Four Competitive Tyranid Army Lists - What's Winning Games for Codex Tyranids?

Let's talk through four strong Tyranids army lists from tournaments, and some of the unit choices used to get them to the top...
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0:00 Intro
0:27 Tyranids in 10th Edition
2:49 List 1 - Invasion Fleet
5:32 Maleceptors + Exocrines
6:57 List 2 - Synaptic Nexus
9:20 Neurotyrants + