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Hey everyone!
So, as well as my Dark Eldar forces, I am also employing a Tyranid army to play against my girlfriend (she runs CSM - my old army).
If I can get a solid 'nids list going, I may even take it to the shop I play at to change up from my DE, as everyone there seems to enjoy IG and SM for the most part (of course there are a couple Eldar players as well).

I hope I'm not overstaying my welcome by posting a second list on here!

Anyways, here is my 1500 point list! Deconstruct as you wish! As always, any solid unit additions to this list are welcome, and I am open to all criticisms!

1500 p

HQ (480 p)
- Hive Tyrant
+ Wings
+ 2x TL Devourer
+ Electroshock Grubs

- Hive Tyrant
+ Wings
+ 2x TL Devourer
+ Electroshock Grubs

Elites (145 p)
- Venomthrope

- Zoanthropes (2)

Troops (335 p)

- Termagants - Fleshborers (30)

- Tervigon
+ Crushing Claws
+ Cluster Spines


Heavy Support (150 p)
- Carnifex
+ 2x TL Devourers

Formation - Living Artillery Node (390 p)
- Biovores (3)

- Tyranid Warriors (3)
+ Barbed Strangler

- Exocrine

Thanks in advance!

If you run so many Termas already, I'd think about making a unit of 30 and changing the Tyrannofex for a Tervigon as a Troop Choice!

robse100 wrote:
If you run so many Termas already, I'd think about making a unit of 30 and changing the Tyrannofex for a Tervigon as a Troop Choice!

Good call!
I do have a Tervigon model too, so that would be easy to pull off

I wasn't sure how she'd fit in... But the increase in troops wouldn't hurt, and neither would another Synapse! Now I'm thinking Crushing Claws and Cluster Spines for her. Would that be viable?

Should I try to fit in the Tyrannofex still? Or am I better off without it with this list? With the Tervigon as another synapse, I could drop the warriors maybe.

Edit: Rebuilt the list with a Terv and without Tyranno. How does that look?

Nah, I don't think you'd need the Tyrannofex then, it seems like another addition in that direction. CC and CS seems good to me.

I'm not really sure who would go with whom in your list right now - the Flyrant seems a little lonely, as well as the Trygon does. Do you send your Horms with your Warriors and your Carnifex and the Tervigon with the Terms? Or is there another plan?
I'd also think about removing the Trygon completely and adding another Flyrant - though I don't know if it fits your playstyle

If you drop the prime upg and the AG on those termagants you free up 100 points to get more bugs in your list (although I personally would suggest 2 biovores)

robse100 wrote:Nah, I don't think you'd need the Tyrannofex then, it seems like another addition in that direction. CC and CS seems good to me.

I'm not really sure who would go with whom in your list right now - the Flyrant seems a little lonely, as well as the Trygon does. Do you send your Horms with your Warriors and your Carnifex and the Tervigon with the Terms? Or is there another plan?
I'd also think about removing the Trygon completely and adding another Flyrant - though I don't know if it fits your playstyle

Okay, awesome! I will stick to the CC and CS on Tervi then!

I was thinking about the Trygon using his DS and bringing the hormas in through reserves behind enemy lines, with the Carni and Tervi hanging out with the terms... But now that I am typing it out, my list is kind of falling apart there!

After a little thinking here, I am definitely leaning towards a second Flyrant... And adding in Biovores as warren0110 suggested (I am also reading a different thread about those guys and they sound awesome, so good timing warren! )

Yeah, a second Tyrant is the strongest choice. Not much to add, you have a lot of points tied up in upgrades, that do not give much value. Adrenals are cool, but expensive, so you'd be better off spending the points on more units/figures. Likewise the Norn Crown is dang expensive, just adding another Synapse is likely a better plan...Or leave your Synapse as is and invest in something else, for the cost of a Norn Crown+ Hormagaunt you could add a second Venothrope...

pinecone77 wrote:
Yeah, a second Tyrant is the strongest choice. Not much to add, you have a lot of points tied up in upgrades, that do not give much value. Adrenals are cool, but expensive, so you'd be better off spending the points on more units/figures. Likewise the Norn Crown is dang expensive, just adding another Synapse is likely a better plan...Or leave your Synapse as is and invest in something else, for the cost of a Norn Crown+ Hormagaunt you could add a second Venothrope...

I was just wondering if I should drop those AG. I didn't think about the Norn Crown though, and with my added Tervigon, that should cover the extra synapse.

