Tarrandus
10-03-2010, 12:38 AM
Hey guys. Back in Januray I took a break from my nids due to the new codex "ruining" my army (or at least my 115 point fexes T_T). Now I'm coming back to taking these buggers off the shelf and back onto the board (hopefull my Mechdar won't mind sharing the playtime.:D)
Here's the catch though; I don't have any of the new shiny models, and I don't plan on plunking down the cash to make my already 2000 point army more playable. So all I've got to work with are mostly old units.
I've been able to do some simple conversions to make my fexes stand in for tervigons, and had a handy Mycetic spore model (http://www.battlemart.com/store/images/uploads/sotm009.jpg), but that's about it.
So, is a Tyranid list without Trygons, Hive guard, or Gargoyles able to hold its own against the new toys?
With this army I'm aiming for an all-comers list that can do well in a fairly competitive metagame at 1500 points.
-----------------------------
1500 Points
2 HQ, 2 Elite, 6 Troops
I've organized the list by tactical purpose rather than by force org, since we all know what's what.
The basic strategy is a reserve heavy attack. A central core of 2 MCs and gaunts runs up the center, while most of the killing power comes from outflank and DS. The two roughly equal halves are:
Spearhead:
Hive Tyrant; Stranglethorn Cannon, Lash Whip and Boneswords, Hive Commander, Paroxysm, Leech Life 215
Tervigon; Cluster Spines, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Onslaught 195
Tyranids Warriors x4; Venom Cannon, Deathspitters 150
Termagaunts x26; 130
Hormagaunts x16; 96
I haven't played much with Tervigons, but on paper would seem that the termagaunts are the main threat here. With Furious Charge, 4+ poison, and potentially fighting a WS 1 opponent, a mob of them could do some serious damage. I went with Onslaught over Catalyst on the Tervigon for more speed rather than more survivability. He's and HQ since I ended up not being able to squeeze him into a troop slot. I wasn't sure of the importance of him scoring, so if I need to I can probably make him a troop. The Hormies are mainly cheap fast distraction. I have the models, so I'd rather field them than buy more termagaunts. The Tyrant and the warriors are to give some support fire and give the spearhead more presence.
I'm not sure if the tyrant fits this army build. With decent shooting and assault capabilities he can do a lot, but I feel his purpose may be better served by a Tyranid Prime and more warriors handling the suppport fire role. I'd lose the +1 to reserves, but I don't feel that is a huge deal. Alternatively, I could rekit the Tyrant and change the warriors for Tyrant Guard to refocus the rather meager support fire into more CC badassery.
Flanks:
Zoanthrope x3 180
.....- Mycetic Spore; Cluster Spines 50
Deathleaper; 140
Genestealers x5; Adrenal Glands, Broodlord 131
Genestealers x6; Toxin Sacs 102
Genestealers x6; Toxin Sacs 102
The fast killing power of the army lies in the flanking half. I've read that the thrope configuration works well, and without Hive Gaurd or Sniperfexes (Poor sniperfexes ._.) they are the easiest source of shooting anti-tank. 3 Pretty much min Genestealer squads have worked well for my in the past, and they are even better in this codex, so why not. I've only got 16 stealers to work with, so I can't make them larger squads. Is the broodlord worth it at all? The Deathleaper I just added in because I could. I have absolutely no experience with this character, so if some wiser minds could let me know whether he would work in this sort of army that would be great.
So there it is. I don't feel I have a very good grasp of 5th ED nid army construction, so any help is appreciated. :)
My list without the breaks for ranting:
Hive Tyrant; Stranglethorn Cannon, Lash Whip and Boneswords, Hive Commander, Paroxysm, Leech Life 215
Tervigon; Cluster Spines, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Onslaught 195
Tyranids Warriors x4; Venom Cannon, Deathspitters 150
Termagaunts x26; 130
Hormagaunts x16; 96
Zoanthrope x3 180
.....- Mycetic Spore; Cluster Spines 50
Deathleaper; 140
Genestealers x5; Adrenal Glands, Broodlord 131
Genestealers x6; Toxin Sacs 102
Genestealers x6; Toxin Sacs 102
Total: 1491
List of my models:
1 Hive Tyrant
2 Carnifex/Tervigon
1 Broodlord
16 Genestealers
26 Termagaunts
16 Hormagaunts
6 Warriors
3 Zoanthropes
3 Shrikes
1 Mycetic Spore
Here's the catch though; I don't have any of the new shiny models, and I don't plan on plunking down the cash to make my already 2000 point army more playable. So all I've got to work with are mostly old units.
