Faces of the Great Devourer

[N.I.B.]

Yeah, perhaps. But I kind of like the idea of having all that history in one thread. The old null deployment builds, the 5th ed deathstars. And after all, this thread is mostly for my own convenience, to be able to post ideas in the evenings at home and access them at work when things are slow. If anyone else can benefit from it, it's a nice bonus. And I kind of like the title.

Latest game, Kraken test run;





So, I wanted to test a Kraken build yesterday, a friend whipped out an AM gunline with infantry screens.

Kraken battallion
Flyrant warlord, Adaptive Biology. Chameleonic Mutation. 1x two Devourers, MRC, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs. Psychic Scream, Paroxysm.
Flyrant, 1x two Devourers, MRC, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs. Catalyst, The Horror.

30 Hormagaunts, Adrenal Glands
30 Hormagaunts, Adrenal Glands
3 Ripper Swarms

3 Venomthropes (no Forgeworld allowed)

Kraken battallion
Neurothrope, Catalyst
Neurothrope, Onslaught

20 Genestealers, ScyTals, 5 Acid Maw
20 Genestealers, ScyTals, 5 Acid Maw
20 Devilgants

Trygon, Adrenal Glands
Trygon, Adrenal Glands

1995pts
9 CP




Astra Militarum




We played a mission from a tournament, Dawn of War and a mix of Maelstrom, Eternal War and the usual secondary objectives.


I deployed 1 unit of Stealers, flanked by Hormagaunts on both sides, Neuros, Venomthropes and Rippers. Everything else in reserve.



For the first time since we got our new codex, I got to go first.

Kraken rolled forward in the center with 5-6" advances, Genestealers got Opportunistic Advance on a 5, so moved up 18", past an infiltrating Sentinel. On the right flank I put my warlord Flyrant, on the left flank I put the other Flyrant, 20 Devilgants and their Trygon cab.

I decided to thin down/kill the 10 man screens on the flanks rather than to try to charge them with the Flyrants, so I cast some Smites and Scream. Smited the Sentinel once, didn't want to kill it (wanted a safe charge object for the Stealers) so only 1 Smite. Cast the Horror on the Shadowsword and Catalyst on the Stealers. Onslaught on the right Hormagaunts.

Shooting, left Flyrant + Trygon killed 10 Guardsmen in a ruin, Devilgants got Single-minded Annihilation to shoot twice and eradicated two more screens in front of the Shadowsword (I didn't bother to try and charge them), warlord Flyrant killed 7 Guardsmen from the second line defense on the right flank.

Charges, Hormagaunts made their 8" charge and Genestealers made it with a re-roll.



Combat, Hormagaunts killed their 10 Guardsmens, Pile In and Consolidate moved them into the remains of the second screen plus Pask and his buddy.




(you can glimpse the warlord Flyrant in the upper right)

5 Acid Maw Stealers (the unpainted ones) killed the Sentinel, the rest walked through the Guardsmen and I made a normal Consolidate move, but not enough to take me into the lone character behind, or the Wyverns along the table edge, as you can see on this pic



So I popped 3 CP on Adrenalin Surge, showed my opponent the card and we just shook hands. The extra 6" would've carried them into the Wyverns and there was just no coming back. GG.


Wow, pretty devastating. Going first in Dawn of War mission, Kraken can reliably end turn 1 at the opposing table edge, lawnmover style.
Going second would be bad news though, and there are bad matchups. But it feels like a competitive build.

[N.I.B.]

Wow, 5 years since I posted in this thread. The leaked rules look great and Tyranids finally have modern stats, in other words a good time to get back on the saddle and try out some army lists.


Can something like this work? Just a bunch of resilient bodies swarming up the center, lots of action monkeys (Pyros, Hormos) and the new scary psychic phase. Synaptic Control (army wide Transnid) is just bonkers, and it seems like a good idea to build on that by taking loads of synapse and multiwound models.

