Tyranids getting some love in War Zone Octarius Book!

[The Pounder]

Some new rules being introduced!

 

Could this mean a Codex is at hand?

 

Or just to tide us over?

 

 

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/08/17/spread-terrifying-abilities-across-your-swarm-by-upgrading-tyranid-monsters-with-new-synaptic-links/

[TheNewman]

It's welcome either way.

 

...I really can't decide if I'd be more annoyed with those rules being in the Codex or with them not being in the Codex when it eventually drops.

[WarriorFish]

From the road map we know no Tyranid codex this year, so I think that answers that question ;) I'm guessing this is something that will work its way into the new codex when it comes, perhaps a sign of things to come? A chain of synapse sounds like it might be too restrictive to get more than a couple of links from, but there feels like scope for smaller plays.

 

For example adding an escorting cheaper synapse unit to your link unit to help give a couple of advancing flank units the boon? Will be interesting to see what other powers are available, in particular for Warrior Primes and other cheaper character synapse units.

[Closet Skeleton]

There could be a tyranid codex in january december, its not popular with 'leaks'/rumours but not officially ruled out.

 

edit: wrote wrong month

Edited August 18, 2021 by Closet Skeleton

[WarriorFish]

Indeed, would feel weird to get these so close together but if GW's schedule is still playing catch up it could happen, and it wouldn't be the first time something had a short shelf life... We will see as always. Hopefully the other abilities are a little more enticing My gaunts would certainly like some good news for once

[MithrilForge]

 

So this one would help those killy units of Genestealer's actually get across the board with some of them still alive to hit CC ?!?..

 

Mithril

[Xenith]

With Mastery of the Shadows, every (or is it only a target?) non-monster within 12" counts as in dense cover when within synapse link range, which is amazing, but it makes venomthropes with their 6" range obsolete. I wonder what they'll do instead.

 

I think it's pretty guaranteed that a version of this rule will make it into the final codex. It's pretty cool, thematic and powerful. Your army will get huge bonuses for including enough synapse, but the opponent will be able to break those links by targeting the big bugs - more, smaller things like Neuros will probably be advantageous here, so no change to normal unless the tyrant option is particularly powerful. 

Oh yea, don't forget to thumbs up the WarCom article so they can see the tyranidsone is popular and do more stuff with them. 

[Closet Skeleton]

 

So this one would help those killy units of Genestealer's actually get across the board with some of them still alive to hit CC ?!?..

 

Mithril

Only against AP 0 guns since genestealers have an invulnerable save. -1 to hit is easy to get in the Tyranid faction and there's already a blanket always in cover Hive Fleet that nobody uses. So this basically adds literally nothing that isn't available in the codex from another source.

 

Getting genestealers up the board is the easiest trick in the tyranid codex, it just requires the expensive but powerful Swarm Lord and you to take one of the only two good Hive Fleets.

 

With Mastery of the Shadows, every (or is it only a target?) non-monster within 12" counts as in dense cover when within synapse link range, which is amazing, but it makes venomthropes with their 6" range obsolete. I wonder what they'll do instead.

Its one target so Venomthropes are still better in every way. Venomthropes aren't getting reworked in this book, they'll get a stratagem or a good synergy at most.

 

They're literally saying "want new buffs, here have a more complicated way of paying points for stuff you can already do just as easily".

Edited August 18, 2021 by Closet Skeleton

[Xenith]

As you say, there's the always in cover hive fleet, but genestealers want to be advancing so gain nothing from that fleets rules. Likewise, stealers be advancing, much faster than venomthropes, so they likely wont be in range. 

 

Venomthropes issue is that the 100pts a minimum unit costs, it's almost always better to just buy more of the unit you want to shield. I think the balance tips if you can get ~6 units within range, but then you're sacrificing board control, or your opponent just shoots the thropes first. 

 

That said,maybe advancing up table with 2-3 monsters might be a use. 

[Closet Skeleton]

As you say, there's the always in cover hive fleet, but genestealers want to be advancing so gain nothing from that fleets rules. Likewise, stealers be advancing, much faster than venomthropes, so they likely wont be in range.

Stealers advancing that fast won't be able to use a 'more than 12" away' ability any more than they can use a 'within 6" of a slower unit's aura'. How has the whole 'use the -1 to hit at range while you advance your melee units' idea been working for Raven Guard since the start of 8th? Give the broodlord catalyst for free and forget about adding more points to an expensive hero and you'll have a tougher unit. I guess you can have two units, one with catalyst and one with the synaptic link boost, now your opponent can know which blob to fire AP-1 at and which to fire damage 2 at.

 

Or you can just use a Kraken Swarmlord to first turn charge one blob while the other hides out of line of sight and then send in the second wave turn 2 like you were already doing. All the while hoping you aren't fighting 2 wound marine or the new Orks which can survive and smack around a genestealer charge.

 

Its a trap on stealers, maybe okay on a 9 strong warrior blob but do you want to have to buy a Prime and a Broodlord to buff warriors when you lose cp to take more than 3 HQs?

 

Brood lord is more expensive than 3 venomthropes before you upgrade him and can only shield 1 non-monster unit. For 10 points more than an upgraded brood lord you can get an untargetable FW Malanthrope.

 

Is it completely useless? Maybe not but its not new or exciting and doesn't fix a codex that was with the exception of 3 units 'garbage datasheets with some decent support tricks' from the start and simply adding more support can't change that. Removing rule of 3 so you can go back to just spamming Hive Tyrants would boost the faction more than anything else.

Edited August 19, 2021 by Closet Skeleton

[Malakithe]

Id rather have points reductions and refreshed datasheets

[The Pounder]

Here’s hoping the other links are a bit more exciting!

 

I’m cautiously optimistic about the new Codex. I want to see Genestealers (as one of our iconic units) get a major buff.

 

I’d like to see them hit harder and cause more damage.

 

ATM I find I can’t justify paying the pts for them.

 

They just bounce off everything with any kind of resistance.

 

I don’t just want a pts drop, I just want to use them (and Lictors) as intended, vanguard shock troops!