Tyranid terror tactics

[hivefleetkerrigan]

I started looking into tyranid leadership debuffs. We can bring a total of -10 leadership on morale rolls. I could see us getting around 4 or so on multiple squads in a castle with regularity. Could building for debuffs be a valid strategy? I was thinking scream killers + a custom fleet for -1 leadership and then throwing abhorrent pheromones on hormogaunts. Could this strategy function? I don't see it winning a gt, but does it have any legs to stand on?

Tyranids:
Grisly feast - add 1 to morale tests within 6"
Scream killers - add 1 to morale tests for units within 8"
Biostatistic rattle - add 1 to morale tests for any unsaved wounds
Infrasonic roar - minus 1 leadership within 6"
Horror from beyond - minus 1 within 3" of monsters
Abhorrent pheromones - minus 2 leadership within 1"
The horror - minus 1 leadership

Cult:
Locus - minus 1 within 6"
Monstrous biohorrors - minus 1 within 6"

[LordPathos]

I like the idea of scary bugs, but the range of auras are small and the models they come from arent the best.

But I may give Screamer Fexes, Grisley Feast, and Horror from Beyond a shot with a Haruspex one day.

[hivefleetkerrigan]

I'd also thought about popping up a jormungandr trygon prime with infrasonic roar and getting it to charge into combat. I don't think that would be reliable but would stack on another -2.

I'd love to reach the point where it's "I killed one of your model, now pick up the unit due to morale"

[dranzyl]

I dont know if its worth all that for your opponent to say 'i use 1 cp to auto pass'.
Thats still a rule isnt it? If you could translate that minus leadership to actual damage or nuke enemy leadership to require that expenditure for relatively minimal investment then theres something there.

[hivefleetkerrigan]

Mar 14, 2020 19:33:13 GMT dranzyl said:

I dont know if its worth all that for your opponent to say 'i use 1 cp to auto pass'.
Thats still a rule isnt it? If you could translate that minus leadership to actual damage or nuke enemy leadership to require that expenditure for relatively minimal investment then theres something there.

The auto pass morale is 2 cp, so probably not something you can spend each turn. However, I was thinking of killing a few models in different units, then they can save one but will lose quite a few models in the other units.

You can drop their leadership and use mental onslaught, but it has diminishing returns due to them being able to roll a 6 to stop the spell from continuing.

[arsonfire]

Can also throw in a guard detachment, to access their Terrifying Visions psychic power for another -2 leadership.

[hivemind03]

Mar 14, 2020 20:56:21 GMT hivefleetkerrigan said:

Mar 14, 2020 19:33:13 GMT dranzyl said:

I dont know if its worth all that for your opponent to say 'i use 1 cp to auto pass'.
Thats still a rule isnt it? If you could translate that minus leadership to actual damage or nuke enemy leadership to require that expenditure for relatively minimal investment then theres something there.

The auto pass morale is 2 cp, so probably not something you can spend each turn. However, I was thinking of killing a few models in different units, then they can save one but will lose quite a few models in the other units.

You can drop their leadership and use mental onslaught, but it has diminishing returns due to them being able to roll a 6 to stop the spell from continuing.

Well if you're all in on the strategy you can take a 4AE detachment and cancel their Insane Beavery. It's worth it if they're about to take significant losses.

[kazetanade]

"oh look I killed 1 Centurion, you auto lose 5 more on a roll of 1, and I Vect Insane Bravery"

"Well (please do not swear), Nids are broken"

I can just see this happening now... Don't think it's feasible though. Mainstay armies all have fantastic ld (Nids Fearless, Orks ld30, Tau ld9, SM ld8 or 9, Eldar maybe?) so you'd have to drop at least half the unit with most of the ld debuffs to wipe them in this way, the investment on your part is pretty difficult, and delivery is a headache.

[hivefleetkerrigan]

Kaze, I started drafting a few lists and I think you're correct about the points and delivery. All of the lists are really tight points wise and would require some tight play.

List 1: hormogaunt sling + scream killers

SPOILER: Click to show

Battalion of -1 leadership within 3 and prey sight
2x neurothropes
3x rippers
1x Biovore

Spearhead of the same hive fleet
Old one eye
Mawloc
2 scream killers
2 scream killers

List 2: Kronos shooting, scream killers, and jorm deepstrike

SPOILER: Click to show

Battalion Kronos
Neurothrope
Tyranid prime
2x rippers
9x warriors talons, barbed stranglers, deathspitters
6 hive guard

Spearhead of -1 leadership and prey sight
Old one eye
2 scream killers
1 scream killers
Mawloc

Patrol of jormungandr
Neurothrope
2x hormogaunts (27, adrenaline glands)
Raveners
Tyranid prime adrenaline glands

List 3: twisted helix and nids

SPOILER: Click to show

Battalion twisted helix
Abominant - field commander
Patriarch - crouchling
2x acolytes (5)
Broodbrothers
Abberants (10 - 2 with stop signs)
Clamvus
Locus

Battalion -1 leadership monsters, 6+ invul hormogaunts
Swarmlord
Neurothrope
2x hormogaunts
Rippers

Mawloc
2 scream killers
2 scream killers