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Hi all, After playing quite a few games of 40k, I've gotten, well bored with Space Marines. I don't like their play style, or really the fluff surrounding them. Tyranids is something that has interested me for awhile. I've always wanted to make a Xenomorph themed army, problem is, I have NO idea how Tyranid armies work. How to build them properly and field them. If it isn't too much trouble, could any players help me out with what models I should get first and any game tips? If it helps, I'd like to play a swarm army, with a bunch of units bearing down on the enemy sweeping through them with their numbers. Anyways, thanks for reading!

First you are going to want Synapse. Most players use a Hive Tyrant with Wings and Devourers.

Another OK option is a Tervigon, which allows you to spawn more termagants.

If your group allows dataslates you might want to take a look at both Endless Swarm and Skyswarm.

Skyswarm is a Flyrant, 2 Harpoes, a Hive Crone and 3 broods of Gargoyles. Gargoyles get ObSec, and when the unit is wiped out comes back on a 4+.

Endless Swarm is a Warrior Brood (which gives Synpase), 3 Termagant broods and a Hormagaunt Brood. Like the Gargoyles above tehy can come back on a 4+. This allows you to keep throwing them at your foes and drown them in your blood.


If your group allows Forgeworld, I'd recommend a look at IA4 2nd ed.


You might also want to tale a look at the Tyranids Tactics thread over in Tactics.

 HerrWombat wrote:
Hi all, After playing quite a few games of 40k, I've gotten, well bored with Space Marines. I don't like their play style, or really the fluff surrounding them. Tyranids is something that has interested me for awhile. I've always wanted to make a Xenomorph themed army, problem is, I have NO idea how Tyranid armies work. How to build them properly and field them. If it isn't too much trouble, could any players help me out with what models I should get first and any game tips? If it helps, I'd like to play a swarm army, with a bunch of units bearing down on the enemy sweeping through them with their numbers. Anyways, thanks for reading!

This is "generic" advise, as I say this real regular...Grab the "Swarm" box, a Hive Tyrant, and a box of Warriors. That will let you run an army from 500 to around 1250. After a few games, you'll have a good "feel" for what sort of list you like, and what the local "meta" looks like. Then you can build out by purchasing Big Bugs to fit your style.

At higher point games you'll almost certainly want a second Winged Dakka'rant, after that it just depends on what you like. Both Zoanthropes, and Venothropes provide exelent force multiplication for any sort of army you may fancy. Malanthropes are a Forge World model that is all the "hotness" right now.

I reserved 10 of the Hormagaunts from the Swarm Box, and converted them to Devilgaunts (Devourer armed gants) I have not regreted it yet.

If I recall correctly, the Swarm box, is 40 Termagants, 40 Hormagaunts, a Carnifex, 10 Gargoyles...and I think that is it. You'll find use for every one of them with little effort.

Just some late general advise...Don't get too happy with adding in Biomods, Nids do best with big blocks of vanilla models for the most part. Two: Twin devorers with Brain Leeches is just about the best load out for Big Bugs, but you should magnetize if you can. Warriors always want a Cannon, Strangle Thorn is usually the best choice.

Good luck! And welcome to the Hive Mind!


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Happyjew wrote:
First you are going to want Synapse. Most players use a Hive Tyrant with Wings and Devourers.

Another OK option is a Tervigon, which allows you to spawn more termagants.

If your group allows dataslates you might want to take a look at both Endless Swarm and Skyswarm.

Skyswarm is a Flyrant, 2 Harpoes, a Hive Crone and 3 broods of Gargoyles. Gargoyles get ObSec, and when the unit is wiped out comes back on a 4+.

Endless Swarm is a Warrior Brood (which gives Synpase), 3 Termagant broods and a Hormagaunt Brood. Like the Gargoyles above tehy can come back on a 4+. This allows you to keep throwing them at your foes and drown them in your blood.


If your group allows Forgeworld, I'd recommend a look at IA4 2nd ed.

Minor nit-pick, Endless is Warrior Brood, x3 Hormagaunts, x3 Termagants...

You might also want to tale a look at the Tyranids Tactics thread over in Tactics.

Just a small bit to add, Formations are your friend. That's the way of Nids right now, to use as many Formations as possible for added benefit. Living Artillery, Skyblight and I forget the other popular one. Endless Swarm gives a good amount of help to the gribblies with respawns of all things...

If you want Xenomorphs, look at 3rd edition models in eBay. Forge World is also still selling a circa 3rd Edition style Tyrant kit new that looks infinitely better than the hunchback chimney samurai that is modern walking Tyrants. But, a Flyrant is still a must-have unit no matter the aesthetics.

Things to add to get to a 1500-1850 Swarm Army:
2 Malanthropes if forgeworld are allowed where you play. If not (Why not?) then 2 Zoenthropes and 2 Venomthropes.
2 Flyrants, but I would encourage you to magentize one of their wings so that you can use it as the Swarmlord. The Swarmlord is very effectively in Swarm armies, but is generally inferior to the Flying Dakka Tyrant (Hive Tyrant w/ wings, 2 TL-Devourers, E. Grubs).
3 Warriors. These are required for most formations, and are a good backfield support unit for a swarm. One of them needs a heavy weapon, preferably a Barbed Strangler.
60 Termagants (20 of those should be Devourer gants, and the rest can be Fleshborer or Spinefists)
40 Hormagants.
20 Gargoyles.
3 Tyrant guard.
3 Hive guard (same kit as the Tyrant guard, if you can magnetize, go for it)
3 Carnifexes. I would magnetize these, though generally dakka-fexes are the way to go.

Things to Add later:
2-3 Crones
1-2 Mawloc
6 Shrikes (Rending Claws + Devourers on 4, BS+LW on 2, or just magnetize them all)
Tyrannofex (Save kit as the Tervigon magnetize if you want)
6 Ripper Swarms <- These are used mainly by those who don't like gants.
Tyranid Prime <- This is a special warrior. He is very, very expensive for what he does, but can work inside a swarm army
Exocrine
3 Biovores
More Gants, Warriors, Gargoyles to taste.

Things that are really low priority for the current edition:
Tervigon
Deathleaper
Dimachaeron
Harpy (unless you want to run skyblight)
Raveners (unless you want to run a beastback)

Things that are really bad, and should probably be avoided:
Old One Eye
Pyrovore <- King useless.
Genestealers
Lictors
Haruspex
Trygon
Trygon Prime

If I were starting over, I'd scour Ebay for used lots of Hormagaunts and Termagants - would probably get about 50 of each. If you can pay less than $0.75/ea including shipping, you're doing okay. Gargoyles are basically a requirement for the type of list you're looking for: fast, large numbers, can deal with most opponents. Two flyrants, a few Zoanthropes to provide Synapse to the hordes, maybe a few ripper swarms to DS into the backfield.

I'm a big fan of the big bugs, myself - but hordes can work. Either way, you need Venomthropes/Malanthropes to keep everything alive.