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I'm a bit bewildered by all the options and combinations, can't seem to build a Dakkafex that can really lay down the shooting and also bust heads in melee...

In 40k, units are generally best when specialized.

If you *must* have a multi-role carnifex, I suggest 4x devourers and acid maw, with bone mace and spore cysts.

You lose some shooting effectiveness, but are still doing statistically more than our old dakkafex, while having a passable melee statline and considerable durability.

Other than that, you could do 1 pair of scything talons, enhanced senses, spore cysts and a heavy venom cannon so you can plink away at vehicles as you plod up the board. The HVC isn't a terrible AT weapon, and it is pretty decent against some multi-wound infantry and fire support platforms.

Yea, depends what you want to do. There is no best. But the best one is the one that is most specialized to its role.

Since 8th is very much a shooting game you want shooty fex. one is for hordes (24 shots) other is heavy infantry/light vehicles (str 7)

Dakka fex can be 4 devourers or deathspitters, enhanced senses for extra B's. Spore cist to survive. Kronus or jorgumunder hive fleet adaptation

str00dles1 wrote:
Yea, depends what you want to do. There is no best. But the best one is the one that is most specialized to its role.

Since 8th is very much a shooting game you want shooty fex. one is for hordes (24 shots) other is heavy infantry/light vehicles (str 7)

I don't think that this hold true for tyranids. Generalists are good for the bugs, two of them cost less than 2 specialists and do more. Also, 8th WAS very much a shooting game... before the tyranids codex.

Good news is that the Nid dex is a model of internal balance so you aren't hamstrung if you take one over another.

That said, where you expect a carnifex of any variety to be great, close combat, it's really not with only Str.6 and a lowish number of attacks. Oddly, shooting almost always comes out better in almost any scenario.

Screaming killers are focused soley on CC which is obviously list and opponent dependant. They are still relatively slow which makes being in CC and bad touching your opponent tough. Against a slow army like guard that may not matter but good luck against any eldar factions. Why you would take this version over a same build general entry comes down to the better bio-plasma which you would have to decide if it's worthwhile.

Thornback is an interesting anti-infantry unit since all of its special rules focus on the infantry keyword. Taking it stock is not a bad choice since it's mixed for shooting and basically just throw it forward at your nearest enemy infantry unit. Not as useful against vehicles or monsters but it's not useless either. Further, it truly is a mixed shooting/CC build for better or worse.

General so far has come out the winner for any use I have for a carnifex. Currently using a hybrid free safety style fex with spore cysts, enhanced senses, HVC, and scything talons. It's good against anything and doesn't need malenthope babysitting but it also fits my list and style.

You want an army that can assault shooty armies and outshoot assaulty armies. So I would definitely prefer multi-role over specialised.

And the Kronos hivefleet is probably the least flexible of them all, except maybe gorgon. If in doubt, go for the 6+++ fnp.

Theres nothing wrong with gorgon for a 70/80% melee list gak even the shooty nids are not exactly bad in cc. The reroll of 1's to wound is good if useing lots of toxin, the chance to roll that 6 is good.

Sure it may not be "competitive" but its fluffy and theamed to the hive.
Though saying that an out there list with gargs dropping in with a tyrant and raveners/trygon popping up with stealers in tow and a spod full of pyrovores to clear the chaff or a large unit of warriors thats a lot of in your face t1 or hold them for t2 or later.

On a different note can a prime join a warrior squad in a spod? Wording seems ambiguous.

Skullhammer wrote:
Theres nothing wrong with gorgon for a 70/80% melee list gak even the shooty nids are not exactly bad in cc. The reroll of 1's to wound is good if useing lots of toxin, the chance to roll that 6 is good.

Sure it may not be "competitive" but its fluffy and theamed to the hive.
Though saying that an out there list with gargs dropping in with a tyrant and raveners/trygon popping up with stealers in tow and a spod full of pyrovores to clear the chaff or a large unit of warriors thats a lot of in your face t1 or hold them for t2 or later.

On a different note can a prime join a warrior squad in a spod? Wording seems ambiguous.

I see no ambiguity at all in “you may set up a HIVE FLEET INFANTRY unit”. One unit. A Warrior Squad and Prime are two units.

It shouldn’t be that way, but there you go.