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I've gotten myself a pretty substantial GSC army but I'd like to incorporate an allied detachment to fill the major gap the cult has in long range firepower and backling objective camping

My GSC army tactic is put acolytes and/or genestealers in Chimeras, Abberants in Rockgrinders, race them up the map. then ambush a bunch of neophyte blobs to get rapidfire / +1s shotguns.

I was initially planning AM but then i looked at the Nid codex and was thinking Kronos dakkafexes/tyrannofex/ dakkatyrant backline with tervigon/termagaunts to camp rear objectives could be effective and harder to disrupt via deepstrike and enemy long rang eshootig but cost more points then my initial AM plan: commander, 10 man squads with weapon team/vox camp objectives + basilisks + plasma scions to join ambush (optional)

Any thoughts?

The Astra Militarium list is probably going to be a better fit for your GSC list due to better target saturation (doubles down on what you already have + artillery), but Tyranids have a lot to offer the cult. If you want a 'nid gunline to augment the GSC force I'd probably look towards Warriors and Hive Guard (and maybe some Biovores) for long ranged fire support in place of the Tyrannofex/Tervigon duo, as they are both cheaper and provide better saturation with what you already have (lots of T7 and infantry). Dakkafexes/Tyrants should be fine though they are again fairly expensive.

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah the Tervigon/gaunt thing was a bit of a cheesy lark thought on my part though i really like the potential of at least 1 tyrannofex with rupture cannon for anti tank, which GSC sorely lack. Also figured if i brought a few tough big bugs to serve as a fire magnet the hybrids get to close combat with more models or the enemy takes fire from.

On the other hand drowning the enemy is bodies is a somewhat appealing strategy to me and i guess i could just get multiple basilisks/manticores for anti tank. Not sure about LR as Anti Armor and I am somewhat sceptical about AM 4+BS compared to Nid 3+/4+ with more shots and easier access to force organization wide reroll 1s with Hive Fleet Kronos then AM orders.

operkoi wrote:

Yeah the Tervigon/gaunt thing was a bit of a cheesy lark thought on my part though i really like the potential of at least 1 tyrannofex with rupture cannon for anti tank, which GSC sorely lack. Also figured if i brought a few tough big bugs to serve as a fire magnet the hybrids get to close combat with more models or the enemy takes fire from.

They might still work for you, just be mindful that both the Tyrannofex and Tervigon break some of your threat saturation to a degree. Being T8 means Las Cannons for instance will be more cost efficient when directed against them compared to shooting at T7 models. That said, you might have enough immediate threats for them to get some work done and the Tervigon itself is generally a low priority target if you have enough synapse coverage (generally mine have only gotten shot at if killing them will break my synapse web).

operkoi wrote:

On the other hand drowning the enemy is bodies is a somewhat appealing strategy to me and i guess i could just get multiple basilisks/manticores for anti tank. Not sure about LR as Anti Armor and I am somewhat sceptical about AM 4+BS compared to Nid 3+/4+ with more shots and easier access to force organization wide reroll 1s with Hive Fleet Kronos then AM orders.

You can in theory upgrade the Russes to Tank Commanders for BS3+, but yeah Kronos is nice. Another possibility might be Kronos Sporocysts with Venom Cannons, as they aren't too bad in cost (about 30 more than a Patriarch) and get a very high volume of shots plus generate Spore Mines and Mucolids for mortal wounds. They do have poor accuracy though, but the bombs help compensate a bit.

Thanks for the help. Currently looking mostly at this AM allied option as follows:

Commander power sword, plasma pistol
Lord Commissar, power sword, plasma pistol

10x infantry squad w vox caster, missile team, sarge w power sword, bolt pistol
10x infantry squad w missile team sarge w power sword, bolt pistol
10x infantry squad w missile team sarge w power sword, bolt pistol

5x veteran squad w missile team, medkit
Tech priest engineseer

Basilisk w heavy bolter, heavy stubber
Basilisk w heavy bolter, heavy stubber

Manticore w heavy bolter, heavy stubber

total: 755

idea is to sit back, retain staying power via medkit/techpriest if shot at, and rain dakka on the enemy while the Cult gets close.

