Tyranid 1,000 Point *Surprise* Army

[Manics]

Hey fellow expendable cogs in the nom machine,

Was trying to think of a counter army to my friend's Space Wolf Rune Priest/Long Fang spam list, when I came upon the idea of fielding a surprise attack army.

The main logic behind this is that my friend is a rainman number cruncher, playing to both logic and mathhammer (which he is damn good at), and he cannot stand it when I go balls out tyranid crazy and make risky maneouveres - especially when they pay off.

I, therefore, came up with the following list to enable me to (hopefully) hit his backfield and maintain my near suicidal urge to get my units to jump out from behind stuff and go *boo*:

HQ -
Tyranid Prime: Dual bone swords and deathspitter

Troops -
Tervigon: Toxin Sacs
Tervigon: Toxin Sacs
Termagant x 10
Termagant x 10

Elite -
Doom: Mycetic Spore
Ymgarl Genestealers x8
Deathleaper

I know for the 1,000 points that there's not many bodies on the table, but by Jove this will give him a surprise and I can't wait to see the look on his face. I also appreciate that there's alot of variables that will determine performance (reserve rolls, spore drop location etc.), but what the hell, if the Hive Mind had intended us to live forever she wouldn't have invented digestion pools!

Thoughts/flames/kudos are all welcome - not holding my breath for kudos, though.

[swarmy]

Devourer termagants would be really nice for the missile spammy backfield units. Making any marine player roll handfuls of dice for saves tends to make them nervous. I'd be wary having the doom in there since I'm not 100% sure but I think wolves have some obnoxious anti-psyker thing they can cancel that out with fairly easily. If he farts out early (or takes a missile, a likely outcome with wolves) he's just a point sink.

== HQ ==
Tyranid Prime (1) - Deathspitter, Pair Of Boneswords = 95 pts.

== Elites ==
Ymgarl Genestealer Brood (8) = 184 pts.
Deathleaper (1) = 140 pts.

== Troops ==
Tervigon (1) - Stinger Salvo, Toxin Sacs = 170 pts.
Termagant Brood (10) - Fleshborer = 50 pts.
Termagant Brood (180 pts.)
Termagant (14) - Devourer = 140 pts.
Mycetic Spore (1)
Termagant Brood (180 pts.)
Termagant (14) - Devourer = 140 pts.
Mycetic Spore (1)

== Total ==
999 pts.

That puts 6 units in their backfield; 3 of which can seriously bloody their target the turn they arrive. All 6 (spores are alive too) that can contest objectives. In a kill points mission we are boned more often than not but that can be said for most tyranid lists.

These are just some random suggestions though, it's your army and list in the end. Wolves are hard for tyranids

[Manics]

Cheers Swarmy for your response - you've hit the nail on the head with obnoxious (it's almost vindicative how strong Space Wolves are in almost every strategic area)

I think your suggestion of devilgaunts w/ spore has tempered my slightly gimmicky, one trick pony list - I think playing the numbers is our main strength, and if you put enough lead (beetles/slunge/mucus delete as appropriate) in the air something will fall down eventually.

Just hoping you can expand upon Deathleaper - he seems the perfect answer to a rune priest, but, landscape depending (ie. bocked LoS from other shooty units) would you have him stay on the board after arriving from reserve to get an assualt on the next turn? or is that suicide?

Thanks

[swarmy]

Nov 5, 2012 21:28:56 GMT Manics said:

Cheers Swarmy for your response - you've hit the nail on the head with obnoxious (it's almost vindicative how strong Space Wolves are in almost every strategic area)

I think your suggestion of devilgaunts w/ spore has tempered my slightly gimmicky, one trick pony list - I think playing the numbers is our main strength, and if you put enough lead (beetles/slunge/mucus delete as appropriate) in the air something will fall down eventually.

Just hoping you can expand upon Deathleaper - he seems the perfect answer to a rune priest, but, landscape depending (ie. bocked LoS from other shooty units) would you have him stay on the board after arriving from reserve to get an assualt on the next turn? or is that suicide?

Thanks

Depends on if you need his pheromone trail for remaining reserves or if he can easily get into another tied up combat. He's not the toughest thing out there, he's still the same super squishy, fairly deadly 1v1 assassin his lesser lictor counterparts are. He should be great for challenges. Though, him staying alive is pretty much completely reliant on stealth/shrouded saves and wolves will demolish him in close combat if he isn't backed up. You probably want to completely stay out of LoS if you don't have a clear shot to punch something that is already wounded; If you are going to charge something try to make sure something else takes the overwatch.