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Hi!

I'm still pretty new here, both to this forum and with this army. I think I've only had one game using Tyranids.

I would like to get some feedback on this list that I've made, whether it will do well in a game where I don't know what army I will be facing, or what the scenario will be (kill points vs. objectives).
I'm limited to what models I have, so I will write the list first then tell you what other models I have, and hopefully we can work something out.

1500 points

Hive Tyrant - 260
-Wings, egrubs, Hive commander, 2X TL Devourers

1 Malanthrope (Using venomthropes as proxies) - 85 each
1 Malanthrope
1 Malanthrope

Warrior brood - 143
-HVC with lash whip and bonesword, and venom sac
-x2 rending claws and x2 deathspitters

Termagant brood - 84
-x14, 7 devourers

Termagant brood - 84
-x14, 7 devourers

Termagant brood - 72
-x12, 6 devourers

Hormagaunt brood - 72
-x15

Hormagaunt brood - 72
-x15

Hormagaunt brood - 72
-x15

Genestealer brood - 172
-x8
-Broodlord

Tyrannofex - 205
-Rupture Cannon

That brings the total to 1500 exactly. In an objective mission, I think that the smaller units will be able to help bog down particular troublesome units and can hold objectives as well. I really like swarm-type armies, where there is a large presence on the table, though I understand that these are tedious to move.
With this list, would I be able to take the gaunts and warriors and make the endless swarm formation? (I still don't understand how formations fit into the organization chart. Any links or explanations?)

Here is what I currently own. Hopefully it's useful.

- Dakka Flyrant
- The Swarmlord
- x16 warriors (1 can be a prime)
- x8 genestealers with broodlord
- x40 termagants, 20 with devourers, 20 fleshborers
- x116 hormagaunts (I think I counted that right)
- x3 venomthropes
- x12 spore mines
- x2 carnifexes (1 with crushing claws and scything talons, other with magnetized options)
- x1 exocrine
- x1 tyrannofex with a rupture cannon


I think adding 1 or 2 mawlocs to my collection would help out and make games more interesting.
(I have an Aegis Defense line plus quad gun, though I'm not sure if tyranids can use it)

Thanks for your time. Let me know what questions you have and I'll do my best to answer them.

I am pretty sure Nids can use the Ageis and Quad guns, as well as a bunker, where is great to put your Venomthrope in to avoid being alpha strike by ignore cover weapons like wyveens or TFC.
Imho, Mawloc is one of the "second greatest offensive unit" after Flyrant, but somehow is more like a hit-or-miss type unit. And as an opponent of Nids, I fear Mawloc with almost equal level to a single Flyrant.
The formation is treated as a separated "Detachment" (i.e. your usual "Combined Arms Detachment"), so if you put the warriors, Termagants and Hormagaunts in Endless Swarm formation, you need another two troops choice to make your CAD legal.

The list looks not competitive, if you are going competitive, spam flyrant, take at least 4-5 FMCs, as there is now too many weaponry to make ground Nids sad. However, if your meta is casual / fluufy, your list should be at an O-K level and would be quite good to play against another casual / fluffy player and have fun.

Imho, a few optimization to the list is:

1. consider make the Termagant a single 30 guants unit (around 10 to 15 with devourers) and proxy your Trannofex as a Tervigon so you have a Obsec MC , use the rest of your Termagants for the breeding.
2. Drop the warrior brood, their major role of providing synapse is already fulfilled by malanthropes. While they lack true great range firepower, and are neither tough nor fast enough to get them into combat.
3. keep Genestealer brood at five bugs plus the Broodlord, 8 does not sound worth it. Imho, the best bet is infiltrate them and use Broodlord's psychic power to pin down some key shooting unit, buying time for your hordes and MCs to roll up the field.
4. Squeeze a few more points to get your two Carnifexes in the list. They are classic Nids units and if used right under the support of Malanthrope and Flyrant, etc. could be great in the game.

Good luck and have fun in wargaming

I am going to have to offer a dissent on the competitiveness of the list. In maelstrom style events you have some good strengths. Only DE seem to just wipe a well handled swarm, to much poison firepower.

One change I would make is to drop the Stealers, as much as I like them they are not a strong add for this list. Take the points and get two more troop slots or so of your choice, maybe a bunch of deep strike rippers. Now move the Warrior, 3 Termie and 3 hormaguant broods out to be an Endless swarm.

Downside to be aware of is you will have trouble with armour. The rupture cannon sucks despite being s10 is only ap4. It might be worth it to replace with the Exocrine, save 35 points and use elsewhere. May be use 2 minimum size rippers and drop a few hormagaunts to get a dakkafex squeezed in to improve your armor popping and AA.

You guys have given great advice. Is it considered ethical or honest if I brought both lists and used a certain one depending on the type of mission that is going to be played?

Here are the changes I came up with based on Neophyte2012's suggestions.

Hive Tyrant
-Wings, x2 TLDWBW, Egrub, Hive Commander

Termagant x30
-x20 Devourers

Tervigon

Hormagaunts x15

Hormagaunts x10

Hormagaunts x10

Genestealers x5
-Broodlord

Malanthrope

Malanthrope

Malanthrope

Carnifex
-Crushing claws

Dakkafex

That's 1500 exactly.

I'll have to look at barnowl's suggestion later, see what I can do there.

Thanks for the advice.