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Hive Tyrant, Wings, 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers - 230
Tyranid Prime, Norn Crown - 165

Tervigon - 195
30 Termagaunts - 120

Venomthrope - 45
Bastion - 75

3 Carnifexes, each with 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers - 450
3 Carnifexes, each with 2 X TL Brainleech Devourers - 450
3 Biovores - 120

Total - 1850

The idea here is that, the venomthrope goes in the Bastion, giving the Fex stars a 3+ cover save. The Prime gives a 36" bubble (18" in any direction) of synapse to keep everything from eating itself.

A few questions-

1. Should I drop the Norn Crown for a unit of 10 gaunts? My thought was the Tervigon would not be targetted, as killing it does not get rid of my synapse bubble, and the Carnifexes are a bigger threat. So, I figured it could make another troop unit and I would rather have the Norn Crown.

2. Should I drop both the Norn Crown and the Biovores for a Crone? I personally like the Biovores better, but it gives a little less threat saturation than if the Crone were there... but if the Crone started off the table it wouldn't help with that, either. I believe it could start on the table, in the venomthrope's range, on the ground... but I have to look into this more.

Thoughts appreciated!

 RiTides wrote:
Hive Tyrant, Wings, 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers - 230
Tyranid Prime, Norn Crown - 165

Tervigon - 195
30 Termagaunts - 120

Venomthrope - 45
Bastion - 75

3 Carnifexes, each with 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers - 450
3 Carnifexes, each with 2 X TL Brainleech Devourers - 450
3 Biovores - 120

Total - 1850

The idea here is that, the venomthrope goes in the Bastion, giving the Fex stars a 3+ cover save. The Prime gives a 36" bubble (18" in any direction) of synapse to keep everything from eating itself.

A few questions-

1. Should I drop the Norn Crown for a unit of 10 gaunts? My thought was the Tervigon would not be targetted, as killing it does not get rid of my synapse bubble, and the Carnifexes are a bigger threat. So, I figured it could make another troop unit and I would rather have the Norn Crown.

2. Should I drop both the Norn Crown and the Biovores for a Crone? I personally like the Biovores better, but it gives a little less threat saturation than if the Crone were there... but if the Crone started off the table it wouldn't help with that, either. I believe it could start on the table, in the venomthrope's range, on the ground... but I have to look into this more.

Thoughts appreciated!

Brilliant list. I suggest against the Crone. It's very fragile. I, personally, will only ever take Crones if I take them in pairs.

I assume you'll be joining the Prime to the Venomthrope inside the bastion. Then you'll get a synapse bubble measured from the wall of the bastion.

I think you'll find that 2x3 dakkafex will be quite overkill when targeting a unit. Being that you're a smart person, I doubt you're taking them in units of 3 for this reason. I bet you're relying on the additional wounds to add to their resiliency.

If I may, I'd like to suggest a change or two:

Drop 1 fex from each brood. This nets you 300 points extra to use. I'd suggest adding 2 units of MSU Genestealers and a broodlord (for 260 points) add upgrades as you'd like (or additional genestealers) OR you could add regen to your Flyrant. The reason I suggest this, is because you gain lots of deployment flexibility (infiltrate, outflank) you can put them in the venomthrope cloud for the coversave, and you get 2 horror casting chances.

Yes you lose the resilience of the 3 man fex units, but you won't need that resilience if you can pin 2 shooty units with the broodlords! You gain more troops for claiming objectives and your opponent can't concentrate firepower on a single "few" units.

If I wanted to stick with 6 Dakkafexxes, but run them in 3 units of 2 each, I could drop the Biovores (120 points) to free up a heavy support slot.

With those points, I could add 20 Gargoyles, as I'm a little concerned that my gaunts won't be able to screen for the Fexxes against a lot of things.

What do you think? I'm trying to stay away from genestealers for modelling reasons for the moment.

Thanks for the great feedback . In the end, 4 Fexxes and an extra 300 points to spend may be the way to go, but I'm just feeling out if running 6 works

 RiTides wrote:
If I wanted to stick with 6 Dakkafexxes, but run them in 3 units of 2 each, I could drop the Biovores (120 points) to free up a heavy support slot.

