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Hive Tyrant, Wings, 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers, Hive Commander - 250
Tyranid Prime, Norn Crown - 165

Tervigon - 195
30 Termagaunts, 15 Devourers - 180
20 Termagaunts - 80
20 Termagaunts - 80
10 Termagaunts - 40

Zoanthrope - 50
Zoanthrope - 50
Venomthrope - 45

2 Carnifexes, each with 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers - 300
Exocrine - 170
Exocrine - 170

Bastion - 75

Total - 1850

So, I've got a Lot of gaunts in this list, with the possibility of outflanking the big unit with 15 devourers using Hive Commander. I've also got a decent number of big bugs... the Flyrant provides anti-air, the Prime goes in the Bastion with the Venomthrope, and everything else moves up with (hopefully) a boosted cover save.

It's not a very dynamic list, but the Hive Commander and devourer gaunts should help with that, at least a little bit. The gaunts would have to be in synapse range of the Tyrant for this to work, though, I'm guessing...? So, that may need reconfiguring.

Thoughts on how to outfit the gaunts (how large the units should be, how many devourers in which units) would be greatly appreciated

i watched a V-BatRep recently and I was really unimpressed by the exocrine. It just didn't do anything the whole game. It appeared to be too slow to effectively help the the rest of the army.

The Biovores performed much better.

Has any one else had success with them?

I have had moderate success with Exocrines. However, I have long since shifted them out of the list in favour of two Molocs.

Well, that actually works for me as the Exocrines are swappable . I will have 2 painted Mawlocs to try, as well, and have considered Biovores but didn't want to spare the heavy slot for them right now.

If I do switch to Mawlocs, that saves me 60 points, which is enough for another 15 Devourers on the gaunts. I could then consider running them as:

30 Gaunts, 15 Devourers
30 Gaunts, 15 Devourers
10 Gaunts
10 Gaunts

Is this a good configuration, or do you have any tips about how to configure the gaunts for unit size and number of devourers? I could also consider going with no devourers at all and instead add a unit of 20 Gargoyles, too.

 RiTides wrote:
Well, that actually works for me as the Exocrines are swappable . I will have 2 painted Mawlocs to try, as well, and have considered Biovores but didn't want to spare the heavy slot for them right now.

If I do switch to Mawlocs, that saves me 60 points, which is enough for another 15 Devourers on the gaunts. I could then consider running them as:

30 Gaunts, 15 Devourers
30 Gaunts, 15 Devourers
10 Gaunts
10 Gaunts

Is this a good configuration, or do you have any tips about how to configure the gaunts for unit size and number of devourers? I could also consider going with no devourers at all and instead add a unit of 20 Gargoyles, too.

I think you'll get more use out of some Gargoyles. I also like Mawlocs more, but you have the option to swap. So play experiance can be your guide...

Okay, thanks for that That variant would look like this:

Hive Tyrant, Wings, 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers, Hive Commander - 250
Tyranid Prime, Norn Crown - 165

Tervigon - 195
30 Termagaunts - 120
20 Termagaunts - 80
20 Termagaunts - 80
10 Termagaunts - 40

20 Gargoyles - 120

Zoanthrope - 50
Zoanthrope - 50
Venomthrope - 45

2 Carnifexes, each with 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers - 300
Mawloc - 140
Mawloc - 140

Bastion - 75

Total - 1850

I'll be painting the 20 gargoyles and 2 Exocrines after AdeptiCon, everything else will already be finished for my AdeptiCon army

I'd say drop the devs and add the 20 gargoyle squad. The screening will help keep everything alive, and they can neutralize a group in combat with their blinding attacks.

*Edit* Ninja'd

Okay, sounds like a consensus on the gargoyles then

While I get them painted, I'll likely try out the list with Mawlocs and 10 devourers in each of the bigger gaunt units, as my friend has suggested that units of 20 gaunts with 10 devourers is ideal in his opinion.

He also mentioned that adding a comm relay to the Bastion would help with the Mawlocs coming in, so I will likely swap Hive Commander for that

Exocrine needs AG to be effective (fleet)

I'm assuming that's to get it in range faster, makes sense.

One other question- someone has suggested to me that having some gaunt units with toxin sacs woud be good, to make them poisoned to take out big creatures. I have no idea about this, just wanted to toss it out there since I was looking for feedback on gaunt configurations

Thanks for all the tips!

 RiTides wrote:
I'm assuming that's to get it in range faster, makes sense.

One other question- someone has suggested to me that having some gaunt units with toxin sacs woud be good, to make them poisoned to take out big creatures. I have no idea about this, just wanted to toss it out there since I was looking for feedback on gaunt configurations

Thanks for all the tips!

It very good, but very (relatively) pricey. One of the Nid's advantages is "lotsa dudes" (tm) and making gaunts more expensive means less figures.

