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This is a neat little trick I picked up for my Tau army when I first started building this army, and no matter who I've played against, they never see it coming the first time I use it against them. Simply by equipping the squad with EMP grenades, you can destroy Land Raiders with fair ease. For example, just earlier today, I got to use my Tau army for the first time against my Blood Angel friend's semi-mechanized list. He had 3 rhinos, and one land raider. By merely distracting his armored column for a few turns using a squad of piranhas, I managed to get close with my fire warriors and destroy all four of his Heavy Support units in one turn.

The look on his face was priceless.

Now, I ask, How come I rarely see this tactic being used by other Tau players? Sure, there's the risk of the enemy inside of Armored Transport vehicles popping out the turn after, and the other risk of the vehicle exploding, but fire warriors are expendable.

And, if you're wondering why he had that many Heavy Support, we were playing a scenario.

Too expensive, and it makes them into a suicide unit. Even if your opponent doesn't say thank you for moving them out from behind their cover, assault them, massacre the unit, and thank you for the free 3D6" movement closer to the rest of your unit, they're certainly not going to live once they've killed the vehicle. Broadsides and missile pods/fusion are just much, much better at doing that job.

but fire warriors are expendable

They really aren't, unless you ignore the rulebook missions and never use objectives.

Now tell me, will this friend of yours make the same mistake again. This tactic only works against people who have not seen it before. If your opponent has seen it before, he will make sure not to move his tanks near your fire warriors, or he could just kill them, seeing as your firewarriors would have to be outside of their transport and somewhat out of cover. It does not take much to kill firewarriors in the open, or in cover for that matter.

It is a fun trick to pull, but it does not deliver consistent results, unlike fusion blasters and rail guns.

If you are going to use this tactic, it pays to swap to the Carbine. And lets you glance on the way in.

Eh, I wouldn't count this as much of a tactic. You did get pretty lucky here, because if anything had survived your fire warriors would have been gone. But, if it does work by luck, it can make a good shock and awe tactic (no one expects to start losing Heavy Support to Fire Warriors, and that can screw someones thinking if they aren't too experienced)

It is like haywitches, but without anything that makes haywitches good. Notably, a fast transport that is open topped. Fire warriors are not fleet, EMP grenades are about half as effective as haywire grenades.

With hull points, I looked into emp's for pathfinders or aggressive fire warrior squads in a fish...but I would rather spend the points on something that is reliable...or more fire warriors.

I find they do make great Light Transport killers. There 30" ranges and str 5 weapons can glance a rhino to death

The problem with FW being used as anti-armor is that it kinda wastes their firepower. Crisis suits and broadsides are much better for taking out armor and firewarriors are better suited for taking out the squishy bits that fall out.

I'm not saying they can't be used for it in a pinch, but its something I'd save for when I had no suits or railguns left, had an A11 transport with 1 HP, and really needed First Blood.

Maybe load them into a devilfish and get em in close. its too bad theyre not open topped

I think you probably just caught him off guard as hardly anyone puts EMP grenades on FW due to the points. But it can evidently be useful once in a while. I do use them as anti light vehicle. Glance them to death