An alternate suggestion with Nids for the same game plan:

Neurotrope
Malanthrope

3 Rippers
3 Rippers
24 Termagants

6 Hiveguard

2 Biovores
2 Biovores

Total: 754

This has the advantage of being able to use the Tyranid stratagems and unlocking them for GSC. Also, nids keep their Hive Fleet, unlike Guard when allied to GSC. It also unlocks stratagems for GSC (who have the Tyranid keyword). make these Kronos and they all reroll 1s to hit, you also get a psyker in here and a -1 to hit against your firebase.

Your Guard force puts out 18 St8+ shots a turn, the Tyranid detachment puts out 12 S8 shots and 4 Mortal wounds. Pretty similar. Also, the nids have access to the double shot stratagem for 24 S8 when needed. Also the Termagants won't ever run, unlike the Infantry screen and none of them hold weapons that you care about losing. Rippers are also handy.

That's not to say the guard have no benefits, the extra range of their weapons is an asset, as is the extra strength on about 1/2 your shots. I;d say those two forces are very even for what you want to do.

I don't knw if this has been suggested yet, but the nid stratagem Pheromone trail allows a TYRANID (NOT <Hive Fleet> ) unit in reserves to appear more than 9" away from an enemy model and within 6" of a lictor.

For very few points you can bring a Cheap HQ (Or a Flyrant if you wanted! to grab those psychic powers, mobility and guns) you can fill your elite slots with lictors and then spend your command points to surgical strike your GSC units coming in from reserves instead of rolling on the table.

Pheromone trail was basically purpose built to synergize with GSC.

Thanks for all the suggestions

That tyranid force is interesting but it seems a bit less versatile then the guard force and seems less effective vs hordes, which is why I went missile launcher heavy.

Regarding pheromone trail is it a 1 unit per strategem cost or any reserves for the one cost. The table doesn't overly bother me as I'm mainly ambushing neophytes so the rolls don't seem too bad as even the worst roles can likely get me on an objective or in rapid fire range. Though I can see the value in such presice ambushes. Might consider it in larger games to drop a patriarch gene stealer bomb

operkoi wrote:
Thanks for all the suggestions

That tyranid force is interesting but it seems a bit less versatile then the guard force and seems less effective vs hordes, which is why I went missile launcher heavy.

Regarding pheromone trail is it a 1 unit per strategem cost or any reserves for the one cost. The table doesn't overly bother me as I'm mainly ambushing neophytes so the rolls don't seem too bad as even the worst roles can likely get me on an objective or in rapid fire range. Though I can see the value in such presice ambushes. Might consider it in larger games to drop a patriarch gene stealer bomb

If it's anti horde you really want let me suggest this.

Tyranid Jormungandr
Vanguard Detachment.

HQ
Neurothrope

Troops
30 Termagants with Devourers

Elites
Lictor
Lictor
Lictor

Fast Attack
Raveners x 3

This with no upgrades costs 514 points

You spend 1 CP on deployment to put the Termagants into a tunnel with the Raveners. You deepstrike them to put them all within 18 Inches of enemy screening units. Thats 90 BS 4+ str 4 shots. For 2 more CP you use single minded annihilation. That lets you pick a unit of infantry and shoot again. another 90 str 4 shots. You have more that 20 Termagants in the unit so you reroll 1s to wound.

Your whole detachment gains cover because of Jorm so +1 Sv for the whole lot of them.

A Termagant Bomb is one of the most effective anti infantry things you can do.

Also the Neurothrope will give you access to a Nid psychic power and smite (casting 2 a turn), shadow in the warp, and a 5 wound 3++ character psyker that heals itself with it's smite.

Shoot, you could just toss in some Carnifexen, for a TAC add on...

Spearhead: Total cost...around 406 points?

HQ: Neurothrope

Heavy: Carnifex, M. Scything, Devourers, Spore Cyst(-1 to Hit), Thresher tail......x3

It might be cheaper to use Thornbacks, that will be stronger vs infantry, but easier to hit....also a tiny bit cheaper (because you don't buy the spore cloud)


In the end, you can take what plays best for you, without paying a serious penalty.