Tau 500pt Beginner Army+

[The Captain]

Hey,
I've Started collecting the Tau and have set up a quick 500pt Army.

HQ:
1x Shas'El -
Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, Targetting array, Hard-wired Drone Controller, Hard-wired Multi-Tracker
1x Gun Drone

Troops:
9x Firewarriors -
Pulse Rifle,
1x Shas'Ui -
Bonding Knife, Markerlight

1x Devil Fish transport
Burstcannon, Targeting Array, Disruption Pods, Seeker Missiles Multi-Tracker
2x Gun Drones

10x Kroot Carnivore

Heavy Support:
1x Broadside Battlesuit
TL Railgun, TL Plasma Rifle, Multi-Tracker

= 497pts

Any advise is greatly appreciated.
My main goal is to expand this to a 1000pt army, I've had a look in the codex and online and two additions standout. The first is the almost obligatory Railgun Hammerhead. I haven't seen a list yet that leaves this out. The other one that interests me are the Piranha's, especially with the Flechette Discharger wargear. Any ideas? it would be appreciated.

[Arnizipal]

Thread moved to 40K Armylists.

Arnizipal,

++ The Warseer Moderation Team ++

[FireAllMarkerlights]

I like the simple concept but a couple things need changing.
Drop the targeting arrays on the battlesuit and the devilfish to free up more points for kroot, they are simply not necessary in both cases and you'll find that kroot work much better in larger groups.
Also drop the seeker missile on the devilfish, it will either not get used or used to very little effect.
Keep the SMS on your broadside suit, the change is simply not worth the points when that units main goal is armour destruction.
with these changes, you can free up more room for more troops on the ground, something which think this list lacks even in 500 points.

[The Captain]

Thanks for the advice. A couple of things I'm curious about, what would u recommend for the HQs 3rd hard point? TL one of the weapons? Or just take the multitracker? Also with the broadside, why is the sms better? Isn't the plasma rifle better at anti tank?

[nSnAre]

Thanks for the advice. A couple of things I'm curious about, what would u recommend for the HQs 3rd hard point? TL one of the weapons? Or just take the multitracker? Also with the broadside, why is the sms better? Isn't the plasma rifle better at anti tank?

You're already BS5, you dont need TL weapons so just take the multitracker as a hard point. For the broadside, I dont mind the way you have him geared because he can switch from tank hunter to heavy infantry killer (if theres no more tanks).

When you have the models, I would consider dropping the devilfish and get more fire warriors and kroot. At 1000pts you can consider taking 1 or 2 devilfish, but at 500pts its just an expensive taxi that doesnt improve the army as much as more troops will. Or you could take 2 Crisis suits instead of fish. Its up to you and how you want to play.

The easiest way to get to 1000pts is just double everything. You'll learn the strengths and weaknesses of the army much quicker and you'll learn the game much faster too.

[FireAllMarkerlights]

Couldn't agree more with nSnAre, when you're only majority BS 3, numbers and firepower count for everything.
Your Shas'El battlesuit is only BS4 but you don't need to TL, take the multitracker.
Drop the fish, add some kroot, those feisty lizards can be used to keep anything from attacking that all precious broadside suit or just to spray down some of the enemies weaker units.
And as for the plasma rifle broadside, if the twin linked rail guns on its shoulders didn't take the tank out, its very likely the plasma rifle isn't going to either, so you're better stowing it for more men on the field. Also, by using the SMS you'll have a better chance to take out more of the infantry that pop out of the tank when its wrecked.
Just my two cents, I'm always open to discussion.

[The Captain]

I've taken your advice onboard and have dropped the fish. My list now looks like this.
Hq
Shas 'el w/ plasma rifle, missile pod and multitracker

Elite
3x Stealth Suits

Troops
8x Firewarriors
8x Firewarriors
10x Kroot Carnivore

Heavy Support
Xv88 Broadside Team leader TL Plasma Rifle, Sms, ASS, HW multitracker
This is 497 points.

Would this fair better against most races? How about against tyranids (my mates chosen army )

[Deldar]

for 1,000pts I would put a pathfinder squad in the army, drop the devilfish you have for your warrior (they hijack the pathfinders) and a unit or 3 of TL fusion blasters (deep strike) and sniper drones (people overlook them but ask any marines player, they hurt like hell)

also MARKERLIGHTS! people overlook these and what they bring to the army is kickass, I also on personal prefrence do not take hammerheads, i take 2 units of 2 broadsides and a skyray, the skyray with markerlight support will knock out most transports, this leaves the TL railguns to target bigger stuff like raiders

also as a side note alot of people dont seem to use is the fact that markerlights can downgrade cover... so when there transports roll up the table and pop smoke can you imagine the look on there face when you tell them that there cover save is now a +6 or - ? and then when it sinks in they relise that instead of poping smoke they could of shot at you... it like been slapped in the face with a wet tau, twice!

[Shadowneji]

I'm just starting tau I have 3 forge world broadsides the tau battle force and another crisis suit and box of fire warriors and a Skyray kit
with these models in mind what would you guys use for a 500 point army

[Shadowneji]

Anyone? Have suggestion

[Steinhardt]

Anyone? Have suggestion

Make your own thread.

[Sotek]

For 500pts take your HQ mpod, and prifle. The one drone might make him run when it's killed. Also check new wound allocation rules.

Troops wise some minimal squads of fire warriors with a bonded shas'ui and then some kroot.
Broadside should just have TL rail guns and his SMS, maybe ASS but not necessary,
For anti-tank broadsides are better than the hammerhead simply because they are twin linked and cheaper. Submunition is not that great.
Basicallly your troops can do anti-light infanty, broadsides can do anti armor/everything and then the crisis suits need to pick up the slack. I'd get more suits - a good mx is TL mpod and a fusion blaster although plasma rifles are good. You could even go Mpod, Prifle and multi tracker so that's 4 shots at 12" ! Also the missile pods are great as they are the longest ranged thing your suits can have and are cheap to boot.

TLDR; moar suits!

I've Started collecting the Tau and have set up a quick 500pt Army.

HQ:
1x Shas'El -
Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, Targetting array, Hard-wired Drone Controller, Hard-wired Multi-Tracker
1x Gun Drone

Troops:
9x Firewarriors -
Pulse Rifle,
1x Shas'Ui -
Bonding Knife, Markerlight

1x Devil Fish transport
Burstcannon, Targeting Array, Disruption Pods, Seeker Missiles Multi-Tracker
2x Gun Drones

10x Kroot Carnivore

Heavy Support:
1x Broadside Battlesuit
TL Railgun, TL Plasma Rifle, Multi-Tracker

= 497pts

[Shadowneji]

I've taken your advice onboard and have dropped the fish. My list now looks like this.
Hq
Shas 'el w/ plasma rifle, missile pod and multitracker

Elite
3x Stealth Suits

Troops
8x Firewarriors
8x Firewarriors
10x Kroot Carnivore

Heavy Support
Xv88 Broadside Team leader TL Plasma Rifle, Sms, ASS, HW multitracker
This is 497 points.

Would this fair better against most races? How about against tyranids (my mates chosen army )

That army is way more then 500 points

[Shadowneji]

Can anyone recommend a 500 point list for tau I have the battle force 3 broadsides and another crisis suit as well as a hammer head I play on having my first game next month but I'm lost as to we're to begin with my army list