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Ok, another try on my new Tau list.

First of all some general thoughts:
1) Commander + Crisis are my midfield unit.
They provide mobile high precision markerlights + decent firepower with their Missilepods.
Thanks to the Puretide Chip they can easily take on vehicles and monstrous creatures from a distance.

2) Shadowsun is joining Stealth Team No. 1
No Shas'vre needed here because of shadowsuns leadership.
The fusion blaster does not get the target lock because of shadowsuns splitfire rule - now I can focus 3 Fusions on 1 target while the burstcannons target other units wherever needed.
(Since shadowsun always has to at least fire one shot at the units target one shot would be wasted.)

3) Strike Teams can run + shoot
so they essentially don't need a devilfish anymore to be mobile.
They either stay home or push forward to secure objectives and set up support turrets to enforce their positions.

4) Pathfinders use scout to get into markerlight range
I used to not use scout since the always were pretty much alone out there and the most easy targets for shooting and assaults.
With the Stealth Cadre and 12'' supporting fire they should be fine outside my (non existent) gunline.

5) Ghostkeel - not sure about loadout
I could make him another fusion-beast or give him the ion raker. Matt from miniwargaming even considered him his Anti-Air unit of choice with an ion raker.
The idea is, that the Ghostkeel (with velocity tracker!) can fire at BS4 and hits the flyers rear armor and ignores cover (=jink) saves!
What do you think?

6) Anti-Air
As you will see, there is no dedicated anti-air unit in my force (yet).
Since I have 18 possible markerlights, a focused lasershow results in 3 hits approximately.
If the pathfinders get enough hits already, the Crisis unit will take a shot at the flyer because of the additional Monster-/Tankhunter.
Otherwise either Broadsides, Riptide or Ghostkeel will try - or all of them for the additional +1 BS.

7) Broadsides
I like the HRR because of how they look and feel - I know that Missilesides are better!
Any other advice is welcome ;-)

Hunter Cadre
*************** 2 HQs ***************
Commander (192)
- 2 x Missile Pods
- Dronecontroller
- Target Lock
- XV08-02 Crisis 'Iridium'
- Puretide Chip
+ 2x Markerdrone

Commander Shadowsun (155)
- Command-link Drone

*************** 2 Elites ***************
XV8 Crisis Team (243)
3 Shas‘ui
- 2x Missile Pods
- Target Lock
+ 6x Markerdrone

XV104 Riptide (225)
- sync. Smart Missile System
- Ionaccelerator
- Early Warning Override
- Stimulant Injector

*************** 3 Troops ***************
Strike Team (118)
12 Fire Warriors
- DS8 Tactical Support Turret

Strike Team (118)
12 Fire Warriors
- DS8 Tactical Support Turret

10 Kroot (70)
- Sniper rounds

*************** 2 Fast Attack ***************
5 Pathfinders (55)
5 Pathfinders (55)

*************** 1 Heavy Support ***************
XV88 Broadsides (253)
1 Shas'vre
2 Shas‘ui
- sync. Heavy Rail Rifle
- sync. Smart Missile System
+ Shas'vre
+ 4x Missile Drones


Optimised Stealth Cadre[u]
*************** 3 Elite ***************
XV25 Stealth Suits (105)
1 Shas'ui
- Fusionblaster
2 Shas’ui
- Burstcannon
- Target Lock

XV25 Stealth Suits (110)
1 Shas'vre
- Fusionblaster
- Target Lock
2 Shas’ui
- Burstcannon

XV95 Ghostkeel (140)
- Fusion Collider
- Twin-linked Fusionblaster

Total : 1829


As you see, there are 20 points left.
If I decided to change the ghostkeel to Ion Raker, Burstcannon + velocity tracker, I would have 5 points left for whatever...

--> could change the last 2 Units to this:

XV25 Stealth Suits (100)
1 Shas'vre
- Burstcannon
2 Shas’ui
- Burstcannon

XV95 Ghostkeel (140)
- Ion Raker
- Twin-linked Burstcannons
- Velocity Tracker

Total : 1849

On the ghostkeel, I personally don't like the collider. Especially if you're always hitting rear armor, a Raker should do the trick in most cases, especially if the keel has a VT.

List is okay. Not top tier but pretty good.

 McNinja wrote:
On the ghostkeel, I personally don't like the collider. Especially if you're always hitting rear armor, a Raker should do the trick in most cases, especially if the keel has a VT.

yeah that's what I thought aswell.
My only fear remains monstrous creatures, since I have only a few ap 3 or better weapons on board.
The raker is great for masses, but a FlyRant or other Tyranid stuff is gonna be hard...

The best bet against monstrous creatures in this list is the Riptide (and the Sniper Kroot xD), so I think I should change the SMS to either plasma or Fusion.

I wonder how this list would work against a Space Marines Army...

jakejackjake wrote:
List is okay. Not top tier but pretty good.

I didnt realize with the book being out for a day, that there was enough play testing and actual game play to establish "top tier", lol.

list looks solid enough, play test it and establish what tier it is at.

