Tyrant as Malanthrope, will it work? and list help

[blindmage]

I mentioned it in my Preferred Enemy thread as it was the reason for the thread, but I'm looking for some feedback on what people think about using a Hive Tyrant as a 'counts as' Malanthrope.

It'd be a Hive Tyrant with:
Dual Scything Talons
Toxin Sacs
Toxic Miasma
Regeneration
Leech Essence and The Horror

It'll be in the following list:

HQ: 375
Parasite - 160
"Malanthrope" - 215

Troops: 1134
9x Rippers w/ Spinefists, Toxin Sacs and Tunnel Swarm - 189
9x Rippers w/ Spinefists, Toxin Sacs and Tunnel Swarm - 189
9x Rippers w/ Spinefists, Toxin Sacs and Tunnel Swarm - 189
9x Rippers w/ Spinefists, Toxin Sacs and Tunnel Swarm - 189
9x Rippers w/ Spinefists, Toxin Sacs and Tunnel Swarm - 189
9x Rippers w/ Spinefists, Toxin Sacs and Tunnel Swarm - 189

Fast Attack: 288
9x Sky Slashers w/ Spinefists and Toxin Sacs - 216
3x Sky Slashers w/ Spinefists and Toxin Sacs - 72

Total Points: 1797
Total Wounds: T3 = 198, T4 = 3, T6 = 4
Unit Count: 10
Max Units in Reserve: 5 (5 ground pound rippers)

I'll start with the Parasite with big flyer squad, and the "Malanthrope" with a ground squad, with the small flyers off somewhere they can dart out of later. Then just drop ripper as needed and blow away the enemy, assaulting as needed to keep him from getting in range of Objectives while I got for First Blood and Slay the Warlord...then Table him.

Note, my most common opponent is a Nurgle Daemon player, loves his Plaguebearses, Nurgle Princes and Beasts...and Ku'gath and Epidemius, and a few Nurglings, for swarm spite.

[Jabberwocky]

Since his whole army is fearless, you might try telepathy for your psychic powers.

With dominate or terrify, you can try to supress or break key units with a reasonable 24" range.

Alternatively biomancy would let you regenerate a lot of ripper wounds with endurance. Some other powers would be useful too.

Since 1 unit won't be tunneling, could you drop the upgrade for armoured shell or at least thorax swarm? 2+ wounding should rack up a lot of nurgling kills and laughs at T5.

[blindmage]

Oct 29, 2012 8:29:42 GMT Jabberwocky said:

Since his whole army is fearless, you might try telepathy for your psychic powers.

With dominate or terrify, you can try to supress or break key units with a reasonable 24" range.

Alternatively biomancy would let you regenerate a lot of ripper wounds with endurance. Some other powers would be useful too.

Since 1 unit won't be tunneling, could you drop the upgrade for armoured shell or at least thorax swarm? 2+ wounding should rack up a lot of nurgling kills and laughs at T5.

I'd never even thought about the Psychic stuff from the BRB. I never use psykers at all, so I never crossed my mind. Biomancy would be a good choice then?

I really don't have the foggiest idea about the psychic stuff. I do love the idea of regenerating Rippers!!

Having only ever used the Parasite (or Malanthropes way back in 4th) I feel spoiled for choices, but it does cut down on the number of Rippers..

[Jabberwocky]

You really need to read up on them, there is a lot of tactical flexibility with psykers.

Also I really think you should drop tunnel swarm on a base and get that thorax swarm. You can use it in overwatch as well as clearing those nurglings, plus clouds of acid/poison/locusts is quite fluffy. Malanthropes will doubtless have a lot of excess gas from digesting so many different bits of biomass.