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Hi guys! I’m joining a escalation league in March so I’m building and painting 500 pts. I’m building towards a competitive 2000 pts army. Built around 3 riptides, 2 coldstars and maybe shadowsun. Very new to tau, so I’m not sure what to build towards tbh.

I have the following units so far 90% Unassembled:
20 fire warriors 10 built with caribines and the guardian drones
10 pathfinders of them are built as 2 snipers for KT
Devilfish
Coldstar
3 stealth suits
20 drones
6 xv8’S
Ethereal
Fireblade


++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (T'au Empire) [28 PL, 500pts] ++

+ HQ +

Commander in XV86 Coldstar Battlesuit [9 PL, 188pts]: Advanced targeting system, Drone controller, 2x Fusion blaster, High-output burst cannon, Missile pod, Shield generator
. 2x MV4 Shield Drone

Ethereal [3 PL, 70pts]: Honour blade, Hover drone
. 2x MV4 Shield Drone

+ Troops +

Strike Team [5 PL, 70pts]: MV36 Guardian Drone
. Fire Warrior Shas'ui: Pulse rifle
. 5x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle
. 2x MV7 Marker Drone

Strike Team [3 PL, 45pts]
. Fire Warrior Shas'ui: Pulse rifle
. 4x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle
. MV7 Marker Drone

Strike Team [2 PL, 35pts]
. Fire Warrior Shas'ui: Pulse rifle
. 4x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle

+ Elites +

XV25 Stealth Battlesuits [6 PL, 92pts]
. 2x MV4 Shield Drone
. Stealth Shas'ui w/ Burst Cannon: Burst cannon
. Stealth Shas'ui w/ Burst Cannon: Burst cannon
. Stealth Shas'ui w/ Fusion blaster: Fusion blaster

++ Total: [28 PL, 500pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe

The coldstar can only take 4 total weapons/support systems; you have 7. I would recommend cutting support systems first. Also, you may want to have more focus for him, going all fusion or taking the high-output burst cannon, missile pod, Advanced targeting system, and then finish with a burst cannon or second missile pod for a more skirmishy build. If you have not built it, you might want to use magnets for the weapons, so you can swap out loadouts from game to game.

Also, you really, really want a fireblade for your firewarriors. I would recommend dropping the Ethereal and using a fireblade instead--the ethereal does not do much, while fireblades give a massive buff to your firewarriors, plus a good ballistic skill markerlight.

It seems you have a good idea of what you want to build toward. Run of the mill tournament T'au lists are just that 3x Yawntides, 2x Coldstars and maybe Shadowsun. That right there is like 1,250 points. The rest you just fill out with Strike teams, Fireblades, Firesight Marksmen and rank upon rank of Shield Drones.

Another unit worth exploring that will also make your army more interesting to play with are Broadsides with High Yield Missiles, Smart Missiles and Advanced Targeting Systems. Some tournament T'au lists last year also had some success with Sunshark Bombers for their mortal wound bombs and Piranhas with Burst Cannons and Seeker Missiles.