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Hi,

I'm new to wh40k and I' building a list to play vs some friends (mainly IG, BA and Necrons).

I was thinking of this:

HQ

Flyrant with 2x TL devourers 230

Troops

10x hormogaunts. 50
10x hormogaunts. 50
5x genestealers. 70

Total. 400


What do you guys think of this list?
What do you suggest I'd do with the remaining 100pt? I'd prefer to have some synapse for my hormies.

Greets.

The simplest would be Warrior Brood, x3, Strangle Cannon 100 points. Troops, with Synapse, and a pinning blast. And they can do just fine in CC.

Two Zoanthropes would provide you the 'heavy guns' that you're missing. And it can run with the rest of your models. I'd ditch the Genestealers for the same points worth of Termagants though. 17 or such Termagants or 10 with however many Devourers would be better than five Genestealers that have zero survivability.

Don't expect much from Tyranids until you're up to atleast 1000pts. I've been playing mostly small games for a while now and Tyranids only got fun at 1000 and above. The Synapse models just cost too many points to really be able to buy the hordes that are needed to feel like Nids.

pinecone77 wrote:The simplest would be Warrior Brood, x3, Strangle Cannon 100 points. Troops, with Synapse, and a pinning blast. And they can do just fine in CC.

Yes. I was thinking of that but then I read Warriors have a really bad survivability? But I love the models!

SharkoutofWata wrote:Two Zoanthropes would provide you the 'heavy guns' that you're missing. And it can run with the rest of your models. I'd ditch the Genestealers for the same points worth of Termagants though. 17 or such Termagants or 10 with however many Devourers would be better than five Genestealers that have zero survivability.

Don't expect much from Tyranids until you're up to atleast 1000pts. I've been playing mostly small games for a while now and Tyranids only got fun at 1000 and above. The Synapse models just cost too many points to really be able to buy the hordes that are needed to feel like Nids.

Good to know, thanks! We'll be playing 500pt just to learn the game. We'll be upgrading really fast shortly.

Are Zoanthropes worth it? Just one wound and unreliable anti-tank (that's what I've read). What about ditching the genestealer (with pain in my heart , I love the models and story behind them ) and take a Warrior Brood (9W 4+ is better than 4W 3+?) without upgrades? Then I have 20 hormo supported by 3 warriors while the flyrant shoots them up (I've read that he can do a lot!). Then I still have 80pt left, would you have a suggestion other than the termas? Or are they simply the best choice?

Edit: what about a biovore (or two)? Or are they nothing compared to termas?

Greets!

The game has gotten so powerful that S8+ AP1-3 is increadibly common. And since you have no tanks, being Tyranids and all, and a single shot of a weapon like that likely won't hit a Flyrant, needing a six to hit, they often aim at your next biggest bugs. One shot from S8+ instant kills a Warrior. A Zoa on the hand has an Invulnerable Save that it takes no matter what. And two Zoas in a brood means Warp Blast is shot twice if it goes off. It is unreliable, but so unreliable that you shouldn't try. I have good luck with throwing five warp charges at Warp Blast and you will have 5+ minimum every psychic phase. Two from the Tyrant, two from the Zoas and D6 generated and the lowest number is a one.

But, I actually think Biovores would make a good alternative. Certainly something worth trying. They don't put out a lot of damage per round and I haven't used them consistently in ages, but it does fill in the gap of killing weaker enemies without tying up a Gaunt brood. You might have some good luck with that.

 SharkoutofWata wrote:
The game has gotten so powerful that S8+ AP1-3 is increadibly common. And since you have no tanks, being Tyranids and all, and a single shot of a weapon like that likely won't hit a Flyrant, needing a six to hit, they often aim at your next biggest bugs. One shot from S8+ instant kills a Warrior. A Zoa on the hand has an Invulnerable Save that it takes no matter what. And two Zoas in a brood means Warp Blast is shot twice if it goes off. It is unreliable, but so unreliable that you shouldn't try. I have good luck with throwing five warp charges at Warp Blast and you will have 5+ minimum every psychic phase. Two from the Tyrant, two from the Zoas and D6 generated and the lowest number is a one.

But, I actually think Biovores would make a good alternative. Certainly something worth trying. They don't put out a lot of damage per round and I haven't used them consistently in ages, but it does fill in the gap of killing weaker enemies without tying up a Gaunt brood. You might have some good luck with that.

