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So with the new codex and the far greater importance of synapse Tyranid warriors have become a somewhat necessary option in the troops section, at the very least small units of 3. So what would be some good builds for warriors?

Some thought's:

Barebones (devourer/scything talons):30 pts Strictly for backfield objectives/giving synapse to other troops. Devourers give them a decent amount of fire power, and 4 S4 attacks on the charge means they're not completely useless in CC either.

CC barebones: (rending claws, scything talons):35 pts No shooting at all, but just become scary good in CC. 5 rending attacks on the charge at WS 5 (6 if you can put a Prime with them) is pretty scary. Problem is assaulting through cover, which lead us too:

CC focused: (rending claws, scything talons, flesh hooks, toxin sacs):39 pts CC monsters. 5 poisoned rending attacks on the charge with no loss of initiative, with even some shooting attacks to boot. Poison means you can usually reroll attacks to get that precious 6. Problem is cost, 42 points per model. Needless to say, you'd better have have venomthropes and hope for the best.

CC ultra: (rending claws, bonesword/lashwhip, flesh hooks):59 pts 5 I7 rending or AP3 attacks on the charge with assault grendades. If you can get them into combat they'll be unstoppable. Key word here being IF. At 59 points each, you can't afford to lose a single one before assaulting. Good luck with that.

Shooting focused: (Deathspitters, Venom cannon or Barbed Strangler on one, Scything talons): 35 pts, 45-50pts on one model. Puts out a decent amount of firepower. Barbed strangler can be downright lethal if you shoot at the right unit. Pretty cheap too.

TAC barebones: (rending claws, devourer):35 pts Does shooting and CC good but not great. A good value at 35 points.

TAC focused: (Deathspitter, rending claws):40 pts Much improved shooting for only 5 points more. My personal favorite since it does everything great.

TAC Ultra: (Deathspitter, rending claws, flesh hooks):44 pts Now you can assault into cover, whether that is worth 44 points per model is up to you.

Well that's it. Those are some of the best builds I can come up with. If anyone has any better builds please feel free to add.

How do the points costs vary between the options you put forth?

Just added points.

Don't think the rules allow tyranid warriors to carry two sets of close combat weapons any more.

It's also not clear if the effects of 2 sets would combine anyway (i.e. rending claws and boneswords no longer give ap3, life drain *and* rending)

somebody with the codex please correct me

dumbuket wrote:
Don't think the rules allow tyranid warriors to carry two sets of close combat weapons any more.

It's also not clear if the effects of 2 sets would combine anyway (i.e. rending claws and boneswords no longer give ap3, life drain *and* rending)

somebody with the codex please correct me

You're right the weapon rules don't stack, hence why I said you could get rending OR AP3 for the CC ultra build.

You are right it doesn't look like with the rules as written you can't give two CC weapons. Yet the gallery shows several CC warriors with two CC weapon sets. Expect an FAQ soon.

Barbed Strangler, 2 Deathspitters for a relatively low 110 points. If you need the Synapse that is, I still don't think Warriors are viable in any form.

You choose which weapon you want to use, same as any other set of weapons. However each set counts as a CC weapon. So there is no point in combining rending claws and boneswords unless you want the variety. But I wouldnt bother. However since you can mix and match within each brood you have options(outside of some biomorphs) So you can mix and match, keep some cheap and barebones, make em expendable while you have maybe one with boneswords or something along those lines.

Personally I would run at most rending and flesh hooks or just keep them barebones, keep the devourer and have them sit at midfield or in the deployment zone to keep your termagants in check.

I wonder what a tyranid vortex field generator would look like.....

You want to go focused on either CC or Shooting, or just barebones. Having, say, Rending Claws and Deathspitters, leaves you wanting to shoot, yet wanting to run to reach combat quicker. Onslaught does help I guess, but you have to roll it.

I think a unit of 3 with Deathspitters is the way forward. 9 BS 4 S5 AP5 shots + Synapse is alright for 105 points.

 The Shadow wrote:
You want to go focused on either CC or Shooting, or just barebones. Having, say, Rending Claws and Deathspitters, leaves you wanting to shoot, yet wanting to run to reach combat quicker. Onslaught does help I guess, but you have to roll it.

I think a unit of 3 with Deathspitters is the way forward. 9 BS 4 S5 AP5 shots + Synapse is alright for 105 points.

The thing is Deathspitters are only 18" range. Odds are if you are in range to use them you are (or will be in the next turn) in range to assault...

 Ferrum_Sanguinis wrote:

You are right it doesn't look like with the rules as written you can't give two CC weapons. Yet the gallery shows several CC warriors with two CC weapon sets.

Yes you can. Basic weapons list allow swapping devourer for scything talons (which you can further trade to other weapons on melee list.)

You only get the +I3 from the lash if you are attacking with the sword.

Personally I think going with rending and devours is a good way to go for basic objective sitters.Let's you idea with armour a bit without breaking the bank at 35pts each.

I like a 3 man unit with a barbed strangler for backfield objective camping and synapse for some lists. If you're going with melee warriors you should be giving them adrenal glands for fleet.

I personally don't think Warriors would be useful in any environment...

Edited because I re looked at the rules to notice Synapse.... I don't think think Warriors would be the best Troop Choice however I would run them as Barbed Strangler, Deathspitters

IMO if you're wanting a CC build go with Shrikes.

You've listed the "ultra" cc build @ 59 points. Similar Shrike loadout would be 54 ppm for LW/BS, devourer, fleshhooks OR 57 points for LW/BS, devourer, fleshhooks, AND TS for the rerolls.

Yes, Shrikes have a worse save, but run them with gargoyles to screen and make sure your in venomthrope range for T1 and you'll be unstoppable in Melee.

Right now I currently see the best unit size for warriors as 3 man squads for providing cheap synapse to gaunts or MCs. If you are running Termagaunts, then 2 deathspitters and one Barbed Stangler. If you need synapse for Hormagaunts, then rending claws, scything talons, and maybe flesh hooks if you can squeeze the points in.

Cheap (110 for shooting build, 105-117 for melee build), good damage output for the cost, scoring, and most importantly, provides Synapse.

I think that boneswords just are not worth it anymore for thier points...

Scything talons, rending claws, toxin sacs, adrenal glands, flesh hooks on shrikes and call it a day.

This way you can get a lot of wounds on a unit with re-rolling failed wounds via poisoned and you get more chances for rending wounds this way. The flesh hooks also provide some minor shooting capabilities.

Sadly, warriors are still too expensive to really allow you to take them in sufficient numbers and still have other nice things in your army but they are my favorite unit in the army.