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Hello Dakka,

I have a 1500 list with no markerlights included. My list has about 500 points of dark angels so i felt since they cannot benefit it wouldnt make sense.
What points level do you guys start including markerlights and how many?

Adam

I don't play Tau but all points levels, there's no reason not to.

get a skyray. loads of utility in a single chassis. and it has 2 markerlights

Every point level you should take some markerlights. You army gets great bonus from them

At anything above 750 Tau generally want markerlights, the amount and sources depend on the army in general. For example Riptides probably want 4 or 5 markers each,a bit less if they are in a riptide wing. Other units like broadsides would not eat through markers so fast.

Either/And;

Skyrays

Drone + Commander (aka "Mark'O" squads)

Tetras.

All of these things provide very decent markerlight supper (i.e. mobile + durable) and also provides additional benefits i.e. Skyray has an amazing Alpha, skyfire markerlights, a decent secondary weapon and decent resilience; Tetras are super mobile, between 12" or flat-out moves. Mark'O have higher volume v.accurate markerlights, again mobile platform, with added BS5 twin missiles (which, now, you should give the puretide chip!)

At any point level. At every point level, the above options will be very supportive. Just balance the need with the supply. However i guess if you run a load of um... flamer-wielding crisis suits, you might not need any.

Interesting opinions. It would be interesting to know if people run lists completely without markerlight support. So with that drone commander i just run a single commander with 2 markerlights for BS5 markerlights? And give him a gun or 2?

GentGiant wrote:
Interesting opinions. It would be interesting to know if people run lists completely without markerlight support. So with that drone commander i just run a single commander with 2 markerlights for BS5 markerlights? And give him a gun or 2?

One of my lists @1850 points has no direct markerlights.

FSE Dawn Blade - Retaliation Cadre + Air Superiority Auxiliary
Allied Optimized Stealth Cadre.

The Air Aux gives me d3 markerlights a turn as long as they are on the table.. and that is really all I need. The OSC essentially gives itself 3+ markers and the most damage i do is turn 2 when my Retal comes in @+1 BS


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Otherwise.. I HIGHLY recommend the drone net formation out of Montka and the new FSE supplement.

224 points gets you 4x4 units of marker drones with special rules and +1 BS during shooting. drones are the most mobile marker source since they can assault jump .. so move into LOS then jump out of it.

GentGiant wrote:
Interesting opinions. It would be interesting to know if people run lists completely without markerlight support. So with that drone commander i just run a single commander with 2 markerlights for BS5 markerlights? And give him a gun or 2?

You could give him weapons, but due to his range and his utility, you want to keep him away from your opponents army. I usually run a Drone Commander with two "wargear" drones and attach them to a Fast Attack Unit of Drones. That gives you about 6-8 BS 5 Marker lights with a tank in front. Very effective.

DirtyDeeds wrote:

GentGiant wrote:
Interesting opinions. It would be interesting to know if people run lists completely without markerlight support. So with that drone commander i just run a single commander with 2 markerlights for BS5 markerlights? And give him a gun or 2?

You could give him weapons, but due to his range and his utility, you want to keep him away from your opponents army. I usually run a Drone Commander with two "wargear" drones and attach them to a Fast Attack Unit of Drones. That gives you about 6-8 BS 5 Marker lights with a tank in front. Very effective.

Yes - a "Mark'O" squad is a commander with 2 wargear drones in a squad of 4+ regular drones (either FA choice or perhaps as part of a larger crisis suit squad or perhaps a formation squad, like the drone net).

The commander has 2 missile pods, 4 str7 shots @ bs5, matching the range of the markerlights, along with a drone controller and target lock, perfectly fills up his wargear options. Now you can have a puretide engram chip for things like stubborn, monster hunter, tank hunter etc - Great! Str5-6 assaulting a vehicle.. Superb!

no markerlights at all? unless youre abusing the bonus BS from our formations how the heck are you hitting anything?

i try to bring at least a squad of pathfinders or markerdrones regardless of the points.

 Vineheart01 wrote:
no markerlights at all? unless youre abusing the bonus BS from our formations how the heck are you hitting anything?

i try to bring at least a squad of pathfinders or markerdrones regardless of the points.

Yeah I mean, although you can sometimes build lists that are minimally dependent on markerlights (see Optimized Stealth Cadre), markerlights will ALWAYS make a Tau army better in some way. The question is not if, but how many the optimal number is.

I may try the drone commander but i guess he will only be able to put all those ML on one unit eh? The target lock allows him to shoot one unit and put ML on another?

I would say at 200 points or higher, you should take markerlights. Below 200, you should not be playing 40k.

SJ