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So i'm rather new to the hobby and ive started building my first army, being Tau. I'd like any advice and tips on the build that i can get. So far i have bought the start collecting pack and am assembling them now.
HQ:
1 XV8 commander crisis suit with 2x burst cannon, drone controller, and 2 marker drones
Elites:
3 XV8 crisis battlesuit squad with 2x missile pods each
Troops:
11 Kroot Carnivores with sniper rounds
9 fire warrior strike team
10 fire warrior strike team (with shas'ui)
Fast attack:
10 Pathfinder team
Heavy Support:
1 XV88 Broadside Battlesuit with twin linked heavy rail rifle and twin linked smart missile system
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I am in no way an expert, but here is my two cents.

1. I am not sure it is a good idea to equip your commander with two burst cannons and a drone controller. WIthout a target lock, he will be firing at the same thing as your drones.

2.I also am not sure about the number of troops in each squad. The numbers seem odd. I wouldn't recommend the shas'ui on the Fire Warriors. You can use the points elsewhere. The boost the upgrade gives is not substantial and only useful in my opinion if you are doing it to get additional upgrades.

3. If you want to run 10 Pathfinders, it might be best to run them as two squads of five. That will allow them to either mark the same target or two different targets.

4. Depending on how you plan to use your crisis suits, it might also be a good idea to split them into individual units. It will allow them to hide easier, shoot separate targets, and smaller footprint to deep strike.

5. Most people run the Broadside with high yield missile pods instead of the heavy rail rifle.

6. Get a Riptide.

1. Okay ill put a target lock then on the commander
2. Well for the kroot it was because of point costs, but i see what you mean about the shas'ui. ill make the two strike teams both 10 fire warriors.
3. Thank you, that makes a lot of sense actually. 2 5 man teams it is.
4. ill think about the crisis suits, ill have to play with both and see which works better
5. I see, i will swap that then
6. eventually i'll get a riptide once i am expanding the army list, but atm im only working for 750 pts. but broadside is definitely on the list in the future.

spect_spidey nailed all the suggestions I would have offered, but I'll add this - I would strongly suggest swapping the Burst Cannons on the Commander for Plasma/Fusion. In fact, BC's on any crisis platform is wasted, imo. One thing a Tau army does not lack is S5 shooting. XV8's are the few places in our army where we can get the high S, low AP weaponry - take advantage.

I would also recommend dropping the sniper rounds on the Kroot, putting pts into a unit that functions best as a screen or 'bubble wrap' for your Strike & Pathfinder teams is basically wasted points.

HQ:
1 XV8 commander crisis suit with 2x burst cannon, drone controller, and 2 marker drones

i like burst cannons on cammanders, 8 shots at BS 5 and is a cheaper option is never a bad thing. target lock IS a must though. i know many do, but a would not put plasma or fusion on the commander. such weapons tend to encourage you get close to the enemy to benefit from rapid fire or melta range. your commander should not be trying to do that.

Elites:
3 XV8 crisis battlesuit squad with 2x missile pods each

solid choice, considering running them as 3 indiviual suits

Troops:
11 Kroot Carnivores with sniper rounds
9 fire warrior strike team
10 fire warrior strike team (with shas'ui)

i personally would not run kroot at all, and if you are, spending more points on them is a no no for me.

run the firw warriors as 4 units of 5. more objective holder this way, same fire power at more targets. also fire warriors will die in combat whether its 5 or 10. i would go for versitility here.

Fast attack:
10 Pathfinder team

2 units of 5 is my suggestion if you want to use them. my advice would be swap at least half for a marker drone unit that can join the commander for BS5 markerlights

Heavy Support:
1 XV88 Broadside Battlesuit with twin linked heavy rail rifle and twin linked smart missile system

Agree with the other, HYMP over rail everytime. though considering the rest oif the list, the rail has a place in your list

Hope this helps.

if you want a fun list, look at some of the suggestions made.

If you wnat filth and either have models or are willing to spend. say so and i will give you some ideas.