I've been able to do some simple conversions to make my fexes stand in for tervigons, and had a handy Mycetic spore model (http://www.battlemart.com/store/images/uploads/sotm009.jpg), but that's about it.
So, is a Tyranid list without Trygons, Hive guard, or Gargoyles able to hold its own against the new toys?
With this army I'm aiming for an all-comers list that can do well in a fairly competitive metagame at 1500 points.
-----------------------------
1500 Points
2 HQ, 2 Elite, 6 Troops
I've organized the list by tactical purpose rather than by force org, since we all know what's what.
The basic strategy is a reserve heavy attack. A central core of 2 MCs and gaunts runs up the center, while most of the killing power comes from outflank and DS. The two roughly equal halves are:
Spearhead:
Hive Tyrant; Stranglethorn Cannon, Lash Whip and Boneswords, Hive Commander, Paroxysm, Leech Life 215
Tervigon; Cluster Spines, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Onslaught 195
Tyranids Warriors x4; Venom Cannon, Deathspitters 150
Termagaunts x26; 130
Hormagaunts x16; 96
I haven't played much with Tervigons, but on paper would seem that the termagaunts are the main threat here. With Furious Charge, 4+ poison, and potentially fighting a WS 1 opponent, a mob of them could do some serious damage. I went with Onslaught over Catalyst on the Tervigon for more speed rather than more survivability. He's and HQ since I ended up not being able to squeeze him into a troop slot. I wasn't sure of the importance of him scoring, so if I need to I can probably make him a troop. The Hormies are mainly cheap fast distraction. I have the models, so I'd rather field them than buy more termagaunts. The Tyrant and the warriors are to give some support fire and give the spearhead more presence.
I'm not sure if the tyrant fits this army build. With decent shooting and assault capabilities he can do a lot, but I feel his purpose may be better served by a Tyranid Prime and more warriors handling the suppport fire role. I'd lose the +1 to reserves, but I don't feel that is a huge deal. Alternatively, I could rekit the Tyrant and change the warriors for Tyrant Guard to refocus the rather meager support fire into more CC badassery.
Flanks:
Zoanthrope x3 180
.....- Mycetic Spore; Cluster Spines 50
Deathleaper; 140
Genestealers x5; Adrenal Glands, Broodlord 131
Genestealers x6; Toxin Sacs 102
Genestealers x6; Toxin Sacs 102
The fast killing power of the army lies in the flanking half. I've read that the thrope configuration works well, and without Hive Gaurd or Sniperfexes (Poor sniperfexes ._.) they are the easiest source of shooting anti-tank. 3 Pretty much min Genestealer squads have worked well for my in the past, and they are even better in this codex, so why not. I've only got 16 stealers to work with, so I can't make them larger squads. Is the broodlord worth it at all? The Deathleaper I just added in because I could. I have absolutely no experience with this character, so if some wiser minds could let me know whether he would work in this sort of army that would be great.
So there it is. I don't feel I have a very good grasp of 5th ED nid army construction, so any help is appreciated. :)
My list without the breaks for ranting:
Hive Tyrant; Stranglethorn Cannon, Lash Whip and Boneswords, Hive Commander, Paroxysm, Leech Life 215
Tervigon; Cluster Spines, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Onslaught 195
Tyranids Warriors x4; Venom Cannon, Deathspitters 150
Termagaunts x26; 130
Hormagaunts x16; 96
Zoanthrope x3 180
.....- Mycetic Spore; Cluster Spines 50
Deathleaper; 140
Genestealers x5; Adrenal Glands, Broodlord 131
Genestealers x6; Toxin Sacs 102
Genestealers x6; Toxin Sacs 102
Total: 1491
List of my models:
1 Hive Tyrant
2 Carnifex/Tervigon
1 Broodlord
16 Genestealers
26 Termagaunts
16 Hormagaunts
6 Warriors
3 Zoanthropes
3 Shrikes
1 Mycetic Spore