One Large Unit or 2 smaller units

[link670]

Hi folks, just a quick list building question. Say I have points for 30 hormagaunts, would it be better to take a single large unit of 30 or to split them up into 2 units of 15 gaunts each? I can see advantages both ways but due to my inexperience I wanted to get some advice from more seasoned players.

[l0rdf1end]

I think it depends on list, there are as you say advantages to each.

What else is with them, do you have enough units for objectives? whats the purpose of the unit if you make it one unit? scared of loosing first blood?

[link670]

My list currently is leaning slightly toward a nidzilla list, with 3 monstrous creatures stomping their way across the board (flyrant, Tervigon, Trygon prime) backed up by a unit of Devilgants and Toxigaunts with 20 in each squad and a unit of hive guard for long range support and armor hate. This is a 1250 list but since my store runs an escalation league I want to add 250 to the list to make sure I have an opponent next time I go. I'm planning on adding 20 gargoyles (again, not sure if I want to run a blob or 2 units), 10 more toxigaunts and a mycetic spore (trying to decide if I want to stick toxigaunts or devilgants in there).

[l0rdf1end]

You want Devil Gants in the Spore if you are going to take one for sure but i dont think you need it, because they can fire where as the toxin gants only have fleshborers. Landing 60 shots to someones face is pretty nice though and being able to position that anywhere on the board. The issue i find with Spores is that you still only have a 2inch deployment zone and its difficult to position more than 15 in a position where they can all get a clear shot at the target.

Gargoyles could be a useful first wave that the opponent has to deal with, if used like that it might be best to split them into two units and consider giving them toxin also. Or perhaps one plain with a toxin unit behind, then you could use that to shield your advancing devourer/toxin Gants. Could do the same with Hormies also.

More Hive Guard are always useful.
How is your Flyrant equiped?

[link670]

My Flyrant is melee speced with a bonesword, lashwhip, and scything talons. I mainly use it for harassement with vector strikes before bringing it down to support smaller units in combat. Also by Toxigaunts I actually meant Hormagaunts with toxinsacs, my fault. I rely on my tervigon for cheap termagants (the devilgants are just there to get him in as a troop for scoring) which is hit or miss since it can sometimes constipate turn one, but in general has worked decently well.

[WestRider]

I typically find Gaunt-type Broods to work best at 15-20 Models. Less than that and they die too fast to do much of use, much more than that and they get in each other's way too much.

If you just want a cheap one-Turn Screen, or to move a Tärv over to Troops, Broods of 10 can work, but other than that, I stand by my sizes given above.

[Lanesend]

Gargoyles I would definetly split up in two broods of 15. 30 Gargs is very unwieldy.

Other gaunts, I like them best in broods of 20. For the same reasons posted by westrider.

[link670]

Well, my list so far is this:
Hive Tyrant w/ Wings, Regen, Bone-Sword + Whip
Trygon Prime w/ Regen
Tervigon w/ Regen, Catalyst, Toxin Sacs + Adrenal Glands
30 Toxigaunts
20 Devilgants w/ spore
20 Gargoyles
3 Hive Guard


I may be wrong about this but after some quick mental math I believe this is just 10 points under 1500, so now just need to decide what to take to bridge that gap, and whether I want to split the toxigaunts into two units of 15 and/or the gargoyles into 2 units of 10. May also want to keep a unit of toxigaunts in reserves to spring up with the trygon, though I would need to worry about less screening units on the first turn.

[Jabberwocky]

I'd split the hormies and leave it at that. If it seems worthwhile, you can try for the tunnel. For instance if your warlord has rerolls on reserves. You don't have to decide until deployment though.

Seems like you have plenty of screening with the gargs.

[mackie95]

if you want to deep-strike a lot, which is a good nid-tactic according to me, split big broods into 2, so that you start with more units on the table (more deep-strike) if you're playing against a list with many long range blasts, this might not be good, since your enemy can get first blood easier if you have smaller broods.