gargoyles: how many if at all

[blind[tyrant]guardian]

Gargoyles seem to be an excellent screen choice, but never seem to end up on army lists. is there a reason not to field them, or is it just the points could be spent on something else? or even personal preference? Fast attack isn't a huge part of tyranid armies, but is the "third gaunt" underrated?

[ravengoescaw]

For screening 15+ I use them to screen My Shrikes.

[eugee]

I run 17-20 in my current army list. They screen for the main anvil of my army:

Gargoyles
Hormagaunts
Termagants (Devourer)
Tervigon/Hive Guard

I flank with Flyrant/Trygon Prime, and disrupt lines with Ymgarls (or Lictors). Mine are even kitted out with Adrenal/Toxin, to make them a screen you NEED to shoot at.

[demoric]

15-20 gargoyles are in almost every list a write. I don't usually upgrade them as they are used as a screening / suicide unit.

[fragile]

As the others said. They make excellent screening force and also can quickly tarpit some nasty shooters. 15+ is usually enough that they survive long enough to not be First Blood.

[Deleted]

Excellent and with TS they are a nasty and fast assault unit. Keep in mind that they also wound on 6s to hit and have HoW. 20 toxic Gargoyles will either screen lots of fire or kill lots of enemies. Either way it's a great 140 points! They are also great for targeting enemy MCs quickly.

[WestRider]

I also run 15 or so in most of my Lists. I'd probably run 30-40 if I had more than 16 of them. They're a great way to put pressure on fast while screening the rest of your Army for the first Turn or two.

I like Adrenal Glands for mine, so they can threaten Rear AV10 Vehicles. Toxin Sacs are a pretty good buy for as cheap as they are, but with Blinding Venom, not so important as for the other Gaunt types.

[coredump]

In 6th, I like them to surround and wreck transports, and take out the passengers. If no transports, then I can hit some unsuspecting foot unit.

[Illithid]

I have been running brood of 24 (it is how many I have painted). use them both as a screen and as a fast assault unit (I equip mine with TS). I highly recommend playing them and it is an odd occasion when I do not include them in my lists.

[N.I.B.]

I use them in most of my footslogging lists as a screen, as they are the only unit that can cover so much for so few points and not slow anything down. Investing their points into an Aegis Defense Line instead, feels like a nobrainer. But I loathe the very idea of having non-Tyranid models in my army, so I've been postponing it so far. I really hope GW can give us a Tyranid version of an Aegis Defense Line.

if points allow I give them Adrenal Glands. They are usually the first unit to die, and the mission with scoring Fast Attack puts them even higher on my enemy's target priority list.

[DukeMantis]

Sounds like a need some Gargoyles haha

[Anggul]

They're amazing... but they aren't troops, and although Termagants and Hormagaunts are worse, they're troops. That's pretty much the only reason I don't use them.

[eugee]

That's a fair point anggul; remember though, that the unit in front is going to get shot a lot. If you know that, then there's no need to make that front unit a Troop choice. 6 points for what is essentially a flying termagant is outrageously good for a screen then. Tack on Toxin & Adrenal and you've got a screen that is actually threatening--and have drastic consequences for ignoring it, and then adrenal makes it 50% more deadly against MEQs and allows them to actually tear open transports.

I freaking love gargoyles, for this very reason--I think they are one of our best screening units.

(I'm not saying an army doesn't take them is bad; just that when looking for a screen, they are fantastic--and the last concern I have about my screen is if they are Troops.)

EDIT - I play against a lot of armies with AV10 spam, too.

[WestRider]

I actually kind of like the fact that they're not Troops. Except in The Scouring, that means they're disposable, which is exactly what I want from a Screening Unit. My Troops, I need to stay alive and hold Objectives, while I can just fling the Gargoyles at my Opponent's lines without concern.

[rpricew]

Two units of ten screening Hormagaunts.