Let's beat Reecius and get that 100 dollars.

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Unyielding Hunger**

Araenion wrote:
Similar to the idea I had, but I put 2-3 Hive Crons for FA and Biovores to pepper the field with Spore Mines and use them for board control.

Problem is, for a list like this, the Crones and Biovores do little to nothing to help. Your talking biovores that aren't directly in their face, but sitting back, and will be rendered useless if something winds up in assault. The Crones are not much of a boost, since they don't have enough damage to give that last push to topple much in a standard Tau list. Not to mention that movement in this area is going to be tough with as many units as there would be on the field. They would be coming on and leaving probably most turns.

**Araenion**

The idea is that 4-5 FMC, 2 Mawlocs and two Warrior broods are in their deployment zone Turn 2. Could go with Raveners instead, I suppose. The point is that whatever they shoot at, something else will eat them up.

And I like my armies fast, what can I say.

I like your idea of Genestealers, who don't need synapse. 2 min squads of them lurking in the shadows and 2 decently sized units of warriors could be enough troops to get you through.

**AtoMaki**

Araenion wrote:
The idea is that 4-5 FMC, 2 Mawlocs and two Warrior broods are in their deployment zone Turn 2. Could go with Raveners instead, I suppose. The point is that whatever they shoot at, something else will eat them up.

Will they? Warriors are abysmal against Riptides (they need 60 attacks to cause a single (!!!) Wound) while the Crones/harpies don't want to get into cc with any MC because they can be insta-killed with Smash attacks and they don't have a very good damage output (so to say... with 0.5 Wound/turn against a Riptide). So you can chew up some... Pathfinders I guess? The others are either too tough (Riptides) or too fast (Eldar).

**Dozer Blades**

Take rending claws on the Warriors.

**Araenion**

You send Mawlocs at them? The point is also to tie them up so they can't shoot, killing them is just a bonus.

Besides, you don't have to kill Riptides by killing Riptides, you kill Riptides by multiassaulting them and Fire Warriors, then sweeping advance them after they invariably fail their morale check.

Maybe this wouldn't work at all, and of course there are probably units that are bad in there or units that seem like a good idea, but in reality aren't. The idea behind the list is the same, though.

**Unyielding Hunger**

Araenion wrote:
You send Mawlocs at them? The point is also to tie them up so they can't shoot, killing them is just a bonus.

Besides, you don't have to kill Riptides by killing Riptides, you kill Riptides by multiassaulting them and Fire Warriors, then sweeping advance them after they invariably fail their morale check.

Maybe this wouldn't work at all, and of course there are probably units that are bad in there or units that seem like a good idea, but in reality aren't. The idea behind the list is the same, though.

Exactly, but you want the gargoyles to be that first assaulting unit. If it lives, then it ties up the unit. If it fails, that means they wasted their overwatch on a screen, and now the rest can jump into assault unharmed.

**AtoMaki**

Araenion wrote:
You send Mawlocs at them? The point is also to tie them up so they can't shoot, killing them is just a bonus.

Well, the Tau player will focus down the Mawlocs as priority #1. And tying up a 225 points Riptide with a 300 points Warrior squad is kind of counter-productive IMHO. I mean, it is not like your army runs on infinite points...

For me, this "pressure list" looks like a typical new-wave Tyranid army conception: sacrifice a virgin for the Dice Gods before battle, hope for good terrain, choose an unskilled opponent and play when the planets align in order to secure victory.

**Gloomfang**

AtoMaki wrote:
Araenion wrote:
You send Mawlocs at them? The point is also to tie them up so they can't shoot, killing them is just a bonus.

Well, the Tau player will focus down the Mawlocs as priority #1. And tying up a 225 points Riptide with a 300 points Warrior squad is kind of counter-productive IMHO. I mean, it is not like your army runs on infinite points...

For me, this "pressure list" looks like a typical new-wave Tyranid army conception: sacrifice a virgin for the Dice Gods before battle, hope for good terrain, choose an unskilled opponent and play when the planets align in order to secure victory.

Pressure is ok if you pick the right units. I do agree that hitting riptides with warriors is a bit of a waste. Gargoyles and even toxic ripper swarmsare much better choices. If you can tarpit them with a cheap unit or even pin them for a few turns it is as good as killing them in most cases.

