1500 pt battle vs SW report

[rendy]

Had a really interesting game vs space wolves. My list was:

Hive Tyrant with twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms and wings
2 Hive Guard
Doom of M in spore with cluster spines
8 Ymgarls
3 units of 6 genestealers with toxin sacs and broodlord with scyth talons
12 Termagants in a spore
Tervigon with two powers, ad glans, tox sacs and crushing claws

My opponent had a librarian, two units of grey hunters, three units of long fangs, plus an imperial guard psyker, some I guards and a IG tank.

We got 'purge the alien' and hammer and anvil deployment. I got first set up and only deployed the tyrant, hive guard and tervigon- the rest was kept in reserve. He stole the initiative.

In turn 1 I quickly realized I had put my tyrant to far forward (I wasn't expecting to lose going first...) as my tyrant got killed by a unit of long fangs. The tervigon pushed forward and spawned seven termagants.

In turn 2 my hive guard were killed from shooting. The tervigon spawned 11 termagants and was done spawning. Of my six reserve units only the doom and one of the genestealer units came on. I brought the stealers on near his tank and IG (outflank) hoping they would get to do (kill) something next turn. The doom came on perfectly; within 6" of two units of long fangs and the two grey hunter units. He lost about ten marines from spirit leech. The termagants rolled some good assault distances and managed to assault one unit of long fangs. They stuck in combat.

In turn 3 all of his SW units backed away form the doom and attempted to kill it. It survived! His IG guard shot at the stealers and killed some. The termagants remained locked in combat with one surviving long fang.

For my turn 3 a lot happened. The Ymgarls came out of reserve (from a forest) and assaulted one of his long fang units, wiping it out. The stealers assaulted the other long fang unit, another wipeout. The tervigon got a great assault distance roll and got an assault in on his grey hunter unit with his HQ. The tervigon killed some marines and stuck. I love smash! The doom rolled 11 on its instinctive behaviour. The devilgants came in this turn as well and shot up his IG.

Turn 4 looked grim for the SW. His tank and IG tried to whittle down my devilgants but I still had eightor so left. My turn 4 saw my remaining stealers coming in on a flank near his tank. The Ymgarls assaulted his HQs grey hunters (helping out the tervigon).

At this point we called it (Tyranid win).

So, after a very bad start a lot went right. I got lucky with assault distance rolls and with the doom. The fact that the Ymgarls can assault in the turn they come in, plus smash making all attacks AP2 really, really helps. Next time, I'll hold the tyrant back further when I deploy...

I'd like to hear feedback/input if anyone has time!

[Deleted]

Thanks for the quick batrep man. Just a note, incase you had it wrong all attacks made by a MC are at ap2, you don't have to make smash attacks to get ap2.

[gigasnail]

^ this. it's an easy mistake to make, i read it wrong at first too.

[rendy]

Thanks.

I've read a lot here about hive guard being very useful and I believe it but against this SW list they don't do much (the front armour of the tank is 14 so if they survive long enough to shoot it the chances they can destroy it are low). Next time I may swop them out for something else; more devilgants say.