Assault unit of choice?

[Imasho]

Recently planned a fair bit with the updated codex and 7th and while I like some of it I'm struggling to find a decent assault unit.

I used to stick in 4-5 raveners behind gargs and/or horms but my ravs really lack punch especially against termies.

Glancing through the book nothing really stands out as impressive in close combat except swarmlord ( at massive points).

Anyone got helpful suggestions for what they run as a counter assault unit these days or do you all just chuck it in shooting?

sample list

== HQ ==
Hive Tyrant (1) - Twin-Linked Devourer - Brainleech Worms, Twin-Linked Devourer - Brainleech Worms, Wings

== Elites ==
Venomthrope Brood (2)
Zoanthrope Brood (2)
Hive Guard Brood (3) - Impaler Cannon

== Troops ==
Termagant Brood
Termagant (5) - Fleshborer
Termagant (10) - Devourer
Termagant Brood
Termagant (5) - Fleshborer
Termagant (10) - Devourer

== Fast Attack ==
Hive Crone (1) - Cluster Spines

== Heavy Support ==
Tyrannofex (1) - Acid Spray, Thorax - Electroshock Grubs
Exocrine (1)
Tyrannofex (1) - Acid Spray, Thorax - Electroshock Grubs

== Total ==
1495 pts.

I'd be looking to swap out a tyrannofex and maybe the crone at this points level.

Cheers

[WestRider]

DakkaFexen can still do decently in Assault against some things, especially if they're properly screened so they get the Charge.

Shrikes are sort of similar to Ravs, but at least they bring their own Synapse along, and can get things like Toxin Sacs and Flesh Hooks.

Truth be told, tho, we don't have any really great Assault Units. It's pretty sad, really.

[Imasho]

Yeah sad is the word when I look at combo's the marines can put together. Seems very much at odds with how nid models look.

[asmodas]

The new Dimachaeron certainly has what it takes, if he can get there. The low AP and large number of attacks would be very good against Terminators, but the model is very scary looking and most folks will try to kill it rather than let it walk up and hit a valuable unit like Terminators (unless they're in a pod, in which case, have fun!).

Shrikes are probably the strongest option among the troop-type creatures, as Westrider said.

[mattblowers]

Assaulting what? That is the question for me. If you really want to assault I think large warrior squads (5+) with rending claws still do really well. People will tell you that they will struggle to get there. However, if you think about it, the only time we should be assault focused is when we are going against another assault army. Wait for them to come to you and then charge them. Works like a charm. They can't go hunting because they die in the open. Leave them in your end to hold objectives/provide synapse and charge what comes close. Terminators are still a problem. I think the Trygon/prime is still pretty good at assault. Lictors are aces, they have to be dealt with or they really mess up your enemies plans.

The problem is we aren't a primarily assault army; we are a mop up assault army. That is a big difference. We need our guns to thin down the ranks or we don't do real well in assault.

I think the Haruspex highlights this pretty well. It actually should do a pretty good job at assaulting, but since that is all it does, it doesn't fair to well. If only Tyranids had some sort of way to have something like a drop pod that could deliver it. Nah, must just be a dream I had once.

[Imasho]

Cheers guys thanks for the replies


asmodes- I've been reading a few threads here on shrkes and I'm willing to give them a go that or warriors with adreanal glands ST and RC.


mattblowers- assaulting or counter assaulting that nasty unit of terminators with a choppy character I mean mainly. I don't see lictors surviving an assault against that either way. Have you tried them?
Even if we assault as a secondary focus you still need something to assault with? Haruspex possibly? ? ?

What i find is by turn 3 my mainly shooty list has done well but I both forces are too close now and I need to assault.
Exocrine Tyrannofex and crone are not great at that so really I need a way to deal with a blob of terminators/accompanying character on turn 3-4.

[Imasho]

LOL - drop pods I wish.

[WestRider]

Aug 8, 2014 15:10:20 GMT asmodas said:

The new Dimachaeron certainly has what it takes, if he can get there. The low AP and large number of attacks would be very good against Terminators, but the model is very scary looking and most folks will try to kill it rather than let it walk up and hit a valuable unit like Terminators (unless they're in a pod, in which case, have fun!).

Bolded the important bit. We've got Units that are fast enough to make it into Assault, and Units that can dish it out once they get there, but nothing that can really do both that isn't better as a shooting platform.

[asmodas]

Aug 8, 2014 15:23:59 GMT Imasho said:

Cheers guys thanks for the replies


asmodes- I've been reading a few threads here on shrkes and I'm willing to give them a go that or warriors with adreanal glands ST and RC.


mattblowers- assaulting or counter assaulting that nasty unit of terminators with a choppy character I mean mainly. I don't see lictors surviving an assault against that either way. Have you tried them?
Even if we assault as a secondary focus you still need something to assault with? Haruspex possibly? ? ?

What i find is by turn 3 my mainly shooty list has done well but I both forces are too close now and I need to assault.
Exocrine Tyrannofex and crone are not great at that so really I need a way to deal with a blob of terminators/accompanying character on turn 3-4.

I personally like the Haruspex, and have one in my collection, but I will be the first to admit that it isn't an "elite" assault choice (despite its codex slot). It has too few attacks and too low of a WS to be really good against other assault units. It is, however, very good against tarpits and vehicles since it can gain extra attacks if it kills things, regen in longer combats, and can deal out extra wounds via Acid Blood (which is AP2, and can kill Termies pretty easily) if something manages to hurt it. Its crushing claw attacks are also AP2, and thus aren't a bad way of killing terminators that don't have Storm Shields.

The way I use it is basically as an escort for something else (like an Exocrine or T-Fex) that I don't want to be tarpitted, and then opportunistically charge vehicles like Rhinos, Drop Pods and Land Raiders that get too close. So, again, more of a counter-assault unit than a real assault unit. It is pretty good against drop pod marines, orks, guard, etc. (i.e. armies that tend to field a lot of infantry and vulnerable transports), but struggles against Eldar and Tau, which can just MSM/flat out away from it. It is definitely one of the coolest models we have, though, and rather fun to play with, and it won't cripple your list in a friendly environment if you use the rest of your list to take the usual shooty elements.

[gigasnail]

Dakkafexes, gargs. Shrike assassins maybe.

[Imasho]

Thanks

gigasnail/asmodas - I'll give both the Haruspex and a unit of shikes screened by gargs a go separately and let you know how I do. Bit meh though.

Whats a unit of tyrant guard all spec'd up for assault like on its own? are there enough of them to take on CC Termies?

[asmodas]

Aug 8, 2014 16:49:44 GMT Imasho said:

Thanks

gigasnail/asmodas - I'll give both the Haruspex and a unit of shikes screened by gargs a go separately and let you know how I do. Bit meh though.

Whats a unit of tyrant guard all spec'd up for assault like on its own? are there enough of them to take on CC Termies?

Yeah, just proxy something as a Haru and see how it goes. It's a pretty expensive kit, so try it out before committing to it.

[jaysic]

Terminator killers? Most point efficient (h2h) is unupgraded fex (2x scy tal)

[gigasnail]

Single fex in CC with terminators is not where you want to be.

Edited for spelling. New phone is...derp.

[asmodas]

Fex's scytals are AP 6, IIRC. Pretty worthless against Terminators. You need something with AP 2 or a lot of attacks, stock Fex has neither.