**dementedwombat**

I'm liking this list. Something like this makes me sweat as an (admittedly non-competitive and non allied) tau player. Also I hate Mawlocks because as far as I can tell they do all their damage before I get a shot at doing interceptor on them. So they're effectively an orbital bombardment that happens to have a unit attached as far as I can tell.

Araenion wrote:
Unyielding Hunger wrote:
Honestly, I already thought about putting out a challenge to Reecius. Problem was getting everything together before the LVO and the army went away. Best thing would have been a chance to also meet Jim (And challenge him to a "Take the Worst" game. I know it sounds wierd, but nothing seems more entertaining to me than tons of Tyranids on the field, and just as quickly ripping each other to shreds in a poorly thought out fashion. And Pyrovores everywhere.) and pick up some Tyranid terrain. Honestly, I think I have just about cracked the lock on Tyranid alpha strike.

Don't have my book with me, but this will hopefully work for sheer overload.

HQs:
2 Hive Tyrants with Hive Commander and Stranglethorn Cannons. These should start in cover, preferably LOS blocking, and prepare to move up the board.

Troops:
2-3 5x Genestealer Units. These guys come on late game for objectives without needing synapse
2x Tyranid Warrior broods. These will be the outflankers, and should be run into cover, with spacing to mitigate damage. Run stock and shoot. Bring them in medium amounts. Get these into assault as quickly as you can. Bring a guy or two geared for assault if you wish.

Fast Attack
1x Gargoyle Brood. Throw as many bodies into this as possible, and deepstrike. Put it out wide, and multi-assault if you can.
2x Shrike Broods. Run small, but with CC weapons. Keep it behind the gargoyles and ram it home behind them into assault.

Heavy Support:
2x Mawlocs. Click and kill. Don't have to pick the biggest target, but use them to wipe out the problems. Make sure that you can kill whatever your under, and make them loom over your opponent's army. You want these things to make him go "OMG SHOOT IT".
1x Trygon Prime. Keep this alive, because this is your strongest synapse unit. Use it to support, but don't get overconfident.

Fortification:
Comms Relay. You want all this coming in at the same time.

Similar to the idea I had, but I put 2-3 Hive Crons for FA and Biovores to pepper the field with Spore Mines and use them for board control.

**PanzerLeader**

Here's my first take on an 1850 Nids list for this challenge:

Flyrant, 2x Devourers
Flyrant, 2x Devourers
Tervigon, Norn Crown
30x Termagants
3x Warriors, 1x Venom Cannon
Tyranofex, Rupture Cannon
Tyranofex, Rupture Cannon
3x Hive Guard
3x Hive Guard
3x Biovores
2x Venomthropes

It currently clocks in at 1865 so I need to find 15 points to cut somewhere. The Tervigon provides a huge synapse bubble, especially if she goes for Dominion. The Warriors provide a decent synapse back up plus scoring unit. The Tyranofexs and Hive Guard provide decent shooting to threaten his mobility from range and the biovores should help against him clumping up. The Flyrants primary purpose is disruption forwards and to kill pathfinders.

**jy2**

PanzerLeader wrote:
Here's my first take on an 1850 Nids list for this challenge:

Flyrant, 2x Devourers
Flyrant, 2x Devourers
Tervigon, Norn Crown
30x Termagants
3x Warriors, 1x Venom Cannon
Tyranofex, Rupture Cannon
Tyranofex, Rupture Cannon
3x Hive Guard
3x Hive Guard
3x Biovores
2x Venomthropes

It currently clocks in at 1865 so I need to find 15 points to cut somewhere. The Tervigon provides a huge synapse bubble, especially if she goes for Dominion. The Warriors provide a decent synapse back up plus scoring unit. The Tyranofexs and Hive Guard provide decent shooting to threaten his mobility from range and the biovores should help against him clumping up. The Flyrants primary purpose is disruption forwards and to kill pathfinders.

The challenge and Taudar army was actually at 1750 so you'd actually have to cut 115-pts. Easily doable by dropping 2 hive guards and perhaps the venom cannon on the warriors.

BTW, without a bastion, those venoms won't even last a second, not with all those ripple-fire/SMS shooting in his army.

While the t-fexes are good against Tau, without mobility, this list is going to get cut down before it has a chance to really do anything. It hits in waves....which is precisely what Tau likes. It just gives them time to shoot down 1 wave at a time.

