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Getting back into the swing of things. My last time playing was in the middle of 7th. Remember blast templates and scatter dice?

Any who this is a list put together after a-lot of theory crafting. It's using the general structure of the FSE army I ran long ago. I'm not sure what's optimal now and looking for suggestions.

+++ FSE 2000 (Warhammer 40,000 8th Edition) [122 PL, 1CP, 1,996pts] +++

++ Vanguard Detachment +1CP (T'au Empire) [70 PL, , 1,153pts] ++

T'au Empire Sept Choice: Farsight Enclaves
+ Stratagems +

Emergency Dispensation (2 Relics) [-3CP]

Veteran Cadre (3 models) [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [8 PL, 158pts]: 3x Cyclic ion blaster, Shield generator
. 2x MV4 Shield Drone

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [8 PL, 146pts]: 3x Fusion blaster, Shield generator
. 2x MV4 Shield Drone

+ Elites +

XV104 Riptide Battlesuit [14 PL, 287pts]: 2x Smart missile system, Amplified ion accelerator, Ion accelerator, Target lock, Velocity tracker

XV8 Crisis Battlesuits [15 PL, 201pts]: Cross-linked stabiliser jets, Gatling burst cannon, Veteran Cadre
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Burst cannon
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Burst cannon
. Crisis Shas'ui: 2x Burst cannon, Drone controller
. 6x MV1 Gun Drone

XV8 Crisis Battlesuits [12 PL, 207pts]
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Missile pod
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Missile pod
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Missile pod

XV8 Crisis Battlesuits [13 PL, 154pts]
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Plasma rifle
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Plasma rifle
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Plasma rifle
. MV4 Shield Drone

++ Vanguard Detachment +1CP (T'au Empire) [52 PL, 1CP, 843pts] ++

T'au Empire Sept Choice: Farsight Enclaves

+ HQ +

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [8 PL, 137pts]: Drone controller, Flamer, 2x Missile pod, Warlord
. 2x MV7 Marker Drone

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [8 PL, 146pts]: 3x Fusion blaster, Shield generator
. 2x MV4 Shield Drone

+ Elites +

XV104 Riptide Battlesuit [14 PL, 272pts]: 2x Smart missile system, Heavy burst cannon, Target lock, Velocity tracker

XV25 Stealth Battlesuits [6 PL, 75pts]
. Stealth Shas'ui w/ Burst Cannon: Burst cannon
. Stealth Shas'ui w/ Burst Cannon: Burst cannon
. Stealth Shas'vre: Burst cannon
. . Markerlight + Target Lock: Markerlight, Target lock

XV25 Stealth Battlesuits [6 PL, 75pts]
. Stealth Shas'ui w/ Burst Cannon: Burst cannon
. Stealth Shas'ui w/ Burst Cannon: Burst cannon
. Stealth Shas'vre: Burst cannon
. . Markerlight + Target Lock: Markerlight, Target lock

XV95 Ghostkeel Battlesuit [10 PL, 138pts]: 2x Burst cannon, Cyclic ion raker, 2x MV5 Stealth Drone, Shield generator, Target lock



I really like my vet cadre. I know that running 8 with MP is probably better but man is Gattling burst cannon, CLSJs and vets so fun to run. I made this list before finding out units could split fire as well. Super bummed that drone controller only makes them bs4 now. Markerlight commanders used to be a stable now they feel kind of bad.

I played my first game back into the hobby today versus a VERY new Ad mech/Imp titans player. This list cleaned up nicely and took down one of the 24 wound big boys in one turn of focus fire. He kept paying 1CP to give it a 3+ invuln which seemed super overpowered, but he still fell in the end.

The list is obviously low on CP an seems to die pretty hard without shield drones up. Any suggestions are welcome!

I don't play Tau but I know you can only have one commander per detachment. Think it's in the faq. Speaking of your commanders I'd drop the shield gen and go for four weapons for extra punch.

With regards to you recent opponent, Knight invun saves can only go to a 4+ max now with rotate ion shields. Think that was in an faq too but I'm not sure.

