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So I just got my new swarm box in the mail, and I was wondering how to load out the termagants... I plan on fielding 2 Tervigons, so I have 60 obligatory gants that have to be in my list. I was wondering what everyone thought about the spine fists on termagants.
I sat down and did the math and it seems like against T4 & T5 the fleshborers are better, but against every other toughness value the spine fists are better.
Of course, they can't glance any armor. But I'm considering about 25 of each, and 10 devourers. (devourers because of how I built my models)

So what does everyone else think? Take them or leave them?

rbacus wrote:
So I just got my new swarm box in the mail, and I was wondering how to load out the termagants... I plan on fielding 2 Tervigons, so I have 60 obligatory gants that have to be in my list. I was wondering what everyone thought about the spine fists on termagants.
I sat down and did the math and it seems like against T4 & T5 the fleshborers are better, but against every other toughness value the spine fists are better.
Of course, they can't glance any armor. But I'm considering about 25 of each, and 10 devourers. (devourers because of how I built my models)

So what does everyone else think? Take them or leave them?

Against T2: Spine fists
Against T3: Spine Fists
Against T4: Tied
Against T5: Fleshborers
Against T6: Spine fists
Against T7: Fleshborers
Against AV10: Fleshborers

So... what's better? None really. They're pretty dang close. I prefer the Fleshborers however, for two reasons.

1. Can hurt AV 10
2. Can be recycled as casualties when the Tervigon spawns.

If you have a TON of gants 2 may not be a problem, otherwise I'd rather have Fleshborers.

When I have all my termagants built I'll have 92 total. 10 devilgants, (I'm thinking 30) spinegants and the rest (52) vanillagants. And as far as recycling goes, no one has ever given me trouble about proxying other gants for vanilla ones. As long as I'm not using pennies or dice or something crazy like that. Point being, I'm not too worried about recycling. I guess my question is would it be worth it to spread the effectiveness in an "all comers" list? (spinefists better against GeQ, and tied against MeQ?)

rbacus wrote:
When I have all my termagants built I'll have 92 total. 10 devilgants, (I'm thinking 30) spinegants and the rest (52) vanillagants. And as far as recycling goes, no one has ever given me trouble about proxying other gants for vanilla ones. As long as I'm not using pennies or dice or something crazy like that. Point being, I'm not too worried about recycling. I guess my question is would it be worth it to spread the effectiveness in an "all comers" list? (spinefists better against GeQ, and tied against MeQ?)

But spinefists can't hurt vehicles... again, up to you. If you think you'll see Guard more, go for it. Against DEldar or such an army with AV10 then Fleshborers are superior. Against Daemons, I'd take Spinefists. Against Marines, I'd take Fleshborers... Really, pick the one that looks best to you. They are very evenly matched.

Personally...I've been running 2:1 flesh borers/spike rifles...they help the back ranks of my gnats to get range

Good call, I hate it when the back models are out of range... devourers could be nice for that too.

For devils...I run 1:1 borers to devourers...and usually outflank...that setup mathematically wipes a full fire warrior squad.

In theory wouldn't spinefists be a bit more effective aganst FMC's Most of those are areound T5 or 6 so they could still be wounded by them and the TL on the fists grants a better chance to land more hits and increase the likely hood for a grounding check. Granted this only applies for small brood size since when you get to 20+ gaunts your almost garunteed to make atleast a hit and force the check. But in a min sized brood 10 gaunts with fleshborers can't quite garuntee a hit. It isn't outstandingly better but the TL can help insure something hits. I personally will continue to run fleshborers since I have them outfitted and they can be recycled. Though I don't run enough Tervigons to really need to usually.

Fleshborers are slightly better against T5, Spinefists are a lot better against T6.

 jifel wrote:

rbacus wrote:
When I have all my termagants built I'll have 92 total. 10 devilgants, (I'm thinking 30) spinegants and the rest (52) vanillagants. And as far as recycling goes, no one has ever given me trouble about proxying other gants for vanilla ones. As long as I'm not using pennies or dice or something crazy like that. Point being, I'm not too worried about recycling. I guess my question is would it be worth it to spread the effectiveness in an "all comers" list? (spinefists better against GeQ, and tied against MeQ?)

But spinefists can't hurt vehicles... again, up to you. If you think you'll see Guard more, go for it. Against DEldar or such an army with AV10 then Fleshborers are superior. Against Daemons, I'd take Spinefists. Against Marines, I'd take Fleshborers... Really, pick the one that looks best to you. They are very evenly matched.

Maybe not but they double your chances at hitting and grounding FMC.

 Red Corsair wrote:

 jifel wrote:

rbacus wrote:
When I have all my termagants built I'll have 92 total. 10 devilgants, (I'm thinking 30) spinegants and the rest (52) vanillagants. And as far as recycling goes, no one has ever given me trouble about proxying other gants for vanilla ones. As long as I'm not using pennies or dice or something crazy like that. Point being, I'm not too worried about recycling. I guess my question is would it be worth it to spread the effectiveness in an "all comers" list? (spinefists better against GeQ, and tied against MeQ?)

But spinefists can't hurt vehicles... again, up to you. If you think you'll see Guard more, go for it. Against DEldar or such an army with AV10 then Fleshborers are superior. Against Daemons, I'd take Spinefists. Against Marines, I'd take Fleshborers... Really, pick the one that looks best to you. They are very evenly matched.

Maybe not but they double your chances at hitting and grounding FMC.

There are a lot of pros for both. Since they're free, it's a very viable choice. But, I find that Termagants can usually get at least one hit in with Borers, and you only need one hit.

 Red Corsair wrote:


Maybe not but they double your chances at hitting and grounding FMC.

Not really. It only takes 1 hit, so there isn't much benefit unless you are down to less than a handful of gaunts in the brood.

coredump wrote:

 Red Corsair wrote:


Maybe not but they double your chances at hitting and grounding FMC.

Not really. It only takes 1 hit, so there isn't much benefit unless you are down to less than a handful of gaunts in the brood.

Even then...just take 3 spine fists and you should get a hit

Usually I'm all for versatility, so would be arguing for the ability to glance AV10... but how often are you shooting gants at AV10, anyway? Wouldn't you almost always be better off unloading a bunch of S6 shots from your flyrant or fex, and saving the gants to shoot infantry?

 Ian Sturrock wrote:
Usually I'm all for versatility, so would be arguing for the ability to glance AV10... but how often are you shooting gants at AV10, anyway? Wouldn't you almost always be better off unloading a bunch of S6 shots from your flyrant or fex, and saving the gants to shoot infantry?

Every time I play Deldar. It gives Dreads something to think about... Rhinos as well. CHimeras on the side. Plus, sometimes I run out of Flyrants to shoot things with! I just find the threat is enough sometimes, when there's just that one extra hull point you need... heck, I've brought down a Vendetta that was at one HP before!

Thanks jifel, that's all fair comment...

 Ian Sturrock wrote:
Thanks jifel, that's all fair comment...

I think the difference is so small that looks actually factor into it, and ease of modeling. If you have Spinefists it may not even be worth removing them, otherwise I think it's a matter of preference on what is finally a well-costed Spinefist.

Yeah. I have a few unassembled termies, I think. Reckon a 30-gant brood of 20 spinefists, 10 devourers, could be nice. Still a significant threat to AV10, but putting a LOT of wounds on T3-4.

I currently have about 20 devilgants, 15 spinegants, and dozens of fleshborergants (we need to come up with a better name for them), I like fielding spinegants, but not enough to start ripping off arms.
I always put fleshborers in units with a fair number of devilgants as they actually have a very good chance to do some damage vs AV 10 vehicles.