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Hello!

I have never played a game of 40K, just painted models. Now I feel like taking a step into the world of battle!
I'm going to build a Tyranid army, starting with 500pts.

Do you have any ideas on a list that would work? I have bought the Tyranid Swarm box, so I have access to a lot of the basic troops, gargoyles and a Carnifex. Can I make anything good with them?
I am of course willing to buy new models to make a good list! And I don't neccesarily have to play with the models I already own if there are better choises!

Best regards
Lucas

Hi, the swarm box is a really good deal. i would run something like this for 500.

HQ
Prime- AG/TS- 140?

Troops
10 Termagaunts- 40
10 Termagaunts- 40

Heavy Support
Carnifex- Double TL Devourer- 150

Leaves you 130 ish points for gargoyles.

Thanks

 mixer86 wrote:
Hi, the swarm box is a really good deal. i would run something like this for 500.

HQ
Prime- AG/TS- 140?

Troops
10 Termagaunts- 40
10 Termagaunts- 40

Heavy Support
Carnifex- Double TL Devourer- 150

Leaves you 130 ish points for gargoyles.

 mixer86 wrote:
Hi, the swarm box is a really good deal. i would run something like this for 500.

HQ
Prime- AG/TS- 140?

Troops
10 Termagaunts- 40
10 Termagaunts- 40

Heavy Support
Carnifex- Double TL Devourer- 150

Leaves you 130 ish points for gargoyles.

This, but I'd be taking a few more scoring models. Maybe 15 in each unit, or one of 10 (to sit in cover at home) and one of 20 (to go get another objective).

Gargoyles are good for tying up units you don't want to shoot or maybe to block a CC unit from charging your measly gants while they wait for the carnifex

 Brother Payne wrote:

 mixer86 wrote:
Hi, the swarm box is a really good deal. i would run something like this for 500.

HQ
Prime- AG/TS- 140?

Troops
10 Termagaunts- 40
10 Termagaunts- 40

Heavy Support
Carnifex- Double TL Devourer- 150

Leaves you 130 ish points for gargoyles.

This, but I'd be taking a few more scoring models. Maybe 15 in each unit, or one of 10 (to sit in cover at home) and one of 20 (to go get another objective).

Gargoyles are good for tying up units you don't want to shoot or maybe to block a CC unit from charging your measly gants while they wait for the carnifex

Okay!
Is there any point in having one unit of Hormagaunts and one of Termagaunts? Or should you stick to one or the other?

Without the biomorph upgrades I'd be sticking w termis. When you get to higher points and can afford larger units w biomorph upgrades then by all means!

 Brother Payne wrote:
Without the biomorph upgrades I'd be sticking w termis. When you get to higher points and can afford larger units w biomorph upgrades then by all means!

Okay thanks!
I've read a lot of the importance of synapse. Is there enough in this list?

Tbh, not really. Last edition the amount might've been ok, but from what I've seen and heard, if the Prime dies your whole army may as well do the same.

So either play cleverly with the prime, using terrain and other units to block charges and Los, ditch the carnifex (!), or move it up to 600 or 750 points - both of which seem to be quite popular at the moment and give you a bit more breathing room.

I would offer to write up another list but without the new codex that's a bit tricky...

I'm also thinking about taking termas or hormas for my 500 points list. I think I will try termagaunts without upgrades.

So, at the moment my list looks like this:
---------- HQ (1) ----------

Hive Tyrant (230 points)
- Wings
- Monstrous Bio-cannon
--- Twin-linked Devourers
- Monstrous Bio-cannon
--- Twin-linked Devourers


---------- Elite (2) ----------

Zoanthrope (50 points)

Zoanthrope (50 points)


---------- Troops (2) ----------

21x Termagants (84 points)
- 21x Fleshborer

21x Termagants (84 points)
- 21x Fleshborer


Another idea is to make a Troop of 20 Termagants from which 10 gets Devourers. But I think at this point level this could be not the best idea.

20x Termagants (120 points)
- 10x Fleshborer
- 10x Devourer

12x Termagants (48 points)
- 12x Fleshborer

Thanks guys! What do you think of The HQ slot? Is it worth taking the flyrant (who almost fills up 50% of the points) at this level or is the prime a better choise?

LulleK wrote:
Thanks guys! What do you think of The HQ slot? Is it worth taking the flyrant (who almost fills up 50% of the points) at this level or is the prime a better choise?

the prime IMHO is the more sensible option, though i struggle to think of anyone bar Tau who would get close to being able to effectively deal with a flyrant.

But as you say, its "eggs in one basket" gaming and he won't solve your synapse issue as he wants to be zooming around eating stuff.

Prime, Zoans or Warriors can help with that.

Cool! Thanks.

Would it not be better to go with 2 venoms as they give cover protection to ur gaunts plancktum?

Honestly, at 500 points its more important to have bodies on the table. Your opponent will struggle to get enough shots out to kill everything.
I would run a 500 point list something like this:

Prime
20 Terms
20 Terms
3 Warriors
Carnifex

All of the units are bare. Put the prime in with the warriors in the middle of your army for synapse. The 40 terms will soak up fire, take objectives, and can tarpit anything your opponent has. Point the carnifex at a unit and let it rip it apart. At 500 points, dealing with this many models AND an MC will be too much for a lot of people.

As you move up in points, this list will of course shift a lot. You'll want a flyrant at some point, along with venomthropes for cover and gargoyals or horms for screening, etc. But for such a small game, getting bodies on the board is the best thing a nid player can do.

*Edit* Sorry, just realized how old this thread was.