FSE sept lets you take 2 commanders per detachment. But the sheild gen swap is definitely good advice.

As a T'au principle, I would add at least two Battalions of:
> Strike Team (5-man, Pulse Rifles, 1 Markerlight) [38 pts]
> Strike Team (5-man, Pulse Rifles, 1 Markerlight) [38 pts]
> Strike Team (5-man, Pulse Rifles, 1 Markerlight) [38 pts]
> Cadre Fireblade [42 pts]
> (HQ of your choice)

If you were to take two of these its 312 points for: 10 CP, Objective Secured and 8 Markerlights (2 at BS 2+) - which is fantastic.


But running the all-Battlesuit army (which I do like btw) as it is, I think you are forgoing too much by not taking enough Drones.

The Missile and Plasma Crisis Teams should have 6x MV4 Shield Drones each. Seriously, these things are a godsend.

The Riptides can't get their 3++ Invuln until your first movement phase. I'd strongly consider taking 3 units of Tactical Drones, each as a 4-man of Shield Drones, and giving them to the Riptides.
(And stick a Commander with them for a 1 CP Spearhead Detachment).

The Commanders don't actually need their Drones; the <CHARACTER> keyword is very safe.

I don't think the Stealthsuits are worth their price. I'd remove them for the above changes (with no gain or loss in CP).

While I admire the intent of a battlesuit only army, the lack of CP will cripple you. You need the backbone of fire warriors (either as strikes or breachers).

Updated list.

Yeh obviously a battalion detachment would buff my CP a lot (by 4 or 8 if I ran two) I just despise fire warriors. But I dropped the stealth squads for 16 shield drones and 4 markers (to chill with the middle commander). This is more competitive while staying fluffy to a limited bodies veteran sept.

++ Vanguard Detachment +1CP (T'au Empire) [59 PL, 1,055pts, ] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle-forged CP [3CP]

Detachment CP [1CP]

T'au Empire Sept Choice: Farsight Enclaves

+ Stratagems +

Emergency Dispensation (2 Relics) [-3CP]

Veteran Cadre (3 models) [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [8 PL, 137pts]: 5. Exemplar of the Kauyon, Drone controller, Flamer, 2x Missile pod, Warlord
. 2x MV7 Marker Drone

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [8 PL, 158pts]: 3x Cyclic ion blaster, Shield generator
. 2x MV4 Shield Drone

+ Elites +

XV104 Riptide Battlesuit [14 PL, 287pts]: 2x Smart missile system, Amplified ion accelerator, Ion accelerator, Target lock, Velocity tracker

XV104 Riptide Battlesuit [14 PL, 272pts]: 2x Smart missile system, Heavy burst cannon, Target lock, Velocity tracker

XV8 Crisis Battlesuits [15 PL, 201pts]: Cross-linked stabiliser jets, Gatling burst cannon, Veteran Cadre
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Burst cannon
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Burst cannon
. Crisis Shas'ui: 2x Burst cannon, Drone controller
. 6x MV1 Gun Drone

++ Vanguard Detachment +1CP (T'au Empire) [41 PL, 615pts, 1CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment CP [1CP]

T'au Empire Sept Choice: Farsight Enclaves

+ HQ +

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [7 PL, 126pts]: 3x Fusion blaster, Shield generator

+ Elites +

XV8 Crisis Battlesuits [12 PL, 207pts]
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Missile pod
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Missile pod
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Missile pod

XV8 Crisis Battlesuits [12 PL, 144pts]
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Plasma rifle
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Plasma rifle
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Plasma rifle

XV95 Ghostkeel Battlesuit [10 PL, 138pts]: 2x Burst cannon, Cyclic ion raker, 2x MV5 Stealth Drone, Shield generator, Target lock

++ Outrider Detachment +1CP (T'au Empire) [17 PL, 326pts, 1CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment CP [1CP]

+ HQ +

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [7 PL, 126pts]: 3x Fusion blaster, Shield generator

