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Hi guys, thinking of attending a local tournament with my Tyranids, and I have absolutely no idea what the local meta is like as I don't generally get any games in at the store. So I have put together a fun take-all-comers list, and would appreciate any feedback. I know some of my choices are less than competitive, any input is appreciated. I have a good number of different models to choose from if need be.

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HQ
Tyrant: LW/BS, Stranglethorn Cannon, Hive Commander, 1x Tyrant Guard (275)

TROOPS
Termagants x30 (150)
Tervigon: AG, TS, Catalyst (195)
Warriors x9: Barbed Strangler, Mycetic Spore with TL-Deathspitter (330)

ELITES
Zoanthropes x3: Mycetic Spore (220)
Doom of Malan'tai: Mycetic Spore (130)

FAST ATTACK
Gargoyles x20 (120)

HEAVY
Mawloc: Toxin (180)
Tyrannofex: Cluster Spines, Acid Spray (250)

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It all adds up to 1850 exactly. I plan to keep psychic powers on the Tervigon, and possibly the Tyrant/Zoeys (Biomancy will be used where needed). The Warriors, Zoeys and Doom will be DSing in with the pods, Warriors on an objective most likely. The Tyrant, Tervigon, and Tyrannofex will be ganging up together and advancing, while the 30 Termagants will be outflanking. Gargoyles will be covering the MC's approach. I will be using the Mawloc's TFTD attack on turn 2 by burrowing turn 1.

I feel that I can cover most types of mission and adversary, with the exception of flyers. Does anyone have any thoughts? I am a bit worried about the Warriors and Tyrannofex, but with target saturation they may be usable.

Some feedback would be great, if anyone has any. Cheers!

Well, I think the big Warrior brood is just too fragile.

If you encounter just one Tau player, with one or more Riptides, they will gladly Intercept them with a large blast.
Remember, you only disembark 2" from the Spore, not 6" like drop pods. Your Warriors will be standing in a large semi-circle close to the spore.

If you want a crazy shooting throwaway unit: 20 devigants in a drop pod.

With that 90 points buy a deathspitter Tyranid Prime to join the Tyrant Guard, and if you drop AG on the tervigon, you can give him regeneration.
Tyrant Guard and the Prime will be tanking for your HT at T6, with regeneration.

If opponent has flyers, try to roll for Objuration Mechanicum on a Zoan or the Tervigon. And spread out 20 gargoyles, 30 gants, spawned gants, good luck with movement.

If opponent has a lot of templates, or a lot of plasma, you are in trouble.... local meta has close to zero flyers (too expensive in cash), but f...load of plasma, grav, and flamers.

A couple things with your list. If you're going to walk your HT up the board I would recommend the AS upgrade. A 2+ save for your warlord would help out a lot.

I would probably split the unit of 30 gants into 2 units of 15. Gives you another scoring unit without investing more points and makes your opponent split up his firepower. 9 warriors in a pod seems a bit much. If you want to keep them then go ahead, but in a tourney they probably won't last long because of their T4. (Just an FYI, nids can disembark 6" from spore pods now instead of 2" so remember that)

If dropping the warriors I recommend a second terv. They're tough as nails, produce additional scoring units and are a great synapse anchor. Your elites section looks fine. Zoanthropes can be used as a utility unit if need be by switching out powers, can go tank busting by keeping stock powers, and act as a forward synapse unit for your gargs. You could always look at 2 units of 2 instead of 1 of 3 as well.

I would personally add at least TS to your gargs if not both TS & AG. The upgrades are cheap and they make gargoyles much more dangerous. If you're using them to screen then keep them as-is, but if not go whole hog.

Never used a tyrannofex but the big guy is a template wall of death. Give it a shot and see if you like it. The mawloc I would upgrade to a trygon, maybe a prime if you have the points. It gives you a more reliable threat and, again, more synapse coverage that can put where needed.

My suggestions would only require you to swap out the warriors for a second terv and then the rest is upgrades. Good luck at the tourney.

If the points allow it I'd drop the tyrannofex for another hive tyrant with wings. Don't get me wrong, the tyrannofex is a monster but in terms of damage output it's hard to justify the basic price of 250 points

Tyrpak wrote:
Well, I think the big Warrior brood is just too fragile.

If you encounter just one Tau player, with one or more Riptides, they will gladly Intercept them with a large blast.
Remember, you only disembark 2" from the Spore, not 6" like drop pods. Your Warriors will be standing in a large semi-circle close to the spore.

This is wrong. Otherwise, he's got good points. I would, however, expect S8 weaponry to be directed elsewhere with the Tervigon, Tyrant, and Tyrannofex bearing down.

Even if S8 weaponry targets your warriors, make sure you're in cover and at worst, you'll lose 1 maybe 2 models....

Thanks for the input everybody. I would like to run another Tervigon but I have only the one, and though I'd love to buy another... we will see what the new army book does to them. I have made some revisions, though, I think for the better.