Very strong midrange output, strong close combat, should be decent at holding primary objectives and scoring secondaries.
Weaknesses - Mostly lacks long range shooting, and doesn't have any disruption to speak of. Gunlines and enemy artillery can whittle me down. The Raveners can be burrowed in a pinch, but they have a huge footprint. I'm inclined to just deploy them as normal and swarm forward.
Certain missions with wonky deployment zones can be an issue for real estate. On the other hand most of my units can just walk through ruins so maybe I wont jam myself.
Also I didn't include the bodyguard cheese for the Flyrant, relying on Venomthropes and Leviathan. A walkrant with Shardgullet could be a better fit, what do you think?
I really like Ravener models and want to give them a run, but I suspect a more optimized list swaps them for a Harpy and Deathleaper.


Leviathan battalion

Tyranid Prime warlord, trait Direct Guidance, dual Boneswords, Venom Cannon, 85
Neurothrope, relic Resonance Barb, trait Synaptic Tendrils. Powers: Hive Nexus, Onslaught, Catalyst 100
Flyrant – relic Reaper of Obliterax, trait Adaptive Biology. Adrenal Glands. Power: Paroxysm, The Horror 205

3 Zoanthropes 150
3 Venomthropes 105
Pyrovore 30
Pyrovore 30
Maleceptor Powers: Psychic Scream, Neuroparasite 170

9 Warriors: 8 dual Boneswords, 1 Bonesword/Lashwhip, 3 Deathspitters, 3 Venom Cannons, 3 Barbed Stranglers, 1 Flesh Hooks, Adrenal Glands, 275
5 Warriors: 4 dual Boneswords, 1 Bonesword/Lashwhip, 5 Deathspitters, Adrenal Glands – 140
5 Warriors: 4 dual Boneswords, 1 Bonesword/Lashwhip, 5 Deathspitters, Adrenal Glands – 140
5 Warriors: 4 dual Boneswords, 1 Bonesword/Lashwhip, 5 Deathspitters, Adrenal Glands – 140

10 Hormagaunts 80
10 Hormagaunts 80

9 Raveners – Deathspitters, Rending Claws 270

2000pts
9CP I think (2 extra wl traits -2cp, 1 extra relic -1cp)

[N.I.B.]

Behemoth battalion Fun


Neurothrope - Resonance Barb, Warlord Synaptic Tendrils. Powers: Unparallelled Ferocity Onslaught, Catalyst 100
Flyrant – Reaper of Obliterax (-1cp), Adaptive Biology (-1cp). Adrenal Glands. Powers: Unparallelled Ferocity, Paroxysm, Psychic Scream 205

3 Zoanthropes - Powers: Neuroparasite150
3 Venomthropes 105
Pyrovore 30
Deathleaper: (WLT -1cp) Alien Cunning – 95
Toxicrene 150
Haruspex 170

5 Warriors: 4 dual Boneswords, 1 Bonesword/Lashwhip, 5 Deathspitters, Adrenal Glands – 140
5 Warriors: 4 dual Boneswords, 1 Bonesword/Lashwhip, 5 Deathspitters, Adrenal Glands – 140
5 Warriors: 4 dual Boneswords, 1 Bonesword/Lashwhip, 5 Deathspitters, Adrenal Glands – 140
10 Gargoyles 80
10 Gargoyles 80

9 Raveners – Deathspitters, Rending Claws 270

Carnifex – HVC, CC, ES 130


1985pts (15pts to spend on a pshysiology)
9CP

[piersonsmuppet]

Continuing from the other thread since here seemed more worthwhile:
 

I can drop a Ravener from the list to afford Enraged Reserves on the Haruspex.

I would suggest not dropping a body for an AdPhys (better than AP abbreviation?). Behemoth Warriors get S8 in most combats, I would just pop AG off of one unit (maybe pop the other 2 AGs for a second Pyrovore?).

