Tau XV8 Commander builds

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**KingKozuma**

I've been trying to decide how to best configure my commander and there are seem to be so many good builds that I am not sure where to go. Anyone have any good ideas that can help me decide on how to configure mine?

**hotsauceman1**

I have seen some interesting ones, like laoding them up with Suite, Control node and Pure tide chip and putting them in a deathrain squad(Non-TL weapons.)

**KingKozuma**

Well I like that idea, unfortunately I don't know what set up I would go with for the weapons/support to go with that build.

**taudau**

XV-8 'Crisis' battlesuit with two fusion blasters and an advanced targetting system. Also called "die mr. special weapon, die".

**Raikoh**

I call it an "Ironhide Commander", because I think it shows just how durable it can be.

Missile pod, Plasma rifle, Neuroweb System Jammer, Shield generator, Stimulant injector, Iridium armor, 2x Shield Drone

Thats T5, 4W, 2+/4++ with Feel No pain, and 2 shield drones. The NSJ is only there because it's 3 points and I have had great luck with it so far.

If you think about it, this is almost as tough as a riptide (T6 5W), but almost makes up for it with the 4++ (instead of 5++)

I once put him in a squad of 3 Suits, with 4 more shield drones. The squad shrugged off so much fire its funny.

**Ledabot**

Basicly the same thing I did last gen. You just have to remember that with two shield drones, the squad toughness is reduced to 4, not 5. lets 16% more wounds through unless one drone pops.

**lambsandlions**

Your commander depends on what your unit is trying to do (anti-armor, anti-TEQ, marker lights, anti-air etc) Personally I think shadowsun is better for anti-armor because of her infiltrate. Some people swear by the marker light commander, with two missile pods, drone controller and target lock.

My commander is an anti-TEQ, build, He joins a squad of 3 crisis suits with 2 plasma rifles and 2 gun drones. My commander has 2 plasma, drone controller and stimulate injector, iridium armor, nuroweb jammer and 2 gun drones. With this build I put my commander in front and let him take most of the shooting. With a 2+ fnp save he rarely takes a wound from normal fire and if something with ap1/2 comes at him I los onto a drone. His 4 wounds last a long time and his unit can really stand multiple rounds of shooting.

**KingKozuma**

My dilemma has to do with the fact that the meta is mostly Terminator armies. With me being new to Tau and not having a substantial amount of knowledge on the stratagem involved with them. I assumed that the best option would be to keep my HQ back and allow for the majority of the army to use hard hitting long range to take the enemy down. Unfortunately, this was my idea before I realized that most everyone is playing deep striking terminators. Now I am relatively stuck trying to formulate the best build for my army, especially my Commander.

**hotsauceman1**

Here is what I run. 2+ save, two missle pods. Put him in a squad ode the same weapon loadout. Then give one shaver no weapons, just a suite, c&c node and purtide chip. Negates the squads needs for markerlight support. Can reroll hits and ignores cover.

**raverrn**

I run a pair of Shas'O:

1) Puretide, Mutli-Spectral, Drone Controller, 2x Shield Drones - this guy goes in my big gun unit, either a Riptide or a trio of Broadsides with rails. The shield drones man my ADL Lascannon to give me a sexy BS5 Tankhunting Jink ignoring Interceptor.

2) Iridium, Onager, Neuroweb, CnC, 2x Plasma, Advanced Targeting, FNP. He runs with a pair of suits, one 2x Fusion Target Lock and one 2x Fusion Vectored Retros. It's a nice dropteam that has the choice of firing at 2 tanks with TL Fusion, or stripping characters from a unit with AP1 & 2 shooting and then breaking from the remains.

I usually run 2x Riptide and 1x Steath Suit, so I don't have much experience with Elite choices.

**Lovepug13**

raverrn wrote:

1) Puretide, Mutli-Spectral, Drone Controller, 2x Shield Drones - this guy goes in my big gun unit, either a Riptide or a trio of Broadsides with rails. The shield drones man my ADL Lascannon to give me a sexy BS5 Tankhunting Jink ignoring Interceptor

That sir is just horrid. I hate walls and won't use them but it is nasty lol

**shade1313**

hotsauceman1 wrote:
I have seen some interesting ones, like laoding them up with Suite, Control node and Pure tide chip and putting them in a deathrain squad(Non-TL weapons.)

You could also throw on a drone controller, and stack up the squad with gun drones.

**hotsauceman1**

I just read the codexx, Sheild drones dont get a bonus from the DC.

**Messy0**

This is how i run my Frontline Commander. This guy is a beast able to snip off special weapons and characters with easy. In Rapid fire he can reliably put a significant dent in any heavy infantry/MC.

Commander Blacktide - 197pts
- Iridium Battlesuit
- Nero Web Jammer
- Advanced Targeting System
- Puretide Engram
- Drone Controller
- Onager Gauntlet
- 2x Plasma Rifle
- 2x Marker Drones

**KingKozuma**

Messy0 wrote:
This is how i run my Frontline Commander. This guy is a beast able to snip off special weapons and characters with easy. In Rapid fire he can reliably put a significant dent in any heavy infantry/MC.