With those points, I could add 20 Gargoyles, as I'm a little concerned that my gaunts won't be able to screen for the Fexxes against a lot of things.

What do you think? I'm trying to stay away from genestealers for modelling reasons for the moment.

Thanks for the great feedback . In the end, 4 Fexxes and an extra 300 points to spend may be the way to go, but I'm just feeling out if running 6 works

Go for it!

Everyone's trying to get an idea of how the dex is going to work as of now, so it can't hurt to collaborate as a community to do so.

I foresee that if you drop the Biovores you're going to have massive problems with Tau. Nids are going to rely on cover saves EVEN MORE than last book and the Biovore's main job will be to remove markerlights. Yes, we can't do anything about the stupid Serpent shield, but since that's a few shots we can deal with that. I think Tau will be a large issue (especially with marker lights removing our coversave).

Regarding your concern about screening: I don't think you should worry about that. A screen is useful for 2 reasons. 1) To grant the unit behind them a cover save (which you'll be getting from the venomthrope) and 2) To act as a speed bump for a charging enemy unit. For #2, someone is an imbecile to charge 3 fexes with TL devourers. You should be averaging 11 hits from overwatch from a unit of 3 of them which will cripple any charging enemy unit.

With that said, since you are staying away from genestealers for now, consider adding 2 x 2 units of Zoanthrope (for 200 points) and another large unit of gants. The Zoans will give you 2 more chances at Catalyst (which you'll really need to keep those Fex's viable).

That's exactly what I was thinking (2 units of 2 Zoanthropes, or Hive Guard) plus more gaunts if I drop 2 Fexxes.

Regarding the screen- I just meant, to get a 3+ cover save on the Fexxes, I need to have some other cover for them, too, right?

Thank you very much for the tips, as a tyranid newbie it is super helpful!!

The bastion idea is total cheese but should work, nice idea...

RiTides wrote:That's exactly what I was thinking (2 units of 2 Zoanthropes, or Hive Guard) plus more gaunts if I drop 2 Fexxes.

Regarding the screen- I just meant, to get a 3+ cover save on the Fexxes, I need to have some other cover for them, too, right?

Thank you very much for the tips, as a tyranid newbie it is super helpful!!

I guess you're right, you will need an intervening unit in order to claim the 3+ OR be in area terrain OR force your opponent to shoot through a forest.

I just thought another super cheesey way to give your Fexs cover:

2 x 2 units of Carnifex w/ TL devouerers (1 with Regen)

Position them like so: V=Venomthrope (hopefully in a bastion or at the least behind an ADL), C1=Carnifex brood 1, C2=Carnifex brood 2, Cr=Carnifex with regen, X=empty space

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXCr1XXXCr2X
XXXXC2XXXXC1X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXVXXXXXXXXXXX

With this positioning keeping at least 1 model in the Carnifex units within 6" of the Venomthrope, you can claim a 3+ coversave for the unit. You'll catch the unsuspecting (lazy) opponent who chooses not to focus fire by surprise. Additionally, if your opponent remembers to focus fire, you still can get the 5+ coversave AND the following turns rotate the fexes around to regen back those wounds like so:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXC1XXXC2XX
XXXXCr2XXXCr1X
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXVXXXXXXXXXXX

Shingen wrote:The bastion idea is total cheese but should work, nice idea...

If Tyranids have to use cheesey manipulations of the game in order to play competitively, you'll be you'll see them employed. Not only that, expect most Tyranid players (who play competitively) to be abusing most of the rules religiously because Tyranids need all of the help they can get.

Edit: Nevermind, put this idea elsewhere to keep this thread focused on 6 Fex lists

Any other advice here? Especially thoughts on units of 2 versus 3 Fexes would be very helpful (in general, not even necessarily tied to this list).

