How to deal with 3x Riptides ?

[knife&fork]

Like our (late) friend Boromir would say; One does not simply ignore 3 riptides at 1500 pts. 

 

This is one of the few times I would recommend a furioso librarian. Probably with wings and lance or FotD. AV13 is tough to crack, WS 6 is real pain for Tau combined with their low number of attacks. Plus you get a S7, possibly S8, AP2 force axe striking at initiative.  

[Ushtarador]

Actually, fear of darkness is very potent ;)

[Memento Of Prospero]

Like our (late) friend Boromir would say; One does not simply ignore 3 riptides at 1500 pts.

 

This is one of the few times I would recommend a furioso librarian. Probably with wings and lance or FotD. AV13 is tough to crack, WS 6 is real pain for Tau combined with their low number of attacks. Plus you get a S7, possibly S8, AP2 force axe striking at initiative.

You will never catch a riptide unless he wants you to. He moves just as fast as you, and gets the asssault jump to create a gap. Your libby will die to cross fire from other riptides or anti armour elements before gettingnto combat.

 

Again, just kill the troops and jold yours in reserves as long as you can and hide them. We have no way effective way of dealing with them outside sternguard and hammernators neither of which are cost effective.

[knife&fork]

Again, just kill the troops and jold yours in reserves as long as you can and hide them. We have no way effective way of dealing with them outside sternguard and hammernators neither of which are cost effective.

 

If they work in this case then they are cost effective. The OP wanted to beat this list specifically, not have an all comers list that could also take this on. His opponent went all out with his riptide theme and so our friend here might have to go all out to counter it. If that means doing 'silly' things like 3 full pods of stern guard or 3 librarian dreads or maybe 3 raven with librarian dreads, DC dreads or hammernators then so what?

 

You are going to have to deal with the riptides in a more direct manner because their damage output is not something you just ignore. There will be nothing left of your own force if you "just kill the troops" or try to take him on with half your force getting the rest piecemeal from reserves. 

 

A lone furioso lib will have a hard time catching a lone riptide on an empty board, but that's not the situation we will actually have. 

[Memento Of Prospero]

Go ahead and try to draft a list that can counter 3 riptides at 1,500. Point efficiency is everthing in this game. We cannot match the efficiency of those 240ish point of the riptides and fall short. The only realistic solution is sternguard, and even then you will run the risk of dying in droves before getting tonyour target due to the dual intercepts. You can deny the pieplate intercept if your drop pod lands perfectly. Anything other solution will only have varying degrees of success for far more points. One riptide is fine, two is tough, 3 is not something a pure BA list can manage.

[knife&fork]

Points efficiency is largely relative. In 1500 you can still do Fear spam with 5 librarians or squeeze in 30 sternguard if you so wish, all in null deploy lists.

Not 'good' lists, but ones that this Tau player will really struggle with.

 

Just go crazy with a theme like he has.

[Morticon]

BA has a few options at it's disposal.  The problem is we're an older codex trying to compete with a new set of units.  

If you are a BA puritan (good for you!!! but, ) you're going to be in for a very hard time. Allies really are the way to go.

DA allies work wonders.  Black Knights are one of the strongest marine units we have access to as battle brothers.

 

Strictly BA however, here are a few options:

 

Mephiston - Yes he's only got an AP3 sword, but with an average of 4 wounds, and a potential of 6 wounds on the charge, he only needs to fail one save to die - and he cant take his FNP.

 

Libbies - libbies with axes are great.  Again, they can take out these guys- either bikers or jumpers to guide them in.  Fear of Darkness has been mentioned already too and its excellent to keep these guys back.

 

Libby Dreads- great in theory- practice is really tough since we're only level one, meaning 1 power(usually wings) to get us up to combat, then we cant activate FWs. <_< Other dreads will only do a wound or two as well.

 

Stern  - combi madness- you know the routine.

 

Hammernators- fairly simple.

 

Razorbacks- las/plas razors mean up to 3 wounds a turn per 'back. Theyre solid.

 

Attack bikes- 150 points for 3 MM bikers- not a bad investment. Tough to dislodge too. 

 

Consider some of that!

[thepowerofwar]

I would suggest stern guard in some drop pods and ally DA Libby with that 4++ bubble in a tac squad in a pod.  You just have to keep the Libby 6 inches away from the Riptides and the stern guard with in 6 inches on the drop.  That should not be too hard since most tau keep their units close together for the overwatch gimmick.

[knife&fork]

I would suggest stern guard in some drop pods and ally DA Libby with that 4++ bubble in a tac squad in a pod.  You just have to keep the Libby 6 inches away from the Riptides and the stern guard with in 6 inches on the drop.  That should not be too hard since most tau keep their units close together for the overwatch gimmick.

 

That invul works on a model basis rather than unit if I'm not mistaken.