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Hi everyone, this is my first post to Dakka Dakka, so please feel free to give any constructive criticism to my army list. I've just started getting back into the hobby and plan on entering my first tournament at my local hobby store. Will be facing a variety of foes including Space Marines, Grey Knights, Necrons, Eldar and Tyranids
Tau Empire

HQ
Ethereal - 50

Commander - 162
Fusion
Plasma
Flamer
Iridium Armour
PEN
System Jammer

Elites
2 Crisis Suits - 114
1 Fusion each
1 Plasma each
1 Flamer each

Troops

10 Fire Warriors - 185
1 Devil Fish
DP

10 Fire Warriors - 185
1 Devil Fish
DP

Heavy Support

Skyray - 130
DP
SMS

Hammer Head - 140
DP
Ion Cannon
SMS

Farsight Allies

HQ

Commander - 152
2 MP
TL
Drone Controller
2 Marker Drones

Troops

3 Crisis Suits - 159
2 MP each
Bonded

3 Crisis Suits - 159
2 MP each
Bonded

Fast Attack
4 Marker Light Drones - 56

Total 1442

I still have 48 points leftover and I'm unsure what to do with the points, whether to add in another suit, more marker lights, shield drones or more troops.

I have recently put together a riptide with a TL Fusion Blaster and Ion Accelerator and have considered some how putting it into this list with a EWO and VT bringing him to 210 pts but unsure what to take out to put him in. I'm also considering getting a second riptide for bigger battles, and I am more then willing to hear suggestions on how I could possibly fit 2 ripdtides into this list (though it would probably require lots of restructuring.

As for strategy I plan on my ethereal going in the transports with my fire warriors and with the hammer head act as a "convoy" moving and supporting each other in securing forward objectives. While my Mark'O , skyray and missile battle suits provide support, anti air and securing my own objectives.

The commander and elite squad of battle suit will deep strike into where they are needed most, and with their weapon load out and PEN should handle most threats.

Again I am open to any feed back or suggestions.

This is a good starting point, a few things to consider though:

Weapons: crisis can only ever fire 2 weapons at a time. So, giving them 3 means at least some points are going to be useless each turn. I imagine you put the flamers on there for overwatch, which is cool, but you'd probably be better spending the 15 pts of flamers on something else.

Devilfish: your crisis troops are mobile enough for a pure tau army, I'd probably take these points and invest in kroot instead.

If you have the models, you might want to take broadsides and/or more markerlights (drones or pathfinders) instead of that hammerhead.

I'd also take that relic fromt he Farsight Enclave that gives you 4d6 (take the highest) on deny the witch. That things crazy.

As far as your riptide goes: I'd either drop the hammerhead or one of your crisis troops and take the riptide with the earthcaste pilot array

As you said I put flamers on for over watch, but I guess it would be situational and the points could be better spend else where. Perhaps on some path finders with the extra points I already have left over. I actually don't have any broadsides but I do have lots of pathfinders and custom made marker drones.

I like the idea of swapping out the hammer head for the riptide as it will fill the same role of laying down pie plates as well as some anti air. Would the Earth Caste Pilot Array be useful with Ion Accelerator? I can see it being awesome with the heavy burst cannon, but are the points worth it on the IA?

As for the Devilfish, I've had terrible luck getting my firewarriors around the field and surviving. I like the idea of unloading both of my troops in front of the enemy using the ethereals storm of fire ability to decimate the opponent. I have yet to playtest it though, is it a good strategy? Or would you still recommend the kroot?

ArcturusTT wrote:


As for the Devilfish, I've had terrible luck getting my firewarriors around the field and surviving. I like the idea of unloading both of my troops in front of the enemy using the ethereals storm of fire ability to decimate the opponent. I have yet to playtest it though, is it a good strategy? Or would you still recommend the kroot?

I would still recommend kroot. The problem with the devilfish strategy is that you're planning on being within 15", which is inside infantry threat bubble for charging. So, you're setting up a situation where you have to take a turn to get where you're going, then you'll get out of the fish the next turn, shoot, and potentially get charged (they'd only need 9" at most after movement phase). I'd recommend a strategy that keeps you as far away for as long as possible. Even though Tau have Supporting Fire, its best to not have to use it.

Ok thanks for advice. Here's an updated list taking your feed back into consideration

Tau Empire

HQ

Ethereal - 50

Commander - 157
FB, PR
PEN, NSJ
Irridium Armour

Elites
2 Crisis Suits - 104
FB, PR

Riptide - 210
FB
VT, EWO

Troops

9Fire warriors - 81

10 Fire warriors - 90

10 Kroot - 75
Sniper, Hound

10 Kroot - 75
Sniper, Hound

Heavy Support
Sky ray - 131
DP, BSF

Allied Enclave

HQ

Commander - 152
2 MP
TL, DC
2 Marker Drones

Troops

3 Crisis - 159
2 MP each

3 Crisis - 159
2 MP each

Fast Attack
4 Marker Drones - 56

Total 1499

At the bare minimum I recommend these changes. I took TL off of your commander because he is BS 5, so the benefit isn't amazing. Instead I gave the riptide IA. This gives you a large blast template for dealing with hordes. It does make you worse at fighting flyers, however you have a skyray so you don't have to worry too much. I also removed 1 Fire Warrior and twin linked the fusion blasters on your crisis suits. Also since you have Fusion Blasters you can always get within 9" of any vehicle you want to kill.

ArcturusTT wrote:
Ok thanks for advice. Here's an updated list taking your feed back into consideration

Tau Empire

HQ

Ethereal - 50

Commander - 157
FB, PR
PEN, NSJ
Irridium Armour

Elites
2 Crisis Suits - 114
TL FB, PR

Riptide - 215
FB, IA
VT, EWO

Troops

9 Fire warriors - 81

9 Fire warriors - 81

10 Kroot - 75
Sniper, Hound

10 Kroot - 75
Sniper, Hound

Heavy Support
Sky ray - 131
DP, BSF

Allied Enclave

HQ

Commander - 147
2 MP
DC
2 Marker Drones

Troops

3 Crisis - 159
2 MP each

3 Crisis - 159
2 MP each

Fast Attack
4 Marker Drones - 56

Total 1500