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I have been slowly building up a Tyranid army, thinking about next purchases and so forth. When reading over rules for the Swarmlord, they seem pretty legit to me. Auto-18" synapse immedate improvable to 24", and further improveable to 30". Ability to confer good rules (Furious Charge may not be that great, but it will transform gants into something that can glance AV10). And the ability to bring a 6 wound meat shield that can't fail.

I haven't played any games with Tyrandids yet, and cant remember my couple game against them, but I've gotten the impression that majority opinion on the board is the Swarmlord is bad for business. What am I missing beyond (a) no shooties, and (b) no wings...or is that the very reason why he's unliked?

 jasper76 wrote:

I haven't played any games with Tyrandids yet, and cant remember my couple game against them, but I've gotten the impression that majority opinion on the board is the Swarmlord is bad for business. What am I missing beyond (a) no shooties, and (b) no wings...or is that the very reason why he's unliked?

Yeah basically

He is expensive, doesnt offer anything in the shooting phase, and isnt very mobile. 6th edition happens in the shooting phase and is won by things that can move quickly.

His buffs to his army are fine, but nothing to write home about, and certainly not worth the points that he costs. Meanwhile, he is pretty fragile, (4 T6 3+ Wounds without EW are awful on that many points of model) and he's mediocre in Close Combat. You can up his durability by buying Tyrant Guard, but that also costs even more points.
Compare to, say, a generic Chapter Master. His army Buffs aren't as good, but he's infinitely more durable than the Swarmlord, has a powerful one-off Ranged attack, and can kill pretty much everything in a 1v1.
Or, compare to a Flyrant. The Flyrant is just as durable, harder to hit, has powerful ranged attacks, can provide AA, has nearly as good Synpase, and still holds his own in Close Combat. Sure, he's not *as* good, but against things like Space Marines or even Terminators it hardly matters, and against powerful Close Combat units or models, it doesn't matter at all.

Fair enough. I already have a Flyrant and am just mulling over a second HQ option that isn't...another Flyrant.

Waaaghpower wrote:
His buffs to his army are fine, but nothing to write home about, and certainly not worth the points that he costs. Meanwhile, he is pretty fragile, (4 T6 3+ Wounds without EW are awful on that many points of model) and he's mediocre in Close Combat. You can up his durability by buying Tyrant Guard, but that also costs even more points.

Are you trolling?

Swarmlord gets 3 powers...that's a 50/50 shot at catalyst...heck, we have the second best psychic table in the game...second only to divination...so any 3 powers are worth it.

Swarmlord is the beast in combat...and he's 5 wounds.

Synapse isn't a problem.

You can take more stuff because you don't have to spend points on things. He gives "adrenal glands" to hormagaunts or preferred enemy to an exocrine (which twinlinks the blast)

The Swarmlord is a decent choice. By no means excellent, but as your skill with synergy develops he will become increasingly more powerful.

 jasper76 wrote:
Fair enough. I already have a Flyrant and am just mulling over a second HQ option that isn't...another Flyrant.

If you Want a walker ...look at a Synapse Node formation...Tyrant (must walk), 3 Guard, and a Venothrope Brood. Special rule +6" Synapse (I reccomend a Heavy Cannon on the Tyrant)

Compare that to a Swarmlord with 3 Guard.....and the Formation has an extra Veno Brood

I run one Winged Dakka'rtant, and one Winged Assassin (LW?BS, Toxic, Thorax Hive possably Brain Leeches if I have the points...230 base, 240 as usual, 255 with the whole magilla) I like how it plays, and it does give a little bit of variety...

pinecone77 wrote:

 jasper76 wrote:
Fair enough. I already have a Flyrant and am just mulling over a second HQ option that isn't...another Flyrant.

If you Want a walker ...look at a Synapse Node formation...Tyrant (must walk), 3 Guard, and a Venothrope Brood. Special rule +6" Synapse (I reccomend a Heavy Cannon on the Tyrant)

Compare that to a Swarmlord with 3 Guard.....and the Formation has an extra Veno Brood

I run one Winged Dakka'rtant, and one Winged Assassin (LW?BS, Toxic, Thorax Hive possably Brain Leeches if I have the points...230 base, 240 as usual, 255 with the whole magilla) I like how it plays, and it does give a little bit of variety...

^also good advice