Updated List:

Hive Tyrant, Wings, 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers - 230
Hive Tyrant, Wings, 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers - 230

Tervigon - 195
30 Termagaunts - 120

Zoanthrope - 50
Venomthrope - 45
Bastion - 75

2 Carnifexes, each with 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers - 300
2 Carnifexes, each with 2 X TL Brainleech Devourers - 300
2 Carnifexes, each with 2 X TL Brainleech Devourers - 300

Total - 1845

I guess if they bring a Land Raider I'll just have to try clawing it to death

I could drop a Fex for 3 Biovores, but unfortunately that would leave me with 35 points... not quite enough for a unit of gaunts to camp an objective.

i'm just worried about scoring units ( minus big guns), otherwise i like the list. a smart opponent will target your tervigon, to A. deny you synapse and B. get rid of you producing more scoring units, not mention when it dies any temagaunt in 12in is screwed.Also the Chance of menopause ( at least for me) is high. maybe add another unit of termagaunts as a buffer?

I agree Agonisis, but I just can't figure out how to fit in another small unit of gaunts.

I could drop the Tervigon to add a second Zoanthrope plus another 37 gaunts (and with the 30 I already have, that'd be 67 total). I'd then split the gaunts into 3 or 4 units.

Would that help for scoring, or be worse with the loss of the Tervigon?

hmm, maybe drop a rant, kick the tervigon up to HQ, add some warriors and some gaunts? IDk

this would allow allow yo to split your gaunts in half and add more scoring units, it's the only thing i can think of at the moment

I'd suggest a walking Hive Tyrant with a HVC and a Tyrant Guard. He is at 235 points all together, so you do get to use those leftover points. A walking Tyrant is not feared as much as a flying one, since an opponet tends to focus whatever is closer to him. You could get the primaris power for the Tyrant so you have the 18" synapse without the Crown.

Also, about the Tervigon, I think it is not needed. Just take many units of Termagants/Hormagaunts. I think this is better because you save yourself from the one unlucky roll on that Tervigon which means bye bye troops, plus the Tervigon is just a huge fire magnet.

Anyway, play around with the list, it has some great potential.

 RiTides wrote:
Updated List:

Hive Tyrant, Wings, 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers - 230
Hive Tyrant, Wings, 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers - 230

Tervigon - 195
30 Termagaunts - 120

Zoanthrope - 50
Venomthrope - 45
Bastion - 75

2 Carnifexes, each with 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers - 300
2 Carnifexes, each with 2 X TL Brainleech Devourers - 300
2 Carnifexes, each with 2 X TL Brainleech Devourers - 300

Total - 1845

I guess if they bring a Land Raider I'll just have to try clawing it to death

I could drop a Fex for 3 Biovores, but unfortunately that would leave me with 35 points... not quite enough for a unit of gaunts to camp an objective.

I like the list. I ran a similar, yet different list yesterday against the following Eldau list:
Mine was:
Flyrant dual devourers + Hive commander
Flyrant dual devourers

Venomthrope
Zoanthrope

Tervigon
5 genestealers + Broodlord
30 gants

2 Dakkafex (1 with regen)
2 Dakkafex (1 with regen)
2 Biovores

Bastion

He ran:

Eldrad
4 seers
4 waveserpents, holofields, cannons, 5 dire avengers each

3 crisis suits with a commander all with dual fusion guns and 2 shield drones
3 crisis suits with plasma guns 1 shield drone (attached to eldrad and seers)

I thought I was going to get wasted, but ended up pretty good. It was a major loss after his turn (going second) in turn 4.

My biggest problem with dakkafex: Short range. With premeasuring, it's pretty easy for an opponent to stay out of the 24" threat range of the dakkafex turn 1. Unless you get onslaught (which I didn't) they did nothing for a turn.

My biovores were pivotal. They pinned the fusion crisis unit before they could take down the bastion.

I ran 2x2 dakkafexen. I would like to have run 3x2 for the additional firepower and board control, but I think the biovores are more valuable.

What do you do when you run into the ever present Tau and they have pathfinders as markerlight sources? Your dakkafex can't reach them, you're probably going to have to use your Flyrants to target them, which is probably suboptimal. Your flyrants should probably be targetting Waveserpents, Riptides, Wraithknights....you get the idea.

I don't know, playtest the 3x2 and report back! Then try a unit of Biovores. Doesn't have to be 3, 2 did it just fine for me the other day...