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[500pt] Tau battleforce

540 views 9 replies 3 participants last post by  Grungni 
#1 ·
im planning on getting the tau battleforce and making a list out of it. this is what i had in mind tell me what you think.

HQ:
1 Shas'el w/ Missile Pod, Plasma rifle, Targeting array, and H.W. Multi-tracker
97pts
Elite:
3 Stealth suits w/ FB, leader w/ Bonding Knife
132 pts
Troops:
10 Fire Warriors w/ leader, and Photon grenades
130pts
Devilfish w/ flechette discharger
90pts
10 Kroots
70pts

Total: 27 models, 495pts
 
#2 ·
Grungni said:
im planning on getting the tau battleforce and making a list out of it. this is what i had in mind tell me what you think.
Will they be all of the models you'll be using?

HQ:
1 Shas'el w/ Missile Pod, Plasma rifle, Targeting array, and H.W. Multi-tracker
97pts
Very nice.

Elite:
3 Stealth suits w/ FB, leader w/ Bonding Knife
132 pts
A few problems here - first, their squad size. I know all you get are three, but if even one gets shot down, they'll be taking morale checks left and right. Second, I don't think putting the Fusion Blaster in there is a good idea - makes a small, easily-killed squad even more expensive and takes away three valuable shots. Finally, the leader (Shas'vre, right?) with the bonding knife makes them even more expensive, and chances are the bonding knife will give you next to no benefits, as it's such a small squad it's likely that they'll all get shot down before you have the chance to need to regroup.

Just my thoughts.

Troops:
10 Fire Warriors w/ leader, and Photon grenades
130pts
I do believe you get 12 Fire Warriors in the Battleforce, correct? If so, I recommend upgrading them to a maxed squad. I'd also recommend dropping the photon grenades (too many points for something not that useful anyways - generally speaking, Fire Warriors will die in CC anyways, and this upgrade makes them too expensive for their own good). I'd then recommend giving the Shas'ui a bonding knife to round things out.

Devilfish w/ flechette discharger
90pts
I don't think the flechette discharger is a good idea, to be perfectly honest with you. You need Decoy Launchers here, at the very least.

10 Kroots
70pts
Good. Keep in mind, they are much better as an infiltrating, shooting harassment squad - use them for counter assault only as a last resort, especially without Kroot Hounds to back them up. They are much better at harassing the enemy with fairly decent shooting - find some good cover and step to.

Overall, you don't have much room to work with, and I understand that, being the owner of two Battleforces myself.

If you come up with enough extra points, you might give your Devilfish the following upgrades:

Multitracker, Smart Missile System, Targeting Array. These will make it a "Warfish" and make it somewhat a light tank, able to dish out 7 S5 shots (4 of which not needing LOS, which is nice when hiding it behind cover) a turn. Not a bad investment, really, and will definitely help in this low of points.

Keep in mind, I'm only offering suggestions based on my own experience and research - I recommend that you playtest with lists and come up with what you like the best. :yes:

Good luck!



 
#3 ·
i have play tested tested a similar list and i know your right about the stealth team. these are the changes, i found enough pointsto upgrade my devilfish and get some gun drones, im going ot try to use only the models in the battleforce for starters. i will mostly be fighting chaos and nids.

HQ:
1 Shas'el w/ Missile Pod, Plasma rifle, Targeting array, and H.W. Multi-tracker
97pts
Troops:
12 Fire Warriors w/ leader and bonding Knife
138pts
Devilfish w/ decoy launcher, multitracker, SMS and targeting array
120pts
12 Kroots
84pts
Fast Attack:
5 Gun Drones
60pts

Total: 31 models 499pts
 
#4 ·
Grungni said:
i have play tested tested a similar list and i know your right about the stealth team. these are the changes, i found enough pointsto upgrade my devilfish and get some gun drones, im going ot try to use only the models in the battleforce for starters. i will mostly be fighting chaos and nids.
Alright, so no other models... let's see.. Chaos and 'Nids, huh? Any idea what your opponents will be fielding?

HQ:
1 Shas'el w/ Missile Pod, Plasma rifle, Targeting array, and H.W. Multi-tracker
97pts
Again, very nice.

Troops:
12 Fire Warriors w/ leader and bonding Knife
138pts
I think your points are a little off on this one. They should be 135.

Devilfish w/ decoy launcher, multitracker, SMS and targeting array
120pts
Nice.

