New 40k Player, Need Army Advice Please

[soldierz]

(Sorry if this is in the wrong section)
Hello fellow Hive members, I'm new to 40k (and all table top game things) and I would like advice on the "wants" and "avoids" of the Tyranid army so I may know what path to take. Now by all means, I'm not saying "Hey hold my hand and force me to run these guys" or "tell me what you use so that I can copy it". I have a brain, I may be a newbie, but I'm smart enough to figure something out. Also I've done some research so I know a few ways or tactics (I think?).

Ok so prior to wanting to build an army, I stumbled upon the 6th edition codex of Tyranids, so I have a rough idea of what some units are, but not the effectiveness. In this post-list-thingy I'm just gonna say the units that I deem effective, and looking to see if you guys say stuff like "yeah this HQ is decent" and "these guys are great in 2-3 broods". Again all I want is some good advice.

Ok so from what I understand, Nids got hit hard in the new codex, but are still effective(I've asked devoted players to Nids, they said if you are still loyal to the army, the codex means (please do not swear) to you). Their tactics from what I understand is that they are a swarm army and that they like to either bum-rush your opponent with enough units and overwhelm them or great enough targets/priorities that they don't know who to focus. Either way I like how they work. I also understand that we have no real Anti air? I think Flyrant followed by zoas are the best we have (I think).

So yeah here's what I'm looking at for making an army (2000 points or whatever the standard is)

Swarmlord
I think this dude is pretty cool. The fact that he's a wrecking ball in CC is awesome, sure you have to protect him, I think hes well worth it.

Flyrants
Seems like a cool dude, but I wouldn't know what guns to have on him or the jumo rule, might need some help on this guy.

Tyrant Guard
Ok so, if I'm getting this right, hes a body guard that becomes part of a tyrant variant? I know hes a must for, I think its called Deathstar? I would like to have someone clarify this guy for me.

Doom of Malan'tai
This dude just seems to be a headache for your opponent, but I have a feeling you're not suppose to walk him...do you just pod him?

Parasite of Motrex
This dude seems like a fun HQ for some point games

Tervigon
So this things looks pretty cool, I like the spawning thing. Do you use it before or after movement? Also I've seen people take two or three of these, I thought it could only be HQ?

Zoanthropes
I'm guessing these guys are our psychic rocket launchers? They seems awesome and probably our only reliable anti armor...I think

Venomthropes
So these guys look really cool for a support unit, with the whole poison fog thing, but I have a feeling that they are highly situational.

Hive Guard or Tyranid Warriors
I'm guessing these are our decent gunner? Which would be a more effective choice or are they both dependent on what you are playing against?

Genestealers
These guys are the basic ambush people right? I know they spawn in a corner, but I don't understand the corner selection process, would like some help with these too.

Mycetic Spores
Our pods correct?

Trygon or Carnifex
So if I'm not mistaken, these guys got hit pretty hard? I think one more than the other..but are they really necessary? I think I could manage a more effective army without either of these guys.

Termagants
So these guys are the bread and butter of the army right? I basically have a bunch of these to chump to my opponent so the rest can get in to do some damage?

So yeah that is the list of the units that interest me, would love to hear what you guys have to say about them, like why you favor some and the seasoning behind it or if you have a unit i didn't mention, I would love to hear about it too.

I really look forward to being part of the group and hopefully I get to know some of you better as I go along the path of consuming my prey.
Thank you for your time.

P.S. If any of you are crazy artisy people, I'm going to post a request in the army coloration section thing to see if anyone can help me in that aswell

[Raven]

Apr 10, 2013 2:21:52 GMT soldierz said:

So yeah here's what I'm looking at for making an army (2000 points or whatever the standard is)

Swarmlord
I think this dude is pretty cool. The fact that he's a wrecking ball in CC is awesome, sure you have to protect him, I think hes well worth it.

The Swarmlord is the combat monster of 40k, but he's much more than that, with his special rules and great psychic potential (especially with the new rulebook powers) he's an excellent force multiplier, especially if you build your list to take advantage of him

Flyrants
Seems like a cool dude, but I wouldn't know what guns to have on him or the jump rule, might need some help on this guy.

Generally people run winged Hive Tyrant with two sets of Twin-Linked Devourers with Brainleech Worms, giving it a lot of firepower. with the ability to either move up to 12 inches as a jump monstrous creature or 12-24 as a flying monstrous creature, the mobility of a winged Hive Tyrant makes it a massive threat, add to that that's our only access to Skyfire to take down Flyers and you can see why it's rated so highly.

Tyrant Guard
Ok so, if I'm getting this right, hes a body guard that becomes part of a tyrant variant? I know hes a must for, I think its called Deathstar? I would like to have someone clarify this guy for me.

The main role of the Tyrant Guard is ablative wounds for a walking Hive Tyrant (including the swarmlord) to keep them alive as they move up the board. A deathstar is basically any unit that costs a lot of points, but is very powerful and will most likely destroy anything it touches. by attaching the Swarmlord to a unit of Tyrant Guard and possibly a Tyranid Prime as well you can create the very durable and scary Swarmstar.

