Tyranids - Venomthropes + Stealerbugs

It's been a little while since this Farseer has reported on Tyranids, so here we go with a new list. I've had this list and have experimented with in Vassal only (since we have no Venomthropes) but I had been wanting to try out the V'thropes. People seem to ignore them for some reason and I wanted to know why. They have a 2+ poison attack and give every unit (keyword here) within 6" a 5+ cover. Normally that's not such a great save, but when you start looking at a 5+ save on Genestealers and what the 'standard' issue gun (e.g. bolter) does to said save, that 5+ cover starts to look pretty tasty.

I'm still tinkering with the 'big bug' section of the list, but the inclusion of the Warriors is much needed. I was finding that the Venomthropes have a severe lack of backbone when it comes to being shot at. My original version of this list only had one synapse creature. I rarely (if ever) run hormagaunts or termagants since the release of the new codex, so I never really worried about synapse except with my Carnifex and the occasional Biovore.

So right now the Hive Tyrant and Tyrannofex are there for dealing with armor and anything really BIG. Warriors share synapse duty. Carnifex is there just because I love him so. :)  That's my current 'big bug' setup. I thought about slipping a Zoanthrope in there, but the original list was 3 Venoms strong so there wasn't room. I keep the Venoms as individual units to keep them as separate targets.

So the setup; Venomthropes obviously take the center. Big bugs slightly behind, Warriors take up the rear. 1 unit of Stealerbugs to either side of the Venoms, stretching out as far as you like. The important part is the third unit in FRONT of the Venoms. So everyone has a 5+ cover save (including the big bugs) and the Venoms get a 4+ cover from the stealerbugs down in front!!

I've had a large amount of success with this list except on a couple of my own boards with lots and lots of cover (and bad terrain/run rolls). I think a little tweaking here and there could make it loads better. I had to actually add things just to bring the points up (like the Adrenal glands on the Carnifex). I think I could drop that and everyone's regenerations and add the third Venomthrope back.


2000 Pts - Tyranids Roster

Total Roster Cost: 1997

HQ: Hive Tyrant (1#, 305 pts)
   1 Hive Tyrant, 305 pts = (base cost 170 + TL Devourer w/Brainleech Worms x1 15 + Heavy Venom Cannon 25 + Old Adversary 25 + Adrenal Glands 10 + Regeneration 20 + Armoured Shell 40, Paroxysm, Psychic Scream)

Elite: Venomthrope (1#, 55 pts)
   1 Venomthrope, 55 pts

Elite: Venomthrope (1#, 55 pts)
   1 Venomthrope, 55 pts

Troops: Genestealer Brood (19#, 314 pts)
   18 Genestealer Brood, 252 pts = 18 * 14
      1 Broodlord, 62 pts = (base cost 60 + Scything Talons 2)

Troops: Genestealer Brood (19#, 314 pts)
   18 Genestealer Brood, 252 pts = 18 * 14
      1 Broodlord, 62 pts = (base cost 60 + Scything Talons 2)

Troops: Genestealer Brood (19#, 314 pts)
   18 Genestealer Brood, 252 pts = 18 * 14
      1 Broodlord, 62 pts = (base cost 60 + Scything Talons 2)

Heavy Support: Carnifex (1#, 240 pts)
   1 Carnifex, 240 pts = (base cost 160 + Crushing Claws 25 + Adrenal Glands 10 + Bio-plasma 20 + Regeneration 25)

Heavy Support: Tyrannofex (1#, 265 pts)
   1 Tyrannofex, 265 pts = (base cost 250 + Rupture Cannon 15)

Troops: Tyranid Warrior Brood (4#, 135 pts)
   3 Tyranid Warrior Brood, 90 pts = 3 * 30
      1 Tyranid Warrior, 45 pts = (base cost 30 + Venom Cannon 15)