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So after a discussion with a friend, he told me the Stormsurge is best used by not anchoring, and being as aggressive as possible with it. He reasons that with the STR D shot, stomps, and ability to use all weapons in closer range it's meant to be used as an in-your-face model. More like the Y'vhara. What do you guys think?

Pew Pew, Stomp Stomp Stomp!

SJ

I voted to sit back, but ultimately it depends on your opponent. I use the Pulse Driver Cannon, which doesn't need to be close to be effective. I like to anchor against most opponents, as double shooting is powerful indeed. That being said, sometimes you need to play more aggressively, using your mobility and the power of Stomps to kill things, especially if you think you're going to get charged. Against shooty armies like Eldar, anchor away and blast stuff. Against melee-heavy armies (like Genestealer Cult or Orks), you don't want to risk getting charged while you're anchored, as you lose your Stomps.

I think there's often a way to do both. I usually run only a single Surge, but I really find the big guy able to fill whatever role I need. I don't understand the reluctance to drop the anchors in favor of charging. Unless you are in a position to be charged, or Tank Shocked, there's no real drawback. You can always pull them up with no penalty next turn. With proper positioning you can keep your options open and have it both ways.

I vote for Sit back and Laugh, because it's a cheap upgrade to get a long range weapon and then you can embody Tau.

However stomping with it is still effective so long as it's not swamped with a tarpit unit, so it depends on how you play.

Where is the poll option for "do both depending on what the opponent is playing"?

48% of people show their newbieness. People in the ITC didn't have to bring anti-stormsurge stuff for nothing. Sure they've adapted to it now, but it was a real pain the ass to try and beat two of these in melee with thier crazy output.

If you want to be true stormsurge master pacific rim. If you want newbies to stand a chance then no.

If you do melee them the strategy only works with two in one unit since you can melee with one up front then when it gets weak swap it to the back of the group. As powerful as they are they are so costly and never won any tournaments. So they are really really strong, but can be beaten by the right armies and lists handily. Usually by super death stars or objective capturing armies since your so small of an army.

The one Tau list to take first place at a fairly major tournament (in 2016) didn't use anything larger than a broadside. His list is very anti-meta and surprising though. I run a list very similar to it and went undefeated here (but I didn't have the best competition).

I tend to run mine up in my opponent's face. I also run a single SS with a TripTide, so the Riptides perform my shooting battery role. This isn't to say I haven't done the sit and shoot before, but we tend to play with a lot of terrain so it's relatively easy for opponents to get out of LoS and then the double shooting isn't used to max effect.

 CrownAxe wrote:
Where is the poll option for "do both depending on what the opponent is playing"?

Adaptable strategies, nonsense. You don't need that.
You should always make it immobile and avoid shooting at tanks with it.

So it would seem most people favor a more rounded Stormsruge, but as it has been pointed out they have yet to break a top 10 list.

Is it because you can get 2 Riptides for the same cost or because people have "meta'd" it out of usefulness?

You need an option for both IMO.

It's got great (well when buffed with Markerlights) ranged weapons but Stomp is a terrific mechanic to have particularly for an army that despises CC. Shove that Stormsurge where blobs are tying up your gundam suits and watch them flee.

Top 10 lists are from tournament metas, not necessarily what is fun and functional to play. List that tend to do well in a tournament are more likely than not meta breaking or outside of the meta entirely, while lists played in a community setting tend to be built for that community's meta. That's why the poll here is pretty evenly split.

SJ