**PanzerLeader**

jy2 wrote:
PanzerLeader wrote:
Here's my first take on an 1850 Nids list for this challenge:

Flyrant, 2x Devourers
Flyrant, 2x Devourers
Tervigon, Norn Crown
30x Termagants
3x Warriors, 1x Venom Cannon
Tyranofex, Rupture Cannon
Tyranofex, Rupture Cannon
3x Hive Guard
3x Hive Guard
3x Biovores
2x Venomthropes

It currently clocks in at 1865 so I need to find 15 points to cut somewhere. The Tervigon provides a huge synapse bubble, especially if she goes for Dominion. The Warriors provide a decent synapse back up plus scoring unit. The Tyranofexs and Hive Guard provide decent shooting to threaten his mobility from range and the biovores should help against him clumping up. The Flyrants primary purpose is disruption forwards and to kill pathfinders.

The challenge and Taudar army was actually at 1750 so you'd actually have to cut 115-pts. Easily doable by dropping 2 hive guards and perhaps the venom cannon on the warriors.

BTW, without a bastion, those venoms won't even last a second, not with all those ripple-fire/SMS shooting in his army.

While the t-fexes are good against Tau, without mobility, this list is going to get cut down before it has a chance to really do anything. It hits in waves....which is precisely what Tau likes. It just gives them time to shoot down 1 wave at a time.

I'll see what I can do to cut the 115 then. I think this list hits in waves, but it has the firepower from the biovores, tyranofexes, and hive guard to start engaging on turn 1. The lack of a bastion hurts, but I'm hoping he'll be forced to shot his serpent shields at the venom thropes which takes firepower off the flyrants and exposes them to the Hive Guard for penetrating hits. SMS is relatively short ranged afterall and I'd see the venomthropes hanging at the back of this army, 4-6 inches off the end of the Tervigon, Tyranofexes and Hive Guard. It also has a ton of T6 wounds which help nerf the advantage of mass S5 shooting a little.

**jy2**

SMS is only 30"....but on a riptide, that's a T6 2+ shooter with 6"+30" range. He'll move up, don't care about your return fire, shoot off his missiles, and then jump back. You'd have to deploy your venom really far back in order to have any chance at surviving (either that or put him in the bastion).

It does have the firepower to start engaging on T1....but if you're looking to start a ranged firefight against the likes of Tau, then you've already lost. That is truly a David vs Goliath strategy of epic proportions. Tyranids are not going to win that battle any time soon. The main shooting platforms of Tau are on 2+ models with better range and firepower. Biovores may do some damage, but most of the good Tau builds don't really run pulse-bomb Tau builds anymore. It's either mech, jump suits in reserves or outflanking kroots (or perhaps infantry hiding under ruins like what Reece did with his army).

BTW, most of the good Taudar builds don't run wave serpents but instead, jetbikes. It's the Eldau armies that run wave serpents.

**Fragile**

jy2 wrote:
SMS is only 30"....but on a riptide, that's a T6 2+ shooter with 6"+30" range. He'll move up, don't care about your return fire, shoot off his missiles, and then jump back. You'd have to deploy your venom really far back in order to have any chance at surviving (either that or put him in the bastion).

It does have the firepower to start engaging on T1....but if you're looking to start a ranged firefight against the likes of Tau, then you've already lost. That is truly a David vs Goliath strategy of epic proportions. Tyranids are not going to win that battle any time soon.

It truly isn't. It's mostly your build and your strategy.

**jy2**

Fragile wrote:
jy2 wrote:
SMS is only 30"....but on a riptide, that's a T6 2+ shooter with 6"+30" range. He'll move up, don't care about your return fire, shoot off his missiles, and then jump back. You'd have to deploy your venom really far back in order to have any chance at surviving (either that or put him in the bastion).

It does have the firepower to start engaging on T1....but if you're looking to start a ranged firefight against the likes of Tau, then you've already lost. That is truly a David vs Goliath strategy of epic proportions. Tyranids are not going to win that battle any time soon.

It truly isn't. It's mostly your build and your strategy.

Tyranids have got respectable shooting, but let's face it. Trying to outshoot Tau with bugs is like Tau trying to out-assault Tyranids. It's a longshot.

Now shooting can still work. Just put them on mobile platforms. Personally, I prefer the devourers and biovores. Flyrants with devourers. Dakkafexes with Onslaught. Outlfanking devilgants. And of course, biovores are always good. Oh, and also tyranid FMC's which doubles both as shooters and assault threats.

