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.

So I've just sold my Tau army or am selling it and have just bought a large amount of nids as I'm bored and ready for a change!

I have got pitching up tomorrow:

Tyranid Gargoyle Brood 2
Tyranid Hive Tyrant/The Swarmlord 2
Tyranid Tyrannofex/Tervigon 1
Tyranid Harpy / Hive Crone 2
Tyranid Swarm

I have another harpy on the way also.

Now I've read a lot if criticism online regarding nids and the nerfs they received in the coming of the new edition which is quite frankly super depressing when I'm so excited to start painting these bugs!

What is an effective way of running nids? I understand skyblight is a clear yes but what other options are there ?

Would love some help with writing up a decent enough list with what I've got and any suggestions would be great!

If we can avoid putting a downer on nids aswell that would be great. - remember I've just replaced a very well loved tau army with them so let's keep me happy

Based on the models listed, I'd probably start with something like this:

HQ: 1x Hive Tyrant with Wings, 2x Twin-linked Brainleech Devourers (use the Fleshborer Hives from the Tyrannofex kit), Electroshock Grubs
HQ: 1x Tervigon with Crushing Claws, Elecroshock Grubs

TROOPS: 20x Hormagaunts
TROOPS: 20x Hormagaunts
TROOPS: 20x Termagants
TROOPS: 20x Termagants

FAST: 30x Gargoyles
FAST: 1x Hive Crone
FAST: 1x Harpy

HEAVY: 1x Carnifex

Total: 1410 (use remaining points where you wish)

The biggest problem really is going to be against mechanized lists. I've had reasonable success using Adrenal Gland-equipped Hormagaunts to simply glance light vehicles to death in melee, but super heavy vehicles and walkers will probably cause trouble (hence all the Electroshock Grubs). I would strongly suggest building the Tyrannofex/Tervigon kit as a Tervigon, not only because you will need it for synapse, but also because it offers a bit more flexibility when you are just starting out and it will allow you to run the skyblight formation once you have the second Harpy (simply use the Tervigon as your mandatory HQ).

Anyway, this should give a good starting point. Your next purchase should probably be a couple boxes of Tyranid Warriors for additional synapse coverage and maybe a Carnifex box so you'll have a full brood worth of models. After that, probably aim for Venomthropes and Zoanthropes for added survivability and more synapse/psychic support respectively.

Also as an aside, the bio-cannons on the Harpy conveniently slot in without glue, so you can easily change between the Stranglethorn and Heavy Venom Cannon as list needs dictate without having to magnetize it (probably want to magnetize the other big bugs if possible though).

get yourself 2 flying hive tyrant, with skyblight swarm you can get 3 with only one detachment (plus dataslate) or 2 and a deathleaper or something. they are still great even with the FMC nerf. exocrines are good, biovores too, (you can consider the artillery node dataslate, its good)
Mawlocs are still very nice. I believe Carnifexes with 2x TL Devourers will be more important than evern in this new edition since the nerf to smash doesnt impact them (they are still very dangerous to landraiders and monoliths that get too close) they will be one of the few things that trully threaten them.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
going with lots of FMC will still be a winning strategy so you can go that way if you want.

 Strat_N8 wrote:
Based on the models listed, I'd probably start with something like this:

HQ: 1x Hive Tyrant with Wings, 2x Twin-linked Brainleech Devourers (use the Fleshborer Hives from the Tyrannofex kit), Electroshock Grubs
HQ: 1x Tervigon with Crushing Claws, Elecroshock Grubs

TROOPS: 20x Hormagaunts
TROOPS: 20x Hormagaunts
TROOPS: 20x Termagants
TROOPS: 20x Termagants

FAST: 30x Gargoyles
FAST: 1x Hive Crone
FAST: 1x Harpy

HEAVY: 1x Carnifex

Total: 1410 (use remaining points where you wish)

The biggest problem really is going to be against mechanized lists. I've had reasonable success using Adrenal Gland-equipped Hormagaunts to simply glance light vehicles to death in melee, but super heavy vehicles and walkers will probably cause trouble (hence all the Electroshock Grubs). I would strongly suggest building the Tyrannofex/Tervigon kit as a Tervigon, not only because you will need it for synapse, but also because it offers a bit more flexibility when you are just starting out and it will allow you to run the skyblight formation once you have the second Harpy (simply use the Tervigon as your mandatory HQ).

