Tervigon-less Lists and Tactics

[biomassbob]

As the titles states, this thread is for people to discuss lists and tactics that they have found interesting/effective without using tervigons in 6th edition.

I realize tervigons are a hot item (for good reasons) but I dislike them sufficiently that I will never use them until significant amendments are made to the tervigon/dex (if ever - highly doubtful until next dex years down the road). Therefore I would be interested to hear from those that also do not use tervigons.

What troops do you tend to use? How have these been at holding/taking objectives?
Are pod lists, with a few pods, still used (not null deployment obviously) and how effective have they been vs certain armies?
Etc

[eugee]

So... you're saying you have no interest in TERVZILLA!?

Tervigon (Stinger, Claws, Miasma, Toxin) - 240
Tervigon (Stinger, Claws, Miasma, Toxin) - 240
Tervigon (Stinger, Claws, Miasma, Toxin) - 240
Tervigon (Stinger, Claws, Miasma, Toxin) - 240
Tervigon (Stinger, Claws, Miasma, Toxin) - 240
Termagant x10 (Devourer) - 100
Termagant x10 (Devourer) - 100
Termagant x10 (Devourer) - 100

Heh.

Seriously though, if you're not running a tervigon then I'd take a lot of terms, horms, and genestealers, maybe some warriors with a prime. It's just that by not taking at least one tervigon, you're giving up not just a monstrous creature, but a TROOP monstrous creature and force multiplier. I only run a single Tervigon, but it's really just fantastic. I was slow to use them, too. If you're dropping 250 on a terv + the minimum gants, that's 20 devilgaunts + Pod w/ Stinger. 60 shots to ruin someone's world...

[ravengoescaw]

I am trying to do the same thing.

[Edzilla]

Im currently running a pod list at 1500, works great. The combination of 30 devil gaunts, doom of malantai and cluster spines creates a serious anti infantry hit. For tanks I've got 3 zoanthropes and the tentacles on pods. The zoeys also add some flexibility, for example if the opponent has a land raider, las predator, vinidcator, storm raven, doom scythe or any other tank that does alot of damage, I'll roll telepathy with my zoey for puppet master.
They still work you just need to rely more on ymgarls and shooting, still currently have a unit of hormagaunts though to outflank with, just hit cover and watch as your opponent ignores them in favour of your shooting elements.

[rpricew]

My Tervigonless list would be:

HQ:
Hive Tyrant (Wings, TL Devs, LW&BS, HC) = 270
Tyranid Prime (LW&BS, Regen, Deathspitter) = 110

ELITE:
Doom with Mycetic Spore = 130
7 Ymgarls = 161
2 Hive Guard = 100

TROOPS:
4 Warriors (Deathspitters, 2 Boneswords) = 180
10 Termagants = 50
10 Termagants = 50
5 Genestealers & Broodlord (TS) = 150


FAST ATTACK:
19 Gargoyles (TS/AG) = 158
4 Shrikes (LW&BS) = 200

HEAVY SUPPORT
Trygon Prime (TS) = 210
Carnifex (2 TL Devourers) with Mycetic Spore = 230

1999 Total

Obviously the weakness is Troops which is why they have to hide in the back. The Warriors and Genestealers will outflank to contest/capture objectives. Gargoyles, Shrikes, one Termagant brood, Hive Guard & Trygon will start on the board (Genestealers may Infiltrate if getting 2nd turn)

Using Hive Commander - Hive tyrant flys on up to 24" from own table edge using Devours to shoot 18". Warriors & Prime Outflank. Doom, Carnifex, Ymgarls, Zoanthropes all Deep Strike in to cause havoc. 2nd Termagant unit walks on to capture backfield objective.

[turndamage]

Don't like Tervigons Doesn't fit the fluff of my Hive fleet. If they were able to spawn hormagaunts on the other hand.....

I like to switch it up with my lists, but you'll generally see me running at least 2 large groups of gaunts as troops and one (or two) large groups of warriors with Primes to soak up some ID. Drop in a DoM or some zopes for real harassment of armor/infantry. I love using raveners, but recently have tried the harpies due to the new flying rules: my opponents usually drop a load when they see that the flying monsters have ade it to their front lines on turn 1. They soak up a ton of shots, and may die, but then 60 gaunts who have not been shot at are at your doorstep too.

I used to exclusively run Mawlocs in my heavy slot, but since 6th, have really been enjoying my biovores and fex squadrons. If i have the points, i'll add ygmarls: nobody likes an unscathed assault unit charging them out of nowhere. I really like my gargoyle flocks with a parasite leader, but i have used this less since 6th because i'm trying out those harpies! But it used to work great for me

[wisdomseyes1]

The Tervigon doesn't seem to fill the fluff for any hive fleet... It's not a very fluffy model

[rhawin]

Turndamage: About Tervigons and Termagants... Yeees Why couldn't they have made it so it popped out Gaunts instead.... feels more in-line with the fluff for Tyranids... Anyhow 5th ed i ran 2 units of 25 Hormagaunts 1-2 units of Warriors.... etc I think we feel the same about tervigons and Termagants, and as you described how you play. feels alot like me

Next codex let you choose what you spawn

[Anax]

Recently we had some 1000p games and at that level I thought I could experiment without using the momma-bug. Here's what I came up with:
HQ: PoM
Elite: 5 Ymgarls
Troops: 3 units of 4 Gstealers + 1 Broodlord in each all choose biomancy (considering telekinesis)
Fast: 3 raveners with rending claws; 3 Shrikes scything t + dual BS + toxin ; 10 gargoyles with toxin
Aegis Defense Line (for guaranteed turn 1 4+ cover)

The army is extremely fragile, but it can work. My main strategy with them is to make an effort to provide them with bases of good covers to jump to during table setup, and simply overwhelm the enemy's shooting and get into cc with...something. After I'm there things usually turn out nicely. The stealers hide somewhere and buff/nerf depending on what they rolled.