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Hey guys, I'm reaching out for some advice on how to beat a powerful 1850 tau list composed of the following: LoW (forgot the name), riptide, buff commanders, Strength D missiles, marker lights, broadsides and pathfinders all in that powerful formation that buffs everything with tank hunter and improved BS.
I've got basically everything in the Dark Angel arsenal but I can't reliably win against my opponent anymore. The first game was a crushing defeat and the second was a tie (managed to tie it last round instead of getting tabled - had only a tactical squad of 3 and Azreal).

Things that I've tried:
Deep striking - Countered by interceptor
Bikes - Countered by Marker lights
Assault - Countered by overwatch
Gun line - Countered by longer gun line
Going for objectives - Not a stable win

Thoughts?

Also, if anyone tells me that Azreal was a waste it's because of Azreal that I was able to tie. Leadership, bringing in reserves, and the 4++ saved more units that I care to admit. I still wouldn't use him as a stable unit because it was very lucky that he managed to do what he did.

My go to would have been lots of deep striking terminators and deathwing knights, maybe with a landraider or two for extra armour.
Lots of assaulting and relying on the fact he can only overwatch one unit that's assaulting....
Although on reflection I'm not sure this would necessarily overcome the above list...
Maybe go the other way and spam loads of tac squads and try and overwhelm them?

That used to be my tactic prior. I'd field a ton of units and just camp objectives. He couldn't deal and I'd win that way. I gave up on bikes with all the ignore cover AP3-AP2 nonsense awhile back.
Terminators are awesome and I love the model but against the sheer amount of shots that come my way...they don't last. Deep striking doesn't help due to interceptor and then you still can't charge leaving you up to getting shot for two consecutive turns.
So far I've tried the Lion's blade with drop pod grav only to lose them large blasts. I've also tried the expensive hammer of Caliban. Great on paper until some D strength missiles knocked out my raider and weight of fire took out my crusaders.

spam trash and garbadge and bog him down

alternatively you could just buy a warlord and tell him to #stopcamping but there is a matter of finances

i think tau have gotten way too strong for their own good, perhaps convince your friends to stop using the latest codex and supplementals

They're strong but can't be invincible. Anyone have any tips on how to deal with it. Like the wraithknight is a nightmare but I learned to blow it down to hell with grav weapons and mass of fire power. It's doable.

I disagree that Tau are too strong. They are strong, but I have yet to lose to Tau with my Ravenwing, and I'm playing against strong tournament players. I'm not sure what your army list was, but that would be helpful to know as well.

If you have at least 3 bike squads, not all will be able to be targeted by marker lights. I run 6 squads of combined black knights and regular bikers. If you can scout up and move the next 12 to be in rapid fire range of the marker lights, you shouldn't have too much trouble taking out 10-15 marker lights. Then, use your mobility to get around to the most necessary targets.

If you are using Deathwing, I agree with Dregstar. Overwhelm your opponent with so many deep striking targets that he has no good decisions for target priority.

Go to the battle report section, you will find a pretty recent battle DA vs Tau, if it can help you.

Bikes seems to be your friends, just kill his ML sources, and you will be fine.
Bikes are quicks enough to assault Tau T2, have a good shooting, a good T, a correct save and a crazy good cover.
You can reasonnably take his shoots and then assault him, I think.
Even if you don't kill all his ML, if he uses it to negate your cover,save he doesn't use it for his BS/destroyer missiles.

Can the darkshroud help against overwatch ?


Don't forget: saturation is good. If you play only two bikes squad, he will have enough AP2/3 ignore cover, as you said.
But if you have a lot, he won't be able to shoots them of.
Put a techmarine on bike in your squad to have a 2+ biker if you can.

Hope that help.

a dozen scout squads with knives and melta bombs?