For fun CC only list *Newb*

[SwarmMentality]

Evening Hive,

I'm a new player that's been looking into the hobby for a pretty long time now, and I guess I probably shouldn't have waited so long since GW likes to hike prices.

Anyways I've been into the Black Library books for quite sometime and I'd like to start a for fun Close Combat only list. I've also been into the "Alien" movies which is sort of the theme of my army. The "Aliens" in the movies didn't really have any ranged weapons and the fear came from an intelligent mass of claws and teeth. Something that gets close quick and then tears the potential biomass to shreds for reclamation.

I have 0 models and about a $200 budget at the moment looking to build a 500-750 pt list. I really like Raveners and Hormagaunts, if you could direct me to a semi competent 500-700 point CC only list that includes as many of these as possible I'd really appreciate it.

I'd like to get out and buy my minis so I can start to assemble and paint them up. I appreciate the help in advance guys and once I get my list going I will start a thread in the painting forum so you can track my progress! o/

[scrotatohead]

SwarmMentality,

Swarm armies are certainly viable at 500-750 points, and there's as many approaches as there are members of this forum. A $200 budget is a bit tight to go swarmy, but there are ways to get close. I'm assuming you want to buy new, but if you don't obviously you can pick up more models if you buy used:

== HQ ==
Tyranid Prime (1) - Devourer, Lash Whip And Bonesword = 95 pts.

== Elites ==
Hive Guard Brood (2) = 100 pts.
Ymgarl Genestealer Brood (8) = 184 pts.

== Troops ==
Tervigon (1) - Scything Talons, Stinger Salvo, AG, Toxin Sacs, Cat, Taken As Troops = 200 pts.
Termagant Brood (10) - Fleshborer = 50 pts.
Hormagaunt Brood (10) = 60 pts.

== Fast Attack ==
Gargoyle Brood (10) = 60 pts.

== Total ==
749 pts.

This list is based off of purchasing the BattleForce which gives you:

* a trio of Tyranid Warriors. One can be used as the Tyranid Prime (since there's no official model) and two can be used as Hive Guard with a little modest converting. There are plenty of examples in the converting section for you to draw inspiration from. You want Hive Guard even in a swarm list because you need redundancy in popping vehicles and these bad bugs do the trick. The Hive Guard blow open the transports and the Termagants/Hormagaunts/Ymgarls eat whats inside.
* A brood of genestealers which can be used as either regular stealers or as ymgarls. Ymgarls are much more effective in 6th edition and since there's no official model you can use genestealers with no problem.
* A brood of 16 Termagants. You'll need more for the Termagant to spawn, at least 30 Termagant models in my experience. I would search for deals on eBay or similar.
* A brood of 16 Hormagaunts. Points wise Hormagaunts just don't have the value of Termagants buffed by a Tervigon or Gargoyles fully loaded. But in a for-fun Swarmy list there's nothing wrong with racing a brood across the battlefield as the front wave of sacrificial meat.
* A trio of Ripper Swarm bases. Rippers have their uses. You might want to play around with them.

The Tervigon is a must-have for any Tyranid list. It produces additional Termagant broods which is the means by which you can build a swarm quickly. it also buffs the Termagants if you purchase toxin sacs or adrenal glands for it. It's psychic abilities are also very impressive. You would need to purchase this as a separate kit. This and the battlebox will eat up $200.

I also included Gargoyles because they are great swarmy models, and are a great value at any point level. A box of 10 will set you back another $30. You could throw Raveners into the list but they're pricier points wise and a box of three is closer to $50.

This is a pretty decent start for any Tyranid army. Gives you some flexibility and covers all the main necessities. It's swarmy but shooty with some high toughness thrown in alongside some good assaulting broods. As I said earlier, you can probably get more models for the money if you buy used. Most likely though they'll already painted, and you'll have to wait for them in the arrive in the mail. Hope this helps.

