Kraken Build-up 500-2k

[Alcyon]

Been working on a list today for a potential foray into Tyranids; I'll either be playing Kraken or Jormungandr but haven't quite decided yet. 

 

Plan for these lists is to capitalize on the 3d6 pick the highest advance, and create a base I can build on. I really want to keep it melee/close-range themed and use Smite etc. against fliers rather than guns.

• Patrol Detachment (Tyranids) [34 PL, 500pts]
  • HQ
    • Broodlord [8 PL, 115pts]

      Selections: Monstrous Rending Claws, Power: Catalyst, Power: Smite, Warlord, Warlord Trait: Mind Eater

  • Troops
    • Genestealers [12 PL, 168pts]
      • 14x Genestealer

        Selections: 14x Rending Claws

    • Tyranid Warriors [5 PL, 78pts]

      Selections: Adrenal Glands

      • Tyranid Warrior

        Selections: Boneswords, Deathspitter

      • Tyranid Warrior

        Selections: Boneswords, Deathspitter

      • Tyranid Warrior

        Selections: Boneswords, Deathspitter

  • Heavy Support
    • Trygon [9 PL, 139pts]

      Selections: 3x Massive Scything Talons, Bio-electric Pulse, Toxinspike

Plan for the patrol is to put the Warriors in the Trygon and use that as a pop-up firebase on turn 2, keeping the genestealers and Broodlord in cover and advancing. This is built off the Start Collecting box obviously.

• Battalion Detachment +5CP (Tyranids) [67 PL, 8CP, 1,000pts]
  • Configuration
    • Battle-forged CP [3CP]
    • Detachment CP [5CP]
    • Hive Fleet

      Selections: Kraken

  • HQ
    • Broodlord [8 PL, 115pts]

      Selections: Monstrous Rending Claws, Power: Catalyst, Power: Smite

    • Old One Eye [10 PL, 200pts]

      Selections: Monstrous Crushing Claws, Monstrous Scything Talons, Thresher Scythe

  • Troops
    • Genestealers [16 PL, 192pts]
      • 16x Genestealer

        Selections: 16x Rending Claws

    • Hormagaunts [9 PL, 110pts]
      • 22x Hormagaunt

        Selections: 22x Scything Talons

    • Tyranid Warriors [9 PL, 125pts]
      • Tyranid Warrior

        Selections: Boneswords, Deathspitter

      • Tyranid Warrior

        Selections: Boneswords, Deathspitter

      • Tyranid Warrior

        Selections: Boneswords, Deathspitter

      • Tyranid Warrior

        Selections: Boneswords, Deathspitter

      • Tyranid Warrior

        Selections: Boneswords, Deathspitter

  • Heavy Support
    • Carnifexes [6 PL, 119pts]
      • Carnifex

        Selections: Bone Mace, Enhanced Senses, Heavy Venom Cannon, Monstrous Crushing Claws, Spore Cysts

    • Trygon [9 PL, 139pts]

      Selections: 3x Massive Scything Talons, Bio-electric Pulse, Toxinspike

Same deal here - expanded on with the addition of OOE and a buddy screened by some Hormagaunts (people say screen but they don't block shooting, do they?) Topped up the squad numbers too. I'm a bit torn on the Carnifex here as having a gun doesn't seem super thematic, but it seems like a better value to run a hybrid than pure CC. 

• Vanguard Detachment +1CP (Tyranids) [27 PL, 495pts]
  • HQ
    • Neurothrope [4 PL, 90pts]

      Selections: Claws and Teeth, Power: Onslaught, Power: Smite

  • Elites
    • Pyrovores [6 PL, 75pts]
      • 3x Pyrovore

        Selections: 3x Acid Maw, 3x Flamespurt

    • Venomthropes [5 PL, 90pts]
      • 3x Venomthrope

        Selections: 3x Toxic Lashes

    • Zoanthropes [12 PL, 240pts]

      Selections: Power: Psychic Scream, Power: Smite

      • 6x Zoanthrope

        Selections: 6x Claws and Teeth

Expansion to 1500 is this detachment plus Adrenal Glands on the Trygon. The idea is these guys all advance as the second wave, firing Smites and flamers while on the move. I can even use Metabolic Overdrive to help the Venomthropes keep up with the assault units to help screen them. 

Beyond that I was just planning to add Carnifexes of different breeds, a Thornback, a Stone-Crusher, a Screamer-Killer, and second of the one I've already got. 

Would love to hear comments and feedback, this is my first time building lists with the bugs in 8th!
 

Edited July 1, 2020 by Alcyon