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Well i have a rather large IG army, since i love their armored! But the tyranids have allways said something in me with the mass of aliens assaulting

What i got so far is only a hive tyrant with wings and bone swords i think its called. I am thinking of getting the new army box they got (the one with 95 models in it)
I am however not that keen on getting to much shooting as i got loads with my IG army, and for me tyranids should be played as melee army only... I know its not good, but i really dont care as im looking to have fun

So my question is. Is that a good start or should i do get something else? And what type of synaps should i get?

This is exactly what I'm going for with my current list, scittering hoards of infinite hunger!

I run this:
Hive Tyrant wings with TL-Devourers

Venomthrope
3 Zoanthropes

20 termagants
20 hormagants
20 hormagants
3 warriors
3 warriors

Crone

3 dakkafexs

Dataslate: Broodlord Hunting pack

It's pretty scary looking on the table, and unless we get the diagonal deployment I'll outflank the Broodlord Hunting pack. It's best against short range armies but it's also enough fast moving biomass to make Tau or Eldar have to choose their targets wisely, in the case of the latter I've had the best luck playing the mission rather than pure devour.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
With pinning (the horror) my genestealers have been pretty affective and I'm always tempted to run a lot more of them, but they do go down easy to shooting and for nids they are expensive.

The Swarm Box is an AWESOME deal. You are basically paying for the Gaunts and getting the Gargoyles and Carnifex for free.

I got the swarm box and its awesome.

Dont under estimate the Tyranids ability to have an effective shooting phase. 30 Termagaunts with devourers is 90 shots at 18". Thats enough fire power to deal with terminators and 10 man marine equivalent squads. Its also enough shots to glance av10 to death in a single round.

Yes they are expensive, but their firing remains effective for a while and if they are shooting at those they are not shooting at other things.

I run melee heavy bugs myself (my carnifexes have scything talons and crushing claws), probably about 1/3 of my list has shooting though. Heres my 2500 list i played the other day.

Hq - Swarmlord

Elite - zoanthrope *2, venomthrope *1

Troop - Tervigon, 30 Devigaunts, 16 hormagaunts, 5 warriors with deathspitters and venom cannon, 2* 15 genestealers with broodlord

Fast - 3 Raveners with deathspitters

Heavy - Carnifex * 2

It has 11 psychic dice running the zoanthropes as two seperate units.

How do you find your Raveners work in this type of list? ...I have 3 on metal ones that I'm somewhat reluctant to build but I do love the way they look.

 Gunzhard wrote:
How do you find your Raveners work in this type of list? ...I have 3 on metal ones that I'm somewhat reluctant to build but I do love the way they look.

Yeah, I like how they look too. I usually run them 12 inches forward and then shoot them. They are a real threat because they are so fast, they have to be a high target priority, or else they will get a second turn charge.

In my last game they died on my opponents turn two, but only one got doubled out so it was 7 wounds in cover plus FNP from catalyst.

They killed two dark reapers with their shooting that game so I feel they are worth it

Im thinking about getting more so I can field a bigger squad.

I don't really see the value in the Swarm box. Gaunts are not very good units, and that is mostly what you get in the Swarm box. It would be kind of like getting an Ork army box that contains almost nothing but Grots. Nids strength is in the MCs, and you will need Synapse creatures, which the swarm box does not give you.

If I were you, I would buy a box of a dozen gaunts (to fill out troops) and a box of Warriors (for synapse), then add a Carnifex if you want one. Gargoyles are good, but are not necessary. Hormagaunts are... not good at all, so skip them. If you are looking for a melee oriented build, I'd also consider the Mawloc, which is a pretty fun unit that will probably do better than the Raveners (which are pretty fragile).

I also suggest the Swarm box, though I suggest you set aside a fair number of the Hormies, and convert them to Devilgaunts.

I usually suggest the Swarm box, a Hive Tyrant (magnitse, and build it with Wings) and a box of Warriors. A vanilla Warrior Brood, x3 with a Strangle Cannon runs only a 100, and gives a good amount of value.

I gotta tell yeah my hormagants have been pretty awesome, they are just so darn fast and threaten very early... fleet, move through cover, and bounding leap. A basic termagant is cheaper, but hormogaunts are still really cheap in bulk.

30 gaunts makes a tervigon a troop instead of a hq so thats worth it in my mind, plus hormagants are fast and 3 attacks each on the charge. Id only suggest one upgrade on them though, either poison or adrenal gland.

