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Hi all,

I'm new to Tyranids but have been reading up a hell of a lot. I take my time when it comes to painting, so painting hordes would likely drive me crazy - I just love the monstrous creatures though. I know that there are various Monstrous Creature lists but I was wondering if this one with Ripper Swarms for troops would be competitive? A Tervigon and 30 gants is probably best at most point levels I just don't think I could bring myself to paint 50+ gants. I do want to be able to enter tournaments and do well.

Total: 995
HQ
Flyrant 2TL Devour with BL Worms + ESG 240
Flyrant 2TL Devour with BL Worms 230 (ESG dropped for Venomthrope)

Troops
Ripper Swarm *3 +DS 45
Ripper Swarm *3 +DS 45

Elites
Venomthrope 45

Living Artillery Node
Warrior Brood +1 Barbed Strangler 100
3 Biovores 120
Exocrine 170

I'd keep the Biovores, Warriors and Venomthrope out of LoS (as best I could) and try to keep it within 6 inches of the Exocrine to give it 5+ cover at the very least (shrouded). It could probably use 3+ with some gants in front of it but alas. There is a lack of synapse but the rippers don't need it, HQ obviously fine and the warriors are providing synapse to the LAN. Exocrine can get away without it anyway.

I'd look to expand the army to 1500 this way, if the above is competitive would it remain so at this points level?

Total: 1495
HQ
Flyrant 2TL Devour with BL Worms + ESG 240
Flyrant 2TL Devour with BL Worms + ESG 240

Troops
Ripper Swarm *4 +DS 60 (20 points spare)
Ripper Swarm *3 +DS 45

Elites
Zoanthrope (synapse flexibility for the Carnifexes) 50

Heavy Support
Exocrine 170
Carnifex 2TL Devour with BL Worms 150
Carnifex 2TL Devour with BL Worms 150

Living Artillery Node
Warrior Brood +1 Barbed Strangler 100
3 Biovores 120
Exocrine 170

Is Tervigon +30 gants for troops the only competitive minimum troop choice really?

My WiP Exocrine - main carapace not painted yet:

C1tric wrote:
Hi all,

I'm new to Tyranids but have been reading up a hell of a lot. I take my time when it comes to painting, so painting hordes would likely drive me crazy - I just love the monstrous creatures though. I know that there are various Monstrous Creature lists but I was wondering if this one with Ripper Swarms for troops would be competitive? A Tervigon and 30 gants is probably best at most point levels I just don't think I could bring myself to paint 50+ gants. I do want to be able to enter tournaments and do well.

Total: 995
HQ
Flyrant 2TL Devour with BL Worms + ESG 240
Flyrant 2TL Devour with BL Worms 230 (ESG dropped for Venomthrope)

Troops
Ripper Swarm *3 +DS 45
Ripper Swarm *3 +DS 45

Elites
Venomthrope 45

Living Artillery Node
Warrior Brood +1 Barbed Strangler 100
3 Biovores 120
Exocrine 170

I'd keep the Biovores, Warriors and Venomthrope out of LoS (as best I could) and try to keep it within 6 inches of the Exocrine to give it 5+ cover at the very least (shrouded). It could probably use 3+ with some gants in front of it but alas. There is a lack of synapse but the rippers don't need it, HQ obviously fine and the warriors are providing synapse to the LAN. Exocrine can get away without it anyway.

I'd look to expand the army to 1500 this way, if the above is competitive would it remain so at this points level?

Total: 1495
HQ
Flyrant 2TL Devour with BL Worms + ESG 240
Flyrant 2TL Devour with BL Worms + ESG 240

Troops
Ripper Swarm *4 +DS 60 (20 points spare)
Ripper Swarm *3 +DS 45

Elites
Zoanthrope (synapse flexibility for the Carnifexes) 50

Heavy Support
Exocrine 170
Carnifex 2TL Devour with BL Worms 150
Carnifex 2TL Devour with BL Worms 150

Living Artillery Node
Warrior Brood +1 Barbed Strangler 100
3 Biovores 120
Exocrine 170

Is Tervigon +30 gants for troops the only competitive minimum troop choice really?

My WiP Exocrine - main carapace not painted yet:

Looks pretty nice. Tervigon is by no means a mandatory choice. In fact it is kind of "on the outs" with the net these days.

