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Hi,

I've been playing mostly 750-1000 point games for a month now with Tau and wanted to list build and test out something I thought was silly but (what I think) has a lot of potential at 1500 points. It consists of formation detachment; Heavy Retribution Cadre and Retaliation Cadre.

Heavy Retribution Cadre (905pts)

1x KV128 Stormsurge (385pts)
- PDC, TL Airbursting Fragmentation Projector, EWO

1x KV128 Stormsurge (380pts)
- PDC, TL Flamer, EWO

1x XV95 Ghostkeel Battlesuits (140pts)
- CIR, TL BC, EWO


Retaliation Cadre (591pts)

XV8 Commander Crisis Suit (155pts)
- 2x CIB, Iridium, Stimulant Injector

1x XV104 Riptide Battlesuits (225pts)
- Ion Accelerator, TL FB, EWO, Stimulant Injector

1x XV8 Crisis Battlesuits (47pts)
- 2x Flamer, Stimulant Injector

1x XV8 Crisis Battlesuits (47pts)
- 2x Flamer, Stimulant Injector

1x XV8 Crisis Battlesuits (47pts)
- 2x Flamer, Stimulant Injector

1x XV88 Broadside Battlesuits (70pts)
- TL HRR, TL SMS, EWO

I randomly came up with this while trying to list build for 1000 pts with the objective of adding Stormsurge while maintaining my Retaliation Cadre. I guess I am somewhat inspired by the "Monat the 3rd Tau Art of War" that I read awhile back, but I think I came up with this ultimately because of unit requirements in these formations. Secondly, my problem mostly lies in, spending 45-60 points for min squad of mooks to cap objectives and/or paying 100 points from tax if I don't want them to run away immediately.

Tactics & Thoughts:

+ With Low Altitude Deployment, I'm entering on turn 2 regardless of Air Superiority and I'll be DS'ing aggressively.
+The best part is that I really don't have a deathstar or blobs of units that are common these days, so a lot of wasted shots/unallocated wounds on single unit/squad.
+ High mobility from Jet Packs on most units.
+ Amazing alpha strike.
+ Plenty of templates for all ranges; TEQ, MEQ, etc.
+ No need for Target Lock.
- Would need to buy one more Stormsurge.
- No Markerlight
- How to deal with heavily-oriented DS opponent?

This is why I thought the special rule for Heavy Retribution Cadre would come in handy. They will more than likely want to DS or charge these bullet-magnet-of-a-Stormsurge so Monsoon of Destruction and Optimum Fire Position will definitely help counter or at least mitigate dying right away. Also, I will more than likely play them aggressively as well and not use anchors.

What are your thoughts?

I think this list is a winner, but a lot of tournaments dont allow more than one low, and it is very cheesy for casual games. Also without markerlights that single shot hrr on the broadside will suffer, I would suggest hymp on him. That would also help with his ewo vs infantry.

I think this would work better with OSC. They have natural ignore cover and don't need marker lights and can provide ignore cover to the SS with 4 bs 4 drones from the steath suits. Drop EWo from ghostkeels and take +1 bs overwatch- it's a short ranged unit that gets charged a lot. Mine killed Belakor on a turn 1 charge thanks to the overwatch. You'd have some points left over so you could take Sheild gens on your SS. Would make them both about 2x as tough whilst only costing 100 more points.

 mattej wrote:
I think this list is a winner, but a lot of tournaments dont allow more than one low, and it is very cheesy for casual games. Also without markerlights that single shot hrr on the broadside will suffer, I would suggest hymp on him. That would also help with his ewo vs infantry.

Thanks for reminding me about LoW, I had not slept at all when I was list building and wrote this. Damn. I checked in with my LGS and they typically allow 1 LoW at 1500 pts. Though I will try playing a test game with proxy against my friend that has Imperial Knights for lulz.

 Xenomancers wrote:
I think this would work better with OSC. They have natural ignore cover and don't need marker lights and can provide ignore cover to the SS with 4 bs 4 drones from the steath suits. Drop EWo from ghostkeels and take +1 bs overwatch- it's a short ranged unit that gets charged a lot. Mine killed Belakor on a turn 1 charge thanks to the overwatch. You'd have some points left over so you could take Sheild gens on your SS. Would make them both about 2x as tough whilst only costing 100 more points.

AHHHH yes, CDS for the +1 BS overwatch. Yes, Retaliation Cadre with OSC is my go-to for 1000 points. I was thinking I could beef it up to 1500 pts but after crunching the numbers I need more squads on the table for objectives. Two OSC lol? Maybe Ghostkeel wing but I'd have to buy another or Tidewall but again, would have to buy it. Maybe Armored Interdiction Cadre? I have a crap ton of tanks.

I am toying with the idea of fielding Shadowsun, one of my favorite characters.


Optimized Shadow Retaliation Cadre (1492pts) (good bye monat ;_; )

Optimized Stealth Cadre (320pts)
3x XV25 Stealth Battlesuits
- BC
3x XV25 Stealth Battlesuits
- BC
XV95 Ghostkeel Battlesuits
- CIR, TL BC, CDS

Retaliation Cadre (810pts)

XV8 Commander Crisis Suit
- DC, MSSS, PEN, XV8-02 Crisis 'Iridium' Battlesuit
- 2x MV7 Marker Drone

XV104 Riptide Battlesuits
- Ion Accelerator, TL FB, EWO, Stimulant Injector

1x XV8 Crisis Battlesuits
- 2x Plasma Rifle, Stimulant Injector

1x XV8 Crisis Battlesuits
- 2x Plasma Rifle, Stimulant Injector

2x XV8 Crisis Battlesuits
- 2x Flamer

3x XV88 Broadside Battlesuits
- TL HRR, TL SMS, EWO

Allied Detachment (362pts)

Commander Shadowsun (135pts)

2x XV8 Crisis Bodyguards (182pts)
- 2x Flamer, Repulsor Impact Field, Stimulant Injector
- 2x Fusion Blaster, Neuroweb System Jammer, Stimulant Injector
- 3x MV7 Marker Drone

5x Fire Warrior - Strike Team (45pts)
- Pulse Rifle