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Hi guys,
I'm going to a local tournament soon, and am in the middle of trying out my Nids list. I have been struggling with Nids basically since Chapter Approved, losing quite handily to Tau and Eldar. I was hoping particularly if you could help me decide between two lists, or if you had any insight into how I could change them. Here they are

List 1: Genestealer Focus
Kraken Battalion
1x Hive Tyrant: MRC, 2x Devourers w/BLW, Pincer Tail, AG, TS (213)
Relic: Chameleonic Mutation
Powers: Catalyst, The Horror

1x Malanthrope (140)

17x Genestealers (204)

17x Genestealers (204)

20x Hormagaunts (100)

Kronos Battalion
1x Hive Tyrant: MRC, 2x Devourers w/BLW, Pincer Tail, AG, TS (213)
Powers: Catalyst, Paroxysm

Neurothrope (70) - Warlord
Warlord Trait: Soul Hunger
Powers: Onslaught

22x Termagants: 18x Devourers (160)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

6x Hive Guard (288)

3x Venomthropes (90)

Total: 1748

The tactics for this list is to shelter under the -1 bubble first turn if I don't go first. Then charge forward with Genestealers and Hive Tyrants, with Termagants cleaning out screens and Hive Guard taking out tanks.

The issue that I've been having with lists like this is that I charge forward with my Hive Tyrants and Genestealers, which promptly die after their first combat in turn 2. Then the rest of the game is just me hoping my opponent can't see my Hive Guard, and hoping that I get good draws. I have recently added the Malanthrope and Venomthropes to mitigate some of the Tau and Eldar shooting, but with limited success, the Hive Tyrants and Genestealers still going down quite quickly. The issue I'm having is that I feel like I lack threats. The GS usually get whittled down and so often whiff on their charge, and then the HTs charge in and themselves no really kill too much. This just leaves my Hive Guard being the only threat my opponent is really worried about. Also, after the first turn the Malanthrope really isn't that useful, as he can't keep his bubble in range with Kraken tearing up the board. Hence why I'm thinking the following:

List 2: Carnifex Focus
Kraken Battalion
1x Hive Tyrant: MRC, 2x Devourers w/BLW, Pincer Tail, AG, TS (213)
Relic: Chameleonic Mutation
Powers: Catalyst, The Horror

1x Malanthrope (140)

19x Genestealers (228)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

Kronos Battalion
1x Hive Tyrant: MRC, 2x Devourers w/BLW, Pincer Tail, AG, TS (213)
Powers: Catalyst, Paroxysm

Neurothrope (70) - Warlord
Warlord Trait: Soul Hunger
Powers: Onslaught

18x Termagants: 18x Devourers (144)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

6x Hive Guard (288)

3x Venomthropes (90)

1x Carnifex: 4x Devourers w/BLW, Enhanced Senses, Spore Cysts (115)

1x Carnifex: 4x Devourers w/BLW, Enhanced Senses, Spore Cysts (115)

Total: 1748

I've chucked in the Carnifexes at the expense of Genestealers in order to diversify my threats, and get a bit more shooting in. I haven't had the chance to test this list yet, but the tactics would be relatively similar, but with more medium-range fire support from the Carnifexes. A potential issue I see with this list is that it's quite elite for a Tyranid list, with relatively few little bugs. One possibility is to drop the Malanthrope to a Neurothrope and chuck in some more little bugs with the saved points.

Overall I'm finding that building Nid lists at 1750 very difficult. When playing 2000 I usually do just fine, but making everything come together at 1750 is a real hassle.

So any help or thoughts would be much appreciated!

Now got a third option, based on some comments from over at The Tyranid Hive

List 3: Triple Hive Tyrants
Kraken Battalion
1x Hive Tyrant w/ Wings: MRC, 2x Devourers, Pincer Tail, AG, TS (213)
Powers: Catalyst, The Horror
Relic: Chameleonic Mutation

1x Hive Tyrant w/ Wings: MRC, 2x Devourers, Pincer Tail, AG, TS (213)
Powers: Catalyst, Paroxysm

17x Genestealers (204)

17x Genestealers (204)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

3x Venomthropes (90)


Kronos Battalion
1x Hive Tyrant w/ Wings: 4x Devourers, Pincer Tail (218)

1x Neurothrope (70)
Powers: Onslaught
Warlord Trait: Soul Hunger

19x Termagants: 1x Fleshborer, 18x Devourers (148)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

6x Hive Guard (288)

if you ahve malanthrope why you need venomthropes?