**Shingen**

The main problem with nid fmc in assault is the lack of an invul or fnp (if poor rolls on psychic).

Against some lists you can get away with it but assaulting other mcs is out of the question. Those units are better killed by poison or rending claws.

That leaves horms or outflanking terms with a prime bodyguard. Or shrikes / raveners.

You either need to be in assault turn 2 or top of turn 3 at the latest again an army like tau. If not you will just die a slow horrible death.

Your best bet is to multi assault so you cant overrun and get shot to pieces in your enemy's turn.

Carnifexs in theory are a good idea but they won't get there. You need to play to Nids strengths which is fast moving, cr shooting and assaults.

That leaves raveners with devourers and rending claws, shrikes fit the same, gargs with sacs, hive tyrants, mawlocs and ouflanking terms with devourers, toxin sacs, a prime as a damage soak and a few none dev gaunt ablative wounds.

Aside from that you need some decent long range shooting to take out t3 and t4 which is biovores, tyrannofexs with acid spray (and hopefully onslaught), possibly fexs and exorcrines (again with onslaught).

Quite simply harpys are not worth it (I tried them in 5th ed quite a few times), crones are similar, a fmc that sucks in cc and can be I'd is worthless.

Tervigons are alright as objective campers and that's about it.

The New codex is very similar to 5th ed without the fluffy garbage in it. People just need to learn how to build lists from the new codex...

**Reecius**

Bring it on and take my money! Muahahaha!

I am rusty, played poorly and still won, can the Nids overcome the Taudar?

**Jancoran**

jy2 wrote:
Actually, had all 3 games ended early (i.e. on Turn 5), Reece would have lost. He got lucky that all 3 games went on to T6.

to be fair, they go on 67% of the time. Odds are on his side. =)

**jy2**

Jancoran wrote:
jy2 wrote:
Actually, had all 3 games ended early (i.e. on Turn 5), Reece would have lost. He got lucky that all 3 games went on to T6.

to be fair, they go on 67% of the time. Odds are on his side. =)

But that's 3 games. The laws of probability dictates that one of those games should have ended on Turn 5, thus making Reece $100 poorer.

**felixcat**

Reading the batreps it did appear that Nids had a chance in two of those games. And neither list was optimized to face Reece. That said, good on Reece for pulling off the wins. And now having read the thread I'm no further ahead on deciding on a list. As it happens on Sunday I have my b-day and will be facing TauDar and want to use my Nids. We will see how I fare. I tweaked the list I posted and now I can only hope.

**Unyielding Hunger**

Finally got home and had a chance to sit down. Here's the final listing for that build idea of mine. Some minor changes though. Should be insane fun.

HQ: 370
Hive Tyrant w/ Hive Commander
Hive Tyrant w/ Hive Commander

Troops: 440
5x Genestealers
5x Genestealers
5x Tyranid Warrior
5x Tyranid Warrior

Elites: 90
1x Venomthrope
1x Venomthrope

Fast Attack: 360
30x Gargoyles
4x Tyranid Shrikes w/ Rending Claws
4x Tyranid Shrikes w/ Rending Claws

Heavy Support: 420
1x Mawloc
1x Mawloc
1x Mawloc

Fortifications: 70
Aegis Defense Line w/ Comms Relay

**Shingen**

Just played my tourney DE list against my FA nid list. Nids won 18-7 on killpoints.

Took some notes and pictures. Will post them up if I get the time.

Posted 1 pic of deployment

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Reecius wrote:
Bring it on and take my money! Muahahaha!

I am rusty, played poorly and still won, can the Nids overcome the Taudar?

Pay for a plane ticket and I will

Automatically Appended Next Post:
For those that are interested my Tyranid list is as follows.

HQ

2x Dakka Flyrants

Troops

15x Termagaunts, 10x Devourers, 5x Fleshborers
3x Warriors - 1x Venom Cannon, 2x Devourers

Fast Attack

9x Shrikes - Devourers & Rending Claws
9x Raveners - Devourers & Rending Claws
20x Gargoyles - Toxin Sacs

Heavy Support

2x Mawlocs
3x Biovores

My DE list is something like this (off the top of my head).