Commander Blacktide - 197pts
- Iridium Battlesuit
- Nero Web Jammer
- Advanced Targeting System
- Puretide Engram
- Drone Controller
- Onager Gauntlet
- 2x Plasma Rifle
- 2x Marker Drones

I honestly really like this build. It seems as if it would be really great for a balance between offense and defense. My only question is would replacing the Markerlight Drones and Drone Controller for 2 Shield Drones and a Stim Injector be similarly effective?

**Messy0**

KingKozuma wrote:
Messy0 wrote:
This is how i run my Frontline Commander. This guy is a beast able to snip off special weapons and characters with easy. In Rapid fire he can reliably put a significant dent in any heavy infantry/MC.

Commander Blacktide - 197pts
- Iridium Battlesuit
- Nero Web Jammer
- Advanced Targeting System
- Puretide Engram
- Drone Controller
- Onager Gauntlet
- 2x Plasma Rifle
- 2x Marker Drones

I honestly really like this build. It seems as if it would be really great for a balance between offense and defense. My only question is would replacing the Markerlight Drones and Drone Controller for 2 Shield Drones and a Stim Injector be similarly effective?

I honestly hadnt thought of that. FNP would really increase his survivability with with T5 it would be really useful. Really i was thinking that since he will be pushing forward, usually further forward that my path finders, the BS5 marker drones are able to hit back field reliably where the pathfinders cant reach. This means any squads or tough targets he and the Crisis team soften up from up close the 2 Riptides i usually run in back field can finish up without having to worry about cover saves and whatnot. Normally i run him with 2 Crisis with Shield Drones to soak up wounds and give an invulnerable save, so its a mix of marker and shield drones.

Its something to think about for sure. Maybe ill write up a variation list with a FNP commander with shield drones. It would push his cost to over 200pts but he would be crazy survivable. Myu only reservation would be that if you are using JSJ properly do you really need to be so survivable?

**KingKozuma**

Messy0 wrote:
KingKozuma wrote:
Messy0 wrote:
This is how i run my Frontline Commander. This guy is a beast able to snip off special weapons and characters with easy. In Rapid fire he can reliably put a significant dent in any heavy infantry/MC.

Commander Blacktide - 197pts
- Iridium Battlesuit
- Nero Web Jammer
- Advanced Targeting System
- Puretide Engram
- Drone Controller
- Onager Gauntlet
- 2x Plasma Rifle
- 2x Marker Drones

I honestly really like this build. It seems as if it would be really great for a balance between offense and defense. My only question is would replacing the Markerlight Drones and Drone Controller for 2 Shield Drones and a Stim Injector be similarly effective?

I honestly hadnt thought of that. FNP would really increase his survivability with with T5 it would be really useful. Really i was thinking that since he will be pushing forward, usually further forward that my path finders, the BS5 marker drones are able to hit back field reliably where the pathfinders cant reach. This means any squads or tough targets he and the Crisis team soften up from up close the 2 Riptides i usually run in back field can finish up without having to worry about cover saves and whatnot. Normally i run him with 2 Crisis with Shield Drones to soak up wounds and give an invulnerable save, so its a mix of marker and shield drones.

Its something to think about for sure. Maybe ill write up a variation list with a FNP commander with shield drones. It would push his cost to over 200pts but he would be crazy survivable. Myu only reservation would be that if you are using JSJ properly do you really need to be so survivable?

I agree about the JSJ and I like the idea behind your tactics and Commander build. If it isn't too much to ask would you mind sending me your army list to possibly help me tweak mine a bit?

**Messy0**

I have a few different combinations of lists but these are the ones I use most often for TAC matches.

1750

Spoiler:

2000

Spoiler:

**KingKozuma**

This may be off topic but I do not understand why everyone is using an ethereal. Not saying that it isn't useful, I just honestly don't know the reasoning as well being that I am new to Tau.

**Messy0**

They are great force multipliers. IF you are planning on castleing up on a location or behind a ADL they can allow your Fire Warriors to shoot an extra shot within rapid fire range aswell as providing other useful benefits. I have found my Ethereal invaluable when it comes to Supporting Fire Overwatch and rapid firing enemies about to assault.

**Kingsley**

KingKozuma wrote:
My dilemma has to do with the fact that the meta is mostly Terminator armies. With me being new to Tau and not having a substantial amount of knowledge on the stratagem involved with them. I assumed that the best option would be to keep my HQ back and allow for the majority of the army to use hard hitting long range to take the enemy down. Unfortunately, this was my idea before I realized that most everyone is playing deep striking terminators. Now I am relatively stuck trying to formulate the best build for my army, especially my Commander.

I think the best option for dealing with Deep Striking units, especially Terminators, is taking a Riptide with Ion Accelerator and Early Warning Override. This allows you to fire a very powerful Large Blast at enemy units that Deep Strike in-- and since it takes place during their Movement phase, the opponent has no real opportunity to counter.

**Jancoran**

Crisis teams are now troubleshooter units. Make them good at a particular job, the job the rest of the army ISNT good at.

Generally theres few things the RESt fo the force cant do besides anti-armor. So overall, it seems like anti-armor based Crisis units would be the most useful.