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I've been planning on starting a small SM force (1500ish is the aim) and was really struck by the lore/playstyle of the space sharks. The issue, however, is that I'm at a loss as to how to run them effectively.

Here are the tactics, and the rules for Tyberos.
http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Downloads/Product/PDF/F/FWchaptertactics.pdf
http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Downloads/Product/PDF/C/Charcterupdate.pdf

So basically everyone gets fear, tac squads get an extra attack. And if they manage to kill or break a unit they gain rage. Additionally, with Tyberos a LC termi squad is troops, and if Tyb gets rage then anyone in the force who also has rage is now strength 5.

Which leads me to the issue of list building. To make full use of the rules you're basically required to take Tyberos, his termi squad (not necessarily together), and a LRC for delivery. This comes to 640 pts base without any upgrades. This isnt too restrictive a charge for a psuedo-deathstar and what you get (a unit that will wipe almost all infantry and then give the whole army str 5) isnt too bad. The issue comes with whats the best way to make use of the chapter tactics/rules to compliment and fill out the list.

So now I ask you. How do you run the sharks? Or how would you run the sharks. They want to be an assault army but they seem to cost prohibitive too make that work, and I'm struggling to find ways to make use of the extra attack on the Tacs. What are your experiences with them or against them?

Bikes perhaps?

Bikes are actually an option I hadn't really considered. The question there is do you go captain and a few larger squads, or MSU bikes. Still youre left with what do you fill the rest of the list with, bikes and the Tyberos star dont seem to be enough.

Honestly I'd drop the LC terminators if you're only playing 1500. Off the top of my head (so I could be off on points) I'd say Ty leading 3 TAC squads. One in a crusader and another in a reg LR. The third in a rhino. A few sniper scouts. Two storm talons with missles. Good air punch, lots of Killy troops, and two AV 14 transports/weapons platforms. Seems pretty assaulty to me!

 korghan wrote:
Honestly I'd drop the LC terminators if you're only playing 1500. Off the top of my head (so I could be off on points) I'd say Ty leading 3 TAC squads. One in a crusader and another in a reg LR. The third in a rhino. A few sniper scouts. Two storm talons with missles. Good air punch, lots of Killy troops, and two AV 14 transports/weapons platforms. Seems pretty assaulty to me!

Or perhaps scratch the regular LR,(2 Landraiders are far too much for 1500) give that tac squad a rhino, and Honorguard for tyberos, bonus points for chapter banner,(extra attack one) give them Power axes for TEQ, swords for MEQ and relic blade to champion, try to get some harmless infantry unit to eviscerate, and BAM! you got a chapter champion with 6 attacks on the charge, he will accept the challenge, leaving Tyberos free to mutilate squads of whatever he gets into CC with....Just keep him away from powerfists, meltas and the like... Another thing that might do well is to drop 10 man sternguard(5x combi meltas(5x combi flamers/plasmas, whether you go against hordes(orks) or deathwing/ marines/ lots of terminators and try to assault as soon as possible...tl;dr what i think is a must have... Tyberos with honorguard with chapterbanner(makes extra attack all the more deadly due to rage) in a landraider(redeemer, since it is the cheapest), deepstriking sternguard, assault marines, predators and ofcourse troops and a flyer... GL with listbuilding!

I think they could work in a drop pod heavy army. Their special character is really good!

 Dozer Blades wrote:
I think they could work in a drop pod heavy army. Their special character is really good!

Couldn't agree more, alpha striking units in drop pod knock out threats to your CC units and then you proceed to charge them with all you got... Also, Tyberos is a MUST, S5 on units with rage is the greatest middle finger to plague marines and the like, especially if they use AP3 Weapons

Colgado wrote:
Bikes are actually an option I hadn't really considered. The question there is do you go captain and a few larger squads, or MSU bikes. Still youre left with what do you fill the rest of the list with, bikes and the Tyberos star dont seem to be enough.

MSU bikes seem to fall short, in the games I've seen them used in. Larger units seem to do better, at least they have against me.

The Red Brethren aren't worth it.

I'd probably look at doing a drop pod army with them. Not necessarily a list that focuses on assault, but one that takes advantage of the extra CC prowess. By using them with pods, you bring a lot of versatilty. On the drop you shoot just like any other DP army, and then you have a lot of options. You can continue to play like any other SM pod army, focusing on a short-range firefight (best against armies you can outshoot), you can prepare yourself for a countercharge by firing in your turn and being better in CC than standard SM (good against CC hordes) or you can go all-out assault against armies that will fold to you like Tau and IG. In other words, they can play like SM (shooty), SW (close range shooting and CC) and BA (mass assault). It gives you a very versatile army.

The only other thing with this is you'll need a unit for Tyberos to drop in with, and the best option for this is probably Honour guard. Great and versatile in CC, can still shoot well on the drop, and can take a banner to be even better in CC.

I'm skipping the "Official" rule and using the Chaos Dex.
Slaanesh lord.
Noise marines as troops (phobos bolters and reaper auto cannons as noise weapons) adding in the CC weapon for a point, this way they have Melee and shooting.
Lucius (just too cool of rules to not use)
Oblitz Mk Tzeentch (akin toBrother Heinrich of B&C fames' 15th company Night lords style as below... Awesome army)
Chosen squads (Mk Slaanesh)
Warp talons (Mk Slaanesh or Khorne depending on the force I face)




I know some folks will be like " but it's the Chaos dex!!" but to me the statement "40k is an abstract set of rules" applies. From the fluff I've read the Carcharodons are Not mindless Melee monsters and they do use solid tactics... I find the "nilla" codex too ho-hum.

Chaos has great Tactical and Melee units, more weapons choices in the hands of the infantry... and why not Slaanesh, killer shooting and fast in melee.

When I play my sharks, at 1500 pts is the minimum I play with Tyberos and his Red Brethren and they rarely fail me in a Redeemer.

Aside from them I field a dev squad for fire support, a Mortis Contemptor for AA and general shooting, usually two scout squads, one for snipering and the other in heavy flamer storm for late game objective taking or clearing camped firewarriors, and usually a full TAC squad in a Rhino.

I dont take full advantage of the rules because this edition does not favor assault oriented armies, therefore when opportunity presents itself, it the assault portions do well, otherwise they still do their job. I never leave home without a Whirlwind.

Nice Night Lords