Co0n wrote:

 McNinja wrote:
On the ghostkeel, I personally don't like the collider. Especially if you're always hitting rear armor, a Raker should do the trick in most cases, especially if the keel has a VT.

yeah that's what I thought aswell.
My only fear remains monstrous creatures, since I have only a few ap 3 or better weapons on board.
The raker is great for masses, but a FlyRant or other Tyranid stuff is gonna be hard...

The best bet against monstrous creatures in this list is the Riptide (and the Sniper Kroot xD), so I think I should change the SMS to either plasma or Fusion.

I wonder how this list would work against a Space Marines Army...

For FMCs, the Raker can help force grounding checks, which is an S9 hit. The Riptide would be very good against FMCs/MCs. Honestly it would work pretty well in my opinion against SM armies. If you wanted, you could easily swap the missile pods on your crisis suits to plasma rifles.

The list is pretty weak to be honest. You've not really taken advantage of anything from the new book and you've wasted a lot of points.

Taking the Hunter Contingent but not taking a buffsuit is frankly bizarre. You're giving up ObSec and aren't really getting anything for it at the moment. You compound this with a bloated troops section which is getting almost no return. The Kroot are ok but Strikes should never be taken in units of more than 5 with a DS8 missile pod.

You've taken the Mark'o build which is good but you'll rarely need 8 Bs5 MLs at 1 target and by putting the PEN Chip in the same unit you can't even put your best MLs to use with your best buff.

Riptide could do with a Drone and Target Lock so he can join the CF and still fire his Ion independently.

Pathfinders are meh but you've not got the units that need them (the Stormsurge Missiles).

You know you're Broadsides are awful but atleast with EWO they could pretend to contribute. The lack of EWO across the list means drop pod lists will ruin you.

You've thrown points in the bin with the Stealth teams giving TLs to the burstcannons instead of just giving 1 to the fusion suit. The Ion Raker is miles better than the fusion blaster but if going with VT why not give it EWO to really worry flyers. Also why not go with 3 Ghostkeels? The Holophoton Coutermeasures make that the obvious choice then Fire Team makes it even clearer that it is 3 or none.

Tau have been weak since 7th dropped and I don't see how this list is even strong compared to what was possible with the last codex let alone this one...

 FlingitNow wrote:
The list is pretty weak to be honest. You've not really taken advantage of anything from the new book and you've wasted a lot of points.

Taking the Hunter Contingent but not taking a buffsuit is frankly bizarre. You're giving up ObSec and aren't really getting anything for it at the moment. You compound this with a bloated troops section which is getting almost no return. The Kroot are ok but Strikes should never be taken in units of more than 5 with a DS8 missile pod.

You've taken the Mark'o build which is good but you'll rarely need 8 Bs5 MLs at 1 target and by putting the PEN Chip in the same unit you can't even put your best MLs to use with your best buff.

Riptide could do with a Drone and Target Lock so he can join the CF and still fire his Ion independently.

Pathfinders are meh but you've not got the units that need them (the Stormsurge Missiles).

You know you're Broadsides are awful but atleast with EWO they could pretend to contribute. The lack of EWO across the list means drop pod lists will ruin you.

You've thrown points in the bin with the Stealth teams giving TLs to the burstcannons instead of just giving 1 to the fusion suit. The Ion Raker is miles better than the fusion blaster but if going with VT why not give it EWO to really worry flyers. Also why not go with 3 Ghostkeels? The Holophoton Coutermeasures make that the obvious choice then Fire Team makes it even clearer that it is 3 or none.

Tau have been weak since 7th dropped and I don't see how this list is even strong compared to what was possible with the last codex let alone this one...

I don't think this list is weak. It's not gamebreaking or cheesy either, but far from weak.


Buffmander is highly debatable right now and IMHO so cheasy it's not fun to play with.
The Puretide chip get's used already by whatever is shooting at the Drones target, so there is a pretty nice synergy already.

OFC I could add a drone to the riptide (actually wanted to do that, but no points), a stormsurge and 2 additional ghostkeels, but than it's not a 1850p list anymore. You forgett, that you can not just put everythin into your basket - you have to mind your budget.
Running 5 Firewarrios WITHOUT ObSec is recless since you get blown off any objective SO easily that it's just wasted points. even the DS8 turret would be just wasted because the unit is gonny be killed by any fart thrown at it. this way you have to at least deal 12 wounds to it.

I explained why the Stealths with the burstcannons got the TL and not the fusion one and you did not give a usefull argument why this is not good at all.

The only thing I agree with is putting EWO on the Broadsides, but there are no points left for that.

Yeah sorry missed the Stealth team TL explanation with Shadowsun that makes sense. Just think Shadowsun is a huge points waste. I didn't notice her because you have a Commander already so how are you even fielding her?

If you're giving your opponent the freedom to waste shots at Firewarriors you're doing something wrong or he is gifting you a tabling.

Yes to add stuff you have to drop stuff that's how points work...


Automatically Appended Next Post:
By weak I mean if you take this to a competitive event you haven't a prayer of winning or even finishing top half.

hmm yeah, shadowsun is illegal in this list...
hate that you cannot taker her in the hunter cadre >_>

could change the crisis to bodyguards, but thats a) more expensive and b) a huge pointwaste imho.