... she and her unit of Guards get killed by some Dark Angels Chaplain with an AP3 Mace with one Wound and it's sad and horrible and loses the game... But sometimes she's great!

Flyrants are a must in any army though, and even against non-competitive lists, I still am stuck using two Flyrants just to do anything on the table. The points would really better be spent anywhere else, but I insist on using the Walking Tyrant for reasons, no matter that it loses me some games. The plain fact of the matter is that if I took 300pts (Walking Tyrant and two Guard) worth of Objective taking units, Synapse like Malanthropes and Zoanthropes, some Gargoyles or a Tyrannofex even, I would do better at my games. So I never have and never will touch the Swarmlord either. Not worth it to me unless I'm playing 4000pt games with MANY Reserves.

Yeah, Winged Tyrant, with twin Devoured x, and a thorax hive is a " must have" unit/HQ, at least for now. No matter if you run horde, or Nidzilla, it's just too good to consider other choices. Once you have two, it becomes mildly possible to consider others. I personally use a CC Winged Tyrant, and am happy...but it is not necessarily the best possible use ( I use it as a SkyTyrant) maybe use magnets, and try things out?

Flyrant it is. I appreciate the advice!

SG

One more time.....

I'd suggest compiling all your Nid questions into one thread. It cuts down on subofrum spam and if the topics are related there is no issue.

There is also a comprehensive thread on Nids there with lots of useful summaries/tactics and ideas on page one:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/572843.page