I, if you can't somehow tell, am pretty new to Nids (and the game in general! ), so I do have one more question. Regarding my Zoanthropes, am I better off splitting the two up? My only concern is if I am using them seperately, and one gets capped, that synapse area is toast.

So I am thinking, drop all AG, Norn Crown, and Trygon Prime, maybe the entire Hormagaunt unit, and then add in 2 Biovores, another Flyrant, and possibly another Carnifex.... Though I am still unsure how my tactics should go hahah

You could use the Zoanthrophes seperately and try to cover them with some of the stronger units - I also play 2 Zoas and I think, I'll do the same.

Another Carnifex does not seem really useful to me, but what would you wanna use it for? Also, I do not really see the advantage of Biovores except you use the Living Artillery Node formation.

 vermisean wrote:

pinecone77 wrote:
Yeah, a second Tyrant is the strongest choice. Not much to add, you have a lot of points tied up in upgrades, that do not give much value. Adrenals are cool, but expensive, so you'd be better off spending the points on more units/figures. Likewise the Norn Crown is dang expensive, just adding another Synapse is likely a better plan...Or leave your Synapse as is and invest in something else, for the cost of a Norn Crown+ Hormagaunt you could add a second Venothrope...

I was just wondering if I should drop those AG. I didn't think about the Norn Crown though, and with my added Tervigon, that should cover the extra synapse.

I, if you can't somehow tell, am pretty new to Nids (and the game in general! ), so I do have one more question. Regarding my Zoanthropes, am I better off splitting the two up? My only concern is if I am using them seperately, and one gets capped, that synapse area is toast.

So I am thinking, drop all AG, Norn Crown, and Trygon Prime, maybe the entire Hormagaunt unit, and then add in 2 Biovores, another Flyrant, and possibly another Carnifex.... Though I am still unsure how my tactics should go hahah

Well, I personally use them as x2 Broods for durability. But that is a meta thing folks have learned that killing Zoeys is good, so I have to consider that, In general, it is much better to split them out, it gives you 2 more Warp Charges, and an extra Power of the Hive Mind!. If you do split them out try to hide them behind terrain, or near something that will attract fire.(to it, rather than the Zoey)

One of my favorite "tricks" is using a "Bug Star" of a unit of Gaunts, a Zoey, a Veno, and a Big Bug. Most of the fire goes at the big scarey Carnifex/Tyrannofex and more experienced players try to snipe out the Veno, that puts Zoey as #3 on the hit list.

Using a Zoey to baby sit Biovores is also a valid choice, etc...

A good basic "rule" to using Nids is to avoid upgrades, and buy more figures instead, it is almost always the correct answer.

robse100 wrote:You could use the Zoanthrophes seperately and try to cover them with some of the stronger units - I also play 2 Zoas and I think, I'll do the same.

Another Carnifex does not seem really useful to me, but what would you wanna use it for? Also, I do not really see the advantage of Biovores except you use the Living Artillery Node formation.

Yeah I am definitely leaning towards that... Providing I can cover them with some bigger units, it probably won't be an issue - Also, as pinecone77 mentioned, people would like to end the Zoeys! I do play with less meta-heavy folks generally so I might be okay with a loss of durability by bringing them seperately.

I was only thinking the extra Carnifex for some additional tank killing power (particularly against my IG friend).

For Biovores, I am quite liking the long-distance barrage idea, though without having played using them before I am not 100% sure how they work. Living Artillery Node does sound good though! I have seen it mentioned quite often!

pinecone77 wrote:

 vermisean wrote:

pinecone77 wrote:
Yeah, a second Tyrant is the strongest choice. Not much to add, you have a lot of points tied up in upgrades, that do not give much value. Adrenals are cool, but expensive, so you'd be better off spending the points on more units/figures. Likewise the Norn Crown is dang expensive, just adding another Synapse is likely a better plan...Or leave your Synapse as is and invest in something else, for the cost of a Norn Crown+ Hormagaunt you could add a second Venothrope...

I was just wondering if I should drop those AG. I didn't think about the Norn Crown though, and with my added Tervigon, that should cover the extra synapse.

I, if you can't somehow tell, am pretty new to Nids (and the game in general! ), so I do have one more question. Regarding my Zoanthropes, am I better off splitting the two up? My only concern is if I am using them seperately, and one gets capped, that synapse area is toast.