[zimko]

If you're going behemoth which has access to the Lurk bios, then perhaps swapping out the Deathleaper and Pyrovore for a Mawloc would be good? Give him the objective secured Lurk trait to make him more reliable than Deathleaper at stealing an objective, plus he counts for Engage on All Fronts.

[piersonsmuppet]

Mar 31, 2022 17:07:13 GMT zimko said:

If you're going behemoth which has access to the Lurk bios, then perhaps swapping out the Deathleaper and Pyrovore for a Mawloc would be good? Give him the objective secured Lurk trait to make him more reliable than Deathleaper at stealing an objective, plus he counts for Engage on All Fronts.

I think I'd agree with this too. I like to take both, but I'd rather have an Obj Sec Mawloc if I had to pick one. Though you pretty much lock into taking Territorial Instinct, DL keeps the list more flexible to keeping Behemoth's adaptive or using other Lurk/Hunt Biomorphs.

[N.I.B.]

Mar 31, 2022 16:59:05 GMT piersonsmuppet said:

I would suggest not dropping a body for an AdPhys (better than AP abbreviation?). Behemoth Warriors get S8 in most combats, I would just pop AG off of one unit (maybe pop the other 2 AGs for a second Pyrovore?).

At least now I know what you meant by AP. Dropping Adrenal Glands on one unit that I can keep back is a good idea to afford Enraged Reserves.

Territorial Instinct is also really good, it might even be my choice without a Mawloc. I might swap in a Mawloc in the future to get the most out of it. But for now I just want to get some games in with Deathleaper and also try out the humble Pyrovore. This list is mostly to test 'fun' models and not necessarily the most optimal choices.


Behemoth battalion Fun


Neurothrope - Resonance Barb, Warlord Synaptic Tendrils. Powers: Unparallelled Ferocity Onslaught, Catalyst 100
Flyrant – Reaper of Obliterax (-1cp), Adaptive Biology (-1cp). Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs. Powers: Unparallelled Ferocity, Paroxysm, Psychic Scream 210

3 Zoanthropes - Powers: Neuroparasite 150
3 Venomthropes 105
Pyrovore 30
Deathleaper: Alien Cunning (-1cp) – 95
Toxicrene 150
Haruspex - Enraged Reserves 195

5 Warriors: 4 dual Boneswords, 1 Bonesword/Lashwhip, 5 Deathspitters, Adrenal Glands – 140
5 Warriors: 4 dual Boneswords, 1 Bonesword/Lashwhip, 5 Deathspitters, Adrenal Glands – 140
5 Warriors: 4 dual Boneswords, 1 Bonesword/Lashwhip, 5 Deathspitters, Flesh Hooks – 125
10 Gargoyles 80
10 Gargoyles 80

9 Raveners – Deathspitters, Rending Claws 270

Carnifex – Heavy Venom Cannon, Cruscher Claws, Enhanced Senses 130


2000pts
9CP

[piersonsmuppet]

What do you think of toxin sacs on the Reaper flyrant instead of flesh hooks on the warriors? I think it has more impact for 5pts when you consider every 6 to-hit dodges transhuman and is 1 MW.

[N.I.B.]

Good point. Flesh Hooks are terrain dependant, on the other hand the Flyrant is not impossible to kill without bodyguards and Leviathan transnid. But he should live to see at least one fight, and more important it's more fun to dish out more wounds in cc than to scale a ruin wall.

[N.I.B.]

Played Behemoth fun against Spacewolf dreadnought spam tonight. He had like 10 dreads of different kinds including Bjorn and Murderfang, 3 lasDreads, Redemtors, Axe-dreads, a tech priest with the strike last armour, 3 forward deployed marker light-esque dudes and a Whirlwind for Supression Fire stratagem (strike last). Mission was Conversion. I took hold more objectives, Bring it down, Deploy Teleport Homer.

[N.I.B.]

