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I'm new to 40k (and the forum) and have gotten the tau battleforce. I don't know what is the best weapons and support systems config for a unit of 3. My friends have tyranids and space marines. Help?

I'm not very up-to-date with Tau, but generally it is very hard to go wrong with Missile Pod. More, the merrier. Missile-Plasma is also a good combination. Also, Multi-tracker so you can fire both of your weapons.

I could swear that the codex said that crisis battlesuits had multi trackers built in.

I think you should wait for the new codex to come out before doing anything

JamBull2507 wrote:
I could swear that the codex said that crisis battlesuits had multi trackers built in.

Yes they do, I misremembered.
Crisis suits have apparently changed very little between 6th and 7th edition codecies. Formerly special issue weapons, like AFP, are now general issue.

LucidNinja wrote:
I think you should wait for the new codex to come out before doing anything

A lot of people already have the codex. Just like the Space Marine codex, it was leaked early. And even if it wasn't, the XV8s aren't getting an update. The Relics aren't new. Everything for this topic can be read out of the old codex.

Its super easy to magnetize crisis suits so you should definitely do that so you can swap your weapons out.

Your best options are:
2Plasma Rifle and support system,usually target lock (i like to buy flamers here if these guys are going to be DSing without drones, this gives them good infantry killing power if needed and in overwatch you get d3hits + 2 plasma shots)

2Missile Pod and Targetlock: Purchase markerdrones and throw in a buffmander and you have a great team to mark units while your suits destory another with missiles.

2Fusion Blaster, with Targetlock if in a group: I always try to take atleast 1 of these per squad of crisis suits so they can pop a tank and kill something else. a 2FB solo suit makes for a super cheap and effective melta, allowing you to hurt/destroy a tank then JSJ away into cover or towards another vehicle.

2Cyclic Ion Blasters are now really good for DSing suits, the new codex makes these available to all suits no restrictions, str7 ap4 assault 3 is just an upgraded version of the MP for suits that plan to get close.

You can have up to 9 models in a unit of Crisis now. They come stock with Multitrackers and Blacksun Filters.

The best way is to slap 2 of the same weapons on a model.

2 Plasma - TEQ/MEQ/MC hunting
2 Fusion - anti-tank (can double as MC hunting as well)
2 AFP or 2 Burst Cannons - GEQ killers
2 MP or 2 CIB - all-rounders. CIB has 1/3 of the range, but 1 more shot than a MP.

Flamers... with AFP now, I think Flamers can be relegated to Overwatch duty. Without Homing Beacons close to the enemy, they won't do much.

Best thing to do is magnetize the model and weapons, this makes life a lot easier.

Like vector said, always run two of the same weapons. This just streamlines everything and doesnt cause target confusion.

I've tried all kinds of crisis suit configurations over the years and finally stuck with the following core choices for my army:


187 commander: 2x plasma rifle, shield generator, stimulant injector, iridium armour, onager gauntlet, neuroweb jammer

205 crisis(3) + 4x marker drone: 1x shas'vre /w TL missile pod, drone controller, 2x shas'ui /w TL missile pod, target lock, bonded
194 crisis(3) + 2x gun drone: 1x shas'ui /w 2x fusion blaster, target lock, 2x shas'ui /w 2x plasma rifle, advanced targeting system, bonded
208 crisis(3) + 2x gun drone: 1x shas'vre /w 2x fusion blaster, target lock, 2x shas'ui /w TL plasma rifle, missile pod, bonded

I always include a few drones to absorb some wounds when needed. The suits with the fusion blasters and target locks have been very successful in taking out high AV/toughness targets. I don't think its a good idea to make a squad comprising of entirely fusion blasters because they can easily find themselves out of position - spreading them out means each squad has the flexibility to deal with any threat. Lastly, I pimp out my commander because my opponents end up wasting a lot of fire power on him (pretty hard to take out T5 2+/4++ FnP as he's practically a ranged draigo). Every turn they shoot at him, it means my other suits get to live

Honestly I think its usually much more worthwhile doing a solo fusion suit. I don't think fusion belong in squads. Unless your doing a suicide squad...then its getting pricey.

 Hawkeye888 wrote:
Honestly I think its usually much more worthwhile doing a solo fusion suit. I don't think fusion belong in squads. Unless your doing a suicide squad...then its getting pricey.

The problem with solo is that it doesn't optimize Markerlight usage. BS3 won't cut to do 2 penetrating hits. I rather have at least 2 fusions models in a unit.

Now with the Hunter Contingent bonus, it's more appealing to go Monat-style (and/or Retaliation Cadre, as they come at BS4). But in a CAD... I rather not.