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This is basically designed as an all-comers list, hoping to enter it in the next big tournament that rolls into town. At the moment it will be employed against Space Marines, Chaos, and Eldar.

HQ
1) Shas’o
- Plasma Rifle, Fusion Blaster, Multi-tracker
2) Shas'el
- Plasma Rifle, Cyclic Ion Blaster, Target Array, hard-wired multi-tracker

ELITE:
1) 3x Stealthsuits, bonded
- 1x Shas’vre: Markerlight
- Target Arrays
2) 3x Stealthsuits, bonded
- 1x Shas’vre: Markerlight
- Target Arrays

TROOPS:
1) 12x Firewarriors, inc. Shas’ui, bonded 
Transport: Devilfish- Decoy launchers, 1x Seeker Missile
2) 12x Firewarriors, inc. Shas’ui, bonded
Transport: Devilfish- Decoy launchers, 1x Seeker Missile
3) 11x Kroot, 1x Kroot Hound

HEAVY SUPPORT:
1) Hammerhead
- Railgun, Smart Missile System, Multi-tracker, Target-lock, Disruption Pod
2) Hammerhead
- Railgun, Smart Missile System, Multi-tracker, Target-lock, Disruption Pod
2) 1x XV88 Shas’vre
- Advanced Stabilisation System, hard-wired multi-tracker

Comments and criticism needed. =)

Welcome to Mech Tau

First thing you need to know about Tau tournament lists is that FWs are not that good, in fact they're pretty bad. Most competitive Tau lists use a combination of Crisis (plasma, missile), Kroot and Hammerheads with Railguns.

However, that aside, lets have a look at your list:

Why did you choose a Shas'O over a Shas'el w/ array ? For the extra wound because he has to get so close ? If getting close is what you're worried about then adding Stims, a Shield generator, vectored thrusters, shield drones all help a lot keeping him alive.
Otherwise an array 'el is a more efficient choice.


Not bad, 4 Stealth w/ arrays makes a mean unit. However you don't need the 'vre upgrade to get bonding or the markerlight, the TmLd upgrade costs 5pts less and also has access to wargear. Also there is no real point in bonding a unit of 4 models or less, as when you're below 50% you only have one model left who has to take Last Man Standing Tests anyway. Save those 10pts per unit.


Not bad, just one small thing. Your Devilfish don't have MTs. Consider this: the multi-tracker costs 10pts, so does a FW. The MT gets you 1.5 shots per turn at 30", a FW only gets you 0.5 shots. Not only that, but the DF is going to survive longer, shoot more often and is mobile.

Damn pressed Submit by accident. Oh well.


Decoy Launchers are utterly obligatory, swap the d-pod for a decoy launcher.


Why do you need a multi-tracker ? The Railgun and the SMS aren't any good against the other's targets. You also don't need the 'vre upgrade here, TmLd would be enough for the multi-tracker. I suggest dropping the Multi-tracker and the 'vre upgrade, get a TmLd upgrade and get 1-2 Shield Drones. Shield Drones are awesome on XV88s, 2+/ 4+ is really good.


All in all a nice list, but not at all competitive. You have bucket loads of pulse fire which you don't need, in my competitive tournament list (currently unbeaten in 30 games, drew only against Zilla Nids) I have 6 Firewarriors and SMS on my Hammerheads, thats all the pulse fire I have.
What you need are Crisis suits, lots more Crisis suits. The strongest Tau list I know (the one I play) has 2 Fireknife (plasma, missile) 'els, 6 FK elite Crisis, 6 FWs, 3x10 Kroot and 3 Hammerheads w/ Railguns.

Mmm, thanks for the advice =).

I kept the Shas'o due to fluff reasons, but I did realize that it was 25 points I could've saved. You're right about the Stealth Suits, forgot about 'last man standing' completely when I made the units.

I've heard that firewarriors are next to useless in tournaments, but I decided to keep them, again for fluff reasons and I didn't feel that a single burstcannon justified a 10 point upgrade, but I'll look into that again. And I'll axe off the Broadside's multi-tracker.

In reserve, I only have one more XV8 that I can use, so I'll look into using that one. Thanks again!

Will post update list in a while..

>>HQ
>>1) Shas’o
>>- Plasma Rifle, Fusion Blaster, Multi-tracker

The El with array is more efficient, as others have pointed out.