Anyway, this should give a good starting point. Your next purchase should probably be a couple boxes of Tyranid Warriors for additional synapse coverage and maybe a Carnifex box so you'll have a full brood worth of models. After that, probably aim for Venomthropes and Zoanthropes for added survivability and more synapse/psychic support respectively.

Also as an aside, the bio-cannons on the Harpy conveniently slot in without glue, so you can easily change between the Stranglethorn and Heavy Venom Cannon as list needs dictate without having to magnetize it (probably want to magnetize the other big bugs if possible though).

Hey Strat, thanks for replying! I like your idea on Adrenal glands on hormagaunts but would this not be better on Gargoyles as they move faster?

Gaunts I was wondering how people felt about how to equip gaunts and whether its worth putting the extra points on them or just running them barebones.

Carnifex's + Crushing Claws The main thing I have seen on the web is the boon to tanks surviving ap3/ weapons and the big nerf to smash, it is a big bummer but that gets me excited about using Carnifex's with crushing claws. Those things are nasty especially at 135 points! Do they work well? I've already got one coming which is exciting but if they are worth it i'll get another!

Tervigon my plan was to run as a Troops choice and have another brood of 30 gaunts. I love the idea of a Tyranofex just because it has a 2+ save but if i am to be practical about it a Tervigon seems to have a stronger presence in games.

Zoanathropes and an Haruspex are my next steals, my god that model is awesome. painted right, it's just insanely scary! Zoanthropes have very good powers (now that they can have 3 powers instead of two, including the Primaris they are much more appealing to me!) my concern is how to play them - do you keep them in the backfield hiding away or press forward with the rest of the swarm?

To start off with I'd like to run a list like this

HQ: 1x Hive Tyrant with Wings, 2x Twin-linked Brainleech Devourers, Electroshock Grubs Ymgarl factor

TROOPS: 30x Hormagaunts
TROOPS: 1x Tervigon with Crushing Claws, Elecroshock Grubs

Skyblight Swarm:
Hive Tyrant Wings 2x Twin-linked Brainleech Devourers, Electroshock Grub
10 Gargoyles
10 Gargoyles
10 Gargoyles
1x Hive Crone
2x Harpy

HEAVY: 1x Carnifex Crushing Claws

Not sure how many points this is but i'd imagine its closer to 1700.

The main thing I'm struggling with is how to equip everything mostly as the bio upgrades/ weapons are all new to me.

Wilson wrote:

 Strat_N8 wrote:
Based on the models listed, I'd probably start with something like this:

HQ: 1x Hive Tyrant with Wings, 2x Twin-linked Brainleech Devourers (use the Fleshborer Hives from the Tyrannofex kit), Electroshock Grubs
HQ: 1x Tervigon with Crushing Claws, Elecroshock Grubs

TROOPS: 20x Hormagaunts
TROOPS: 20x Hormagaunts
TROOPS: 20x Termagants
TROOPS: 20x Termagants

FAST: 30x Gargoyles
FAST: 1x Hive Crone
FAST: 1x Harpy

HEAVY: 1x Carnifex

Total: 1410 (use remaining points where you wish)

The biggest problem really is going to be against mechanized lists. I've had reasonable success using Adrenal Gland-equipped Hormagaunts to simply glance light vehicles to death in melee, but super heavy vehicles and walkers will probably cause trouble (hence all the Electroshock Grubs). I would strongly suggest building the Tyrannofex/Tervigon kit as a Tervigon, not only because you will need it for synapse, but also because it offers a bit more flexibility when you are just starting out and it will allow you to run the skyblight formation once you have the second Harpy (simply use the Tervigon as your mandatory HQ).

Anyway, this should give a good starting point. Your next purchase should probably be a couple boxes of Tyranid Warriors for additional synapse coverage and maybe a Carnifex box so you'll have a full brood worth of models. After that, probably aim for Venomthropes and Zoanthropes for added survivability and more synapse/psychic support respectively.