Well, given that this discussion has been resurrected, I'll talk about my playing since. But to answer the above question first, I actually prefer the Venomthropes over the Malanthrope. That they are i) not competing with better HQs, ii) considerably cheaper, and iii) have a bigger bubble, all lead me to prefer them. My Malanthrope was too often left behind, and without psychic powers ended up doing little.

As for how my list has progressed, it now looks like this:

List 4
Kraken Battalion
1x Hive Tyrant w/ Wings: MRC, 2x Devourers, Pincer Tail, AG, TS (213)
Powers: Catalyst, The Horror
Relic: Chameleonic Mutation

1x Hive Tyrant w/ Wings: MRC, 2x Devourers, Pincer Tail, AG, TS (213)
Powers: Catalyst, Paroxysm

20x Genestealers (240)

20x Hormagaunts (100)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

3x Venomthropes (90)

2x Carnifexes: 4x Devourers, Enhanced Senses, Spore Cysts (230)

Kronos Battalion
1x Neurothrope (70)
Powers: Onslaught
Warlord Trait: Soul Hunger

1x Neurothrope (70)
Powers: Paroxysm

17x Termagants: 17x Devourers (136)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

6x Hive Guard (288)


I've had much more success with this list. The issue with the other one was that my initial wave would be wiped out by turn 2/3 100% of the time, leaving me with very little, and that reliably one squad of Genestealers, if not both, were shot off the board before doing anything. The Carnifexes, I have found, are a great replacement to one squad of Genestealers, as they provide otherwise lacking anti-infatnry firepower, survive the initial turns, and so continue to be a threat after turn 3. To be honest, were I to have more time to test lists before the tournament, I would seriously consider dropping the other squad of Genestealers in favour of more Carnifexes.

 TonyH122 wrote:
Well, given that this discussion has been resurrected, I'll talk about my playing since. But to answer the above question first, I actually prefer the Venomthropes over the Malanthrope. That they are i) not competing with better HQs, ii) considerably cheaper, and iii) have a bigger bubble, all lead me to prefer them. My Malanthrope was too often left behind, and without psychic powers ended up doing little.

As for how my list has progressed, it now looks like this:

List 4
Kraken Battalion
1x Hive Tyrant w/ Wings: MRC, 2x Devourers, Pincer Tail, AG, TS (213)
Powers: Catalyst, The Horror
Relic: Chameleonic Mutation

1x Hive Tyrant w/ Wings: MRC, 2x Devourers, Pincer Tail, AG, TS (213)
Powers: Catalyst, Paroxysm

20x Genestealers (240)

20x Hormagaunts (100)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

3x Venomthropes (90)

2x Carnifexes: 4x Devourers, Enhanced Senses, Spore Cysts (230)

Kronos Battalion
1x Neurothrope (70)
Powers: Onslaught
Warlord Trait: Soul Hunger

1x Neurothrope (70)
Powers: Paroxysm

17x Termagants: 17x Devourers (136)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

3x Ripper Swarms (33)

6x Hive Guard (288)


I've had much more success with this list. The issue with the other one was that my initial wave would be wiped out by turn 2/3 100% of the time, leaving me with very little, and that reliably one squad of Genestealers, if not both, were shot off the board before doing anything. The Carnifexes, I have found, are a great replacement to one squad of Genestealers, as they provide otherwise lacking anti-infatnry firepower, survive the initial turns, and so continue to be a threat after turn 3. To be honest, were I to have more time to test lists before the tournament, I would seriously consider dropping the other squad of Genestealers in favour of more Carnifexes.

nice list looks like mine... but i use 3 hive tyrants..same build istead of 2 neurothropes and 2 hive tyrants ...i also found out that the 2 carnifexes dont do anything,,,they usually die first of everything and i am looking to replace them... i tried OOE with the same points and he did good cause he is untargetable since he is a character...! i am waiting to ry the malanthrope now on this list also...and finally i am starting to not liking genestealers very much cause they cant hurt vechicles like the old days and usually there is always a vechicle spam