Doom of Malan'tai
This dude just seems to be a headache for your opponent, but I have a feeling you're not suppose to walk him...do you just pod him?

You're entirely right, the Doom in a pod makes a great distraction and infantry killer

Parasite of Motrex
This dude seems like a fun HQ for some point games

Quite overpriced for what he can do, I've seen people have some success with it in a large brood of Gargoyles

Tervigon
So this things looks pretty cool, I like the spawning thing. Do you use it before or after movement? Also I've seen people take two or three of these, I thought it could only be HQ?

Spawning happens before movement, but you can still move the termagants after you've spawned the. For each unit of Termagants you have you can have a Tervigon as a Troops choice, so that's how people can take so many. It's easily the best unit in the entire codex, well priced, spawns troops, very durable, a psyker and synapse unit and gives buffs to nearby Termagants.

Zoanthropes
I'm guessing these guys are our psychic rocket launchers? They seems awesome and probably our only reliable anti armor...I think

They are basically two ways to take Zoanthropes. First is in a spore, either with codex powers to take out high AV vehicles and Space Marines, or rulebook powers like Psychic Shriek to take out low leadership infantry. The second is with the rest of your army and taking rulebook powers, primarily Biomancy, and use them as a buffing/debuffing unit with powers like Enfeeble and Endurance. As for other anti armour, Hive Guard are effective against weaker vehicles, and Monstrous Creatures will destroy any vehicle they can get into combat with.

Venomthropes
So these guys look really cool for a support unit, with the whole poison fog thing, but I have a feeling that they are highly situational.

They can be useful, but I'm of the opinion there should be enough terrain on the board for you to not need them for cover saves.

Hive Guard or Tyranid Warriors
I'm guessing these are our decent gunner? Which would be a more effective choice or are they both dependent on what you are playing against?

Hive Guard are very effective against weaker vehicles as I've already mentioned, with their high strength shooting, ignoring cover saves; being toughness 6, they're also really durable. Warriors unfortunately suffer from being easily killed by any Strength 8 or higher weapons, and only have limited usefulness.

Genestealers
These guys are the basic ambush people right? I know they spawn in a corner, but I don't understand the corner selection process, would like some help with these too.

Fast, very scary in combat and very fragile, Genestealers are a bit of a glass hammer unit and have really suffered from rule changes in 6th. the Infiltrate rule allows them to either deploy after both sides have deployed anywhere on the board as long as they're at least 18 inches from any enemies in sight and 12 inches from those out of sight, or they can start in reserves and outflank, coming in on the side board edges (you have to roll for which side) at turn 2 or later. Ymgarl Genestealers are a bit different, with the Dormant rule they can start hiding in a piece of area terrain (like a forest, crater or ruins) and can assault the turn they are revealed, making them an effective disruption unit and good at taking out your opponent's backfield artillery-type units.

Mycetic Spores
Our pods correct?

Yep

Trygon or Carnifex
So if I'm not mistaken, these guys got hit pretty hard? I think one more than the other..but are they really necessary? I think I could manage a more effective army without either of these guys.

Carnifex did in fact get hit quite hard and are generally considered to not be competitive. Trygons on the other hand, being tougher, more effective in combat and with an inbuilt optional deep striking ability for only a few more points, are pretty good, but I wouldn't call them necessary for a competitive list, but they are something to consider.

Termagants
So these guys are the bread and butter of the army right? I basically have a bunch of these to chump to my opponent so the rest can get in to do some damage?

You've got it, cheap, versatile, spawned by Tervigons, Termagants can be used to swarm your opponent, screen your more important units and capture objectives. You can also give them Devourers to make them put out a lot of firepower, but it is pricey, generally you'd want devourer armed Termagants in a Mycetic Spore if you choose to field them.

So yeah that is the list of the units that interest me, would love to hear what you guys have to say about them, like why you favor some and the seasoning behind it or if you have a unit i didn't mention, I would love to hear about it too.

A couple of great units you haven't mentioned - Gargoyles and Biovores. Gargoyles are cheap, fast, and can be used to give your monstrous creatures a cover save, or given Toxin Sacs and/or Adrenal Glands and be a fast and nasty threat. Biovores are pretty good in 6th with the change to large infantry lists, capable of doing a lot of damage to horde units and snipe out anyone special hiding in a unit.

I really look forward to being part of the group and hopefully I get to know some of you better as I go along the path of consuming my prey.
Thank you for your time.

Hope that helps I really enjoy this forum, the users here are very friendly and helpful and I'm sure you'll enjoy both playing Tyranids and talking about them on this forum.

[soldierz]

PrinceRaven, thank you for your wise words and in depth on some of the units I had questions on. What you said about Biovores, I walked by what is going to be my locals, and saw a lot of people swarming with Necorns and Orks, so this is probably going to be a strong investment in the future.

Again, thank you very much.


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