Also as an aside, the bio-cannons on the Harpy conveniently slot in without glue, so you can easily change between the Stranglethorn and Heavy Venom Cannon as list needs dictate without having to magnetize it (probably want to magnetize the other big bugs if possible though).

Hey Strat, thanks for replying! I like your idea on Adrenal glands on hormagaunts but would this not be better on Gargoyles as they move faster?

Gaunts I was wondering how people felt about how to equip gaunts and whether its worth putting the extra points on them or just running them barebones.

Carnifex's + Crushing Claws The main thing I have seen on the web is the boon to tanks surviving ap3/ weapons and the big nerf to smash, it is a big bummer but that gets me excited about using Carnifex's with crushing claws. Those things are nasty especially at 135 points! Do they work well? I've already got one coming which is exciting but if they are worth it i'll get another!

Tervigon my plan was to run as a Troops choice and have another brood of 30 gaunts. I love the idea of a Tyranofex just because it has a 2+ save but if i am to be practical about it a Tervigon seems to have a stronger presence in games.

Zoanathropes and an Haruspex are my next steals, my god that model is awesome. painted right, it's just insanely scary! Zoanthropes have very good powers (now that they can have 3 powers instead of two, including the Primaris they are much more appealing to me!) my concern is how to play them - do you keep them in the backfield hiding away or press forward with the rest of the swarm?

To start off with I'd like to run a list like this

HQ: 1x Hive Tyrant with Wings, 2x Twin-linked Brainleech Devourers, Electroshock Grubs Ymgarl factor

TROOPS: 30x Hormagaunts
TROOPS: 1x Tervigon with Crushing Claws, Elecroshock Grubs

Skyblight Swarm:
Hive Tyrant Wings 2x Twin-linked Brainleech Devourers, Electroshock Grub
10 Gargoyles
10 Gargoyles
10 Gargoyles
1x Hive Crone
2x Harpy

HEAVY: 1x Carnifex Crushing Claws

Not sure how many points this is but i'd imagine its closer to 1700.

The main thing I'm struggling with is how to equip everything mostly as the bio upgrades/ weapons are all new to me.

Well...upgrades are kinda a personal style thing. In General, Nids do best when you run as much bare bones as you can. Victory tends to come from "threat overload". Basicly you give your enemy too many targets, then exploit mistakes. So you need to put as many figures on the table as possible.

Minor nitpick, you need x30 Termigants to make a Tervigon "Troops". I don't know if one Carnifex will be very useful, it's too easy to take one out.

I'd drop the Ymgarl factor, and spend points elsewhere myself. I would probibly take two Crones, and lose the Carnifex, And put Spine Salvos (?) on the Harpies, to add more anti-air. Any extra points can go for upgrades, like say turning Termigants into Devilgaunts (add Devourers) Hive Commander is a personal fav, as it lets me put something scarey into the oposing backfield.

Yeah, I agree with the point about running carnifexes, you need to have a minimum of two in order for them to be effective, one gets slaughtered too quickly. Instinctive behavior on them is pretty bad though, so make sure and either run them as 2 broods of 1 or make sure you have redundant synapse. Also when it comes to carnifex, IMO the best option is the dakkafex. You can't count on a dedicated melee build being able to catch up with enemy armor, and the weight of fire helps make up for their crappy BS. Even running with guns though, between d3 HoW, charge and base attacks at S9 you will deal with armor fairly well if you can manage to corner it.

As for your Gants, I heartily recommend a mix of about 1:3 devourers to fleshborers in a large brood. Use the cheap fleshborers to tank for your more effective (and longer range) devourers and drown infantry in dice. Also if your meta favors it in terms of average armor saves and toughness, consider swapping fleshborers for spinefists for TL goodness to compensate for your gant BS.

The haruspex has a really sweet model, but compared to your other elite options he just doesn't compare. He's some awkward hybrid between a cc god and a tarpit. Sure he can probably take that 10 man TAC squad solo...but its going to take him most of the game to do it.

Anyway, good luck and welcome to the swarm! If you find yourself missing silly amounts of ignore cover missiles, try the hive guard, they're delicious.

