Nidzilla I have been having great success with

[maximus]

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Tyranids) [105 PL, 11CP, 1,996pts] ++

+ Configuration +

[Reference] Discipline: Hive Mind

[Reference] Extensions of the Hive Mind

Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Detachment CP

Hive Fleet: Kraken

+ Stratagems +

Progeny of the Hive [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Malanthrope [8 PL, 150pts]: Warlord

The Swarmlord [14 PL, 270pts]: Power: Catalyst, Power: Psychic Scream

+ Troops +

Ripper Swarms [2 PL, 36pts]
. 3x Ripper Swarm: 3x Claws and Teeth

Ripper Swarms [2 PL, 36pts]
. 3x Ripper Swarm: 3x Claws and Teeth

Termagants [3 PL, 50pts]
. 10x Termagant (Fleshborer): 10x Fleshborer

Termagants [3 PL, 50pts]
. 10x Termagant (Fleshborer): 10x Fleshborer

+ Elites +

Lictor [2 PL, 37pts]: Flesh Hooks, Rending Claws

Lictor [2 PL, 37pts]: Flesh Hooks, Rending Claws

Maleceptor [9 PL, 170pts]: Massive Scything Talons, Power: Onslaught, Power: Smite

+ Fast Attack +

Dimachaeron [12 PL, 230pts]

Dimachaeron [12 PL, 230pts]

Dimachaeron [12 PL, 230pts]

+ Heavy Support +

Scythed Hierodule [12 PL, 235pts]
. Adaptive Physiology: Dermic Symbiosis

Scythed Hierodule [12 PL, 235pts]
. Adaptive Physiology: Dermic Symbiosis

++ Total: [105 PL, 11CP, 1,996pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe (https://battlescribe.net)

[hivefleetkerrigan]

That looks powerful! What's your game plan? Have you encountered any strong counters to the list?

[cmob208]

Any games against hordes (e.g. Orks or necrons) yet? How about harlequins? I think this shreds marine types.

[hiveoverall]

Nice list ! Hugely agressive, totally melee focused, I like it ! Also you can go second EZ with this list I think. What is your free relic ? kraken relic on malanthrope ? Did you try against Necrons by any chance ?

[TheDeepestShadow]

Seems like a few of us are all converging on the same general Nidzilla setup. Has the defensive buff stacking actually has been significant against a variety of different armies, and if so which ones? My main internal debate right now is whether the 250+ points sunk into Malanthrope/Venomthropes + Maleceptor outweighs getting another squad that functions in more phases of the game.

[zimko]

Maleceptor is still a reliable psycher and can do at least a little bit of damage. And is as survivable as a Tyrant. Given how good -1 strength on T7 and T8 models is, I think the Maleceptor is a big win.

Venomthropes and Malanthropes are debatable.

[hiveoverall]

Dec 18, 2020 6:18:35 GMT zimko said:

Maleceptor is still a reliable psycher and can do at least a little bit of damage. And is as survivable as a Tyrant. Given how good -1 strength on T7 and T8 models is, I think the Maleceptor is a big win.

Venomthropes and Malanthropes are debatable.

I think secondaries need to be considered. Maleceptor is also good for psychic ritual, but when it dies (I admit it is not a priority target but still...) it can give 3 for bring it down, and 3 for abhor the witch.

I like Maximus' list because it only gives 8 for abhor, and bring it down is the only obvious secondary to pick.

The thropes are just not that good for their cost I agree, not when there is so much melee now, so much need to spread out acroos the map, and the cap on minus to hit. But when you look at Maximus' list, any other HQ than the malanthrope (or OOE) would bring abhor the which to 13 points. And neurothropes are hard to keep alive in such a list.

It is why I prefer to go with Swarmy and a walkrant with resonance barb, TWL devourers and monstrous rending claws. It only gives 10 points for abhor, and if  the opponent focuses on swarmy and the walkrant, then it frees up the 5 FW monsters to run rampant. But in any case I think Maximus' list is really well built in regards to secondaries (both in regard to nid and opponent secondaries)

[TheDeepestShadow]

Definitely important to consider the secondaries, one of the main reasons this is still something I'm on the fence about (Maleceptor can't do Psychic Ritual btw, not a Character). If my opponent is taking Abhor, then I am debating whether the Maleceptor aura is more useful than a squad of Zoeys, which are more annoying to shift and also can take focus away from the monsters.

I'd still say though that in the case of Abhor, even if that Malanthrope was a Neurothrope instead, if you're already assuming you'll be losing all your Psykers you probably lost regardless. It's more a matter of whether the -1 hit aura provides sufficient survivability to the big boys for the extra 55 points. I'm curious why you think the Neuro is hard to keep alive, since I'd say it's actually more likely to survive the game than a Malanthrope just by being a floating stormshield with the same amount of movement.

[hiveoverall]

Dec 18, 2020 17:10:14 GMT TheDeepestShadow said:

Definitely important to consider the secondaries, one of the main reasons this is still something I'm on the fence about (Maleceptor can't do Psychic Ritual btw, not a Character). If my opponent is taking Abhor, then I am debating whether the Maleceptor aura is more useful than a squad of Zoeys, which are more annoying to shift and also can take focus away from the monsters.

I'd still say though that in the case of Abhor, even if that Malanthrope was a Neurothrope instead, if you're already assuming you'll be losing all your Psykers you probably lost regardless. It's more a matter of whether the -1 hit aura provides sufficient survivability to the big boys for the extra 55 points. I'm curious why you think the Neuro is hard to keep alive, since I'd say it's actually more likely to survive the game than a Malanthrope just by being a floating stormshield with the same amount of movement.

Ah thanks didn’t see that in psy ritual. 
neuros in a list that goes “all in the face nidzilla” like often get out of character protection range, but after think8ng it over, yes I agree with you. If your opponent can dedicate enough firepower/melee to get through the neuros’ 5 wounds 3++ just for the sake of secondaries, it means the big bugs are all dead. and we probably have lost the game by that point 

[maximus]

Dec 16, 2020 20:13:44 GMT cmob208 said:

Any games against hordes (e.g. Orks or necrons) yet? How about harlequins? I think this shreds marine types.

Does very well against hordes so far, the flamers on the hierodules and the dimachaerons strencth mortal wounds do the work. High enough damage attacks to chew through scarabs quick. Marines are only tough if they spam Eradicators.

[maximus]

Dec 16, 2020 17:32:13 GMT hivefleetkerrigan said:

That looks powerful! What's your game plan? Have you encountered any strong counters to the list?

Game plan is to use swarmy double move and oportunistic advance/onslaught to get two big bugin their face turn 1, aiming for there anti tank. Malathrope and Maleceptor are there to try and limit damage if you dont get turn 1. pretty straight forward really.

Matches I have found hardest were against harlequins, just cant catch them. Salamander eradicator spam is a game over most of the time also.

[maximus]

Dec 18, 2020 2:22:26 GMT TheDeepestShadow said:

Seems like a few of us are all converging on the same general Nidzilla setup. Has the defensive buff stacking actually has been significant against a variety of different armies, and if so which ones? My main internal debate right now is whether the 250+ points sunk into Malanthrope/Venomthropes + Maleceptor outweighs getting another squad that functions in more phases of the game.

I think the maleceptor is worth it as it sometimes pyschs out your opponent as he doesnt want to shoot his meltas at something hitting on 5's. I found this list unplayable without the maleceptor.

[nidzy]

This list (please do not swear) for sure. I have been playing one like it but I have veered toward dropping the Dimachaerons, running 3 scythed and taking some exocrines. My latest version has two walkrants as well. Glad to see it working for you!