So its "6 of vs 1/2 a dozen" type issue. No "wrong answer" I suggest trying it both ways and deciding which you like best.

Okay thanks . And people put toxin sacs on termagaunts too, right, not just hormagaunts?

 RiTides wrote:
Okay thanks . And people put toxin sacs on termagaunts too, right, not just hormagaunts?

Yep, though it's even rarer to put it there, as Devourers look so much nicer as a point sink I've done it as a nasty suprise (oh look at that my gants can totally put wounds on you) you can give it a try, but you'll likely be happier with Devilgants....

You've got a pretty decent list here. I think your troops are excessive, and would consider adding some fast attack. Gargoyles, Crones, Raveners, Shrikes. All might be more useful than some of your troop choices.

If I were going to keep this many troops I would make the following substitution.

 RiTides wrote:
Tervigon - 195
30 Termagaunts, 15 Devourers - 180
20 Termagaunts - 80
20 Termagaunts - 80
10 Termagaunts - 40

Would become
Tervigon - 195
30 Termagaunts, 20 Devourers - 200
3 Warriors (2 Devourer, 1 Barbed Strangler) - 100
10 Termagaunts - 40
10 Termagaunts - 40


Your Mawloc variation desperately needs to add a Comms Relay upgrade to the bastion. This would let you reroll reserve rolls, and get your Mawlocs in more reliably. Drop 5 Gaunts for it.

I will definitely add that comms relay, thanks! And I also agree that this list is very troop heavy, so that and the Carnifexes are where I will look to chop if I want to add anything else / try other variants

I'm just going to drop my 2 cents in on the Termagants.
All devilgants, all the time.
Honestly, these little sods do more damage for me than almost any other unit in this codex on a point for point basis.
Every. Single. Game. I wont leave home without them.

I've been running 4x 15 bug units all with devourers. Thats 180 strength 4 shots at 18" range. All for 480 of your finest points.

The ONLY time to have borer gants is when a tervigon spews them out as far as i'm concerned these days.

Just my tuppence worth of course. Take from it what you will.

Cheers

I find Exocrine work well for their job, take the middle of the board and make it unfriendly. It is not a good fit fro fast or flanky army, but pretty nice in lists that have so many bodies you have to reserve since they all can't deploy.

I know not a lot of people like lists like that as they are slow to play and even slower to paint, but I have found they are also hard to get rid of.

kryczek, thanks, I am definitely going to try devilgaunts although I think they'll be mixed in with other gaunts so that there are some cheaper wounds to kill off before the enemy gets to them.

barnowl, do you just run one Exocrine? I'm worried that one might just get picked off, or I'd consider an Exocrine and 2 Mawlocs. Also considering the Living Artillery formation for that- would allow me to take an Exocrine and 3 Biovores in addition to other heavy support choices (3 Mawlocs!?). But going that route would make one Exocrine a really big target without a lot of other big bugs on the board, so I'll have to think about how best to try it out.

I was using 3 x 20 with 15 devs and 5 spike rifles ( to match range). I ended up going back to more all devilgant units. Didn't try 50/50 though.

I'm also experimenting on what I can do if I add the Living Artillery formation (shown in red below). Here's one version with that:

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

Tervigon - 195
30 Termagaunts - 120
3 Warriors, Barbled Strangler - 100

Zoanthrope - 50
Venomthrope - 45

2 Carnifexes, each with 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers - 300
Mawloc - 140
Mawloc - 140
3 Biovores - 120
Exocrine - 170

Bastion - 75

Total - 1850

I could also go with a third Mawloc instead of the Carnifexes, saving me 160 points (enough for 20 Gargoyles, Hive Commander, and a Comm Relay). I can't see any way to fit a Comm Relay into the version posted above, though, without losing either the Norn Crown or the Zoanthrope (would either be worth doing?).

Thoughts appreciated

 RiTides wrote:
I'm also experimenting on what I can do if I add the Living Artillery formation (shown in red below). Here's one version with that:

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

Tervigon - 195
30 Termagaunts - 120
3 Warriors, Barbled Strangler - 100

Zoanthrope - 50
Venomthrope - 45

2 Carnifexes, each with 2 x TL Brainleech Devourers - 300
Mawloc - 140
Mawloc - 140
3 Biovores - 120
Exocrine - 170

Bastion - 75

Total - 1850

I could also go with a third Mawloc instead of the Carnifexes, saving me 160 points (enough for 20 Gargoyles, Hive Commander, and a Comm Relay). I can't see any way to fit a Comm Relay into the version posted above, though, without losing either the Norn Crown or the Zoanthrope (would either be worth doing?).

Thoughts appreciated

The Fexes are your main source of anti-air, so you might come to miss them if they're gone... You could drop one if you feel the need for a coms relay....Lictors are also a interesting buy for a twin Mawloc build as well.