I’m back with part two of my Tyranid play tests. I’ve learned a lot so far about these guys and how they work. So far I’ve been working with the swarm mentality, but after these last games I’m beginning to think that some spores may be necessary to take down Mech lists that are designed to stand off (like my Looted Mech Guard) in any sort of a timely fashion.
Game 3 was at Time Warp Comics and Games in Ashland, VA. I met a cool dude named Jake, who really seemed to know the game, and his army. He was fielding Mech Orks with several Battlewagons, Trukks and Gun Wagons, and oh yeah Ghazghkull Thraka.
I knew from the onset this would be a good game, because Orks especially with Ghaz can pound some face. Plus I really felt I had this list optimized to at least hold its own against Mech.
1850 List
- Hive Tyrant, Lashwhip Bonesword Paroxysm, Psychic Scream, Old Adversary; 3 Tyrant Guard
- Tyranid Prime Lashwhip Bonesword, Deathspitter, Poison Sacs
- Hive Guard x3
- Zoeanthrope x3
- Tyranid Warriors x7 Deathspitters, Poison Sacs
- Hormagaunts x15
- Hormagaunts x15
- Termagants x12
- Termagants x12
- Carnifex w/ Brain Leech Worms x2
- Carnifex w/ Brain Leech Worms x2
- Venomthrope
So we played pitched battle, and he got the first turn. His set up was simple but effective; Battlewagon 1 and Two trukks on his right flank, staggered by another Battlewagon towards his mid table and another trukk. The Gun Wagons were set up directly across the middle line to get good LOS on my formation.
I set up with the Tyrant squad in the middle of the table to I react quick to anything that punched my line, with my warriors on my left, ‘Fexes on my right. I put the Zoes behind the Carnifexes to zap at his wagons, and keep the synapse on the right half if my Tyrant engaged left. The Venomthrope was strategically placed in the center of it all, within 6″ of all my squads. I threw Termagant screens in front of the Warriors and Fexes to try to thwart any Orky assaults. The hive guard supported the Tyrant.
He rushed at me with everything, I nuked any armor that got with the 18″ of my ‘fexes and Zoes. The Hive Guard blasted what they could but bounced off due to some bad rolls. He hit with the Battlewagon on the flank and nuked my Hormagaunts that were there. Then his trukk with Ghaz and his Nobz hit and the Tyrant stepped up and won combat due to Paroxysm, and perfered enemy. Once the waaagh went away, and Ghaz lost his 2+ Invunerable, he was torn to pieces by the Tyrant.
I pretty much mopped up the rest of the army from there, but it wasn’t till turn 4 or 5 so it wasn’t a blow out or anything like that. I was still happy with my bugz performance, especially the Tyrant whom is now a confirmed powerhouse of fury.
What I learned:
- Tyrant with Paroxysm and Prefered Enemy pretty much rock the house, and can take down any takers in the Close Combat department. I’m thinking of kitting him out with something else- shooting weapon wise perhaps because he doesn’t really need the Scything talons with the PE re-roll.
- Venomthrope was mildly effective mostly because there was little shooting to defend against. He did save the Termagant shields a little so that helps. Have to try him out a bit more against Mech or Razorwolf to see if hes worth the points.
- Termagant speed bumps are worth every one of their 5 points per model. They keep your big stuff from getting assaulted, provide cover saves, and can just hunker down and hold stuff if necessary.
- The Carnifexes are very effective with the Zoes backing them up. I like the combined arms of lancing open transports, and mowing down the occupants with STR 6 fire. This combo is also effective with the Zoes behind Warriors, but feels like a waste of synapse.
- Poison Sacs are great. Re-roll to wounds are worth the points, however with PE from the Tyrant they are either redundant or amazing depending on the points cost.
- Hive Guard are a good choice for supporting up the middle, blasting open armor for the Tyrant or ‘Fexes.
The next game I played was at Adventures Guild in Harrisonburg, PA. We showed up a day early for Cabin Fever GT ’10, and decided to get in a playtest game. My opponent was long time Guard player AJ “Serious Offense” Nagle. He’s been playing guard for about 6 years now, so I thought it would be fun to line up against them again. After all that’s how the Hive Mind learns…..
I ran the same list above, which I’m officially dubbing “Blocks” cause that’s really just what it is, blocks of Nids that work together well, and can absorb a lot of damage that if they do. Soon I’ll be splashing some spores, but for now Blocks it is
This is my first of hopefully many playtest videos. There is no cool music cause I’m trying not to piss off Google, but I still think it’s good. LMK what you think about the video and my ‘Nid evolution thus far.
-MBG Rob Baer
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
