2500 point ITC Tournament List

[almostmercury]

Apr 10, 2018 3:58:18 GMT autoxidation said:

I would consider dropping Darkstrider for markerlights on the shashuis and some more firewarriors to fill out the units.

I want to avoid reaper points since I give up so many everywhere else.

[almostmercury]

Oh, and those firewarriors have markerlights.

[nidzy]

I like how this list is evolving. The lists I have played against for tau thus far have been kind of the extreme ends of what this list seems to be balancing out which is bodies vs elite firepower.

Any practice games so far?

[almostmercury]

No I've been sick, but I'll be sure to come back with some game experience.

I've had 3 games against Death Guard with previous iterations, which were a little different. The first list had more tanks, fewer riptides and I've gradually dropped tanks to add riptides.

I went first during the first two games and killed Mortarion and a Lord of Skulls 1 turn after the other. Tanks are brutal on T1, but they're much easier to kill than riptides.

The third game had me relying on deployment zone depth and range to control the board. But we rolled up Dawn of war and I was nailed hard by 2 units of obliterators, which made me realize that I at least needed Stealth suits, but a unit or two of Kroot were good too.

I think I have a just slightly more refined version than the current one and hopefully I'll get a test game in before Tuesday. I'll keep you updated.

[almostmercury]

Well, I had done things and I played a game on Monday night with the following:

+++Brigade, T'au Sept (+12 CP)+++
Coldstar Commander: BC x2, HOBC, ATS, Puretide Engram Chip, Devastation Through Unity
Cadre Fireblade
Longstrike: Ion, SMS x2, Seeker x2
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Riptide: HBC, SMS x2, ATS, CDS
Riptide: IA, SMS x2, VT, TL
Stealth Suits: Shas'vre, BC x3
Tactical Drones: Shield x6
Tactical Drones: Shield x6
Tactical Drones: Shield x4
Hammerhead: Ion, SMS x2, Seeker x2
Broadside: HYMP X2, SMS x2, Seeker, TL
Broadside: HYMP X2, SMS x2, Seeker, TL

+++Battalion, T'au Sept (+5 CP)+++
Coldstar Commander: Fusion x4, Vectored Thursters
Cadre Fireblade
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5

+++Vanguard, Sa'cea Sept (+1 CP)+++
Coldstar Commnader: Fusion x4
Firesight Marksman
Firesight Marksman
Firesight Marksman

It tabled a Necron list with the following:

2x Crypteks with the 5++ invulnerable
1 Lord
11 Warriors
2x 5 Immortals (one with Gauss, one with Tesla)
2x 6 Destroyers, each with 1 Heavy Destroyer
6 Wraiths
1 Triarch Stalker
2 Doom Scythes
2 Doomsday Arks

I seized, which is always a huge difference for T'au. Shooting first is massive and I've won every game that I've gone first. At the very least, that's important knowledge for an ITC tournament as going 2nd isn't irrelevant. The missions are set up that way.

It worked basically as expected, but Hammer and Anvil meant I had 2 fireblades in the center with much overlap. But given that firewarriors can almost shoot across the short end of the table in rapid fire it made sense. It was the first time I'd used the model.

Currently, with the changes in the FAQ (which I think we made off well with, frankly) I do not need to commit to out of deployment screening, which is why both pathfinders and Kroot were missing. The stealth suits were simply filling the slot.

Here's what I'm considering committing to as my core

+++Battalion, T'au Sept (+5 CP)+++
Coldstar Commander: Fusion x4
Longstrike: Ion, SMS x2, Seeker x2
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Riptide: HBC, SMS x2, ATS, CDS
Riptide: IA, SMS x2, VT, TL
Tactical Drones: Shield x6
Tactical Drones: Shield x6
Tactical Drones: Shield x6
Hammerhead: Ion, SMS x2, Seeker x2

+++Battalion, T'au Sept (+5 CP)+++
Coldstar Commander: Fusion x4
Cadre Fireblade
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5

+++Battalion, Sa'cea Sept (+5 CP)+++
Coldstar Commnader: Fusion x4
Cadre Fireblade
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Firesight Marksman
Firesight Marksman
Firesight Marksman

This sits at 2172 pts, so I can add up to 328. The strike teams in the Sa'cea detachment aren't necessary, which would free up another 156 points, for nearly 500 points to work with. (I think I just made my 2000 point list!).

[autoxidation]

Against certain armies that set up units 9" away from enemy models during deployment or after deployment but before the first turn begins, I think Tau should definitely keep a light screen in front of their lines. Stealth suits and Kroot both still help immensely with this.