>>2) Shas'el
>>- Plasma Rifle, Cyclic Ion Blaster, Target Array, hard-wired multi-tracker

I think both of these guys need missile pods.  The 'pods keep them in the fight the whole game.  With 36 inch range and str 7, they are ideal for killing the hordes of marine landspeeders you can expect to face.  I've tried to use fusion blasters on these guys before, but with three railheads and around 12 missile pod shots per turn, I really don't need them.

>>ELITE:
>>1) 3x Stealthsuits, bonded
>>- 1x Shas’vre: Markerlight
>>- Target Arrays

I like stealth teams, but consider a bonded 5 man unit with NO OTHER UPGRADES.  It puts out a respectable 15 shots a round and infiltrates.

In a tourney, you need more fireknife suits (plasma rilfe/missile pod). 

>>TROOPS:
>>1) 12x Firewarriors, inc. Shas’ui, bonded 
>>Transport: Devilfish- Decoy launchers, 1x Seeker Missile

Don't pay for the Shas'ui or bonding.  I know fire warriors aren't the best thing in the world, but 12 in a fish with SMS, BS 4, and the burst cannon can do pretty well.  Drop the Seeker Missile. 

>>HEAVY SUPPORT:
>>1) Hammerhead
>>- Railgun, Smart Missile System, Multi-tracker, Target-lock, Disruption Pod

Drop the Disruption pod for decoy launchers

>>2) Hammerhead
>>- Railgun, Smart Missile System, Multi-tracker, Target-lock, Disruption Pod

Ditto.

>>2) 1x XV88 Shas’vre

I'm not sure he fits in a mech list.  Piranas might do better.  At 1500, I can fit in three heads, 2 teams of 12 firewarriors in a fish, and around 6 crisis suits.  My crisis suits are extra exensive, because I modeled them with shield generators so that is what they get.  In general, I like to go for quantity over quality when it comes to Tau.

I'd be very interested to see how you fit that into 1500pts, care to post your list ? Don't want to threadjack though, how about a pm ?

Category Number pts
HQ
Shas'EL 1 Tracker, MP/Plasma, Shield 107

Shas'EL 1 Tracker, MP/Plasma, Shield 107


Elite
Crisis Team 2 MP/Plasma, Shield 154

Crisis Team 2 Linked Missiles/Shield 126

Troops
Fire 12 Targetting Array, SMS, Decoy 240
Warriors Multi-Tracker

Fire 12 Targetting Array, SMS, Decoy 240
Warriors Multi-Tracker

Heavy
Railhead 1 Railgun, SMS, Decoy 175
Multi-Tracker

Railhead 1 Railgun, SMS, Decoy 175
Multi-Tracker

Railhead 1 Railgun, 2xBurst Cannons, Decoy 165
Multi-Tracker

1489

Wow, so it is possible.

That is not really optimized either. I had the shield generators because I was of the opinion that suits needed them back in third ed, when there were far more armies that aimed to win up close and personal. Also, because GW was less clear about the 25% terrain guideline, there were always jerks who would throw a fit if there was ANY terrain on the board.

If you took the fire warrios down to 6 man teams and the optimized the suits (BS4), then you could easily run another fireknife squad.

The list is quite far from optimsied, Shield Gens are a joke really as the shield drones have become so good.

With 25% terrain, there really isn't much need for either the drones or the generators. Though, drones do have their place on broadside tearms.

Improved ballistic skill and the ability to fire 2 weapons are much better. Also, I'm not sold on the superiority of the SMS relative to two burst cannons on the hammerheads. It is a shame that there are only really two good weapons for the suits.

Shield Drones are very useful as they allow your Crisis to spend one turn in the open and survive. This is extremely useful if you're trying to get to another terrain piece that is more than 12" away. I always have 1-2 SDs on my Crisis and they save my Crisis from dying at least 3 times a game.

SMS is far superior to burst cannons. The ability to shoot over hills is extremely useful against opponent's who need terrain to stay alive (DE, Speed Freaks, raptors, bikers, jetbikes, etc etc). Also consider this: 6 SMS put out 24 shots at BS4 and cost 120pts. 12 FWs also cost 120pts but only put out 12 BS3 shots at 24". Not only that, but the SMS have an effective range of 36" and don't need LOS. If you have 4+ SMS mounted on skimmers you can rain down death on an target within 36" regardless of LOS.

The burst cannon is also really nice on Crisis, especially in CoD where cover saves make the plasma rifle much weaker. If you like playing between 18" and 24" from your opponent then the burst/missile config is more efficient than plasma/missile against MEq and weaker. And if you don't need any missile pods, then plasma/burst is the ultimate infantry killer.