Building new Nids army... Advice please..

[Stratford]

Hi all..

After a few years in the wilderness I’m getting back into 40K.. no experience of 9th, and none with ‘Nids either, but have chosen to try!

I’ve got the following, mostly built (just ‘Thropes and warriors to finish and HG / EXO on order), and am thinking re list building before I start painting...

Whilst I build them up an learn I will likely stay mono Hive-Fleet, but plan is when I get more units and experience to have primary of Leviathon and attachment of Kronos, so trying to plan ahead! If there are other good options I’m keen to hear them!

BroodLord
8 Genestealers
Mawloc (or Trygon/Prime, built as Mawloc)

6 Tyranid warriors (plan to build as 5+prime: what melee weapons mix is recommended?)
6 Zoanthropes (3 built, question aim for 5+1 Neurothrope or 4+2 Neurothrope?)
12 Ripper Swarm bases
10 Gargoyles

6 Hive Guard
1 Exocrine

So... for Kronos detachment (HG and Exocrine) what else to add for troops and HQ? Warrior’s and Prime could do it, but do I want to discourage them to move and also likely the 6+++ would be better for them?

Or do I use some ripper swarms for troops and build 2 Neurothrope, one for Kronos and the other for Leviathon to go with the Zoan’s?

or is there a better solution? I will need to add more in time to build towards 2000, where would you recommend I take this?

Thanks all for your help!

[beetlejuice]

For kronos, fill out with neurothrope so you can cast symbiostorm on HG/exo. Rippers are good troops in kronos with natural deepstrike and the ability to use kronos strat to mess with psykers. Warriors and prime do better in leviathan, yes.

Get another zoanthrope box eventually to fill out a 6 man unit with neuros for both detachments.

[infornography]

For warriors, I would recommend Bone Swords and Lash Whips with Deathspitters on 4, double boneswords and Venom Cannons on the other 2 or replace one of the Venom Cannon ones with a prime with double boneswords and deathspitter.

[Stratford]

Sept 24, 2020 13:48:33 GMT infornography said:

For warriors, I would recommend Bone Swords and Lash Whips with Deathspitters on 4, double boneswords and Venom Cannons on the other 2 or replace one of the Venom Cannon ones with a prime with double boneswords and deathspitter.

Thanks for this... 

I’ve seen the Prime referred to as a ‘tax’... but as well as adding to hit for the warriors they also add synapse range for leviathan so I was thinking that would be worth the investment? Interesting that you’ve preferred twin swords to the lashwhip for the prime too, any reason? Keen to understand the thinking...

And no ‘cheaper’ melee weapon options at all? I was considering a couple with scything talons just to save a few points (and in the expectation they may get killed before the unit gets into melee combat)... I see the unit for holding objectives and maybe completing actions...

thanks again...

[nidzy]

Sept 24, 2020 14:08:39 GMT Stratford said:

Sept 24, 2020 13:48:33 GMT infornography said:

For warriors, I would recommend Bone Swords and Lash Whips with Deathspitters on 4, double boneswords and Venom Cannons on the other 2 or replace one of the Venom Cannon ones with a prime with double boneswords and deathspitter.

Thanks for this... 

I’ve seen the Prime referred to as a ‘tax’... but as well as adding to hit for the warriors they also add synapse range for leviathan so I was thinking that would be worth the investment? Interesting that you’ve preferred twin swords to the lashwhip for the prime too, any reason? Keen to understand the thinking...

And no ‘cheaper’ melee weapon options at all? I was considering a couple with scything talons just to save a few points (and in the expectation they may get killed before the unit gets into melee combat)... I see the unit for holding objectives and maybe completing actions...

thanks again...

I think you have a sense of how they work based on this. I agree with the advice given. I think the goal is to make them effective as possible if you do get them stuck in. You might try magnetizing the melee if you haven't built them out already. They are a pretty easy kit to do this with and I think the gun options will stay pretty consistent with deathspitters and VC being the winner. The lash whips are especially good if you get charged by some kind of glass hammer unit like repentia as they can often trade with the unit even if they die.

The prime has close to zero output in the best circumstances but double swords make him a little more effective at fighting.

[infornography]

The prime is an acceptable cheap HQ, but he doesn't bring much on his own unless you are bringing a LOT of warriors. If you want to keep your HQs cheap and have some warriors he is worth considering. If you are bringing like two large units of warriors then you should definitely bring him, but otherwise, mathematically, you are better off spending the points on more warriors.

I like him with dual boneswords to maximize the beating he can deliver in melee since he has character protection before then and he is more likely to get the charge off than be charged. I haven't seen lashwhip pay off with the prime in most cases.

I like my warriors to be more front line/midfield rather than cheap objective holders. The "expensive" melee weapons on them are not terribly expensive and add a lot to their capabilities.

In most cases Neurothropes, Hive Tyrants, and Broodlords will be more useful as HQs than Primes. Malanthrope as well in some lists.