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Riptide
Ion Accelorator
Early Warning Override
Counter Defence System

Riptide
Heavy Burst Cannon
Early Warning Override
Counter Defence System

Hammerhead Gunship
Decoy Launchers
Black Sun Filter
Submunition Rounds

Hammerhead Gunship
Decoy Launchers
Black Sun Filter
Submunition Rounds

Longstrike
Decoy Launchers
Black Sun Filter
Submunition Rounds

XV88 Broadside Team (3)
High Yielded Missle Pods
x6 Missle drones
Early Warning Override

XV88 Broadside Team (3)
High Yielded Missle Pods
x6 Missle drones
Early Warning Override

Riptide
Ion Accelorator
Early Warning Override
Counter Defence System

Firewarrior 12

Kroot 12

Kroot 10

Ethereal

I think 3 riptides is too much, but I figure it is enough firepower to wipe out armies while they figure out what to shoot at.

You will not make many friends with this list.

That being said you will table most opponents and be able to deal with most anything with 5 pie plates and masses of shooting from the broadsides. Although don't over estimate the power of the riptides. They are still BS 3 so reliability is not great

The only advice I can think of is to replace the etheral with a cadre fireblade so you won't give up the extra victory point when he dies.

Five heavy support choices.

Give the Kroot Sniper rounds. Split the FWs into 2 6s. Drop CDS from the Riptides that aren't HBC.

What secondary weapon do the Riptides have? You need more anti AV14 because you don't really have any unit that is much of a threat to it. The other option is swap both Hammerheads over to the good weapon dump the overcosted Longstrike, who's got the wrong weapon anyway, and get a fusion team freeing up points in the process for so ML support to help the Riptides.

You're also light on AA with only the Broadsides being a threat to flyers.

But over all a very solid list that will do quite well. Your issue being good players who know to ignore the Riptides.

 gojira316 wrote:
Five heavy support choices.

He is using the firebase supplement (or yes its illegal). This allows you to take 2 units of 3 broadsides and a riptide outside the FOC and get free tank hunters and PE space marines.

For the List: You could also replace some hammerheads with skyrays to help with anti-air. And take fusion on the riptides LR will be coming to you anyway so no need to worry about being close enough to shoot them

 gojira316 wrote:
Five heavy support choices.

Support Fire Cadre is a separate detachment.

 FlingitNow wrote:
Give the Kroot Sniper rounds. Split the FWs into 2 6s. Drop CDS from the Riptides that aren't HBC.

What secondary weapon do the Riptides have? You need more anti AV14 because you don't really have any unit that is much of a threat to it. The other option is swap both Hammerheads over to the good weapon dump the overcosted Longstrike, who's got the wrong weapon anyway, and get a fusion team freeing up points in the process for so ML support to help the Riptides.

You're also light on AA with only the Broadsides being a threat to flyers.

But over all a very solid list that will do quite well. Your issue being good players who know to ignore the Riptides.

The RTs would have fusion. Agreed on the 6 and 6 FW

I just got back into 40k after skipping 5th edition. If I take submunition rounds for the Hammerheads, does that mean they only shoot those rounds? It does not say upgrade, so I figured "may take" meant you get a choice between the two.

As far as Longstrike I'm not partial to having him, I just thought it was cool to have BS5 with a tank hunting railgun.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Wait, I just read it. Hammerheads have the option of S10 single, or S6 Blast.

Yeah but even the Long strike Hammerhead at what 195 points only has a less than 25% to kill an AV14 vehicle and that's assuming no cover. Those 3 hammerheads will between them will kill maybe 1 AV14 tank every other turn. Where as 6 deep striking meltas are almost guaranteed to kill that vehicle.

Hammerheads just aren't efficient anti AV14. Unfortunately melta is the only reliable tool Tau have for that job. It is just about the only true weakness in the codex.

Broadsides and Skyrays are the best heavy support choices in the codex I would take those instead in general. But 6 Broadsides and 3 Riptides is a very solid base for any Tau army.

AV14 is always factored in when creating a list. Melta is the best, hands down. But Tau being one of the worst in assault phase raises questions if I want to deep strike units next to an AV14 choice. I like the idea of S10 shot from back field, rather than sacrificing a unit deep striking.

Thanks for the info. I will play test a lot before tourneys

Trust me I know the down sides of melta (you won't always be dee striking them either). The 9" range does help giving an extra 3" buffer plus your aassault move (what I like to call the bravely running away phase).

AV14 isn't hugely common due to Necrons and Grav Centurions. Though DE and Grey Knights also kill AV14 easily at range.

Where you'll see it is in 2 ways. First is fortifications glances do nothing to these so they survive Crons and Grav with ease. There is a strong potential with Stronghold around to be up against Armies with 2-3 or more AV14 (or even 15) fortifications. Where as AV14 vehicles have become very rare. The odd guard player may take a Russ or 2 but that is not a problem for you at all. Landraider rush black templars are a huge issue for you (or indeed most Tau) that'll be 3 combat units loaded into Landraiders. If they go first they are 18" forward and you probably have 1 turn to stop them. Your Hammerheads may stop 1 if you're lucky. Against such a list don't be afraid to assault the LRs with your Riptides (particularly the HBC one) remember a Riptide's main job is to take attacks so that the rest of the army doesn't have to.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Here's what I'd do to your list:

Drop CDS from Riptides -15 points
Drop 2 Kroot and 2 FW -30 points
Drop Longstrikes Hammerhead -195 points
Drop DLs from Hammerheads -30 points

Total 270 points

Add Sniper round to kroot 20 points
Add Skyray: BSF 116
Add Velocity Tracker to HBC Riptide 20 points
Add 2 Crisis Suits with 2 meltas and a flamer each 114 points

Total 270 points

That gives you far more AA with the Skyray not only directly supplying AA but also 2 Bs4 Skyfiring MLs. You have a Skyfiring fusion and HBC for support AA (giving a 4th AA unit), great for finishing off that flyer down to 1 HP. Your Kroot are now a constant pain with precision strikes and the ability to hurt MCs. Plus you now have 4 extra fusion blasters that can be given ML support from the Skyray and should take off an AV14 unit most times they shoot (and have 2 flamers should you be against hordes). You still have 2 Railguns to support that from range and 3 Riptides to throw into the mix if necessary.