Norn Emmisary

[wormlord666]

I love the Norn Emmissarys and am hellbent on making them work.
I have played two in a synaptic nexus list and done Ok in practice. First tournament this weekend so it will be up to the test.
(List below)

The big upside is of course that the tankiness gives me a good primary game while spore mines, rippers and stuff play secondary and shooty stuff shoot.

The downside is of course that for that pointcost they do not make that much dmg.

I would like to hear other ways to use them. Other hivefleets, other roles or combos.

I will report back after the weekend and see what comes out of this.

Nexus 2 (2000 Points)

Tyranids
Synaptic Nexus
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Hive Tyrant (265 Points)
• 1x Heavy venom cannon
1x Monstrous bonesword and lash whip
• Enhancements: Psychostatic Disruption

Neurotyrant (115 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Neurotyrant claws and lashes
1x Psychic scream
• Enhancements: Power of the Hive Mind

BATTLELINE

Gargoyles (75 Points)
• 10x Gargoyle
• 10x Blinding venom
10x Fleshborer

OTHER DATASHEETS

Biovores (75 Points)
• 1x Chitin-barbed limbs
1x Spore Mine launcher

Exocrine (135 Points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
1x Powerful limbs

Exocrine (135 Points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
1x Powerful limbs

Maleceptor (170 Points)
• 1x Massive scything talons
1x Psychic overload

Neurolictor (65 Points)
• 1x Piercing claws and talons

Neurolictor (65 Points)
• 1x Piercing claws and talons

Norn Emissary (290 Points)
• 1x Monstrous rending claws
1x Monstrous scything talons
1x Psychic Tendril

Norn Emissary (290 Points)
• 1x Monstrous rending claws
1x Monstrous scything talons
1x Psychic Tendril

Pyrovores (30 Points)
• 1x Chitin-barbed limbs
1x Flamespurt

Pyrovores (30 Points)
• 1x Chitin-barbed limbs
1x Flamespurt

Ripper Swarms (20 Points)
• 1x Chitinous claws and teeth

Ripper Swarms (20 Points)
• 1x Chitinous claws and teeth

Zoanthropes (220 Points)
• 1x Neurothrope
• 1x Chitinous claws and teeth
1x Warp Blast
• 5x Zoanthrope
• 5x Chitinous claws and teeth
5x Warp Blast

Exported with App Version: v1.6.0 (21), Data Version: v299

[gauntlet]

singular purpose ability, plays well with having them linger in a specific location, not move about and diminishes the need to move monster across the board. Monsters don't do well when traversing terrain.

[piersonsmuppet]

Emissaries are just okay in Synaptic Nexus imo; they don’t really gain anything from the detachment rule, AoC is niche use on them vs real anti-tank, and they don’t have enough output in a single phase to be a good target for rr1’s if on their own. They take ~2 turns to even reach a useful objective for the 5+++ (competitive lists don’t hold home objectives with a ~300 pt unit), plenty of time to kill through AoC.

I think Assimilators are the better pick for Nexus, 6” charges from reserves into vehicle/monster heavy lists is real nice. Plus, they make use of the detachment rules and strats better.

Emissaries are best in Invasion Fleet imo; the 5+++ works well to bump survival until the chosen objective, overrun can help them reach an objective after killing a speed-bump, 5+ Crit hits with SUSTAINED HITS or LETHAL HITS gives them a decent bump in output, and they aren’t the worst thing to fight on death. If taking the rr’s into a single unit is worth it, it at least has the detachment rules to make it impactful as well.

[wormlord666]

So back from tournament.
I went 3-1-1 (wtc type scoring) and ended 23 of 110. I am harpy with that, it is one of my best results. 🥳

Won against Death watch, draw against Grey knights, lost to imperial knights and won against world eaters and death guard.

So i did not face the best lists, eldar and CSM, luckily.

The norns provide good focus point for my games: get them in and then support them with fire while the opponent tries to get them away.
I managed to reach ”their” objective t1 i all games except one. I used +1 to advance doctrine T1 if I deemed that was needed.
In the knightsgame I hesitated and held one back. That was a mistake and played a part in me looising the initative.

Otherwise this list works with the gameplan of scoring points and counter punch while the opponent tries to kill the norns.

I did lack more units. I would love 10 gargoyles more. I lacked something that could run through walls and fight.

I am toying with dropping the Hive tyrant and ad a trygon. If the opponent has to spend resources ”at Home” that could take the preassure of a bit.

I will also experiment with this list but played more aggressive. I was very careful most games.

I believe the emmisarys work! Not to table anyone, but to help score points!

[wormlord666]

I like the idea of running them in invasion fleet. Then you could use the fnp strat, as mentioned above, and by that choose a more aggressive objective. Steal the ”opponents no mans land objective” with one. They do move 10 and that should put serious preassure.

[shadowfinder]

I been using two Norns In my Vanguard list. They do a lot of work.

How is everyone running the Emissary? Do you just run to the no-man's land objective and stay there?

In vanguard I been running the Von-Ryans to screen out the objectives first turn and running a warrior melee unit to go through walls.

The norms turn 3 or 4 have leave the objective and hit some toward their home objective. If he is low on wounds I have kill a unit my turn that he can reach. The move ten is so nice.

[piersonsmuppet]

Oct 23, 2023 13:47:27 GMT wormlord666 said:

I like the idea of running them in invasion fleet. Then you could use the fnp strat, as mentioned above, and by that choose a more aggressive objective. Steal the ”opponents no mans land objective” with one. They do move 10 and that should put serious preassure.