HQ

Baron Sathonix
Autarch - Scorpion Chainsword

Troops
5x Warriors - Venom (2x SC, FF, NS)
5x Warriors - Venom (2x SC, FF, NS)
5x Warriors - Venom (2x SC, FF, NS)
5x Warriors - Raider (Disingegrator, FF, NS)
5x Warriors - Raider (Disingegrator, FF, NS)
5x Warriors - Raider (Disingegrator, FF, NS)
6x Guardian Jetbikes - 2x Shuriken Cannons

Fast Attack

1x Crimson Hunter - 2x Brightlance, 2x Pulse Laser

Heavy Support
1x Ravager (3x DL, FF, NS)
1x Ravager (3x DL, FF, NS)
3x War Walkers (3x Scatter Laser, 3x Starcannon)
1x Razorwing Jetfighter (SC, 2x DL, 4x Monoscythe Missiles)

Could probably do with more Venoms and drop the Raiders but oh well, usually works quite well.

**Jancoran**

jy2 wrote:
Jancoran wrote:
jy2 wrote:
Actually, had all 3 games ended early (i.e. on Turn 5), Reece would have lost. He got lucky that all 3 games went on to T6.

to be fair, they go on 67% of the time. Odds are on his side. =)

But that's 3 games. The laws of probability dictates that one of those games should have ended on Turn 5, thus making Reece $100 poorer.

and over infinite games that will come true. Wouldn't bet on it in any given game though. =)

**ansacs**

Reece had a 29% chance to keep his money. That is better than many games of chance you will find just outside the LVO.

Now the question is will Reece still have his 100 usd with him after the LVO or will Las Vegas do what the nids could not? Who is the real Great Devourer?

**Jancoran**

ansacs wrote:

Now the question is will Reece still have his 100 usd with him after the LVO or will Las Vegas do what the nids could not? Who is the real Great Devourer?

Who can know these things?

**Dakkamite**

Go get them nids, da boyz got your back in june if you can't do it alone though

Between us we'll get assault back into this game, and put those puny eldar and fish'eads in their place!

**AtoMaki**

Dakkamite wrote:

Between us we'll get assault back into this game, and put those puny eldar and fish'eads in their place!

Uh... But the nids are a quasi-shooty army now... To the point where they shoot even when they assault (Mawloc).

**slice'n'dice**

I'm having some decent success with the following 1,750 list:

HQ
Ground Tyrant w/ Venom Cannon + 1 guard
Dakka Flyrant (possibly reserve, depending on what I’m up against and whether I go first - either way I play this guy carefully)

Troops
Troop Tervy
30 gants
10 gants (reserved)

Elite
2 Zoeys
2 Zoeys
3 Hive Guard

Fast
20 Gargoyles

Heavy
3 Biovores
3 Biovores
Tfex w/cannon

Why I think it works?
a) Lots of synapse
b) Ability to reach out and hit stuff turn 1 (even with Hammer/Anvil deployment) - including pinning from biovores (which are also great for those pesky aegis defence lines

)
c) Lots of powers

Won't work for everyone - but so far it's working for me

**blaktoof**

I'm having success with the following list versus gunline armies like Tau.

HQ-

Hive Tyrant w/ Hive commander, 2x scything talons, shredder shard beetles, wings

Tyranid Prime w/ Deathspitter, Lash Whipe & Bonesword

Elites-

2 x Venomthrope

2 x Zoanthrope

Troops-

20x Hormagants

20x Hormagants

24x Termagants [ x2w/ strangle, x11 w/ Devourers, x11 w/ fleshborers]

30x Termagants w/ fleshborer

1x Tervigon [stock]

5 x Tyranid warriors [ x 4 w/ Scything Talons & Deathspitter, x 1 w/ Barbed Strangler & scything talons]

Fast Attack-

6 x spore mines
6 x spore mines
6 x spore mines

Heavy Support-

Trygon Prime w/ Adrenal glands

The list has good synapse coverage midfield backfield and upfield, decent amount of psychic powers (tyrant, 2 zoanthropes, tervigon)

Lots of sitw coverage

good mix of shooting and assault, with the numbers to back it up.

Although I prefer to outflank the 24x termagant squad w/ prime attached, or the warriors squad can also outflank to good results.

The spore mine salvo you can unleash on a single turn can be quit deadly to xenos [eldar, tau] with the ap4. With 6 spores mines dropping in an area its not that hard to cause multiple str8-10 hits on the explosion. This often will soften/crack open things for charges on round 2 or 3.

with models reserved [outflankers, trygon, spore mines], you are still looking at about 80-100 models on the table at the start of the game, divided into 8 units [targets].