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Hey all,

I am not a nid player myself. That being said I usually play marines (SW and BA).
I have always liked the tyranid models.

So the reason I am looking into nids is, at my local store the only nid armies that show up are either all big things, or shooty fex's and rather few little thins.

I want to run an army that has lots of gargoyles (which I hear are not bad) and possibly some tervigon so I can have more gaunts.

I dont mind mc but I was thinking of having more small things than your opponent has for things and play a nice horde army,

I would be grateful for any advice on what to take for synapse as well as hq suggestions. I have rather little idea of what works well for nids in that sense.

Thanks all
Feel free to pm me with info and help

Cowpow

If your going horde, then there are a few niceties that stick out for you. Stock termagants are your all around 4+ cover save. Gargoyles are basically flying ranged hormagaunts. They are fantastic in hordes, on the charge especially. Now, for a cheap and reliable synapse, stick with Tyranid Warriors. They are cheap, multiwound, and generally easy to hide. Also, outfitted for close combat, they tend to destroy anything that they charge. Now, for some more reliable synapse and horde additions, youll probably want to take the Tervigons. They will keep giving you scoring units while giving them some nice blessings. The Swarmlord is your trump card. Like Mephiston ripping a hole right through an army, the Swarmlord does much the same thing with a ton of ID, while also being a synapse unit. If you need armor popping, Hive guard with Biovores for support will tend to thin things out rather well. Genestealers are situational. If you can land an entire brood in CC, you'll devastate. Also, for fun and also for practicing, I recommend you pick up a lictor to run for deathleaper and standard. I have noticed some rather interesting uses with them for sniping out heavy weapons and major models on a squad.

On a completely different note, how do you imagine Tyranids. Do you see them as some unstoppable force, throwing every unit into the fray with no regret? Honestly, I find that since Tyranids are so versatile, any strategy can work for them. Just feel out what you want your army of apex predators to do. Deepstrike behind the enemy, and ambush their units, the list can go on and on. Good luck though.

Wow... I'm not sure there's anything left to say.

Venomthropes will provide wonderful cover and defensive grenades for almost no cost. Hordes need them...

Unyielding Hunger got most of it and I completely agree that Tyranids are a lot more versatile than people give them credit. Tyranids can be both CC and shooting beasts depending on how you build the army.

For HQ, I would also mention that the only 2 independent character HQs are the Tyranid Prime and the Parasite of Mortrex. The Parasite is a special character and is a Jump Infantry independent character which works great with Gargoyles. Especially since Gargoyles are Instinctive Behavior - Lurk meaning if they are out of synapse they can be forced not to move or assault. It is important to maintaining synapse on them. Primes are your cheap HQ option but can are actually pretty good. They make great independent characters for blobs of Termagants and to a lesser extent Hormagaunts.

Tervigons are great for spawning more units and synapse coverage. They only spawn basic Termagants which have Guardsmen like stats and come equipped with a bolt pistol equivalent gun.

I personally have always wanted a Tyranid Warrior army. Primes in HQ, shooty warriors in Troops, melee warriors in Fast Attack. I will make that army one day.

Wow thanks for all the comments muchly appreciated.

I dont see them as a dumb horde that just throws waves upon waves onto the enemy.
Good there are some tactics to nids I just really want a ton of things going across the table making the opponent think oh dear emperor (or other god of any sort) there are soo many we are doooomed

The swarm lord really gets me going knowing now hes a good choice.

The warriors seem cool I like the look of claws and hooks and ya.

How big would you guys suggest the warrior units and the hive guard is there a golden number?

Dont really care all too much that the gaunts I spawn may sorta be not good. I think of it as more bodies that I dont pay points for sure why not.

How are rippers? worth taking or no?
I was thinking running them up with the gargoyles and just have em be up and in their face diverting shooting from the slower stuff that may need an extra turn to have it reach its destination.

 cowpow16 wrote:
Wow thanks for all the comments muchly appreciated.

I dont see them as a dumb horde that just throws waves upon waves onto the enemy.
Good there are some tactics to nids I just really want a ton of things going across the table making the opponent think oh dear emperor (or other god of any sort) there are soo many we are doooomed

The swarm lord really gets me going knowing now hes a good choice.

The warriors seem cool I like the look of claws and hooks and ya.

How big would you guys suggest the warrior units and the hive guard is there a golden number?

Dont really care all too much that the gaunts I spawn may sorta be not good. I think of it as more bodies that I dont pay points for sure why not.

How are rippers? worth taking or no?
I was thinking running them up with the gargoyles and just have em be up and in their face diverting shooting from the slower stuff that may need an extra turn to have it reach its destination.

Warriors are best run in groups of around 4-5+. Hive Guard are like anything. If one is good, 3 is better. Unfortunetely, Rippers got the shaft, so they are not much use except to tarpit certain unit's that don't have access to the ability to overwhelm the swarm rules, or instantly kill them.

Ok cool thanks for that. ill put together a few lists and post em tonight and see what you guys think.