I don't know if a second Exocrene is the best possible choice though... Building is in part a matter of style, so different folks like different lists...for me, I would want more table presence, and I like to use a screen to make my Big Bugs more durable. Considering your aversion to painting hords, I suggest looking at two more swams of Rippers. In Maelstrom having durable, mobile Objective Secured is golden. The extra points could purchase a second Elite choice, maybe a Malanthrope.

Minor nit pick: I always recommend the Strangler for a Warrior Brood, Except when it is inside a LAN...the LAN grants pinning, and re-rolls, so the Venom becomes a better choice.

In general Tyranids really Need Shrouding to cover them for the first few turns, so adding a source back in at 1500 seems called for.

Good luck! And welcome to the Hive Mind!

Thanks for your feedback, it makes me more confident given how new to the Hive I am . Really good shout on the Venom for the Warrior Brood, it's indeed better value given the LAN benefits. I think that finishes the 1000 list then unless I've misinterpreted anything

On to the 1500 list. 3 things to consider by the looks of it: 1) table presence for mobile obj sec, 2) screen for the big bugs, 3) shrouding needed in this list as well.

Whilst I do look forward to using 2 Exocrine (I feel that 1 will draw too much fire given it's my AP2 source); if I remove 1 as suggested it does give me the points to cover some of the flaws you have rightly pointed out. I can achieve 1) and 3) by adding a couple of Venomthropes and a couple of extra Ripper Swarm Broods. Do Swarms provide cover saves for Monstrous Creatures? I remember there was a point where they didn't but can't find it in the 7th ed BRB so maybe that's changed and they do now?

The Malanthrope looks awesome but I'm hesitant to bring it as I'm concerned it suddenly makes my list 'Forge World' which may restrict who I play against. I assume using the LAN data slate wouldn't have this same effect? The data slates are widely accepted as they come from GW I assume?

Amended 1500 list - total: 1491
HQ
Flyrant 2TL Devour with BL Worms + ESG 240
Flyrant 2TL Devour with BL Worms + ESG 240

Troops
Ripper Swarm *3 +DS 45
Ripper Swarm *3 +DS 45
Ripper Swarm *4 52 (to provide cover)
Ripper Swarm *3 39 (to provide cover)

Elites
Zoanthrope (synapse flexibility for the Carnifexes) 50
Venomthrope 45
Venomthrope 45

Heavy Support
Carnifex 2TL Devour with BL Worms 150
Carnifex 2TL Devour with BL Worms 150

Living Artillery Node
Warrior Brood +1 Venom Cannon 100
3 Biovores 120
Exocrine 170

Is this better ? part of me thinks that the increased use of ripper swarms for cover makes me less efficient. Should I just suck it up and make gant screens ?

looks "better" I usually baby sit the LAN with a Veno, and park in some terrain so I Want the Exocrene to be shot at, that lets the Carafexen close in. Personally I use x15 Broods of Hormagaunts to screen my Dakkafexen, but that means painting gribblies

As is, I'd run all four Ripper groups as x3, DS so you always have the tool available. You mayfind your Dakkafexen too vulnerable to fire, if you do, well I get very good use out of Hormagaunts.

I like to use synergy, so I form up a Dakkafex, a Veno, a Synapse (Zoey, or Warrior Brood) and a screen. That gives an enhanced cover save to the Big Bug, and the force multipliers, and the Hormies are quite durable, because they don't get shot in the first place. By using the parts together, you get a much better performance IMHO.

Good luck, and welcome to the Hive Mind!

Does anyone else have any opinions ? The more the better!

If you're looking for a screen Termagants/Hormagaunts do it better than Rippers. They're bigger so actually provide a cover and have a large footprint to bubble wrap your MC. Hormagaunts are better since they can run D6+3" with Fleet so won't get in the way of your advancing bugs but Termagants are cheap.

I also think changing one Venomthrope to another Zoanthrope would benefit you more. Its easy to hide the Venomthrope behind the Exocrine/Carnifex to block Line of Sight and the two extra WC from the additional Zoanthrope mean the Flyrants can have more fun (in addition, you also get access to another chance to Onslaught your bugs with the Zoanthrope)

Dataslates and FW are cool. FW has that 'OP' thing around it but honestly most of the units are balanced or gak.