2k Monster Stampede

[zimko]

Here's a quick first go at a list using the new Army of Renown stuff.

Leviathon Battalion: Army of Renown
HQ
Hive Tyrant: Wings, Toxin Sacs, 2x M. Scything Talons
        WARLORD traits: Gestalt Commander (alpha beast), Rampaging Beast (+d3 attacks)
        RELIC: Biomorphic Carapace (-1 to wound)
        Adaptive Physiology: Murderous Size
        Powers: Catalyst, Paroxysm
                    210 pts
Swarmlord: Onslaught, Aggressive Surge (+d3 attacks to target model)
Troops
3x Warriors: Bioweapon Bond: 66 pts
3x Warriors: Bioweapon Bond: 66 pts
3x Warriors: Bioweapon Bond: 66 pts
Elites
Pyrovore: 28 pts
Pyrovore: 28 pts
Fast Attack
Dimachaeron: 255 pts
Dimachaeron: 255 pts
Heavy Support
Barbed Hierodule: 275 pts
Barbed Hierodule: 275 pts
Scythed Hierodule: 235 pts

As expected, they didn't buff Carnifexes specifically, they just buffed monsters in general. So all the monsters that were good before now are still the best choices. This list will rely on a few key elements:
1. The levi strat to grant a unit objective secure, plus the Hulking Behemoths rule that makes a monster count as a number of models equal to it's remaining wounds. This means we can steal objectives with a Dima similar to how our current lists steal objectives with genestealers.
2. 5++ and -1 damage across the board of course.
3. For really tough targets, we can dump 4 CP and choose the behemoth warlord trait for a turn to give him insanely high damage output. 5+2d3 attacks, hitting 2s rerolling 1s, 6s cause additional hits, strength 7 with +1 to wound and rerolling wounds, 5+ to wound gets +2 damage for a total of 7 damage, otherwise it deals 5 damage, AP -4. That's a lot of damage. And if the flyrant dies it can do it again for 2 CP at it's maximum bracket instead of it's lowest bracket now.
4. Not reliant but... 1 cp to auto explode on a dule is very nice. Also 2 cp to death frenzy with a dima is very nice.

[No One]

zimko said:

And if the flyrant dies it can do it again for 2 CP at it's maximum bracket instead of it's lowest bracket now.

It's restricted to non Characters

3. For really tough targets, we can dump 4 CP and choose the behemoth warlord trait for a turn to give him insanely high damage output. 5+2d3 attacks, hitting 2s rerolling 1s, 6s cause additional hits, strength 7 with +1 to wound and rerolling wounds, 5+ to wound gets +2 damage for a total of 7 damage, otherwise it deals 5 damage, AP -4.

I feel you'd be generally better off just going voracious+double fight tbh. Though I guess you don't get WLT +D3 for that, so...maybe?

[zimko]

Instead of memeing for the 7 damage, a more realistic approach would probably be to trade out the murderous size in favor of Accelerated Digestion and have him focus on Killing elite infantry. -1 to wound and -2 damage plus regaining 3 wounds a turn would be a nightmare for a lot of units to deal with. He'd still deal flat 3 damage with 5+d3 attacks and strength 6 is fine vs T5 infantry. I'd leave the tough targets to the dimas.

[brianb9999]

How are we getting the -2 dmg?

[zimko]

Dec 14, 2021 14:12:13 GMT brianb9999 said:

How are we getting the -2 dmg?

With Gestalt Commander you can choose Adaptive Biology whenever you want -1 damage (after having taken damage of course). Plus the renown trait already gives -1 damage, so you'd have -2 damage total. Suddenly it's not so scary fighting thunderhammers or any other melee weapon with a flat 3 damage.

[purestrain]

Dec 14, 2021 14:15:46 GMT zimko said:

Dec 14, 2021 14:12:13 GMT brianb9999 said:

How are we getting the -2 dmg?

With Gestalt Commander you can choose Adaptive Biology whenever you want -1 damage (after having taken damage of course). Plus the renown trait already gives -1 damage, so you'd have -2 damage total. Suddenly it's not so scary fighting thunderhammers or any other melee weapon with a flat 3 damage.

No you can't the FAQ specifically states that you can only take Hive Fleet Warlord Traits.

"Q: At the start of the battle round, when selecting a Warlord Trait

for a model with the Gestalt Commander Warlord Trait, can I select

the likes of Alien Cunning or Heightened Senses?

A: No, Gestalt Commander specifically refers to the traits labelled

as the ‘Hive Fleet Warlord Traits’, i.e. Monstrous Hunger, One Step

Ahead, Lethal Miasma, Insidious Threat, Endless Regeneration or

Soul Hunger."

What you can do is take the -1 damage as your main WLT then use Alpha leader beast to gain gestalt to do things with.

[zimko]

Hmm, well that's no good because I'd really like the +d3 attacks warlord trait. I'll think on it some more.