+ Fast Attack +

Tactical Drones [2 PL, 40pts]
. 4x MV4 Shield Drone

Tactical Drones [2 PL, 40pts]
. 4x MV4 Shield Drone

Tactical Drones [2 PL, 40pts]
. 4x MV4 Shield Drone

Tactical Drones [2 PL, 40pts]
. 4x MV7 Marker Drone

Tactical Drones [2 PL, 40pts]
. 4x MV4 Shield Drone

++ Total: [117 PL, 1,996pts, 2CP] ++

Without Troops you will have a very difficult holding objectives, having CP, having screens or having a cheap way of removing screens. Despise FW all you want, they are also a cheap source of markerlights that you don't really have much of either.
A battalion is easily achieved, its cheap, and you can ignore the firewarriors on the table if you want, but the ability to use strategems is paramount if you want to be playing in 8th edition. And 15 FW isn't going to kill you.

So try this
1 Battalion Detachment
1 Vanguard Detachment
1 Outrider Detachment

That gets you 5cp+1cp+1cp+3cp (battleforged) - total 10cp

That's just enough to have fun with strategems.

I might rewrite your list to look like this. And after 2 relics and Veteran Cadre, you have 7cp for the game.

Vanguard Detachment +1CP (T'au Empire)
127 Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit: 3x Missile Pod, Advanced Targeting System Warlord, Devastation through Unity
127 Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit: 3x Missile Pod, Advanced Targeting System
287 XV104 Riptide Battlesuit [14 PL, 287pts]: 2x Smart missile system, Amplified ion accelerator, Ion accelerator, Target lock, Velocity tracker
272 XV104 Riptide Battlesuit [14 PL, 272pts]: 2x Smart missile system, Heavy burst cannon, Target lock, Velocity tracker
188 XV8 Crisis Battlesuits: Cross-linked stabiliser jets, Gatling burst cannon, Veteran Cadre
3x Crisis Shas'ui: 2x Burst cannon, Advanced Targeting System
5 Sheild Drones

Vanguard Detachment +1CP (T'au Empire)
127 Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit: 3x Missile Pod, Advanced Targeting System
180 XV8 Crisis Battlesuits 3x Crisis Shas'ui: 2x Missile pod, Advanced Targeting System
144 XV8 Crisis Battlesuits 3x Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Plasma rifle
138 XV95 Ghostkeel Battlesuit [10 PL, 138pts]: 2x Burst cannon, Cyclic ion raker, 2x MV5 Stealth Drone, Shield generator, Target lock

Battalion Detachment +3CP (Farsight Enclaves)
132 Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit: 4 x Fusion Blaster
42 Fireblade Cadre
38 5 x FireWarriors & Markerlight
38 5 x FireWarriors & Markerlight
38 5 x FireWarriors & Markerlight
40 4x Shield Drones
40 4x Shield Drones
40 4x Shield Drones

1998

I think that'll be a nice casual list to play.

 servania wrote:
Updated list.

Yeh obviously a battalion detachment would buff my CP a lot (by 4 or 8 if I ran two) I just despise fire warriors. But I dropped the stealth squads for 16 shield drones and 4 markers (to chill with the middle commander). This is more competitive while staying fluffy to a limited bodies veteran sept.

++ Vanguard Detachment +1CP (T'au Empire) [59 PL, 1,055pts, ] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle-forged CP [3CP]

Detachment CP [1CP]

T'au Empire Sept Choice: Farsight Enclaves

+ Stratagems +

Emergency Dispensation (2 Relics) [-3CP]

Veteran Cadre (3 models) [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [8 PL, 137pts]: 5. Exemplar of the Kauyon, Drone controller, Flamer, 2x Missile pod, Warlord
. 2x MV7 Marker Drone

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [8 PL, 158pts]: 3x Cyclic ion blaster, Shield generator
. 2x MV4 Shield Drone

+ Elites +

XV104 Riptide Battlesuit [14 PL, 287pts]: 2x Smart missile system, Amplified ion accelerator, Ion accelerator, Target lock, Velocity tracker

XV104 Riptide Battlesuit [14 PL, 272pts]: 2x Smart missile system, Heavy burst cannon, Target lock, Velocity tracker