[almostmercury]

They do, but fire warriors can do that now. I’m still not sure... maybe I need stealth suits still... I just need to commit to something soon

[almostmercury]

My list submitted is as follows:

+++Battalion, T'au Sept (+5 CP)+++
Coldstar Commander: Plasma x4, Shield Drones x2, Warlord
Longstrike: Ion, SMS x2, Seeker x2
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Riptide: HBC, SMS x2, ATS, TL
Riptide: IA, SMS x2, VT, TL
Tactical Drones: Shield x4
Tactical Drones: Shield x4
Tactical Drones: Shield x4
Hammerhead: Ion, SMS x2, Seeker x2
Hammerhead: Ion, SMS x2, Seeker x2

+++Battalion, T'au Sept (+5 CP)+++
Coldstar Commander: Fusion x4, Shield Drones x2
Cadre Fireblade
Cadre Fireblade
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Stealth Suits x3: Shas'vre, BC x3
Stealth Suits x3: Shas'vre, BC x3

+++Battalion, Sa'cea Sept (+5 CP)+++
Coldstar Commnader: Fusion x4
Ethereal
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Fire Warriors x5: Shas'ui, Markerlight, Pulse Rifle x5
Firesight Marksman
Firesight Marksman
Firesight Marksman

2500 on the nose.

[autoxidation]

Not sure I would've gone with plasma on that one Coldstar, but good luck. Let me know how it goes.

[almostmercury]

Yeah, I was playing with a commander with 3x BC and an HOBC, but that was canned in the FAQ. I found it to be pretty good, but then I came across the math on the plasma. The Fusion is better, but I have 2 Commanders, a Riptide, and 3 tanks. The 3rd Fusion seemed like overkill for such a specialized role and for the cost.

The alternative was an Enforcer with 4 CIBs, which is certainly a more powerful loadout. But I wanted to keep the 14 points for a 40" move. The plasma is a bit of an experiment that I *think* will become important on T3 and on. I don't have any weapons like plasma in the list. Either S5 no Ap or S8-9 D3.

The Plasma Commander is more comfortable on the front lines and using things like C&C Node and Master of War. It also got me the points for the Ethereal, which is quite good with 3 tanks and 2 riptides. We'll see how it goes, but I doubt it'll be a huge disadvantage if it wasn't the most efficient choices.

I also didn't have the CIBs for WYSIWYG.

[almostmercury]

For what it’s worth I’m currently 3-0 and in first place by 3 points. Game 4 is tomorrow morning.

[almostmercury]

...aaaand I won. 5 rounds, just under 50 players, best general.

My final score was 5139, 34 points above the next undefeated. I averaged nearly 28 points per game, with definite ideas about how to get a better score.

I played GSC & Nids, Guard and 3 Knights, and then 3 different versions of Death Guard.

[autoxidation]

Nice! Congrats! Anywhere you felt your list was weak? What units from your opponents were the most threatening? Do you feel both Riptides were necessary?

[almostmercury]

May 8, 2018 5:14:37 GMT autoxidation said:

Nice! Congrats! Anywhere you felt your list was weak? What units from your opponents were the most threatening? Do you feel both Riptides were necessary?

Plagueburst crawlers are a (please do not swear) and I had to fight 9 of them over the last three rounds. Luckily, only my friend had more than one equipped with the entropy meltas.

Morty is threatening, but my army is built to handle these things. My marker lights were too far back against the Knights so I had to kill pask a turn early, but I took down 1 and a half Knights and pask T1 and finished the Knights T2.

I probably had too many drones and I would cut the 4 from the commanders and two riptides were good.

I would consider taking 2 HBCtides and 3 fusion commanders instead of the iontide. The Iontide felt weak against deathguard sometimes but that is mostly daemon engine invulns and FnP. An Iontide would be amazing against T’au. Still, I was very happy with 2 riptides, I think only one died all game.

I knew I would be, but the plasma Coldstar was pretty underwhelming. I probably could have used my stratagems more consistently. I have to get into the habit of placing my cards on the table to remind me to trigger them properly.

I’m also interested in exploring shadow sun, as my list would benefit from both mont’ka and kau’yon, using the movement to make up for standing still last turn or just double kau’yon

Stealth suits were incredible. I want 3 units. Bare bones.

[autoxidation]

Hmm. What are your thoughts on a Ghostkeel? I really like the model and recently acquired one but stealth suits just overall seem more effective for the points cost.

As a Tyranid player, how would you approach your own tau list?