[zimko]

Here's a different take:

Leviathon Battalion: Army of Renown
HQ
Hive Tyrant "Buffrant": Wings, Adrenal Glands, Heavy Venom Cannon, M. Rending Claws
        WARLORD traits: Strategic Adaptation (alpha beast), Swarm Leader
        RELIC: Adaptive Neural Lobe
        Powers: Onslaught, Psychic Scream
            210 pts
Hive Tyrant "Angryrant": Wings, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, 2x M. Scything Talons
        RELIC: Biomorphic Carapace
        Adpative Physiology: Murderous Size
        Power: Aggressive Surge (+d3 attacks to target model), Synaptic Barrier (4++ to target model)
            215 pts
Swarmlord: Onslaught, Paroxysm
Troops
4x Warriors: 4 LW/BS, 1 Devourer: Bioweapon Bond: 103 pts
4x Warriors: 4 LW/BS: Bioweapon Bond: 99 pts
4x Warriors: 4 LW/BS: 84 pts
4x Warriors: 4 LW/BS: 84 pts
Elites
6x Hive Guard: 270 pts
Maleceptor: Catalyst, Focal Essence: 185 pts
Fast Attack
Dimachaeron: 255 pts
Dimachaeron: 255 pts

2000 pts, 9 cp

This list won't clog up the board with massive bases as much as the other one. It has more warriors for objectives and hive guard to sit backfield. Hive Guard are an excellent tool and this list gives them all the best buffs. I tried to make the warlord flyrant as useful as possible from ranged. He has all the traits and relic that you'd normally give a Tyranid Prime but obviously he can cast psychic powers, fly, shoot a venom cannon and hit decently well as well as survive a fight if necessary. The other flyrant is a 'super flyrant' with double talons, murderous size, toxin sacs and -1 to wound relic. He should be midboard or in my opponent's face along with the Dimas, thus he gets the 4++ power to provide to them since they are the only monsters that can use it.

I realize that all the monsters selected here already had a 5++ or better invulnerable, and thus don't benefit from that aspect of the Army of Renown. But these are still our best monsters given how dense terrain can be. I love Hierodules but on some board they can barely move. With Dimachaerons and Flyrant, we have mobility and now -1 damage. The Warriors and Hive Guard at least will benefit greatly from a 5++. And the new powers/stratagems make these monsters more lethal. 

To make discussion easier, I'm naming the Hive Tyrants "Buffrant" and "Angryrant".

[purestrain]

Dec 14, 2021 21:15:06 GMT zimko said:

Here's a different take:

Leviathon Battalion: Army of Renown
HQ
Hive Tyrant "Buffrant": Wings, Adrenal Glands, Heavy Venom Cannon, M. Rending Claws
        WARLORD traits: Strategic Adaptation (alpha beast), Swarm Leader
        RELIC: Adaptive Neural Lobe
        Powers: Onslaught, Psychic Scream
            210 pts
Hive Tyrant "Angryrant": Wings, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, 2x M. Scything Talons
        RELIC: Biomorphic Carapace
        Adpative Physiology: Murderous Size
        Power: Paroxysm, Synaptic Barrier (4++ to target model)
            215 pts
Swarmlord: Onslaught, Aggressive Surge (+d3 attacks to target model)
Troops
4x Warriors: 4 LW/BS, 1 Devourer: Bioweapon Bond: 103 pts
4x Warriors: 4 LW/BS: Bioweapon Bond: 99 pts
4x Warriors: 4 LW/BS: 84 pts
4x Warriors: 4 LW/BS: 84 pts
Elites
6x Hive Guard: 270 pts
Maleceptor: Catalyst, Focal Essence: 185 pts
Fast Attack
Dimachaeron: 255 pts
Dimachaeron: 255 pts

2000 pts, 9 cp

This list won't clog up the board with massive bases as much as the other one. It has more warriors for objectives and hive guard to sit backfield. Hive Guard are an excellent tool and this list gives them all the best buffs. I tried to make the warlord flyrant as useful as possible from ranged. He has all the traits and relic that you'd normally give a Tyranid Prime but obviously he can cast psychic powers, fly, shoot a venom cannon and hit decently well as well as survive a fight if necessary. The other flyrant is a 'super flyrant' with double talons, murderous size, toxin sacs and -1 to wound relic. He should be midboard or in my opponent's face along with the Dimas, thus he gets the 4++ power to provide to them since they are the only monsters that can use it.

I realize that all the monsters selected here already had a 5++ or better invulnerable, and thus don't benefit from that aspect of the Army of Renown. But these are still our best monsters given how dense terrain can be. I love Hierodules but on some board they can barely move. With Dimachaerons and Flyrant, we have mobility and now -1 damage. The Warriors and Hive Guard at least will benefit greatly from a 5++. And the new powers/stratagems make these monsters more lethal. 

To make discussion easier, I'm naming the Hive Tyrants "Buffrant" and "Angryrant".

You cannot take any psychic powers from Will of the Hivemind if you take the army of renown, they MUST be from the Mass Divergence Discipline 

[zimko]

Good catch, thanks. The "Angryrant" will have both the d3 attacks power and the 4++ power then. Swarmlord will take Paroxysm instead.

[purestrain]

Dec 14, 2021 21:44:22 GMT zimko said:

Swarmlord will take Paroxysm instead.

He could, if it wasnt POTHM

[zimko]

He could what?

[purestrain]

Dec 14, 2021 21:50:02 GMT zimko said:

He could what?

Take Paroxysm, but he cannot because the rules for the Army of Renown.

[zimko]

He's taking Paroxysm instead of the d3 attack power. So now he has Onslaught and Paroxysm. I believe that follows the rules since now he's only taking powers from the codex? While the "Angryrant" is only taking powers from the Army of Renown?

[purestrain]

Dec 14, 2021 21:55:44 GMT zimko said:

He's taking Paroxysm instead of the d3 attack power. So now he has Onslaught and Paroxysm. I believe that follows the rules since now he's only taking powers from the codex? While the "Angryrant" is only taking powers from the Army of Renown?

If you use the army of renown you can ONLY take psychic spells from the Mass Convergence Discipline, not powers of the Hive mind.

Its stated specifically within the page for Mass Convergence, first sentence.