I'd hold off on adding another HC to the list. I'm not 100% sold on their value vs. comparable pointed units these days. Since you already have a Skyblight, I might concentrate on other things to add pressure. A TFex with E-shock grubs can add some spice to a game (it will absorb shots meant for other things).

Your Skyblight + Flyrant + troops = 1425 (if you drop the Ymgarl factor offa Flyrant #2) by my calculations. If we are aiming for 1700pt, that leaves us with 275 points. A lot of fun can be had there!

For 275pts:

1. A second Hive Crone + 3 Biovores (because pinecone77 loves Flappy Bird and I love bomber orcs)
2. Hive Commander on one of your Flyrants, 30 Termagants with Devourers, 15pts to play with. (Outflank the Termagants for AMAZING CHAOS!)

Those are just off the top of my head, but there is fun to be had. I'd concentrate on that; FUN. Picking up 90 dice to shoot is FUN (and can be crippling to many a list).

Hey all,

Thanks for all your feedback and encouragement!

I'm excited to get my first game in with then which will hopefully be a blast!

I've ended up with this list;

Hive tyrant - wings, electroshock grubs, brain leech worms, hive commander 260

Hive tyrant - wings, electroshock grubs, brain leech worms 240

30 x Termagant brood - devourers 240

Tervigon electroshock grubs 210

3x zoanthropes 150

Harpy 135

Harpy 135

Hive crone 155

10x Gargoyles 60

10x Gargoyles 60

10x Gargoyles 60

I think that leaves me around 35 points left to spare.

How is this ?

I think I would leave the termagants in reserve to outflank, 90 strength 4 shots does sound hilarious for me!

Is there anyway to get fnp on tougher units like tyrants+ harpies?

I'm sad that the haruspex isn't all that great. It's probably the one model that made me want to play nids :(

Nice list, maybe run the Zoanthropes in single-man teams, this will give you 4 extra warp charge vs what you would have in your current list, without spending any extra points
also the Termagaunts do have the potential to leave some models without the devourers, I like to leave about 1/3 of the unit naked to soak up some damage without losing much offensive capabilities, you keep the cheap ones in the front to survive some shooting cheaply. also saves you some points, maybe to get a single venomthrope to hide behind the tervigon and maybe help you survive a bit better.

 fartherthanfar wrote:
Nice list, maybe run the Zoanthropes in single-man teams, this will give you 4 extra warp charge vs what you would have in your current list, without spending any extra points
also the Termagaunts do have the potential to leave some models without the devourers, I like to leave about 1/3 of the unit naked to soak up some damage without losing much offensive capabilities, you keep the cheap ones in the front to survive some shooting cheaply. also saves you some points, maybe to get a single venomthrope to hide behind the tervigon and maybe help you survive a bit better.

That's a good plan!

Maybe then the above list with Instead ;

2 zoanthrope

1 zoanthrope

1 venomthrope

Total 1750!

Think I have my first list!

Wilson wrote:

 fartherthanfar wrote:
Nice list, maybe run the Zoanthropes in single-man teams, this will give you 4 extra warp charge vs what you would have in your current list, without spending any extra points
also the Termagaunts do have the potential to leave some models without the devourers, I like to leave about 1/3 of the unit naked to soak up some damage without losing much offensive capabilities, you keep the cheap ones in the front to survive some shooting cheaply. also saves you some points, maybe to get a single venomthrope to hide behind the tervigon and maybe help you survive a bit better.

That's a good plan!

Maybe then the above list with Instead ;

2 zoanthrope

1 zoanthrope

1 venomthrope

Total 1750!

Think I have my first list!

Sounds like a plan. I agree that Outflanking a Big Brood of Devilgants is a winner. Though I usually use the Tervigon, that way I get Synapse back there, and those Electro bugs can make a real mess! Just remember to spawn a Brood when you arrive, so you can bubble wrap.

I usaully split Termigants 50/50, or 2/1. My Big Brood (points allowing) is normally 20 Spinegaunts (Spine fist equiped, no point cost differance) and 10 Devilgaunts. This unit never disapoints. I used to Deepstrike in a Big Wormy (Trygon Prime) to provide the needed Synapse. But these days I'm leaning towards Carnifexen, so Synapse requirements have changed my play.

Good luck! And welcome to the Hive Mind !