XV8 Crisis Battlesuits [15 PL, 201pts]: Cross-linked stabiliser jets, Gatling burst cannon, Veteran Cadre
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Burst cannon
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Burst cannon
. Crisis Shas'ui: 2x Burst cannon, Drone controller
. 6x MV1 Gun Drone

++ Vanguard Detachment +1CP (T'au Empire) [41 PL, 615pts, 1CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment CP [1CP]

T'au Empire Sept Choice: Farsight Enclaves

+ HQ +

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [7 PL, 126pts]: 3x Fusion blaster, Shield generator

+ Elites +

XV8 Crisis Battlesuits [12 PL, 207pts]
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Missile pod
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Missile pod
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Missile pod

XV8 Crisis Battlesuits [12 PL, 144pts]
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Plasma rifle
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Plasma rifle
. Crisis Shas'ui: 3x Plasma rifle

XV95 Ghostkeel Battlesuit [10 PL, 138pts]: 2x Burst cannon, Cyclic ion raker, 2x MV5 Stealth Drone, Shield generator, Target lock

++ Outrider Detachment +1CP (T'au Empire) [17 PL, 326pts, 1CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment CP [1CP]

+ HQ +

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [7 PL, 126pts]: 3x Fusion blaster, Shield generator

+ Fast Attack +

Tactical Drones [2 PL, 40pts]
. 4x MV4 Shield Drone

Tactical Drones [2 PL, 40pts]
. 4x MV4 Shield Drone

Tactical Drones [2 PL, 40pts]
. 4x MV4 Shield Drone

Tactical Drones [2 PL, 40pts]
. 4x MV7 Marker Drone

Tactical Drones [2 PL, 40pts]
. 4x MV4 Shield Drone

++ Total: [117 PL, 1,996pts, 2CP] ++

Unfortunately, official rules limit the number of times a datasheet can be included in an army. It's 1 copy, with another copy for every 1000 points* - so your 2000 pts list allows for 3 copies of any datasheet. You will have to divide a squad of Tactical Drones into the other three or as accompanying.
*Troops and Dedicated Transports are exempt from this (although neither are in this list).

I like the commitment to an army-wide <BATTLESUIT>! The odds are stacked against you. You're really going to have to be smart on and off the table to pull it off.

I sincerely recommending that the Heavy Burst-tide dumps his Velocity Tracker for an Advanced Targeting System.
> Few units have an Invulnerable save that is only 1 greater than its' armour (generally Knights are a 3+/5++, Ghostkeels are a 2+/4++, non-shield Custodes are 2+/4++, non-shield Terminators are 2+/5++ etc).
> If it doesn't have an invuln then an AP is only wasted if it has a 6+ armour save - in which case shooting a 2 damage weapon at it is already excessive.
> Flyers tend to be T6 or more. They're too heavy for the HBC to eliminate better than the AIA-tide.

An ATS means elite infantry (like Primaris) suffer; wounds on a 3+, saves on a 5+, dead in one hit (think a Bolter vs a Guardsman, only the Guardsman is 20+ pts!!).

Other things to consider are:
> Do you really need the Smart Missile Systems? Are they worth nearly 3 Shield Drones after switching to Plasma Rifles?
> Is the Flame Commander there for fluff or crunch? Farsight Enclaves have plenty going on for them outside of double-commander
> Does the CIB Commander with a 4++ and <CHARACTER> need its Drones more than the Crisis who have neither? (drones can't save his Mortal Wounds on 1s btw)

That was super helpful. I was completely unaware of the multiple units rule. That actually kills a lot of my army ideas (Russ guard, Wulfen SW). Thank you!

 servania wrote:
That was super helpful. I was completely unaware of the multiple units rule. That actually kills a lot of my army ideas (Russ guard, Wulfen SW). Thank you!

No worries mate - it was a rule added post-launch to stop spam. It might be worth having a look at the Warhammer Community page:
https://www.warhammer-community.com/faqs/#warhammer-40000

Keep an eye out for any FAQs for any of your armies, and for the CA (Chapter Approved) to see how the game rules themselves have change (like Deepstrike, Rule of Three, Battle Brothers etc)

Sorry about your lists