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Greetings Tyranid and Imperial Guard players, I require advice.

With the release of 6th I'm finding that tanks are less of a game winning unit, given their ability to be glanced to death, but I'd still like to include them in my army. As such I've taken to fielding bare-bones LRBTs as the 150 point pie plate is still worth it given the wound allocation shenanigan removal. However i'm finding that, against Tyranids, it doesn't really matter what sort of tank I take, I get swarmed by Gaunts and Hive Guard keep my tanks from engaging the bulk of the army.

Generally we play 1500-2500 point games, which makes for a few bugs. He does DS a Trygon, a Zoan triplet, and sometimes a Carinfex, and honestly the big bugs don't bother me as much as he wants them too. Between my Chimera's weapons and my squads receiving BiD, I can waste pretty much any big bug that appears in relatively short order. What I do run into is Tervigons and their hordes of AG'd Gaunts that can glance tanks to pieces. i've considered a Punisher for anti-swam duty, given it's stupid amount of shots, but the price tag and lack of utility in 5th still has me on the fence. I've also considered the Eradicator and Exterminator for this role; the Exterminator for it's longer range higher strength and ap main weapon, and the Eradicator for the better str and ap large blast that ignores cover saves (I hate that a gaunt can hide a HG).

I haven't considered artillery, should I have?

Infantry? I tend to run mechvets as my backbone, 2-4 Chimera's filled with plasmavets or meltavets. Haven't thought about blobbing yet, should I?

Am I concentrating too much on armor? Should I consider dropping tanks altogether?

I only run one Valkyrie/Vendetta when facing Nids. Generally have it kitted as a Valk with missile pods for anti-everything duty, should I be considering the Vendetta more often?

Are you permitted to use forgeworld units? It's rather pertinent. Since none of the Leman Russ variants really compete with what's available in Imperial Armour, I'll assume you can't use it for now.

I'd look into manticores and lascannons, personally. There are lots of places to get lascannons, but the Vendetta is almost certainly the most cost-effective. HWS are another option, if you're able to keep them alive effectively. You might also want to look into an allied contingent. They can expand the options available to you considerably.

I'm not limited to GW items specifically, I'm just the only one of my group that owns anything FW made. Of course, that's a Baneblade...which would tip the scales in my favor considerably. What did you have in mind?

I'd considered an allied detachment, I've seen Marines and GKs as viable choices. Are there others? If not, any recommendations on what to take from those two armies?

Mortars are good vs swarms I have used them with great success agaisnt nids troops.

this may sounds silly, but conscript bubble warp would be a very very frustrating answer. My nid's are the least bothered of my armies by Tanks simple because If I get close they die and I wont be losing an expensive elite to do it.

So hitting a wall of bubble wrap that gives the tanks time to adjust would be very frustrating.

Since you are having issues with gribbles, something like a Hellhound would harsh on them. I am not sure if that FW or codex IG.

Be happy you don't face Tervigon spam.

Take a couple Vendettas, a Valkyrie, and a Vulture with Punishers.

/game

I'd never thought of using Hellhounds or mortars to be honest. Perhaps I'll proxy a few this weekend and see how it goes.

Aside from what's been listed, is it worth exploring the either LRBT variants?

You should probably look into the Heavy Artillery Carriages presented in Imperial Armour Apocalypse II. They received an FAQ update, which you can find on the forgeworld site, here: http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Downloads/Product/PDF/h/Heavy_Artillery.pdf

The Earthshaker Cannon is a T7 W4 3+ artillery piece. It comes with four Imperial Guard crew, but remains majority T7 for shooting purposes while providing a 4+ cover save to any crew behind it. I'm not sure if I can list the armaments, since it's not in the PDF, but let's just say it's remarkably similar to a Basilisk. It's a steal at 75 points.

You can also pick up a Medusa Siege Gun at 100 points. Not quite so impressive as the Earthshaker cannon, but still quite tempting for dealing with multi-wound or 2+ armor targets.

Edit: And as previously mentioned, both the Vendetta and Vulture are amazing choices. By all means do take a look.

Get Bessis, I love my 2 and they do great in games.

Keep as much room between you and them as possible. Big blast is your friend. Manticores, basilisks, even the lowly mortar and grenade launchers work here. Volume of shots. If he brings the flying monsters, you need the hydras and any way you can get the quad gin works.

I've found not advancing against Nids is working better than advancing.

Hiveguard have a limited range of 24" you can easily outrange that and kill off the majority of his army.