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I am looking at the multitude of Tyranid monsters/squads. I have not played since 5th or 6th and this update is pretty overwhelming. Every time I see the Tyranid stuff, there seems to be more and more powerful choices for a player.

I am looking at Harpy vs Hive Crone. I'd like to get $0.02 from 'Nid players, asking which one they prefer and why. Please don't answer with "they're both good, depends on my opponent".

Hive Crone: Drool cannon, stinger salvo, tentaclids, and wicked spur, comes out to 143 points.

Harpy: 2x stranglethorn cannons and scything wings comes out to 167. If you change to 2 heavy venom cannons, 151.

Their stat lines are identical except the crone having an extra attack. The extra attack is with the wicked spur, S8 -3 and d3 wounds is no slouch. Hive Crone seems to specialize againt flyers and vehicles, getting a bonus to hit flyers with tentaclids and bonus damage against vehicles. Harpy uses stranglethorn effectively against large units and heavy venom cannons against sturdier targets.

The harpy has some extra abilities, such as sonic screech and spore mine cysts. I can see the screech being useful after the harpy destroys a smaller target with its awesome movement and then later comes to reinforce a swirling battle. Other than that, it seems to be more bark than bite. Spore mine cysts have some potential for damage.

Personally, I would likely field the crone before the harpy. A few reasons:

1. He's a bit cheaper
2. He has shorter range stuff and more combat potential. I play Orks and Tyranids. Up close and personal is my style.
3. The harpy has a lot of extra rules. I am liable to forget and/or misplay the rules. Dropping the spore mines in the wrong spot could potentially screw up your opponent or even screw yourself over.
4. The harpy, I probably wouldn't even assault with it. I'd just shoot with it while dropping mines on my opponent. A valid strategy but not one i'm used to doing,

I think a Harpy with Stranglethorn Cannons could be the bubble-wrap buster 'Nids have been wanting, but i'll need to do some testing before I get behind that too fully.

I also feel like there is some higher level plays that might involve the Sonic Screech, in that in a clutch turn that might help swing some grindy combats in our favor, but again, thats some tech I don't think people have maximized yet.