I managed to get a game with the newest version on the Tyranids Vs. Tau. Let me be clear, this wasn't a OP Tau list , but it did have all the toys. I thank my opponent(s) for taking a more mild list that what the Internets say to run. After all they wanted to have a good game as well.
My list (Tyranids):
HQ: Hive Tyrant-- Miasma cannon, Venom Cannon. psi( Horror and parox) warlord trait was the FNP thingy
Elite: 2x3 Venomthropes
1x3 Zoans (psi parox and warp blast)
Troops: 4x4 Tyranid Warriors (AG, 1x Barbstrangler )
2x30 Termagaunts
Heavy: 2x3 Tyrannofex ( regen, AG, Acid cannon, larva =+2 poison spray)
Biovore x3
Tau ( from what I can remember and I don't know tau very well) :
Suit commmander with squad (3) suits
Skyray ( missiles)
Hammerhead
2 squads of 15 kroot
another suit squad kitted out
Riptide with shield drones
1 2 man unit of rail gun broadsides
2x10 pathfinders
1 squad of fire warriors
I maybe missing something, but that was the jist of what he brought.
We ran book missions so nothing fancy.
Vanguard deployment with 4 objectives, night fight turn 1
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| The horde moves |
I deployed in one large mass as I think Synapse is going to be the biggest thing for nids in terms of game enders. I moved as one solid unit letting the Venomthropes give me some kind of cover ( even though Tau laugh at such an idea). My opponent pointed out that they give shourded so any model in a squad has it and confers to the rest of the squad !!! I was very happy as now everyone had cover! WIN
Turn one: I moved forward, ran some, checking synapse and cover many times. Did some shooting with the biovores and failed ( they failed every turn)
Tau riptide overheated and they tried to kill both T-fexs, putting 5 wounds on won and 4 on the other. My saves were just bad. Some other shooting netted a few dead gaunts but that was it.
Turn 2: Like a boss both T-fexs regened a wound. The warriors and the gaunts move up and warrior big guns start shooting. No real effect. I acid spray and larve a squad of firewarriors that disembarked from the hammerhead killing them all.Warriors drop a few more templates and put some massive wounds on the HQ squad due to poor armor rolls for tau. I kill a a few kroot and thats about it. Zoans immobilize hammerhead
Tau move up and shoot the snot out of everything. due to bad dice and me making cover and armor saves little happens to my army. Kroot and gaunts get into combat in the ceneter of the board. He outflanks another kroot squad and moves into my backfield and goes after my rear guard gaunts and biovores. He kills a few gaunts , but due to venomthropes they stay pretty much ok. Zoans are assaulted by drones
Turn 3: Again T-fexs regen more wounds back and one kills his commander with acid and larve spray . Zoans are locked in combat with drone waiting for warriors to rescue. Hive tyrant takes some pot shots at riptide. Biovores fail. I think gaunts shoot at the Kroot in back corner and hold fast ( if I moved them they would leave synapse ). Gaunts kill Kroot in front combat, but kroot fail and run away. HT paroxs the backfield kroot
Tau strike back. Riptide, suits, and marker lights kill 2 warrior squads no problem. The other auit squad tries to kill the hive tyrant and does 11 wounds!!! I make all the saves!! One note is that the FNP warlord trait is only used after the first wound so that is without the FNP.
Turn 4: T-fexes regen again!!! One of them moves in to kill the skyray and burn out some Kroot. Warriors shoot whatever they can move into more cover ( LOS blocking ) to keep synapse midfield. Hive tyrants shoots at riptide again and starts handing out -1 to weapon/ballistic skills to suit squad. Riptide denies the horror! DAMN. bio fails kill a few firewarriros.
Tau assault rear gaunts trying for multicharge on them and biovore. Misses biovores by 1 inch. Suit squad tries to kill HT, but again he passes almost all his saves, but now has a wound. Another warrior dies to riptide as well as a Venomthrope. Tfex takes 2 wounds
Turn 5: T-fexs regen again!!Thats right one is now at full wounds and the other has 4 left. T-fex kills skyray, gaunts move into ruins and closer to objective with warrior squad and venomthropes. Zoans move up with Tfex to keep him sane. Rear t-fex acids suit squad killing 2 drones. Hive tyrant kills a few fire warriors with miasma cannon. Squad of venomthropes move to shroud hive tyrant. Gaunts in rear still in combat with kroot in a slap fest.
Tau finally kill Hive tyrant, kroot stay locked in combat, rail guns kill another warrior.
At this point we both have an objective. We both have slay the warlord and I have line breaker and 1st blood. If the game ends I win. And it ends!! Tyranid victory.
Due to a non cheese list and some bad rolls the game was super close. Any other day they'd probably won. I can't believe the number of re-rolls, no cover, and special rules Tau get! My nids now have ZERO rerolls other than the Crone. NONE.
So the new nids and things learned.
1.Synapse is a must. No more running 1-3 synapse creatures. It better be a 2 to 1 ratio. Warriors will be way more numerous now ( even though they suck) for this loan fact. GW is forcing you to use them.
2. Venomthropes are awesome. The shrouded thing helps a ton.
3. Nids are sooo slow. It's a shame spore pods are gone.
4. Regen is awesome, but i would only take it on creatures with 5 or more wounds. 30 points for 4 or below you will never use it as they will die.
5. My tyranno's are a good unit now. Not awesome, but better costed. the rare +2 save is fun and I have always used the acid cannon so for 215 i can't complain too much .
6. Warriors are Meh. boneswords are way too expensive from AP3. They still are a must now.
7. Biovores are bad. I have tried but they just dont do it. Meh at best.
8. Hive tyrant is ok, 165 is great, but =3 save is horrible and so he's slow. The miasma cannon and another bioweapon allows him to be a dakkarant so that is cool . Powers are so bland and i already miss biomancy.
9. Zoans are ok. The best thing about them is a 3++ babysitter and some Lance weapon goodness. Still I got denied in the game and that really sucked!
10. instinctive behavior is the worst thing ever! If the game went on to turn 6 I would have lost big time due to failed IB tests ( due to the hive tyrants death). It could be the worst mechanic in the entire game.
Tyranids are much different now. Synapse is crucial and the nids will only feel pain if you forget that. It is no where near a Tau, eldar or space marine codex. I still think IG will be amazing and have zero drawbacks and GW will say that they learned from the tyranid codex mistakes.
On another note. The crone/harpy is a cool model, but it is the only FMC that has a flying base which sucks as it will never get cover. I also think it was never meant to me grounded due to the base it has. It doesn't even have legs! So no cover even when it has "landed". Poor Poor rules with the model. OH well. Venomthrope to the rescue LOL
And those who think a FAQ is coming LOL. When was the last one? FAQ is a thing of the past now that codexs are coming in fast. Updating a digital codex is way different than answering a question.