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Hi all! I just recently started playing warhammer. For experience, I did 2-3 match of Horde and 2 of WH40K. First was with a friend's space marines, the other in a double match with my tyranid (teamed with nurgul) against Necron+ space marines. I got a bunch of used units for cheap from a friend, but i definitively need more. I'd prefer to use what i already have in the final list of course. =P

What i have: 1 Hive Guard, 1 Lictor, 1 Venomthrope, 20 termagaunts, 16 hormagaunts and 4 ripper swarms.

The core of my list i'm thinking of using.
Parasite of Mortrex. (would convert my lictor) (160)

3X hive Guard (150)
3X Zoanthropes (180)
3X Venomthropes (165)

30X Toxic Devil Gaunts (330)
30X Toxic Hormagaunts (240)
30X Toxic Gargoyle (210)

3X Biovores (135)

Total points: 1570!

I was thinking of putting the Zoanthropes with the termagaunts for the synapse and giving cover to Zoan.
Parasite with the gargoyles for an aerial squad.
The hormagaunts with the venomthropes just behind. (if i understand well, some bases are within 6'' the whole units get the cover/dangerous terrain against charge?) Both are on feed so should be fine.
The Hive Guards with the biovores hidding somewhere for indirect longrange support. I need a sysnapse for them though. ( maybe a tervigon so they can score+ psyker power or something cheaper)

So what do you think of the list? And what should i had to complete around 1999+1 points (My friends are currently around 1850 but aiming for 1999+1)
Should i had adrenal glans to some troops? Am i better with numbers or biomorphs?
Oh and i'd probably like to have some mycetic spores. Not sure with that though.

Not for competitive scene yet, but i'd still like a good army.
Thanks!

Drop the Hive guard and Zenomthropes....they tend not to work as well as most expect. Id say take a Tervigon instead of a Parasite of Mortex just because you get more for your points. at least 2 squads of 15 of (either) Termagants or Gargoyles NO HORMAGAUNTS with overwatch they bite it hard and now they just arnt worth the points. A Warrior Brood is a must to march up with Termas. and Genestealers take at least 10 of them they are amazing. 3 Zoanthropes are amazing even better make one of them a Doom of Malantai so good pick there. Biovores...yeah why not they can widdle some weak units down before they get assaulted. try to get a Malwoc to piss off a Land raider and allow your heavy hitters to get up in the fray and bust it.

Hello there, welcome to the swarm side!

First and foremost I must disagree with Commissar41.0's first point of order - I stand quite firm that both Hive Guard and Zoanthropes have fantastic utility. In fact, Tyranid Elite slots are the more prized for myself, as I believe they contain the most effective units in the entire codex, per point. A single squad of Hive Guard keep light mech and pushing Rhinos at bay, and with the 6th edition Psyker additives, Zoanthropes can play the roll of heavy mech destroyer or group supporter, a choice you also get to make IN game!

I do, however, agree that Hormagaunts typically won't serve you well. If you know anything about previous Tyranid rules (4th edition, or so) they used to be quite glorious. But due to front casualty loses from shooting, overwatch, and no longer being able to run/assault in the same turn, alas their utility is gone. Would not recommend.

Lastly as to his comment about Warriors - I would warn you to take at your own risk there. Warriors are quite decent, their utility is high and their price is reasonable. But their massive, and truly quite massive, downfall is their T4. This leaves them susceptible to instant death from weapons S8 and above, which are now quite common. Seeings as how their major draw is their large wound pool, this is a massive liability. I have always avoided them for this reason.

Now on to the Parasite. Personally, I think this HQ is a fantastic choice in certain circumstances. Hell, I ran him in a 1750 Tournament recently with a Flyrant and a Gargoyle squad, he performed admirably 2 out of 3 games, and was gunned down in that third. He can be a wicked tarpit in the middlefield if your opponent offers anything less than a melee deathstar.

That being said, I do have to say that (for the most part) the difference between a competitive and non-competitive list for a Tyranid player is the inclusion of a Tervigon or two. These are just too massively useful to let slide. Get your hands on them asap.

As far as heavies go, it's dealers choice. Mawlocs are alright. Trygons are decent. Mycetic Spore Carnifexes with Devourers are pretty solid. Some players make Biovores work wonders for them, I've never cared for them myself.

Hope that helps!

== HQ ==
Parasite of Mortrex (1) = 160 pts.

== Elites ==
Hive Guard Brood (3) = 150 pts.
Zoanthrope Brood (220 pts.)
Zoanthrope (3) = 180 pts.
Mycetic Spore (1) = 40 pts.
Venomthrope Brood (2) = 110 pts.

== Troops ==
Termagant Brood (240 pts.)
Termagant (20) - Devourer = 200 pts.
Mycetic Spore (1) = 40 pts.
Hormagaunt Brood (30) - Toxin Sacs = 240 pts.

== Fast Attack ==
Gargoyle Brood (30) - AG, Toxin Sacs = 240 pts.

== Heavy Support ==
Biovore Brood (3) = 135 pts.

