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Hello! I played 40k way back in the day and want to start it up again. I'm doing this by starting two armies at once that I plan on pitting against each other almost solely. I've chosen the Tau and Space Marines. I have the Tau 8th edition codex and the new 9th edition SM Codex as well as the new 9th edition rule book. I've come up with two 500 point starter lists. I'm hoping to make competitive lists, but not tournament competitive lists. And most importantly lists that are very even against each other for good, solid games. I'm using the point values off the old Tau codex as I do not know where to get 9th edition point values so they may be incorrect. This is also my first time making a list in a long time so I may be getting points wrong anyways. Please help correct me and if the lists are bad don't feel bad at tearing them apart. Thanks in advance.

Now for the lists. First, we have the Tau list. I've chosen a more in-your-face Tau list with the Vior'la Sept. Fly in with two transports and a piranha for a fast strike. Scatter gun drones to hold objectives?

Patrol Detachment - 3CP
Total Points: 495

HQ: 45

Warlord Trait: Academy Luminary
-Ethereal, x1 Honour Blade

Troops: 380

-Breachers x10: x10 pulse blaster, x1 guardian drone
-Devilfish Transport: x1 burst cannon, x2 gun drones

-Breachers x10: x10 pulse blaster, x1 guardian drone
-Devilfish Transport: x1 burst cannon, x2 gun drones

Fast Attack: 70

-Piranha: x1 burst cannon, x2 gun drones

Next we have the Space Marines list. Not sure on what chapter to go with but I like the Ultramarines colors best. I've chosen two Successor Chapter traits since the Ultramarine ones didn't seem great. The idea is to have a mobile gun base with the inceptors flying in where it'll hurt the most once things start to get rough.

Patrol Detachment - 3CP
Total Points: 495
Successor Traits: Master Artisans, Rapid Assault

HQ: 75

Warlord Trait: Rites of War
-Primaris Lieutenant: x1 master crafted bolt rifle

Troops: 210

-Intercessors x5: x4 bolt rifle, x1 astartes grenade launcher

-Intercessors x5: x4 bolt rifle, x1 astartes grenade launcher

Fast Attack: 120

-Inceptors x3: x6 assault bolters

Heavy Support: 90

-Eliminators x3, x2 bolt sniper rifle, x1 instigator bolt carbine

Your points are off a little bit. That T'au list is actually 506 points. You can find 9th edition points in the Munistorum Field Manual that was released this summer.

When you take the Guardian Drone in a Breacher team, you have to buy a second drone for the unit, which will bump the points to 526, so the list needs to be reworked. You also don't need to sacrifice an Auto Bolt Rifle to take the Auxiliary Grenade Launcher. The Launcher is an add-on.

Are the lists balanced against each other? Probably not. The Marines are going to have a tough time dealing with those Devilfish with no Heavy Weapons in sight and once those Breachers disembark, the Marines will just look at them and their dead. I would drop the Devilfish at this points level and add in a Crisis Team. That will help even the playing field. It's a target the Marines can kill and the firepower they bring to the table will help the T'au drop the Marines.

Ok, how about this new Tau list? I just found the BattleScribe app so hopefully the points are correct now.

Dal'yth Sept: Adaptive Camouflage
CP - 3?
Total Points: 498

HQ - 45

Cadre Fireblade: Pulse Rifle
Warlord Trait: Through Unity, Devastation

Troops - 210

9x Strike Team, 1x Shas'ui: 10x Pulse Rifle, 1x DS8 Tactical Support Turrent w/ Missile pod
9x Strike Team, 1x Shas'ui: 10x Pulse Rifle, 1x DS8 Tactical Support Turrent w/ Missile pod

Elites - 243

2x XV8 Crisis Battlesuits, 1x Crisis Shas'ui: 6x Cyclic Ion Blaster, 3x AWS, 2 Shield Drones