Tyranid Christmas Battleforce

[Xenith]

If you haven't alredy seen the WarCom article, or the post in NRBA, there's a 'Nid battlebox this Christmas, and I think it looks good. I've been after a Haruspex for ages, and as I'm relatively new to nids, I dont actually have 2 tyrants/Swarmlord, and Hive Guard are always great. The only negative is the abundance of stealers. We don't need 16 more of them. That'll take me up to 70+ I think. 8 Stealers + 3 warriors, or 12 gaunts would have been perfect. 

 

 

Swarmlord, 16 stealers, 3 hive guard and an exocrine are actually a pretty solid start to an army, I think. We'll see what happens to Gargoyles in the next codex...

Edited November 16, 2020 by Xenith

[WarriorFish]

I might actually be in the situation where this is good for me - what a rare occurrence! :lol: 16 Genestealers is quite a few, this would bring me up to 30 which should be plenty so I can work with it but I agree something a little different would have been nicer. The other units I need though I'm not sure what the Haruspex does. Is it a dual kit that can build something else?

[TheNewman]

I might actually be in the situation where this is good for me - what a rare occurrence! :lol: 16 Genestealers is quite a few, this would bring me up to 30 which should be plenty so I can work with it but I agree something a little different would have been nicer. The other units I need though I'm not sure what the Haruspex does. Is it a dual kit that can build something else?

The Haruspex kit also builds the Exocrine. GW explicitly pointed it out in the release blurb, so people wouldn't think they were getting a new purpose-build set of sprues.

 

I've had an Exocrine and a box of Tyrant Guard on order for ages, now I know why they haven't come in. ...and even with those on order I kind of want this box anyway, the only thing I don't really have a use for is a second Hive Tyrant.

Edited November 16, 2020 by TheNewman

[WarriorFish]

I was reading about it a while back but only a brief skim so I'll need to check again, I think it was my preference. I'm not sure on the Haruspex accordingly yet, but the collection looks useful so if I get it it's just a matter of choosing which when I get to it. 30 stealers would let me have two squads of 15 which should be enough for my needs?

 

As for a second Hive Tyrant, wouldn't it be good to have a winged or foot version depending on which you already have?

[Spacecow]

I saw the haruspex first and got excited. I could use a tad more genestealers. ( why 8 on a sprue :’( ) the hive guard are ok and another flyrant might be handy.

Let down for me are the gargoyles. Rather just had more termies or something.

( really anyone using gargoyles at the moment? )

 

But I promised myself not to buy more nids until their new codex comes out. ( or if this box is insanely well priced, but I’m afraid it might be higher than last year.)

[Xenith]

 

 

As for a second Hive Tyrant, wouldn't it be good to have a winged or foot version depending on which you already have?

 

Prior to 9th, the winged version was superior, having the greater movement and ability to be off-board to not get shot to pieces T1 - they definitely still have a place in the list, as does the Swarmlord, who can sling some genestealers like 30" across the table.

 

The haruspex also makes the exocrine, the premier anti-MEQ firepower in the nid army at the moment (AP-3, D2, 12 shots) and the Hive gard are always useful as they can be out of LOS and have high S guns. You could always build them as tyrant guard, but the rules have been rubbish since 3rd ed. 

[TheNewman]

As for a second Hive Tyrant, wouldn't it be good to have a winged or foot version depending on which you already have?

Oddly enough I was under the impression that the Winged Hive Tyrant and the foot-slogging versions were distinct kits. That does change the calculation just a bit.

[Spacecow]

 

As for a second Hive Tyrant, wouldn't it be good to have a winged or foot version depending on which you already have?

Oddly enough I was under the impression that the Winged Hive Tyrant and the foot-slogging versions were distinct kits. That does change the calculation just a bit.

No, same kit :) you get quite some building options.

[Xenith]

So he rumour is that this set will be £120 - a far cry from the previous thought of £160. Does that make it worth it? You'd essentially get the stealers and gargoyles free (rrp £67.50).

 

If I can get it at 20% off from a FLGS, then I'll grab one for sure I think!

[WarriorFish]

£120 would be nice, but feels too low to me. I'd be happy to see it of course - we'll find out soon enough

[Xenith]

This post from Valrak puts it at £125...

 

Veeery tempting. 

[TheNewman]

Too tempting for my tastes, already put that order in.

[Reskin]

This looks like a great box to start with? Is it worth it?

[WarriorFish]

All box deals are worth it if you need the models as it's at a discount (more so if you buy from an online seller) If the reported price is correct then it'll be well worth considering to start a nid force going :tu:

[Xenith]

I ordered one, despite some dodgy stock notices from Element games - hopefully it went through!

[WarriorFish]

This was a boat I missed :(

[Dracos]

I am picking mine up tomorrow. My only Xenos army since running an Ulthwé army in 3e. Not sure about Colors or Fleet, or how to grow the army. I wanted a second Battleforce box but haven’t had luck locating another one yet

 

I potentially have chance to buy the Apocolypse Box. Is it any good if combined with this Battleforce box?

Edited December 7, 2020 by Dracos

[Xenith]

I potentially have chance to buy the Apocolypse Box. Is it any good if combined with this Battleforce box?

 

Would that be this one:

 

 

I don't recall how much it was, but anything at like 50% off RRP is always a good buy. Presumably a year later your LGS might be selling at reduced price. 

 

The models will always be useful, but both these boxes focus on larger monsters - you'll need some chaff at some point too but you'll have fun running a monster mash in the meantime. 

[Dracos]

In that line of thought I just learned there is a chance I might get my hands on a second Battleforce. I assume it would be smart to wait and do that rather than the Apocalypse box (yes that one)?

 

I don’t like the smaller Tyranid models. I do like genestealers. I would like to get my hands on a basket of those really tiny swarm models though. I always thought the Necron swarm bases were cool looking and very much up for the Nid version. Those some Warriors and I’d have about everything I always thought was cool looking my opponents would run. I take that back. Add One Eye and Lictors to that list.

[Dracos]

I just received confirmation my second Battleforce is on it's way. So project Tyranid 2021 is a go :) 

 

Colors first then a Hive Fleet choice I suppose. I'm currently waffling between a few Army Painter colored primers. 

 

The Battleforce has tons of Genestealers and I plan on using all of them. Of course the 6 Hive Guard and 2 Endocrine (?) are pretty cool too from what I hear. I feel like I'm pushing myself toward Kraken but I usually prefer DIY color schemes.

[WarriorFish]

Nothing stopping you adopting Kraken with your DIY colours :) The Exocrine is good I think, so you'll have a solid core of units to build from :tu:

[Xenith]

Indeed, my fleet is a splinter-fleet of Hive Fleet Leviathan, however looks nothing like them, and don't use their rules. They're in Blood Angels space invading an icebound industrial world, so have adapted their colouration and physiology accordingly to better camouflage against the colder city pallette. 

[Dracos]

Lol thanks guys. Actually Xenith it’ll take me a couple weeks to settle on it but I like your idea. If I think of them as the major OpFor of the Warhawks then the Desert Yellow makes sense. Which then means the Dragon Red is my likely carapace color because I e wanted an army with red as a major or at least secondary color for years but never tried it.