Flyrant or Swarmlord

[mikespol]

G'day all

Having found an amazing deal on-line for a new Tyranid army, I have decided to submit to the will of the hive mind and join Hive Fleet Behemoth.

I've got two 1850 lists I am working on and am pretty comfortable with both (Doom, Zoanthropes, Tervigons, Termagants and either Trygons or Dakkafexes). The only thing I am wondering is which HQ do I go for. Is it better to go for a Flyrant (for the 6th Ed FMC goodness - I've kitted out with T/L Devs and Lashwhip/Boneswords) or do I go with the Swarmlord for all the support and brutal goodies he brings?

Advice for the noob appreciated.

Cheers

[The Hive Mind]

Flyrant every day, (I'd consider 4 devourers with brainleach worms, 12 S6 flyer shots is awesome). Swarmlord is great, IF he gets there, and then you need to take 2 or 3 Tyrant Guards, at which point your looking 500 odd points on a unit that only moves 6" and is only really good in close combat. In 2.5k maybe as you can flood the field with targets.

Where as a Flyrant is there from turn 1, firing those 12 shots, wrecking tanks, eating through troops and right up in your opponents face. Swoop and your opponent needs 6's to hit, and can't assault him, much more use.

[mikespol]

Cheers. I was considering the 2xDev on the big guy. Cause there's your anti-flyer taken care of. Only issues are:
- Modeling - my understanding is the kit makes this hard. Any tips?
- If you need the Flyrant in CC, the Lashwhips and Bone Sword REALLY help, particularly in Challenges.

More broadly, what about synapse? With the Flyrant moving away, are you gunna have to make more Instinctive Behaviour tests than with the Swarmlord.

Interesting point on the need for Tyrant Guard. Because the one thing I was considering with the Swarmlord is that he ends up being cheaper than the Flyrant (the way I want to run him anyway). But if you need Tyrant Guard, that goes right out the window.

[nidzy]

You definitely need other sources of synapse if running with the flyrant. I suggest a tervigon or 2. I generally run a flyrant with a tyranid prime as my second HQ, whom I run as the warlord since he is less of a fire magnet than the flyrant. The tyranid prime is a nice little challenge fighter as he will dominate most space marine characters if kitted appropriatly and he has a pretty low point cost for what you get (5 attacks on charge, poison, t5 etc).

The reason you need tyrant guard with the swarmlord is that while he is t6 with 5 wounds, he only has a 3+ armor save and his invul save only applies in close combat meaning missile launchers and other high str low AP will eat through him relatively easily. The guard give you a chance to "look out sir!" wounds away from him on to the guard thus making him survive to CC.

As far as modelling the flyrant with 2 tl devourers: there are several schools of thought on this. I personally haven't built my flyrant yet, but I am intending to put the wings in the top arm hole, the legs where the legs go and then build devourers that are "twin linked" by having 2 devourers on each arm.

I have never played in a tournament where people were uptight enough about modelling to call me on this. If you intend to do so, there are a couple of other options. SOme people have modelled another devourer bit to fit in the little niche that is between the models head and the wing arm slot. The gaunt devourers fit there pretty nicely and a magnet would be easy to sink down in there.

The LW/BS upgrade is nice. In my experience though I am making the biggest impact when I am swooping my flyrant and shooting. This way you can more easily pick your spot to be able to assault a unit out of cover and then you really don't need the lw anyway in most case. Also, if you are smashing (as you generally WILL be in challenges) there is no need for the bonesword as you are going to ID most things anyway, and your attacks already ignore amor saves.

[The Hive Mind]

Dec 1, 2012 21:06:41 GMT mikespol said:

- Modeling - my understanding is the kit makes this hard. Any tips?
- If you need the Flyrant in CC, the Lashwhips and Bone Sword REALLY help, particularly in Challenges.

More broadly, what about synapse?

1. Modeling

Do what I did, granted mines a FW Tyrant, but would work for any Tyrant.



I cut diagonally along the arm joint and matched the 2 sets together, that way you have the 4 Devourers only taking up 1 set of arm slots, leaving the Wings and Legs to go in the other 2 sets.

2. If you need the Flyrant in CC, the Lashwhips and Bone Sword REALLY help, particularly in Challenges.

True, but I never like to throw my Tyrant in to those situations, I never find he has enough attacks to justify a life or death against Power Weapon Chapter Masters or Ork Warbosses with Power Claws.

His job s to fly around pew pewing, popping tanks and flyers, or whittling units.

When he dose land he only fights tanks, Walkers or units where he will win. Say I'm fighting Grey Knights, I'd throw him in a Dreadnought for a quick kill point, in any tank or a small unit of Knights, (even then only a few Knights so no Force Weapon shenanigans). BUT never against Paladins or Brother Captains where his Lash would come in effect, if I need that then I probs don't have enough attacks to kill them and a handfull of LD tests for ID for them are too easy to pass and I loose a 300pts model. For me 4 base attacks just isn't enough I need 5 minimum (base, so 6 on charge) to ensure on those fights I will kill either everything before they come at me or at least 90% to ensure that the few wounds I take aren't going to to stop the survivors from running.

No for those kinda fights I take Crushing Claw Tervigons, Shrieks or Trygons, where their weight of attacks will win the day, (Though not the Trygon against GK and only the Tervigon against them on the last turn as a do or die move.)


3. More broadly, what about synapse?

I never play without at least 1 Tervigon and anything 1.5k or more 2 so I have Synapse covered, plus I love Zoanthropes so usually try and nudge 2 or 3 in. Plus depending on you enemy Warriors are a ok choice, I face too many Marines with "Rockit Lawchers" to take them, but if I was facing say Orks they are solid choice due to good mid range Deathspitters.

That reply ended up longer than I thought it would.

[daffan666]

If the swarmlord trades his PP's for BRB powers; telekinesis - gate of infinity, then he can "teleport" 24". With 4 rolls SL got a high chance to get what BRB spells he want. SL dose have ranged attacks, psykic ones ^^ I think he can only make one tho? Some shooting psychic attacks dosnt require LOS, so couldnt he be able to stand behind cover to shoot/support and then teleport in, in t2-4? I really would want to field the swarmlord but maybe the new 6e rules with overwatch and no assault after DS'ing (dunno if thats new) makes it not so wise.

[coredump]

If SLord, I would go with only 1 guard and a prime. That way Iron Arm will create majority toughness, and WS9 is the majority WS.

But I do like Flyrants...

[Jabberwocky]

I think both can be pivotal units in a game and both make worthy warlords.

I think I'd suggest Flyrant at this point, just to give you a taste of FMCs.