Topic: 1500 & 2000pt Tyranid Gunline Army

[xarosh]

I'm wanting to start a Tough-6spam/Guline Tyranid army and this is the two list I've settled on so far (with help from the lovely internet!). It would be much appreciated if you tear it apart and reply with any suggestions on how to improve it.

+++ 1500 pts +++

HQ
[225 pts] Hive Tyrant, 2x brainleech devourers, old adversary
[60 pts] Tyrant Guard

Elite
[100 pts] 2 Hive Guard
[55 pts] Venomthrope
[55 pts] Venomthrope

Troop
[55 pts] 11 Termagants
[185 pts] Tervigon, cluster spines, catalyst, toxin sacs
[50 pts] 10 Termagants
[185 pts] Tervigon, cluster spines, catalyst, toxin sacs

Heavy Support
[265 pts] Tyrannofex, cluster spines, rupture cannon, desiccator larvae
[265 pts] Tyrannofex, cluster spines, rupture cannon, desiccator larvae

Total: 1500 pts


+++ 2000 pts +++

HQ
[225 pts] Hive Tyrant, 2x brainleech devourers, old adversary
[225 pts] Hive Tyrant, 2x brainleech devourers, old adversary

Elite
[150 pts] 3 Hive Guard
[55 pts] Venomthrope
[55 pts] Venomthrope

Troop
[55 pts] 11 Termagants
[195 pts] Tervigon, cluster spines, catalyst, toxin sacs, adrenal glands
[50 pts] 10 Termagants
[195 pts] Tervigon, cluster spines, catalyst, toxin sacs, adrenal glands

Heavy Support
[265 pts] Tyrannofex, cluster spines, rupture cannon, desiccator larvae
[265 pts] Tyrannofex, cluster spines, rupture cannon, desiccator larvae
[265 pts] Tyrannofex, cluster spines, rupture cannon, desiccator larvae

Total: 2000 pts

[mrspungebob]

Nice timing, I started to think about the exact same army yesterday

Two things I see straight away is that I think it would suit you better to exchange one Tyrannofex with 3 Zoanthropes, and I would pile the Venomthropes into one squad. I know it's not T6, but its twice the amount of hits (better BS) and they got lances and AP1. Land Raiders are going to be in range in no time anyway. The Venomthrope piling provides one less kill point for your enemy and opens up a slot for Zoanthropes (not necessary if you don't want them of course).

I will play around with this kind of setup a bit more today.

MODIFY:
Also, you are struggling with enough firepower/attacks to deal with hordes. Especially power clawed Orks. Consider adding Biovores for that. They are not T6, but they can be hidden so they don't get shot at, so you will not notice that too much.

[xarosh]

Thanks for the reply Mrspungebob,

I do not care much for the Zoanthropes and do believe 2x Tyrannofex's can take care of heavy enemy armor in a 1500pts battle. The two venomthropes will work best on their own, which will create a larger area for their cloud to work. Again it probably just come down to personal taste and the suggestion did make me ponder my options.

The more I look over the two army lists (1500, 2000). The more I like the 1500pt army and less the 2000pt. The extra unites is just more of the same and not sure how much they overall help. 3x Bioveres does indeed sound like a much better option in the 2000pt, compared to just another Tyrannonfex. They will greatly increase the army's capability to fight an army like orcs and even would be helpful against such armies as SW's (Curse you longfangs!).

An idea in the 2000pts would be something like this?

+++ 2000 pts +++

HQ
[225 pts] Hive Tyrant, 2x brainleech devourers, old adversary
[60 pts] Tyrant Guard
[225 pts] Hive Tyrant, 2x brainleech devourers, old adversary
[60 pts] Tyrant Guard

Elite
[150 pts] 3 Hive Guard
[55 pts] Venomthrope
[55 pts] Venomthrope

Troop
[50 pts] 10 Termagants
[195 pts] Tervigon, cluster spines, catalyst, toxin sacs, adrenal glands
[50 pts] 10 Termagants
[195 pts] Tervigon, cluster spines, catalyst, toxin sacs, adrenal glands

Heavy Support
[265 pts] Tyrannofex, cluster spines, rupture cannon, desiccator larvae
[265 pts] Tyrannofex, cluster spines, rupture cannon, desiccator larvae
[135 pts] 3 Biowore broods

Total: 1985 pts

How does this 2000pts army look? Could always spend the last 15pts on an random upgrade or just a few more termagants.

More replies would be much appreciated!

[siggi28]

give tyrant guards lash whip!!!

[Pershore]

I am not sure if you're using the phrase 'gunline' the same way I understand it.  Whenever I hear about gunlines it refers to static armies intended to shoot from pretty much the position they deployed in (e.g. Imperial Guard with artillery and heavy weapons teams).  I am not sure that the tyranids can really make such a list because we are lacking in the range department.  We'd also be passing up on one of the major benefits of tyranids - everything is an assault weapon.

[xarosh]

Yeah you are right with Gunline is the wrong label. My idea/hope was just a tough (Many Tough6 unites)army with its focus on shooting. It will still move forward and assult when the clash happens.

Again I would appreciate any input!

[Pershore]

Ok, comments!

 - I guess I am surprised to only see one unit of hive guard in a shooty nid army, especially a T6 shooty army as they have great guns and T6!  I would like to see ~6 guards spread over 2-3 FOC slots.  I am not sure what you venomthropes are doing for you, everyone should be in stacked cover formation for a 4+ save anyway.

 - I am not sure whether you want dubs devourers or HVCs on your tyrants.  You might want to try both (I assume you're magnetising).

Otherwise list looks pretty nice

[xarosh]

Thanks for your comment Pershore,

The reason why I didn't go all HG's is because I really wanted to give the venomthropes a go. The venomthrope will give cover save to my living wall as well, who would usually not enjoy such a thing. They will always help a lot against any assult unites/armies who decides to crash into my lines.

I do like to hive tyrands with the devourers and favor them over the HVC. But I will magnetize them and it could be worth giving a try.