Short story, game hanged in the balance early game but I went all in turn 3 and Warriors went to town on the Dreads without invo saves, also the Gunfex picking up Bjorn, after that he imploded, 20-0 win. Flyrant drew a lot of fire, also Deathleaper was ace, Pyrovores great. I forgot to use the -1 AP hyper adaptation and forgot that my Raveners had guns, didn't matter.

[N.I.B.]

Behemoth Screamer-Killers


Flyrant: Reaper of Obliterax (-1cp), Adaptive Biology (-1cp). Adrenal Glands. Powers: Unparallelled Ferocity, Paroxysm, Psychic Scream 205
Neurothrope: Resonance Barb, Warlord Synaptic Tendrils. Powers: Unparallelled Ferocity Onslaught, Catalyst 100

3 Warriors (dual Boneswords, Deathspitters) 75
3 Warriors (dual Boneswords, Deathspitters) 75
3 Warriors (dual Boneswords, Deathspitters) 75

3 Venomthropes 105
3 Zoanthropes 150
3 Tyrant Guards 120
Deathleaper: Alien Cunning (-1cp) 95


Screamer-Killer (Adrenal Glands) 125
Screamer-Killer (Adrenal Glands) 125
Screamer-Killer (Adrenal Glands) 125

Screamer-Killer (Adrenal Glands) 125
Screamer-Killer (Adrenal Glands) 125
Screamer-Killer (Adrenal Glands) 125

Screamer-Killer (Adrenal Glands) 125
Screamer-Killer (Adrenal Glands) 125

2000pts
9cp

Next up, SK-spam. Territorial Instincts feels like the obvious secondary adaptation, for ObSec monsters. Hence I can go a bit lighter on the troops.

[N.I.B.]

Another list I'm looking to test, durable Venom cannon spam. Probably going with ObSec monsters as secondary adaptation.


The Serpent’s Chalice

Jormungandr battalion
Hive Tyrant, Shardgullet (-1cp), Heightened Senses (-1cp), Toxin Sacs. Powers: The Horror, Neuroparasite 180
Neurothrope, Resonance Barb, Warlord Synaptic Tendrils. Powers: Onslaught, Paroxysm, Catalyst 100

3 Warriors (dual Boneswords, Deathspitters) 75
3 Warriors (dual Boneswords, Deathspitters) 75
3 Warriors (dual Boneswords, Deathspitters) 75

3 Venomthropes 105
3 Zoanthropes, Psychic Scream 150
3 Tyrant Guards 120
Parasite of Mortrex, Gestation Sac (-1cp) 80


Carnifex, Heavy venom cannon, ES, Crusching Claws 130
Carnifex, Heavy venom cannon, ES, Crusching Claws 130
Carnifex, Heavy venom cannon, ES, Crusching Claws 130

Carnifex, Heavy venom cannon, ES, Crusching Claws 130
Carnifex, Heavy venom cannon, ES, Crusching Claws 130
Carnifex, Heavy venom cannon, ES, Crusching Claws 130

Carnifex, Heavy venom cannon, ES, Crusching Claws 130
Carnifex, Heavy venom cannon, ES, Crusching Claws 130


2000pts
9cp

[piersonsmuppet]

I think TG are probably not needed in the list; I think the 120pts might be better spent on Spore Cysts for each Carnifex. If you want more durability for the Tyrant, Adaptive Biology would probably be a better choice.

Though, with so much HVC do you really need the CC on Carnifex as well? I'd think the CST on them would help deal with non-vehicles/monsters better since the list is somewhat lacking in attack volume.

[N.I.B.]

Yeah the TG are one of the things I could swap out, the Walkrant is pretty durable with Venomthropes but depends a lot on what I face of course. I like Heightened Senses outside Leviathan, always annoying to miss with your awesome big gun. Crusching Claws vs ScyTals is a meta choice, not many hordes in my local scene. I might change things after testing.