Help with Tyranids

[Vortigous]

Calling all tyranid players! :lol:

In two weeks time i will be playing in a 1000pts tournament at my local gaming club (The Holcombe Hellbringers!) and have a slight problem. I'm planning to use my tyranids but don't have the new codex yet, as it isn't relesed in england yet. I have practise games lined up this and next week but don't really have a clue what to use. Also any reinforcements i buy will have to be bought soon without any prior knowledge of what i need.

Can anybody give me some good ideas using the new codex on a 1000pt army. I'm a little out of practice with mine so any good tactiacal advice would be useful too! Cheers!

[Gojiratoho]

Will the codex be available by the time your tournament starts?

If it will be, I suggest the following:

If you used Biovores in 3rd, don't use them in this edition. There have been many changes to the way the act during the game, and if you are just getting your codex when the tourney starts then you probably won't have time to learn and adapt to their new playstyle. Take Zoanthropes in their stead. They have changed as well, but much less.

Genestealers with Extended Carapace are great for their survivability, but they can get expensive. In a 1000 point game, I wouldn't take more than 10. 8 are probably a better choice.

Hormagaunts can be Marine killers in this game, but they to can get pricey. A good choice for them is to just take the Initiative upgrade as support units such as the Lictor can help with their WS.

MCs. A shooty Fex wouldn't be a bad idea. 1 VC and 1 BS will give you 3 shots a turn, and the BS can now penetrate vehicles. To keep him cheap, just get the Enhanced Senses and Extended Carapace upgrades. You're probably looking at 170-185 points for a Fex like this.

As far as HQs go, you can get a shooty Tyrant (I suggest 1 VC, 1 TLDeathspitter), a unit of Warriors, or the Broodlord. The Broodlord acts like a genestealer from 3rd, so if you are comfortable with them and have access to the codex for the tourney, you should be safe with him. Warriors are just as good in 3rd. In fact, they are better. And if you have gaunts, you need synapse now. No hive nodes, no mutations, you're gaunts will run with their puny ld if synapse isn't in range.

[Vortigous]

Thanx for that. I have always used one biovore as a support unit, just to annoy people, never really had the urge to try zoanthropes in the old codex, are they better now? As for genestealers i always go with them, just love the little blighters! Whats a better idea a tyrant or a warrior squad?

[Gojiratoho]

If you just use one Vore, then you're good to go. It's the people (like me) who used 2 or more Vores that got nerfed. Just know that all your mines now use the Blast template, and your Vore does not need a Synapse babysitter anymore. He can also hold/contest a table quarter.

In 1000 points, I'd take both if the points allow. The Tyrant will undoubtedly draw a lot of fire, and you'll want your Warriors for their back up Synapse powers. Zoanthropes can also take Synapse, but they are slow enough they probably won't help hearding gaunts.

[Vortigous]

Another thing i've always used but have heard rumours about are my ravenors. I usually used two single ravenors as sepeate choices to back up my hormagaunts. This gave them a bit of muscle untill the big fellas turned up. Would this still work? And can the warriors still be mutated into heavy support with barbed strangler and venomcannon?

[Llews]

In this size game i would recomend a hive tyrant with a vennom cannon and scything talons, which equips it to take down light vehicles and toss marines around like chew-toys in cc. Throw in 40 guants 12 stealers in two lots of 6 and a few support units and you should be laughing. Best of luck.

P.S. There is usually a bit of a lag for using new codexes (so other players dont get surprised), but if your group is just informal that shouldnt matter.

[Vortigous]

The rules of the tournament say that latest rules take preference, so i have to use the new codex if it's out. It is an informal club though. Whats the best way of increasing the 1000pts to 1500 or 2000pts for future reference, i am a lot out of practice with tyranids.

[Dreachon]

1. No, warriors can no longer become heavy broods.

As for expanding your army, I would expand the units you have and add several to it, a broodlord will cerainly help a lot, most HQ aren't a match for it.