So I am thinking, drop all AG, Norn Crown, and Trygon Prime, maybe the entire Hormagaunt unit, and then add in 2 Biovores, another Flyrant, and possibly another Carnifex.... Though I am still unsure how my tactics should go hahah

Well, I personally use them as x2 Broods for durability. But that is a meta thing folks have learned that killing Zoeys is good, so I have to consider that, In general, it is much better to split them out, it gives you 2 more Warp Charges, and an extra Power of the Hive Mind!. If you do split them out try to hide them behind terrain, or near something that will attract fire.(to it, rather than the Zoey)

One of my favorite "tricks" is using a "Bug Star" of a unit of Gaunts, a Zoey, a Veno, and a Big Big. Most of the fire goes at the big scarey Carnifex/Tyrannofex and more experienced players try to snipe out the Veno, that puts Zoey as #3 on the hit list.

Using a Zoey to baby sit Biovores is also a valid choice, etc...

A good basic "rule" to using Nids is to avoid upgrades, and buy more figures instead, it is almost always the correct answer.

Luckily, we tend to play on some pretty terrain-heavy boards (works wonders for my DE!), so hiding the zoanthropes shouldn't be too tough! I do love the idea of some extra WC and another power!

Oooooh I am intrigued by this "Bug Star"! Maybe I will run one of my zoeys with it, and the other babysitting the biovores!

Ah, that tip is going to save me bigtime, especially looking over some of my previous lists! Hahaha AG + TS on all my troops! Thanks to you all, I know much better now!

What pinecone says sounds pretty well. I did not do it before though. But he's right that the Zoa is relatively save through that.

Living Artillery Node does, of course, cost some extra points to your list which you'll probably have to make space for first. I am not quite accurate on your current account though.

Okay here is a possible updated list with Living Artillery Node!

1500/1500 p

HQ (480 p)
- Hive Tyrant
+ Wings
+ 2x TL Devourer
+ Electroshock Grubs

- Hive Tyrant
+ Wings
+ 2x TL Devourer
+ Electroshock Grubs

Elites (145 p)
- Venomthrope

- Zoanthrope

- Zoanthrope

Troops (335 p)

- Termagants - Fleshborers (30)

- Tervigon
+ Crushing Claws
+ Cluster Spines

Heavy Support (150 p)
- Carnifex
+ 2x TL Devourers

Formation - Living Artillery Node (390 p)
- Biovores (3)

- Tyranid Warriors (3)
+ Barbed Strangler

- Exocrene


Thoughts - Would a Venom Cannon be better for the Warriors?
I feel like I need more troops!

Let me know what you think!

Nearly looks like the list I had planned now

I was switching out the LAN for some more troops then, though. Firstly, because it did not blow my budget out of its angles (Swarm box ftw), but also because I personally think that one of the best possibilities for AT with Tyranids is a huge load of troops.
I also got a Hive Crone and some Gargoyles, but that's more of a matter of taste.

You don't really need a Venom Cannon in my opinion, the list seems good as it is. Although, there is a little disconnection between your second Zoanthrophe and the rest of your army. Will you send it with the Tervigon and the Termas or with your LAN? Either way does not seem to fit a 100% perfectly imo.

robse100 wrote:
Nearly looks like the list I had planned now

I was switching out the LAN for some more troops then, though. Firstly, because it did not blow my budget out of its angles (Swarm box ftw), but also because I personally think that one of the best possibilities for AT with Tyranids is a huge load of troops.
I also got a Hive Crone and some Gargoyles, but that's more of a matter of taste.

You don't really need a Venom Cannon in my opinion, the list seems good as it is. Although, there is a little disconnection between your second Zoanthrophe and the rest of your army. Will you send it with the Tervigon and the Termas or with your LAN? Either way does not seem to fit a 100% perfectly imo.

Haha! Well then I know I am on the right track then!

I got the Swarm Box as well! What an awesome set!
I've been thinking about a flier at some point... but i need to save a little money first haha

Okay, I will stick to the barbed strangler then - I think I like it better for that group!

As far as the second zoanthrope, I was thinking about trying pinecone's "Bug Star" route, though with my LAN, I think I will be putting a fair amount of pressure on my opponent as it is. I am leaning towards doubling it up again with the other for the increased durability. But I could also drop the second zoey and outfit some termagants with devourers using those points...

Thanks so much for all the help! I really appreciate it!

You're welcome

Yeah, I thought you were going the "Bug Star"-thing (and honestly, I really like that), but my question was in regard of the one that does not go with the Carnifex and the Venomtrophe. Changging the second one for some Terma does not seem to wrong tbh, but it's somewhat a matter of taste imo.

Hmmm I think I should battle test it, see how it fares in a brood of two, then try another game with some extra termas!
You have been a huge help!