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500 point swarm for casual gaming

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964 views 11 replies 3 participants last post by  Mechatius 
#1 ·
I've been meaning to start a new tyranid army. I have some models already, but between becoming a better painter since I got them and tiring of the paint scheme, I've decided to start over from scratch.

Before I make my first purchase, I would like your help in creating a 500 point list for casual games. I will mostly be facing Guards, Space Marines and Sisters. By casual I mean that I won't be taking the army to any tournaments. I still want the list to be good and capable.

These are my thoughts so far.

Try 1:
HQ:
Tyranid Prime [ Pair of Boneswords ] 90 pts

Elites:
Venomthrope X pts

Troops:
4 x Tyranid Warriors [ 4 x Rending Claws | 1 x Venom Cannon ] 155 pts

10 x Hormagaunts 60 pts

10 x Termagants [ 10 x Adrenal Glands ] 60 pts

Fast Attack:
10 x Gargoyles [ 10 x Adrenal Glands | 10 x Toxin Sacs ] 80 pts

Total : 500 pts (36 models)

Thoughts: Lots of models which is a plus in my book, but it is not cohesive. The gargoyles will either be held back or risk going out of synapse range. Neither of those options are very good. I guess one could trail them and keep one or two in synapse (and venomthrope cover?) and make it work that way but it still doesn't feel quite right. I can also see this list struggling with

Try 2:
HQ:
Tyranid Prime [ Pair of Boneswords ] 90 pts

Elites:
Venomthrope x pts

2 x Hive Guard 100 pts

Troops:
4 x Tyranid Warriors [ 1 x Venom Cannon ] 135 pts

10 x Hormagaunts 60 pts

10 x Termagants [ 10 x Adrenal Glands ] 60 pts

Total: 500 pts (28 models)

Thoughts: This one has fewer models but is more cohesive. It also adds two can openers which can be very valuable against Guards. One might also consider dropping the adrenal glands on the termagants for two more bodies.

Try 3:
HQ:
Tyranid Prime [ Pair of Boneswords ] 90 pts

Elites:
Venomthrope X pts

Troops:
3 x Tyranid Warriors [ 1 x Venom Cannon ] 105 pts

10 x Hormagaunts 60 pts

10 x Termagants [ 10 x Adrenal Glands ] 60 pts

5 x Genestealer + 1 Broodlord 130 pts

Total: 500 pts (30 models)

Thoughts: I don't really know what to say about this one, it's mostly there to widen my horizon. It'll drop the can openers and a warrior for some mean close combat elements.

General thoughts: All of the lists contain a Venomthrope for the cover save. Is it worth you think? I know many people will say to use a Tervigon as an HQ and I consider it. I just think I'd like to wait with that for a while. It's a rather extensive conversion and I'm not sure I want to start out with that. Feel free to suggest lists with it though, if you're convincing enough I might change my mind. :)

Thanks in advance.
 
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#2 ·
List number 2 by a mile.

Hive guard are a real bonus, and as you say its much more cohesive on the whole. Theres one tiny change i recogmend though, drop the termagunts, then give your hormaguants Toxin sacs. Then buy more hormaguants :)

Other than that your good to go

Good luck :beer:
 
#3 ·
drop the termagunts, then give your hormaguants Toxin sacs. Then buy more hormaguants :)
Something like this then?

HQ:
Tyranid Prime [ Pair of Boneswords ] 90 pts

Elites:
Venomthrope x pts

2 x Hive Guard 100 pts

Troops:
4 x Tyranid Warriors [ 1 x Venom Cannon ] 135 pts

15 x Hormagaunts [ 15 x Toxin Sacs ] 120 pts

Total: 500 pts (23 models)

That's starting to thin down on the swarm feeling though. With 23 model I could probably make a decent CSM army that outnumber it... ;)

It doesn't require any more purchases than the original though. Battleforce, Venomthrope, 2 x Hive Guard, Tyranid Warrior Brood. Guess that'll be the first purchase and then try out various combinations.
 
#4 ·
Eh warriors are expensive bugs, if you wanted a true swarm, just take the prime, stick him in a large brood of hormagaunts or two, then back it up with a zoanthrope or 2.

But as for the list you have there it looks good and you should do well with it.
 
#5 ·
Is one Zoanthrope survivable enough? 2 Zoanthropes is just below the cost of the Warriors in cost. They do have a quite impressive invulnerable save but I'd still be a little afraid of loosing synapse using only one of them. Two might survive better but that wouldn't let me add more than 1 extra Hormagaunt. I guess I could drop one of the warriors for 3 extra Hormagaunts though.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Assuming you built off the previous list posted above, youd also want to drop the Hive guard aswell as the warriors. With the points you save, buy yourself 2 zoanthropes and the use the rest on Hormaguants.

Although i stand by what i said a few posts ago, for me the best list is number 2, with the termies switch for toxins and more horagunats.
 
#7 ·
Ok, so how about:

HQ:
Tyranid Prime [ Deathspitter ] 85 pts

Elites:
Venomthrope X pts

2 x Zoanthrope 120 pts

Troops:
15 x Hormagaunts [ 15 x Toxin Sacs ] 120 pts

15 x Hormagaunts [ 15 x Toxin Sacs ] 120 pts

Total: 500 pts (34 models)

The reason I switched to Deathspitter on the Prime was because I was short 5 points for the last hormagaunt. Guess I could do with only 14 in one of the broods though. Which would be preferrable?
 
#9 ·
Ok, thank you very much. So then it's down to:

Alternative 1:
HQ:
Tyranid Prime [ Pair of Boneswords ] 90 pts

Elites:
Venomthrope x pts

2 x Hive Guard 100 pts

Troops:
4 x Tyranid Warriors [ 1 x Venom Cannon ] 135 pts

15 x Hormagaunts [ 15 x Toxin Sacs ] 120 pts

Total: 500 pts (23 models)

Alternative 2:
HQ:
Tyranid Prime [ Pair of Boneswords ] 90 pts

Elites:
Venomthrope X pts

2 x Zoanthrope 120 pts

Troops:
14 x Hormagaunts [ 14 x Toxin Sacs ] 112 pts

15 x Hormagaunts [ 15 x Toxin Sacs ] 120 pts

Total: 497 pts (33 models)
 
#10 ·
Both look good, id say list 2 has a slight edge because of the added MEQ killing from the zoanthropes, but both are usable and effective. If you can proxy/ play both to get a feel for which you prefer, but either should do well dor you

Good luck :beer:
 
#11 ·
The second list looks really cool to me, it's a characterful swarm with some nasty elite bugs drifting through it. I've always wanted to do a small casual Tyranid force just like it, something like:

Tyranid Prime ~ 100

2x Zoanthropes ~ 120

18x Hormaguants, Toxing Sacs ~ 140

18x Hormaguants, Toxing Sacs ~ 140

At 750 I'd just throw in a Trygon!

To get back to your list, I reckon it'll be fun to play, as well as being true to the theme of the Tyranids. What model are you using for the Tyranid Prime?
 
#12 · (Edited)
What model are you using for the Tyranid Prime?
As the plan stands right now, I'm using the lower body of a warrior, perhaps I'll do something to it's tail, the torso and head of a ravener and I'll stick some plasticard and green stuff on top of some spine fists for the bone swords. (Picture of bone sword here.)
 
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