Thanks for the input. If I'd take 2 Zoanthropes, I have 70pt left, being good for one biovore and 30pt left.
Anyone else got some suggestions?

Greets

Hiveovermind wrote:

pinecone77 wrote:The simplest would be Warrior Brood, x3, Strangle Cannon 100 points. Troops, with Synapse, and a pinning blast. And they can do just fine in CC.

Yes. I was thinking of that but then I read Warriors have a really bad survivability? But I love the models!

SharkoutofWata wrote:Two Zoanthropes would provide you the 'heavy guns' that you're missing. And it can run with the rest of your models. I'd ditch the Genestealers for the same points worth of Termagants though. 17 or such Termagants or 10 with however many Devourers would be better than five Genestealers that have zero survivability.

Don't expect much from Tyranids until you're up to atleast 1000pts. I've been playing mostly small games for a while now and Tyranids only got fun at 1000 and above. The Synapse models just cost too many points to really be able to buy the hordes that are needed to feel like Nids.

Good to know, thanks! We'll be playing 500pt just to learn the game. We'll be upgrading really fast shortly.

Are Zoanthropes worth it? Just one wound and unreliable anti-tank (that's what I've read). What about ditching the genestealer (with pain in my heart , I love the models and story behind them ) and take a Warrior Brood (9W 4+ is better than 4W 3+?) without upgrades? Then I have 20 hormo supported by 3 warriors while the flyrant shoots them up (I've read that he can do a lot!). Then I still have 80pt left, would you have a suggestion other than the termas? Or are they simply the best choice?

Edit: what about a biovore (or two)? Or are they nothing compared to termas?

Greets!

Well, it may be "meta" dependant. I have had no problem with Warriors staying alive. But I keep them in cover. As you go up in points, you should take a good look at adding a Formation, and most every one uses a Brood of Warriors. So I suggest you get used to using them.

The most important slots (after you take as many Winged Tyrants as you can ) Are Heavy, and Elite. Filling Elite is simple, take a Zoey Brood, and a Veno Brood. It's the third one that is dependant on your personal style.

Biovores can do very well, and one of the "best" Formations is "Living Artillery" so getting up to three is not an unreasonable plan.

Sadly Genestealers are over priced for what they do, but in lower point games where fire power is much lighter, they can still be effective, most of the time...

Heavy is also best chosen based on your style, fortunately there are few "bad" choices. I really like Mawloc, so one or two is a good purchase in my judgment. The other main choice is Tyrannofex, or Carnifex?

Carnifexen work best with multiples, so that the foe has a hard time picking a single target, so taking one often works best if it is one of a pair, or a threesome. Tyrannofex is the toughest Big Bug we have (save 2+) but Carnifexen have a S9. and do D3 HOW on a charge.

So I would fill out the Heavy slots as: Tyrannofex: Acid Spray, Thorax Hive, Adrenal Gland 200, twin Mawlocs. 480 points for three powerfull Big Bugs.

Or, Twin Dakkafexen, 300 points, and a Mawloc.... 440 points for a serious threat profile.

pinecone77 wrote:

Hiveovermind wrote:

pinecone77 wrote:The simplest would be Warrior Brood, x3, Strangle Cannon 100 points. Troops, with Synapse, and a pinning blast. And they can do just fine in CC.

Yes. I was thinking of that but then I read Warriors have a really bad survivability? But I love the models!

SharkoutofWata wrote:Two Zoanthropes would provide you the 'heavy guns' that you're missing. And it can run with the rest of your models. I'd ditch the Genestealers for the same points worth of Termagants though. 17 or such Termagants or 10 with however many Devourers would be better than five Genestealers that have zero survivability.

Don't expect much from Tyranids until you're up to atleast 1000pts. I've been playing mostly small games for a while now and Tyranids only got fun at 1000 and above. The Synapse models just cost too many points to really be able to buy the hordes that are needed to feel like Nids.

Good to know, thanks! We'll be playing 500pt just to learn the game. We'll be upgrading really fast shortly.

Are Zoanthropes worth it? Just one wound and unreliable anti-tank (that's what I've read). What about ditching the genestealer (with pain in my heart , I love the models and story behind them ) and take a Warrior Brood (9W 4+ is better than 4W 3+?) without upgrades? Then I have 20 hormo supported by 3 warriors while the flyrant shoots them up (I've read that he can do a lot!). Then I still have 80pt left, would you have a suggestion other than the termas? Or are they simply the best choice?

Edit: what about a biovore (or two)? Or are they nothing compared to termas?