[SwarmMentality]

scrotatohead,

Wow thank you so much for the insight. I am trying to stay away from any type of shooting at all and just go strictly close combat. Is that not viable at all? Sorry i'm still pretty new but i'm just stuck on staying full brawler nids

Edit: I've found someone leaving 40k and he's selling a bunch of NIB stuff I just need to figure out what I should Grab, I was thinking:

HQ
Tervigon(1)

Troops
Hormagaunt(24)

Fast attack
Raveners(3)

Elite
Hive Guard(2)

[loupis]

If your trying to go all CC you are probably gonna want a swarmlord. From what i have seen he is probably one of the better CC HQs in the game. Make the Tervigon a troop choice. I know the Term Gaunts are not CC, But there FREE! free stuff is always good in a points game. Also are you sure you mean Hive Gaurd? from what i see they have canons.

[FTGTEvan]

Definitely looks like a good start to pick up those kits. You'll need some termagants too, at least for the tervigon to spawn. At low point games she is really helpful since each turn she spawns you are adding a significant percentage of points to your army. At low points I think you can get away with straying from the "competitive" build a little more and going CC swarm. Don't know if what you listed as your pickups blows your budget, but some stealers could add some punch - use a squad or two of the gaunts to screen them into enemy lines or use the tactic of infiltrating them in cover outside synapse and going to ground, then moving up with synapse to give them a full, normal turn.

Also, you might want to look into a second source of synapse - Zoans are relatively cheap (points wise) and are very flexible; keep his codex powers if facing vehicles/marines, swap out for biomancy or other powers you like if facing walking xenos to buff your guys and maybe get enfeeble.

[scrotatohead]

Mar 1, 2013 6:04:17 GMT SwarmMentality said:

scrotatohead,

Wow thank you so much for the insight. I am trying to stay away from any type of shooting at all and just go strictly close combat. Is that not viable at all? Sorry i'm still pretty new but i'm just stuck on staying full brawler nids

Edit: I've found someone leaving 40k and he's selling a bunch of NIB stuff I just need to figure out what I should Grab, I was thinking:

HQ
Tervigon(1)

Troops
Hormagaunt(24)

Fast attack
Raveners(3)

Elite
Hive Guard(2)

That's a good batch of models to start with. Going all close-combat is doable, but its' very hard to pull of even in non-competitive matches. 6th edition is very objectives based, which means not only do you want to capture/contest objectives you need to be able to hold your own. One of the best ways to accomplish this is being able to shoot up enemy units before you assault them or before they assault you. Without shooty units you overcome this with bodies. Lots of bodies to absorb enemy shots. Hence the importance of Tervigon to generate free in-game broods of cheap meat.

Loupis makes two good points. At higher point levels you're definitely going to want to bring the Swarmlord. He's just too good in close combat. You'll need a couple Tyrant Guard to help him survive slogging across the battlefield. And although your friend isn't selling off any, you do need a bunch of Termagants. Although they are shooty, they are definitely swarmy, and if you buff your Tervigon with toxin sacs and adrenal glands, as long as the Termagants broods have at least one model within six inches of her they get the benefits. I've overwhelmed demon princes with buffed Termagants on more than one occassion.

You might also want to search the threads for strategies on genestealers in 6th edition. Ymgarls are point-for-point one of our best close-combat models. They're one of the only units in the game that can assault when they arrive from reserves, and their mutation ability allows them to adapt to whichever opponent they're assaulting. Regular stealers took a kick to the gut when they lost the ability to assault when outflanking, and Overwatch can thin them down a touch prior to assaulting, but that only means you need to pump up the brood size by a model or two. When they go to ground in area terrain on or by an objective they are a bugger to remove. They still chew through most anything they go up against. And for me both units remind me of "Aliens", where the marines get ambushed while looking for the human survivors.

You might also consider getting a Zoanthrope and playing it as the Doom of Malan'tai. When it's bad it's really bad, but when it's good, it's amazing. Drop it in a spore pod next to enemy infantry and guaranteed your opponent will focus fire on it in an attempt to drop it fast. The benefit either way is that your close-combat army has that much greater of a chance to make it into contact with the enemy. There's no official model so you can seriously use anything you want. I used a soda can until I picked up a couple custom models off eBay and nobody cared one way or the other. I know other people who use potatoes! Stick a couple spare MC limbs on it and you're good to go.

[fleabag]

dont use doom of malantai on its own though, it needs to be within synapse range to be good
you want it to use its shooting attack in the middle of the enemy army

and it has instinctive behaviour feed