Starting Tyranids, 500pts

[zippitydoo]

Evening, lifeforms.
So I played 40k for a bit back in 6th, but didn't really have time for it and fantasy, which I still play, so I stopped. Anyway now most of mates are bored of 8th edition and I am too so I'm thinking I'll play some 40k, but what army to choose...
Tyranids obviously. The 40k timeline can never advance because if it did the only army would be tyranids!
So I play mostly for fun as do most of the gamers I've met. Competitive but not cheesy. You won't see 2 wraithknights or helldrakes squeezed into a 500pt list here.

I really don't want to take a Tyrant yet by the way. I know they're the best HQ, I know the Dakka Flyrant is one of the best units in the codex, but I don't want to spend almost half of my points on one model or take a flying monster at 500pts... just feels wrong.
So since Tervigons aren't characters I'm taking... a prime. Cue gasping.

Prime @ 130pts
Deathspitter, a pair of Scything Talons

I wanted to find a way to give him some chance of making back his points, and putting him in a shooty warrior squad seemed the best. 

Warrior Brood @ 110pts
2 with Deathspitters and a pair of talons
1 with venom cannon and a pair of talons

Taking advantage of the BS4 from the Prime, gave them the best guns I could. Spent some time deliberating between the strangler and cannon but I think the cannons AP value will come in handy, especially as nothing else in the list really has one.

20 Hormagaunts 

Pretty straightforward. Run up the table and charge the juiciest target. Or against an assault army, tie up something I don't want touching my warriors.

Carnifex @ 150pts
2 TL Devourers w/ Worms

Just because I'm not taking a Flyrant doesn't mean I'm not bringing these TL boys. Powerful guns and can still wreck vehicles in assault.


490pts

Thoughts? I'm not trying to be OTT competitive obviously but losing every single game would be a downer. I think I can threaten most targets pretty well.
Other options I was considering was dropping the fex for Zoanthropes for some solid ranged anti tank and MEQ, plus whatever other power they generate, and spending the remaining points on more Gaunts but finecast models are offputting. Anyway what do you think?

[zippitydoo]

So I realised this morning that Tervigons can be your warlord if you have no other characters, so with that in mind I've made a new list.

Tervigon @ 210pts (Warlord)
Crushing Claws

2 Hive Guard

18 Termagants @ 92pts
13 fleshborers, 5 devourers

17 termagants @ 88pts
12 fleshborers, 5 devourers

Total: 500pts

I think that'll be much better. Good anti tank from the hive guard, tervigon and his wall of gants provides the anti infantry. 

[Yautja]

Give your Tervigon Grubs so it can not only fire twice but also have Haywire.

[Osedaxx]

At 500pts a Tervigon is pretty tough to beat. i assume you'll just advance the blob up the middle and have your HG shoot at any vehicles that they take? At 500pts you probably wont see much AV14.

Looks pretty good by me

If I would recommend anything it would be 3 Pyrovores. But you don't want to be known as "that guy" bring such cheese at such a low point game.

[Squire]

Yea I think it's worth trimming a bit to get ES grubs on the tervigon. With a 5/6 chance of taking off a hull point with the template and then charging with four S6 armourbane attacks it's a decent anti armour option for a unit that isn't taken for that reason. Even against AV14 you should do two hull points of damage, and AV12 and less is probably getting destroyed. Even if ES grubs weren't haywire (and assuming the other two options didn't exist) a S5 flamer isn't bad value for the price.

[blackrainbow]

This last bit, S5 flamer is always handy. Everything else looks tasty-cakes.

[FTGTEvan]

Got to agree with everyone, the second list is pretty good and also is a great starting point for expanding the army to higher points.

ESGs on the Tervigon are definitely worth it, and they're the all around best template anyway; Shreddershard outperforms slightly against some infantry with better than a 5+, but not by much.