Tyranid Library: The Dusty Books on the Back Shelf

This post is about some of the units, builds, and biomorphs typically discarded as not being efficient enough for the points, duplicative, or simply far outshined by other choices.  And precisely some of the reasons I think the Tyranid codex isn't entirely unlocked yet.

The first isn't too controversial: the Genestealer.  Many lists use 2 units of 5-10, with the sweet spot usually pinpointed at around 7, sometimes with a Broodlord, sometimes not, but nearly always with tox.  How does the 'stealer make this list then?  Stealers are considered easy to deal with by most competitive players.  The vast majority of MSU, MEQ, and mech'd up tournament units can pretty easily dish out 5-10 wounds to a 5+ save troop.  Plain old lack of durability.  But what happens when you throw 40 stealers on the board, with FNP, and cover?  To find out, go here.  Hyv3mynd has some of the absolute best batreps I've found to date.  If you're serious about playing 'nids at a top tournament table, take the time to read every single entry.  The hands down best is his DaBoyz GT BatRep #4.  More after the jump:



The second is a bit more on the edge: Shreddershard Beetles for your Thorax Swarm.  Mathhammer and some of the best net wisdom on 'nids points to dessicator larvae being the best overall, electroshock best against 5+, and shredders only being better against termies and sisters, but worst of the three.  However, with the increase of FNP units available to so many codexes and definitely making appearances in tournament lists, that rending template becomes much more attractive.  Consider too, that with the new FAQs, you can almost guarantee there will be at least a couple all-terminator lists in larger tournaments.  Thanks to Hyv3mynd again on this one.

Time for the dustiest book on the very bottom shelf: the biovore.  But "Ghostin," you say, "why bother with S4 AP4 when tyranids already excel at slaughtering 4+ infantry?  Those points need to go where Tyranids have trouble - MEQ and high AV."  Right? The simple answer is because we have to get there to do it.  In batrep after batrep, troops get de-mech'd, infiltrate, or in the case of looters/long fangs, simply hang out in the back.  How many parking lots get created, with 2-3 units milling about that we have to figure out how to passive assault, multicharge, or wait for them to come to us?  What about bubble wrap and castles?  There are literally dozens of common, every-game scenarios that beg for S4 AP4 dinner plates.  "What about MEQ," you say?  Well - what about it?  Frankly I think it's worth 5% of my points to be able to wipe out entire swathes of 4+ troops (IG, DE, Orks, Eldar, Tyranids...) that can still hurt MEQ on a 1 in 6.  Let's not forget that spore mines hang out if they miss.  There are wonderful mind games to be played as well. Can you drop them where your opponent might get de-mech'd and get secondaries?  No LOS needed, 48" range?  The list goes on...

The above may not change your opinions one bit - but hopefully it makes you look more closely at some of the options the 'net tells us to discard.  What dusty books are on your Tyranid shelf?