== Total ==
1495 pts.

heres a list you could use with what you have to play 1500 point games while you wait to get more units. Really the only change is you shift some biomorphs and drop some devilgaunts so you can strike them in on a spore. You also shift the toxin sac upgrade you put on the devilgaunts over to the gargoyles in the form of adrenal glands. Now your gargoyles are an anti infantry/light vehicle nightmare in cc. Hormys stay exactly the same since 30 poisoned hormys will put a real hurtin on someone too busy shooting at gargoyles lol. Everything else is kept the same except one less venomthrope and a spore for the zoans so you can get rear armor shots with their warp lance. Welcome to tyranids!

Too many Elite choices, there. Venomthropes are overrated anyways.

this is just to work with units he has in his possesion, obviously once he is able to get a tervigon I would suggest swapping out both venoms and a zoan and taking a tervigon with catalyst. Could also drop a hiveguard to further buff it with another power . crushing claws and toxin sacks. then as optional he could drop a single devilgaunt to also give the tervi adrenal glands.

 Cieged wrote:
Too many Elite choices, there. Venomthropes are overrated anyways.

He is taking 3 hg, 3 zoans in a pod, and 3 venomthropes. Looks fine to me.

I've never played with venomthropes, but I've heard mixed things. Protect them if you use them. I would suggest switching the hive guard for ymgarl genestealers. I have more success with zoanthropes than hg anyway.

Add tervigons when you have the money; I also enjoy my trygons, so you might want to check them out.

Cieged, aren't you the one who said the Elites were the most effective per points for Tyranid? =P

I know tervigons seems to be the most loved unit, but they are kinda costy. =P Around 100$ each i figure with the termagaunts you'll need.
Going to proxy a few fight to see wich costy units i prefer (trygons, mawlocks, flyrants, tervigons, carnifex, etc)

Thanks patsfan! I'll think i'll try that list. Might had another devilgaunts squad of 20 and put toxic on both (i've had good results in my one game with toxic devilgaunts) so i can be around 1850 for my friends.

Addaran wrote:
Cieged, aren't you the one who said the Elites were the most effective per points for Tyranid? =P

I know tervigons seems to be the most loved unit, but they are kinda costy. =P Around 100$ each i figure with the termagaunts you'll need.
Going to proxy a few fight to see wich costy units i prefer (trygons, mawlocks, flyrants, tervigons, carnifex, etc)

Thanks patsfan! I'll think i'll try that list. Might had another devilgaunts squad of 20 and put toxic on both (i've had good results in my one game with toxic devilgaunts) so i can be around 1850 for my friends.

Yes, I misread the statement as having two squads of 3 Zoanthropes. Given how it was written I'm not convinced it was a major error. Regardless, I do think Elites are your best bet past a Tervigon.

Sounds good. If you had success with toxic devilgaunts go for . . I definitely recommend toxic on homys though if you run them. I feel that if you dont out toxic on them you may just be better using a different unit entirely (probably swapoed out for a tervigon once you get one). No point in wasting points on a hormy screen when technically your venomthropes are supposed to be screening your units so no point running the hormys only as a screen. They can be a screen but also a distraction/infantry murderer with TS. Hopefully nids get a new codex soon so we can be a little more creative with our lists.

OH HIVE GUARD!!!! I thought you meant tyrant guard yes hive guard are amazing esp if you hide them behind building and let your enemy come to them without them knowing they are there. Warriors are there to provide delicious synapse nothing more its just a mortex is ok until you go up against an army that has flyers and units that have sky fire then he is dead

 Commissar41.0 wrote:
OH HIVE GUARD!!!! I thought you meant tyrant guard yes hive guard are amazing esp if you hide them behind building and let your enemy come to them without them knowing they are there. Warriors are there to provide delicious synapse nothing more its just a mortex is ok until you go up against an army that has flyers and units that have sky fire then he is dead

Mortex is not a flyer, so flyers and skyfire don't change the game for him. He is just normal Jump infantry.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

patsfan32 wrote:
Sounds good. If you had success with toxic devilgaunts go for . . I definitely recommend toxic on homys though if you run them. I feel that if you dont out toxic on them you may just be better using a different unit entirely (probably swapoed out for a tervigon once you get one). No point in wasting points on a hormy screen when technically your venomthropes are supposed to be screening your units so no point running the hormys only as a screen. They can be a screen but also a distraction/infantry murderer with TS. Hopefully nids get a new codex soon so we can be a little more creative with our lists.

I find 20+ naked Hormigaunts to be quite effective against infantry. They are faster than most people realize, and because they have no guns can get ignored till it is a bit to late.

Needs more Tervigon. Then you won't even have to buy Toxin Sacs for your gaunts, you'll get it already.

You could also consider putting Devilgants in Mycetic Spores, to get them in range for a massive volley without them getting shot to pieces beforehand.

Personally I've had a good run with hormagaunts.

I usually give a brood of 20 a spore pod + adrenal glands + toxin sacs. Several times I have completely surrounded the opponents transport (rhino) and glanced it to death in one assault phase leaving the unit inside no place to disembark and it is lost. On the assault they also get to re-roll failed to-wound rolls against toughness 4 units. Make use of cover and speed on the approach and they are quite deadly.

Other times just running them at base cost in large numbers allows me to tie up higher cost enemy units for several turns and sometimes they even kill them!

A full brood of thirty is 90 attacks if you get the assault, with or without upgrades that is nothing to scoff at.

Just my two cents.