HQ
Tyrant: LW/BS, Stranglethorn Cannon, Hive Commander, 1x Tyrant Guard, AS (335)
Tyranid Prime, Regen, Deathspitter (100)

TROOPS
Termagants x20 (100)
Termagants x20 (100)
Tervigon: AG, TS, Catalyst (195)

ELITES
Zoanthropes x3 (180)
Zoanthropes x2: Mycetic Spore (160)
Doom of Malan'tai: Mycetic Spore (130)

FAST ATTACK
Gargoyles x20 (120)

HEAVY
Mawloc: Toxin (180)
Tyrannofex: Cluster Spines, Acid Spray (250)

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Should I outflank a troops unit, or leave them all on the board? I will be attaching the Prime to the Tyrant, as recommended.

Tyrannofex is there so that I have 2 ignores cover templates, and 6 more 2+ wounds - he's going to be my bullet magnet/ADL breaker. I was considering running Onslaught on the Tervigon to facilitate a turn 1 push by the Tyrannofex right into firing range... thoughts on that?

I love tyranid primes. They are amazing IC killers if you give them LW & BS. As far as outflanking troops go, I would only do it if you have the ability to have synapse wherever they come on the board at. Nid LD isn't that great so they rely on synapse to grant them fearless. If you can reliably have them in synapse an outflanking unit can give your opponent fits and increase your tactical ability.

Your list looks a bit better to me. I've never run big units of stock termagants so you could trim some of them to get points for other upgrades. I would, at the least, upgrade the mawloc to a trygon. IMO they're just so much better. Also, if you pick up onslaught for your terv might as well grab all 3 psychic powers for the flexibility it brings game to game on swapping or keeping.

Fantastic help guys, thanks. The Gargoyles are just a screen, I will be happily surprised if they make it into combat. They are there to absorb bullets and provide cover, if I get telekine dome on a Zoey then that's just gravy.

I will be taking Catalyst on the Tervigon for sure. I'm considering Onslaught as well, just have to drop a few termagants.

Do you think that taking a lash whip and bonesword on the Prime is worth it? I have had luck with twin boneswords in the past.

I likely will start everything on the board but was considering outflanking the Tervigon depending on objective placement. Foolish? 2+ to come in isn't terrible...

Lastly, I have terrible luck with Trygons for some reason. Mawlocs, though, they are like the secret weapon for destroying (Tau) castles. I'm just going on my limited experiences here, though, how should it fare against other common armies? AP2 large blasts are very, very handy in a codex with limited AP2.

hey haus, good luck with that list!

personally the trannofex as cool as it sounds blows... IMO.. id drop it for another tervigon.. there is nothing in the game of 40k that more termagants can not fix

if you feel you need more guns, grab Hive Gaurd, with Str8 ignores cover 2 shots and does not require line of sight! woah got your jinkin ass haha.

personally i dont care for mawlocs, if you do great! i like a trygon prime DS in and wrecking face assisted with ygmarl genestealers assaulting from there side or back. Nothing more terrifing to your enemy is knowing that a unit will appear from somewhere on the board and assault you on the same turn!

id also alter your hive tyrant for a Flyrant with duel dev, personally i love running swarmlord because he just makes people sweat... even if they manage to kill him (rolling 4 dice on biomancy and grabbing Iron Arm making him T9 if possible) I promise you will be happy with swarmlord, he will own all, prevents enemy from DS near your forces, and there is no one on the board besides Chaos Scarbrand whos I10. and maybe the eldar Avatar.

I personally hate warriors, they are so cool, but T4, 3W them Str8 weapons eat your for breakfest and with those point cost it doesnt fill you up.. :( come on new codex!

most is jsut personall oppinions and I hope your games go well!

I like the second list. Well in a friendly game is also would use the T-fex as a tervigon.

For Outflank, depending on your enemy, objectives, etc, you can use your 20 gant brood, and easily get them in synapse range of the spore zoans (on the turn they arrive they don't need a synapse check, just next turn).

Or take your enemies objectives with the tervigon. She can only spawn on your next turn, but your enemy will be in trouble killing the 3+ invu doom and zoans.

For me Mawloc is a hit or miss, literally. Around half the games he cannot get his points back. The other half... Wave serpent placed on board edge, check. IG parking lot huddled behind ADL, check. Eldar Wraithknight behind ruined building, check (that player was royally pissed, because the wraithknight wasn't the intended target and I just scattered under it). For me he usually doesn't kill with his S6 AP2 (effing cover saves ruling) , but the "move around or take off the board" rule.
Against gunlines he is a life saver.
When he scatters 11 inch in front of the gunline, that's a bummer.

I usually pair my Mawloc with a Trygon Prime, next thing I'm gonna try is pairing them with Deathleaper, for pheromone trail... and Ld shenanigan with Doom.