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So I've been thinking about how to adapt Tau for 9th. With no kill points and most points coming from objectives the typical castle of riptides seems less effective than before. Here's what I thought of.


++ Patrol Detachment (T'au Empire) [45 PL, 818pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Sept Choice: T'au Sept

+ HQ +

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [8 PL, 156pts]: 4x Missile pod
. 2x MV4 Shield Drone: 2x Shield generator

+ Troops +

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

+ Elites +

Firesight Marksman [1 PL, 25pts]: Markerlight, Pulse pistol

XV104 Riptide Battlesuit [14 PL, 260pts]: 2x Smart missile system, Counterfire defence system, Heavy burst cannon

+ Fast Attack +

Tactical Drones [4 PL, 50pts]
. 5x MV4 Shield Drone: 5x Shield generator

+ Heavy Support +

TX78 Sky Ray Gunship [8 PL, 146pts]: 2x Smart missile system, 2x Markerlight, 6x Seeker missile

TX78 Sky Ray Gunship [8 PL, 146pts]: 2x Smart missile system, 2x Markerlight, 6x Seeker missile

++ Supreme Command Detachment +1CP (T'au Empire) [8 PL, 130pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Sept Choice
. Custom Sept: Manoeuvring Thrusters, Up-gunned

+ HQ +

Commander in XV86 Coldstar Battlesuit [8 PL, 130pts]: 6. Exemplar of the Mont'ka, 2x Burst cannon, High-output burst cannon, Shield generator, Warlord

++ Patrol Detachment (T'au Empire) [53 PL, 862pts] ++

+ HQ +

Commander in XV85 Enforcer Battlesuit [8 PL, 156pts]: 4x Missile pod
. 2x MV4 Shield Drone: 2x Shield generator

+ Troops +

Strike Team [2 PL, 35pts]
. 5x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle: 5x Photon grenades, 5x Pulse rifle

+ Elites +

Firesight Marksman [1 PL, 25pts]: Markerlight, Pulse pistol

XV104 Riptide Battlesuit [14 PL, 260pts]: 2x Smart missile system, Counterfire defence system, Heavy burst cannon

+ Fast Attack +

Tactical Drones [4 PL, 50pts]
. 5x MV4 Shield Drone: 5x Shield generator

+ Heavy Support +

XV88 Broadside Battlesuits [24 PL, 336pts]: Magna rail rifle
. Broadside Shas'ui: 2x Smart missile system, Heavy rail rifle, Velocity tracker
. Broadside Shas'ui: 2x Smart missile system, Heavy rail rifle, Velocity tracker
. Broadside Shas'vre: 2x Smart missile system, Heavy rail rifle, Velocity tracker
. 6x MV4 Shield Drone: 6x Shield generator

++ Total: [106 PL, 1,810pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe

So this list would be split into 3 parts. The enforcers, riptides, strike team and drone squads would split into 2 mini castles that would seek out and hold objectives. The broadsides and foresights would sit back and provide range firepower. Meanwhile the skyrays would deliver an alpha strike and then serve as distraction targets. Finally the coldstar would use its immense movement to zip around and take out targets of opportunity, again serving as a distraction.

I left a few points spare to account for point changes and some later customisation. Thoughts?

Why would the castle of riptides be less effective? They appear just as effective at being unkillable in 9th as in 8th.

What I see that is interesting... no advanced targeting systems, which are arguably the best secondary system available to tau.

I think your supreme command isn't valid as is in 9th.

I think you're under estimating capping objectives, 2 strike teams will be easily shot off the table. Then again you're bringing enough fire power to table most opponents.

Yeah, the Supreme Detachment is wrong, and you cant have that load out on the Coldstar. You have to give up both the high output burst cannon and the missile pod at the same time.

Andrew

https://spikeybits.com/2020/07/9th-edition-40k-full-detachments-rules-are-lit.html

Detachment rules are changing for 9th so the supreme command is valid. As for the Coldstar, the codex says and/or so the loadout is fine.

Spartan I agree with your comment, 2 teams might not be enough, I'll have to squeeze some more in.

The triptide castle will still work in 9th but it won't win you games. All the victory points come from objectives and secondary missions so no more points for kills. So if you don't have mobility to jump around then you're going to miss out.

Is a Commander in Cold Star a Supreme Commander? I don't think any models have received that keyword as of yet. I can only speculate.

I agree with you regarding scoring. I keep thinking MSU with objective secured will be key. Finding ways for those types of units to become more resilient, possess good mobility, and having several of them (6+ units).

In your list, a lack of obsec would be my concern. As an opponent, I would work towards removing them first to help get a leg up on early turn scoring, then, try to survive through attrition with my obsec units.

Supreme command is one lord of war or hq choice so cold star should be fine.

I might swap out the skyrays for more troops. I was thinking breachers may be good too as they can get a 5++ from a guardian drone. Add a bit of resilience.

 LynxSarnage wrote:
https://spikeybits.com/2020/07/9th-edition-40k-full-detachments-rules-are-lit.html

Detachment rules are changing for 9th so the supreme command is valid. As for the Coldstar, the codex says and/or so the loadout is fine.

Spartan I agree with your comment, 2 teams might not be enough, I'll have to squeeze some more in.

The triptide castle will still work in 9th but it won't win you games. All the victory points come from objectives and secondary missions so no more points for kills. So if you don't have mobility to jump around then you're going to miss out.

Codex may say that load out is correct, but current FaQ/erratta says otherwise. So both have to go.

Supreme command is not valid as none of our HQ units have the Supreme Commander keyword.

Sorry.

Andrew

 Sarigar wrote:
Is a Commander in Cold Star a Supreme Commander?

It isnt. The only models in the Tau Codex poised to get it are Shadowsun and *maybe* Farsight.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 LynxSarnage wrote:
Supreme command is one lord of war or hq choice so cold star should be fine.

No, it isnt. Its one HQ or LOW with the PRIMARCH, DAEMON PRIMARCH or SUPREME COMMANDER keyword.

A generic Commander HQ is none of the above.

Sterling191 wrote:

 Sarigar wrote:
Is a Commander in Cold Star a Supreme Commander?

It isnt. The only models in the Tau Codex poised to get it are Shadowsun and *maybe* Farsight.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 LynxSarnage wrote:
Supreme command is one lord of war or hq choice so cold star should be fine.

No, it isnt. Its one HQ or LOW with the PRIMARCH, DAEMON PRIMARCH or SUPREME COMMANDER keyword.

A generic Commander HQ is none of the above.

That is my understanding of it as well, but am not familiar with the Tau codex. I don't think anything has Supreme Commander keyword as of yet.

 Sarigar wrote:

That is my understanding of it as well, but am not familiar with the Tau codex. I don't think anything has Supreme Commander keyword as of yet.

Its a new keyword for 9th. That being said, Shadowsun's ability that allows her to be taken in any Tau detachment without breaking Sept tenets is literally named "Supreme Commander".

Plus battlescribe generated lists are just about impossible to read anyhow.