They are not as goid as thry wrre when scything talins let them reroll ones, but they can still put out enough attacks to severly gimp or even destroy a marine squad.

Th0rh4mm3r wrote:
30 gaunts makes a tervigon a troop instead of a hq so thats worth it in my mind, plus hormagants are fast and 3 attacks each on the charge. Id only suggest one upgrade on them though, either poison or adrenal gland.

They are not as goid as thry wrre when scything talins let them reroll ones, but they can still put out enough attacks to severly gimp or even destroy a marine squad.

Word, I like to toss 10 devilgaunts into a x20 Brood when I want a Tervigon. While I usually reccomend no upgrades for Hormigaunts, I do admire the way a Toxic Brood can murderise a Wraithknight. So on special days I will upgrade them. I usually do that with Endless Swarm, having them come back on a 4+, makes spending the points make better sense.

So for a 1000 to 1500 game I have several x20 Broods of Termigants, and in a higher point game, I can toss in x10 Devils, and take a Tervigon.

My current "standard" build for Endless Swarm is:

Warrior Brood: x3, Cannon 100
Hormigaunts: x15, Toxic, x3 360
Spinegaunts: x10,+5 Devilgaunts, x3 240

That runs 700 for the Formation. Add that to a 1000 point army, toss in a Veno/Zoey and you hit 1750 just fine.

A "vanilla" build of the Swarm box runs around 760, add 700, and you are at 1460. Spend 40...1500.

Ive been thinking about running 2, 30 man termagaunt squads with 1/2 fleshborers and 1/2 devourers. Keep the fleshborers up front as cheap meat shields for the devourers.

The swarm box is a good start for a new tyranid player. Unlike a lot of other army boxes, this one is all useful (even ripper swarms can score now). You might not always field 40 Termagants and 40 Hormagants. but 20 man squads are reasonable even at lower points cost games.

Th0rh4mm3r wrote:
Ive been thinking about running 2, 30 man termagaunt squads with 1/2 fleshborers and 1/2 devourers. Keep the fleshborers up front as cheap meat shields for the devourers.

The swarm box is a good start for a new tyranid player. Unlike a lot of other army boxes, this one is all useful (even ripper swarms can score now). You might not always field 40 Termagants and 40 Hormagants. but 20 man squads are reasonable even at lower points cost games.

Not a bad build, plenty of folks run 50/50 with good results. I prefer running a 2/1 ratio, so 20 Spinegaunts+ 10 Devils, 160 points.

pinecone77 wrote:

Th0rh4mm3r wrote:
Ive been thinking about running 2, 30 man termagaunt squads with 1/2 fleshborers and 1/2 devourers. Keep the fleshborers up front as cheap meat shields for the devourers.

The swarm box is a good start for a new tyranid player. Unlike a lot of other army boxes, this one is all useful (even ripper swarms can score now). You might not always field 40 Termagants and 40 Hormagants. but 20 man squads are reasonable even at lower points cost games.

Not a bad build, plenty of folks run 50/50 with good results. I prefer running a 2/1 ratio, so 20 Spinegaunts+ 10 Devils, 160 points.

Whats the benefit if the spinegaunts? Just twinlinking?

Th0rh4mm3r wrote:

pinecone77 wrote:

Th0rh4mm3r wrote:
Ive been thinking about running 2, 30 man termagaunt squads with 1/2 fleshborers and 1/2 devourers. Keep the fleshborers up front as cheap meat shields for the devourers.

The swarm box is a good start for a new tyranid player. Unlike a lot of other army boxes, this one is all useful (even ripper swarms can score now). You might not always field 40 Termagants and 40 Hormagants. but 20 man squads are reasonable even at lower points cost games.

Not a bad build, plenty of folks run 50/50 with good results. I prefer running a 2/1 ratio, so 20 Spinegaunts+ 10 Devils, 160 points.

Whats the benefit if the spinegaunts? Just twinlinking?

"Benefit" is likely too strong a term. You lose a Strength, and gain twin link, vs some targets they are better, vs others the same, vs high Toughness they are inferior.

I model them for the "look" "Vanilla" termigants don't look "right" to me....they look like they have guns, Spinegaunts look like organic weapons. That is why they cost zero to take. Vs AM/IG I find them to be better, than the generic.

And in general, the increased volume of fire makes up for the decreased wounding ability. The only reason to care is if you run Tervigons. The rule ought to say Base Termigant, or eguivelant , but it does not. Poor rules writting in my opinion. But vs WAAC persons will make a drama, so be prepared.