Post by angus on Aug 1, 2020 19:31:58 GMT
G'day all,
This is my first post so please be constructive if I mess anything up.
I have been playing around with 2 very similar lists which make use of Leviathon (for some staying power) and kronos (for some very decent ranged damage). I would love your opinions on the lists and which you feel is more suited for 9th.
List 1: The aim of L1 is to use the swarmlord as a catalyst to move (Hive commander) resistant units such as the warriors and zoanthropes around the centre of the board as well as enable fast objective access. Leviathon will allow for the enhanced resistance warriors and 3++ zoanthropes to gain a tad more survivability, along with the unyielding chitin stratagem. I have played a few games and the warriors have been surprisingly resistant and dealt out a "decent" amount of damage back. The Thropes are there as a high resistance unit and for their mortal wound output against tougher targets. The Thropes have also been decent at helping with potential enemy deepstrike shenanigans in the backfield.
The swarmlord will be aiming to use obscuring terrain as much as possible and act as back up for the aforementioned units in the midfield. I honestly believe that the swarmlord is one of the best HQ's in the game, especially late game - but I would expect that for a whopping 270 points. The ability to give the tyranids movement in multiple phases for objective securing or getting to a vital points on the field has been invaluable to me.
The kronos detachment is incredibly useful in this initial meta of elite infantry and transports (from my local). It has always seemed that tyranids have had good front line units and lacking at the back, but it seems to have flipped. One of the differences between L1 and L2 is the inclusion of the Hive guard in the list, they just seem far too good to leave out.
My only worry with this list is that there may not be enough bodies or presence in the centre of the field. The inclusion of the hive guard (hefty 300 in a 1500 point game) means I for go some midfield presence for a devastating back line.
List 1:
++ Patrol Detachment 0CP (Tyranids) [47 PL, 899pts] ++
+ Configuration +
Detachment CP
Hive Fleet: Leviathan
+ HQ +
The Swarmlord [15 PL, 270pts]: Power: Catalyst, Power: Psychic Scream, Power: Smite, Warlord
Tyranid Prime [6 PL, 84pts]: Boneswords, Deathspitter
+ Troops +
Termagants [3 PL, 50pts]
. 10x Termagant (Fleshborer): 10x Fleshborer
Tyranid Warriors [13 PL, 270pts]
. Adaptive Physiology: Enhanced Resistance
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Scything Talons
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Scything Talons
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Scything Talons
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Scything Talons
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Scything Talons
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Scything Talons
. Tyranid Warrior (Bio-cannon): Scything Talons, Venom Cannon
. Tyranid Warrior (Bio-cannon): Scything Talons, Venom Cannon
. Tyranid Warrior (Bio-cannon): Scything Talons, Venom Cannon
+ Elites +
Zoanthropes [10 PL, 225pts]: Power: Psychic Scream, Power: Smite
. 5x Zoanthrope: 5x Claws and Teeth
++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Tyranids) [30 PL, 9CP, 601pts] ++
+ Configuration +
Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)
Detachment CP [-2CP]
Hive Fleet: Kronos
+ Stratagems +
Progeny of the Hive [-1CP]
+ HQ +
Neurothrope [4 PL, 95pts]: Power: Symbiostorm, Resonance Barb
+ Troops +
Ripper Swarms [2 PL, 36pts]
. 3x Ripper Swarm: 3x Claws and Teeth
+ Elites +
Hive Guard [13 PL, 300pts]
. 6x Hive Guard (Impaler): 6x Impaler Cannon
+ Heavy Support +
Exocrine [11 PL, 170pts]
. Adaptive Physiology: Dermic Symbiosis
++ Total: [77 PL, 9CP, 1,500pts] ++
Created with BattleScribe
List 2:
L2 has slight alterations. Firstly the swarmlord has switched for a flyrant. I have found L2 has a very large threat saturation which really makes the opponent think (always good) about what to prioritise.
The flyrant is perfect for harassing the midfield as well as providing the option of deepstrike. The most obvious change between L1 and L2 is the removal of Hive guard for the inclusion of a Tyranofex and a second exocrine.
The addition of the tryanofex in the centre of the board has been immense for me - at 1500 the opponent really has to decide if they want the exocrines gone, thus leaving me a strong force in the centre, or the warriors and the fex gone, leaving me a powerful back line which are incredibly efficient at killing primaris/ other high meta units.
Another alteration is the bone sabre on the warriors which have been really fun to use and have played much better than talons in close combat - the issue being the extra cost (27 points).
My issue with this list is having no hive guard - meaning no single minded annihilation unless used on the warriors. Are hive guard THAT good that they are an auto include and will be sorely missed ? Let me know!
++ Patrol Detachment 0CP (Tyranids) [51 PL, 11CP, 1,029pts] ++
+ Configuration +
Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)
Detachment CP
+ Stratagems +
Progeny of the Hive [-1CP]
+ HQ +
Hive Tyrant [11 PL, 230pts]: Adrenal Glands, Monstrous Rending Claws, Toxin Sacs, Two Devourers with Brainleech Worms, Warlord, Wings
. Adaptive Physiology: Murderous Size
Tyranid Prime [6 PL, 82pts]: Adrenal Glands, Deathspitter, Scything Talons
+ Troops +
Tyranid Warriors [13 PL, 297pts]
. Adaptive Physiology: Enhanced Resistance
. Tyranid Warrior: Boneswords, Deathspitter
. Tyranid Warrior: Boneswords, Deathspitter
. Tyranid Warrior: Boneswords, Deathspitter
. Tyranid Warrior: Boneswords, Deathspitter
. Tyranid Warrior: Boneswords, Deathspitter
. Tyranid Warrior: Boneswords, Deathspitter
. Tyranid Warrior (Bio-cannon): Boneswords, Venom Cannon
. Tyranid Warrior (Bio-cannon): Boneswords, Venom Cannon
. Tyranid Warrior (Bio-cannon): Boneswords, Venom Cannon
+ Elites +
Zoanthropes [10 PL, 225pts]: Power: Catalyst, Power: Smite
. 5x Zoanthrope: 5x Claws and Teeth
+ Heavy Support +
Tyrannofex [11 PL, 195pts]: Acid Spray
++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Tyranids) [28 PL, -2CP, 471pts] ++
+ Configuration +
Detachment CP [-2CP]
+ HQ +
Neurothrope [4 PL, 95pts]
+ Troops +
Ripper Swarms [2 PL, 36pts]
. 3x Ripper Swarm: 3x Claws and Teeth
+ Heavy Support +
Exocrine [11 PL, 170pts]
Exocrine [11 PL, 170pts]
++ Total: [79 PL, 9CP, 1,500pts] ++
Created with BattleScribe
Thank you all so much for reading! This is my first post so I hope the formatting is alright haha. I am incredibly interested to see what you all have to say about the lists, please keep it constructive. Any suggestions for improvements are very welcome!
There has been a lot of doom and gloom surrounding nids players, however in my opinion I think we still have some decent builds available to us. I have played with both lists presented and won 4/5 games. The W's came against Necrons twice, Death guard once (immense game) and an 8th edition tau castle. The L was taken against a very impressive show by the Grey Knights. Keep the list building juices flowing 
.
Angus