Yea 300 pts is quite a lot to have protect an objective a lictor/PoM could hold for 1-2 turns; Norns need to be played aggressively to make that OC 15 work. The 5+++ is a good bonus, but it usually traps players into playing Norns around the wrong stat (causing them to be used similar to a Lone Op model… that can still be shot).

[wormlord666]

Oct 23, 2023 14:40:55 GMT shadowfinder said:

I been using two Norns In my Vanguard list. They do a lot of work.

How is everyone running the Emissary? Do you just run to the no-man's land objective and stay there?

In vanguard I been running the Von-Ryans to screen out the objectives first turn and running a warrior melee unit to go through walls.

The norms turn 3 or 4 have leave the objective and hit some toward their home objective. If he is low on wounds I have kill a unit my turn that he can reach. The move ten is so nice.

Interesting to use two norns i Vanguard. I’d love the movability that vanguard would provide.

[shadowfinder]

Oct 25, 2023 10:58:04 GMT wormlord666 said:

Oct 23, 2023 14:40:55 GMT shadowfinder said:

I been using two Norns In my Vanguard list. They do a lot of work.

How is everyone running the Emissary? Do you just run to the no-man's land objective and stay there?

In vanguard I been running the Von-Ryans to screen out the objectives first turn and running a warrior melee unit to go through walls.

The norms turn 3 or 4 have leave the objective and hit some toward their home objective. If he is low on wounds I have kill a unit my turn that he can reach. The move ten is so nice.

Interesting to use two norns i Vanguard. I’d love the movability that vanguard would provide.

I use one to just go after something big sometimes. with a 10 inch move the are hitting the enemy lines turn two and the have a lot to deal with already. Plus having them bounce from one fight to the next catches people by surprise a lot.

[wormlord666]

Two list options for a tournament coming up. Help me choose or better them, please. I will move to invasion fleet for above mentioned reasons.

List one is maximising bigbuggs!


Dubbel Norn invasion (1995 Points)

Tyranids
Invasion Fleet
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Deathleaper (70 Points)
• 1x Lictor claws and talons

Parasite of Mortrex (80 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Barbed ovipositor
1x Clawed limbs

BATTLELINE

Gargoyles (75 Points)
• 10x Gargoyle
• 10x Blinding venom
10x Fleshborer

Gargoyles (75 Points)
• 10x Gargoyle
• 10x Blinding venom
10x Fleshborer

OTHER DATASHEETS

Biovores (75 Points)
• 1x Chitin-barbed limbs
1x Spore Mine launcher

Exocrine (135 Points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
1x Powerful limbs

Exocrine (135 Points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
1x Powerful limbs

Exocrine (135 Points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
1x Powerful limbs

Maleceptor (170 Points)
• 1x Massive scything talons
1x Psychic overload

Neurolictor (65 Points)
• 1x Piercing claws and talons

Norn Emissary (290 Points)
• 1x Monstrous rending claws
1x Monstrous scything talons
1x Psychic Tendril

Norn Emissary (290 Points)
• 1x Monstrous rending claws
1x Monstrous scything talons
1x Psychic Tendril

Trygon (180 Points)
• 1x Bio-electric pulse
1x Trygon scything talons

Zoanthropes (220 Points)
• 1x Neurothrope
• 1x Chitinous claws and teeth
1x Warp Blast
• 5x Zoanthrope
• 5x Chitinous claws and teeth
5x Warp Blast

Exported with App Version: v1.6.0 (21), Data Version: v299


List two is similar to my first list with the Hive tyrant sin:

Emissary invasion (2000 Points)

Tyranids
Invasion Fleet
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Deathleaper (70 Points)
• 1x Lictor claws and talons

Hive Tyrant (260 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Monstrous bonesword and lash whip
1x Monstrous scything talons
• Enhancements: Adaptive Biology

BATTLELINE

Gargoyles (75 Points)
• 10x Gargoyle
• 10x Blinding venom
10x Fleshborer

Gargoyles (75 Points)
• 10x Gargoyle
• 10x Blinding venom
10x Fleshborer

OTHER DATASHEETS

Biovores (75 Points)
• 1x Chitin-barbed limbs
1x Spore Mine launcher

Exocrine (135 Points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
1x Powerful limbs

Exocrine (135 Points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
1x Powerful limbs

Exocrine (135 Points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
1x Powerful limbs

Neurolictor (65 Points)
• 1x Piercing claws and talons

Neurolictor (65 Points)
• 1x Piercing claws and talons

Norn Emissary (290 Points)
• 1x Monstrous rending claws
1x Monstrous scything talons
1x Psychic Tendril

Norn Emissary (290 Points)
• 1x Monstrous rending claws
1x Monstrous scything talons
1x Psychic Tendril

Zoanthropes (110 Points)
• 1x Neurothrope
• 1x Chitinous claws and teeth
1x Warp Blast
• 2x Zoanthrope
• 2x Chitinous claws and teeth
2x Warp Blast

Zoanthropes (110 Points)
• 1x Neurothrope
• 1x Chitinous claws and teeth
1x Warp Blast
• 2x Zoanthrope
• 2x Chitinous claws and teeth
2x Warp Blast

Zoanthropes (110 Points)
• 1x Neurothrope
• 1x Chitinous claws and teeth
1x Warp Blast
• 2x Zoanthrope
• 2x Chitinous claws and teeth
2x Warp Blast

Exported with App Version: v1.6.0 (21), Data Version: v299



What do you think? First one is more aggressive, drown them in monsters! The second one is more defensiv. I am thinking 3 zoanthropes and an exo in reserve as standard. Then leave secondaries to Spores, gargoyles and neurolictor and try to keep my objectives with the norns.

[purestrain]

The second one has real power behind it, I like it.