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I'm a second ed player. Playing as tyranids against mostly space marines and chaos space marines. I have trouble winning games, based on the fact I'm left to approach the deadly front lines of multimeltas, bolt guns and missile launchers. The tyranids I have don't pack a lot of fire power, so I'm left with a lot of hand-2-hand models.

Here's a list of what I have;
Hive tyrant
Carnifex
Zoanthorpe
2 Lictors
3 Tyranid warriors
6 Genestealers
10 Gargoyles
12 Hormagaunts
12 Termagants

Roughly playing 1000-1250/1500 point battles.
The biggest challenges are the occasional dreadnought and the heavy weapons.


I can add any more info you need but I could really do with someone with 2nd ed knowledge who can help me.

kinda unhelpful but where do you play 2nd?

Just with friends, no tournaments or anything official

Though nids were a 3rd ed army addition. May have been second, I guess, been a while.

Nids has a serious dex in 2nd.

ImperialNids, are you using Dark Millennium ie Psychic powers? 2nd ed Nid powers were amazing.


You have a good collection of models. Basically you should use Termigants, Hormagaunts, and Gargs to screen the Stealers, and stealers to screen the Warriors, and Warriors to cover the big bugs.

You should split the stealers up into 2 units of 6, when they get into close combat nothing will survive against them.

Using the Lictors you should be able to disrupt the big shooting threats, they can infiltrate and assault on T1.

I had basically no trouble rolling marines and chaos marines with 2nd ed nids.

Yeah, More Dakka, we use dark millennium.
Thanks for having some 2nd ed knowledge, I know most won't either because they've been brought up on later editions, or they've simply forgotten the good old days.

The screening idea sounds like a good one, although I only own 6 gene stealers, I can access more. But they are pricey at 28 points a model, for tyranids.

I usually deploy my lictors on the vehicles, mainly the tanks and usually end up ripping the tracks off.

Dreadnoughts are usually the toughest however. Might deploy both lictors onto one next time. I often just use the zoanthorpes psychic powers with 30ish armour penetration.

ImperialNids wrote:
Yeah, More Dakka, we use dark millennium.
The screening idea sounds like a good one, although I only own 6 gene stealers, I can access more. But they are pricey at 28 points a model, for tyranids.

Been a while, but can't 2nd edition Genestealers consolidate into combat?

I remember this seriously awful game from way back where my Ultramarines were eaten by a 2nd edition Tyranid force consisting primarily of Genestealers. It was just too hard to shoot them all up.

 techsoldaten wrote:


Been a while, but can't 2nd edition Genestealers consolidate into combat?

I remember this seriously awful game from way back where my Ultramarines were eaten by a 2nd edition Tyranid force consisting primarily of Genestealers. It was just too hard to shoot them all up.

I think it's 2" for all units remaining after hand to hand. With only 6 genestealers though, they can't swarm as much as I'd want. 28 points each too. I'd love to be able to obtain/buy more - they're on my wishlist anyway.

Well I played the opposite side and from my recollection of 2nd edition I hated playing Tyranids with my Marines.

Biovores and Sporemines are a great addition to your army and Lictors are pretty amazing as well.

Like someone said earlier use the Termagants to screen the Genestealers.