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So I purchased the Space Hulk Box a while back to use the BA Terminators as they are sooo much better than the normal ones...anyway I digress.

I've been looking at the Genestealers in the box and they are really really nice models, especially the Broodlord and am thinking about starting a Tyranid force but despite knowing not many people utilise Genestealers in their army lists I still want to give them a go. This along with the amazingly valued start collecting boxes GW has been churning out would most likely be my starting point. So I was wondering if you all would help me (as I know very little about NIDZ) create a list utilising the Genestealers so I can work out what to purchase to make this a reality. I don't want to got down the road of loads of gaunts, would prefer the MC's.

My Initial thoughts for a 1500pt list are as follows:

HQ
Swarmlord
Flyrant - Devourers with Brain Leech Worms

Troops
9 Genestealers and a Broodlord - most likely coming on via outflank thru Hive commander
9 Genestealers
3 Tyranid Warriors - Scything Talons and Devourers

Elites
3 Hive Guard - Impaler Cannons
3 Zoeys - 1 upgraded to Neurothrope

Heavy Support
1 Carnifex - Crushing Claws and Devourer with Brain Leech Worms

I have become more of a Narrative gamer recently but still want my list to have a little umph for certain characters I play against. Thoughts?

Walking Swarmlord with no Tyrant Guard? He's at best mediocre when deployed via Tyrannocyte with a big unit of Guard walking on his own is a terrible choice. Dakkadakka.com Flyrants work best in multiples. Swap the Swarmlord over to another one of these and save points. Get them both electroshock grubs. The best 240 points you can spend in the nid dex.

Why use Hive Commander to outflank an assault unit that can already outflank? Outflank is bad for assault units anyway why double up on it to double your wastage? Steamers need to be in minimum sized units. A broodlord is a decent option but other upgrades are never useful. To make combat work for Stealers you need MSU. I'd give the warriors a Venom Cannon so they can sit back and fire away. Stealers work really well in conjunction with the spore field formation.

Hiveguard are OK but not what they once we're. Zoes should either be in minimum units or in bigger units delivered by Tyrannocyte. So make your mind up which you want.

Carbines stands out like a sore thumb. He needs 2 devoured and a buddy and some distraction units or he needs a Tyrannocyte.


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Also you NEED a venomthrope. Something like this could work (not Uber competitive but stand a chance against a moderately competent opponent).

CAD
Flyrant: 2 Devoured, electroshock 240
Flyrant: 2 Devoured, electroshock 240
5 Stealers: 70
5 Stealers: 70
5 Stealers: 70
5 Stealers: broodlord 130
5 Stealers: broodlord 130
Zoanthrope: 50
Zoanthrope: 50
Venomthrope: 45
Carnifex: 2 Devourers: 150
Carnifex: 2 Devourers: 150

SPORE FIELD
3 Sporemines: 15
3 Sporemines: 15
3 Sporemines: 15
Mucolid: 15
Mucolid: 15
Mucolid: 15

That leaves 15 points to chuck something you like somewhere. Like perhaps adrenal on a fex. Infiltrate all the stealers and the spore field. Venomthrope keeps your backfield safer for turn 1. Then you've got 11 units in your opponents face to overload with targets and gives you incredible board control. Whilst he's dealing with that the fexes get into position and Flyrants blast away.

Cool.
I am completely new to nids so this was more a first list based on models I liked. Thought was to have Swarmlord walking with some genestealers but I like the idea of having 2 Flyrants.

Did not realise the genestealers had infiltrate! thats a bonus! and I can see what you mean about keeping them MSU.

Ive never seen a venomthrope in action are they that good? at 45 points I wont argue though.

Also thoughts on Trygons and Mawlocs? Again just because I like the models

Thanks! list looks pretty solid to me.

Trygons are poor. Mawlocs are decent and work best in conjunction with MSU Lictors. Their ability to get round invisibility, cover and armour can be invaluable.

MSU us generally best for assault (unless making a deathstar) as you want your opponent to waste firepower and you want to absorb over watch. Also MSU allows multiple assaults without disordered charges and helps sweeping advances.

Venomthrope gives all your units with 6" shrouded. So you should have 2+ cover on all your good stuff in the early game. This massively helps.

ah Nice now I see! Nice one. THanks for the help!

Not a bad list! Going to put my vote in for another flyrant - they're just simply SO good to not include. Venomthropes are indeed good, and both a trygon and a mawloc are good in my opinion, but the mawloc's probably the best of the two.

Whatever you take, you're putting up a decent fight by the look of that list, have fun in your games!

Hahah yeah. I think you've both persuaded me on the double flyrant threat! I do love the mawloc model so may have to involve this somewhere.
Thanks QuazzaP

If you have the ability and money to do so, the Living Artillery formation is very good as well....

1 Exocrine
3 Warriors - 1 Venom Cannon, 2 Death spitters
3 Biovores

for these 400 points you get all ranged weapons get pinning and can re-roll scatter if near the warriors. its very much worth the cost imo

I think Swarmy is really the only justification for big squads of steelers. Prefered enemy on 20 steelers is dirty. Consequently big squads of steelers coming on from outflank may be one of the few justifications for swarmy.
That and pods, lictors and mawlocs.
I ran him for a while, as he is the only reserve manipulation available without taking a defense line (which is king cheese sandwich).
The other justification of course is play-ability. There are several people who will just count your flyrants and find another game. Swarmy on the other hand, people love. There is something epic and fluffy about him, and I cannot count the number of times people charged him... just to see if they could take him in combat.


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On a different note, if you want more genesteelers, I have a bucket of them under my desk. You could probably work out a trade with several people here on dakka or buy some used ones online.