Greets!

Well, it may be "meta" dependant. I have had no problem with Warriors staying alive. But I keep them in cover. As you go up in points, you should take a good look at adding a Formation, and most every one uses a Brood of Warriors. So I suggest you get used to using them.

The most important slots (after you take as many Winged Tyrants as you can ) Are Heavy, and Elite. Filling Elite is simple, take a Zoey Brood, and a Veno Brood. It's the third one that is dependant on your personal style.

Biovores can do very well, and one of the "best" Formations is "Living Artillery" so getting up to three is not an unreasonable plan.

Sadly Genestealers are over priced for what they do, but in lower point games where fire power is much lighter, they can still be effective, most of the time...

Heavy is also best chosen based on your style, fortunately there are few "bad" choices. I really like Mawloc, so one or two is a good purchase in my judgment. The other main choice is Tyrannofex, or Carnifex?

Carnifexen work best with multiples, so that the foe has a hard time picking a single target, so taking one often works best if it is one of a pair, or a threesome. Tyrannofex is the toughest Big Bug we have (save 2+) but Carnifexen have a S9. and do D3 HOW on a charge.

So I would fill out the Heavy slots as: Tyrannofex: Acid Spray, Thorax Hive, Adrenal Gland 200, twin Mawlocs. 480 points for three powerfull Big Bugs.

Or, Twin Dakkafexen, 300 points, and a Mawloc.... 440 points for a serious threat profile.

Awesome! Thanks for the feedback but I'd rather use a little more units. My friend with the IG army got 50 units+ in his army. Also because we'll mainly be playing with objectives for fun. And I'd love to buy a tervigon for a later (1000pt) army, so no losses there. I'm considering a swarm box (so cheap for what it is and I can almost use everything in a bigger army?). So for now I was thinking of this:

HQ

Flyrant with 2x TL devourers. 230

Elites

Zoanthrope brood. 50
Zoanthrope brood. 50

Troops
10x hormogaunt. 50
10x termagant. 40
10x termagant. 40
10x termagant. 40


Total: 500

Or would you guys rather drop one termagant brood for a biovore'

Looks pretty nice. Yeah, if you get the Swarm box, a box of Warriors, and a Tyrant, you can make a good force up to about 1200. A pair of Zoeys are very good as well. Good luck! And welcome to the Hive Mind!

pinecone77 wrote:
Looks pretty nice. Yeah, if you get the Swarm box, a box of Warriors, and a Tyrant, you can make a good force up to about 1200. A pair of Zoeys are very good as well. Good luck! And welcome to the Hive Mind!

Awesome, nice to hear that, thanks!

Would you use the hormos or swap them for an extra zoan?

Well, unlike many, I like Hormagaunts. The main thing different I would consider is making the Broods bigger. I usually run Hormies at x15, and Termagants at x20....it makes them fairly durable, and gives a nice "table presence".

I think the "key" to getting good results with Nids is Synergy. The idivigual units are so-so, but they can work together to produce very powerfull effects.

My favorite "trick" is something I call a "Bug Star"...for example:

Hormagaunt Brood, x15 75 points
Dakkafex (Carnifex, twin sets of Brain Leeches) 150
Warrior Brood, x3 , Strangle Cannon 100
Venothrope Brood, solo 45

Total cost 370

The Hormies provide a cover save to the Big Bug, and friends, the Veno adds Shroud (+2 Cover saves), The Warrior Brood provides Synapse, and a pinning Blast, and the Dakkafex is the big scarey monster!

The Hormies are used because of their speed (Fleet, and +3" run) so they do not hold up the Big Bug. Because the Dakkafex is the main threat, and so attracts most of the fire, the rest of the group is fairly durable. Once you get into charge range the Hormies can take the Overwatch, just like the fluff, and the Warriors, and Dakkafex can join the combat(s) as needed.

Both the Hormagaunts, and the Warriors are Objective secured (if you run a Battle forged CAD) and you can generate vast amounts of fire as well. Replace the Warriors with Zoeys and you gain powers of the Hive Mind! that replace the Cannon, and fearsome CC of the Warriors. (and a Warp Blast/ Lance )

I build one bugstar around a Big Bug at low point games, and try to build a second at higher point games.


Late entry: a second example:

Hormies, x15 75
Tyrannofex, Acic, Thorax, Adrenal Gland 200
Zoanthrope: solo 50 points
Veno, solo 45

Same cost...