12 Kroots
84pts
I prefer squads of 10, myself, but 12 won't hurt.

Fast Attack:
5 Gun Drones
60pts
Are these all the Drones you'll have? If not, I'd recommend beefing the squad up a little (take some points from the Kroot, maybe?) to get some more shots in there.

Overall, looks like a fairly nice list from what you can make from the Battleforce. :yes: I can see it doing reasonably well against 'Nids especially, just beware the lack of heavy firepower in case your opponent takes some MC's.. but your Shas'el and S5 weaponry should be able to handle mostly anything that's thrown at it, I think.

Good luck, and make sure to let us know how the list fairs!



 
#5 ·
HQ:
1 Shas'el w/ Missile Pod, Plasma rifle, Targeting array, and H.W. Multi-tracker
97pts
Troops:
12 Fire Warriors w/ leader and bonding Knife
135pts
Devilfish w/ decoy launcher, multitracker, SMS and targeting array
120pts
10 Kroots
70pts
Fast Attack:
6 Gun Drones
72pts

Total: 30 models 494pts

ok, i think your right, i like the look of it, the 'nids usually have 3 warriors, genestealers, both gaunts. but he sometimes bring a hive tyrant and that is what i want to kill hahaha, the nids player usually wins and me and chaos player are in a race to see who kills his tyrant first.

here is the Chaos players list. the nids player almost never posts his army.

http://www.librarium-online.com/for...0-pt-chaos-battleforce-army-2.html#post758762
 
#6 ·
Looks like a really nice list. :yes: I think it'll do well with 500 points. With those extra 6 points, you might be able to add something somewhere - some little upgrade. See if you can squeeze them in somewhere.

Be very wary of that Chaos list - it has a definite advantage in the fact that it has Power Fists and Plasma Guns vs. that Hive Tyrant, but your advantage is a very high abundance of S5 weaponry.

Against the 'Nids, try to use cover to your advantage - infiltrate your Kroot into cover (woods or jungle preferably!), hide your Devilfish with Fire Warriors behind cover to shoot with the SMS, keep your HQ near your Drones or Kroot or Devilfish/Fire Warriors and make use of his IC status - he has the highest strength weapons on the field for your army, and you want to keep him around. That Missile Pod = Genestealer Death - use it! Jump, Shoot, Jump. Always keep that in mind. Don't get within 12" of anything for your Plasma unless you absolutely have to, and even then, jump away!

Be wary of Tyranids as they tend to be able to move a little faster than normal infantry, and if that Hive Tyrant is winged and/or leaping, you might have a little bit of trouble with it. The Warriors shouldn't be much of a problem, either, though, since your Missile Pod will make quick work of them as well (2+ to hit, 2+ to wound, no armour save - yes please!).

As for that Chaos list, use your mobility to keep out of CC. Hammer them with S5 weapons and they will eventually fail some armour saves - remember, though, that you can't rely solely on Fire Warriors, as while they have a great gun, they don't have a great BS, which has let me down time and time again. Keep that in mind - use everything in your arsenal!

Just remember also to keep your HQ hidden well enough so that you can protect him from shooting with his IC status - that's a very important protection for a Tau HQ, especially when he's the only Crisis Suit on the board - the enemy will want to kill him almost above all else! He's 1/5 of your points, and is only a single model, so beware them just rushing him.

Hope this helps, and make sure you let us know how you do! :yes: Good luck!



 
#7 ·
If you can get the stimulant injector into the HQ you may find it useful. I had it recommended to me and has been very successful. Although useless against instant death weapons you may find that with only one crisis suit you HQ attracts a lot of attention. I know you can use its IC status, but if you are overrun in cc it may well help your HQ unit out.

I will add the disclaimer that this is just my opinion. I have been dragged into a few cc battles with Tyranids that I really shouldn't have and I have to say it kept me from losing one game. It is very demoralising for you opponent to finally get a wound in only for you to save it.
 
#8 ·
While the Stimulant Injector is a pretty good piece of Wargear, I don't recommend it for 500 points. It'll take away something else valuable and make the one model cost a little too many points for my personal liking - if the HQ gets swarmed in CC, it'll most likely end up dying, anyways. The best way to prevent getting hit in CC is to keep away from it, and shoot anything getting close. ;)

In higher points battles I definitely recommend the Stimulant Injector, but it's not flexible enough in 500 points.



 
#10 ·
i agree about the stim. injectors on both parts, i know how effective it can be but i think my list could use the points else where, and i dont want to add more points to an already expensive unit. ill be sure to let yall know how i do against both of them.
 
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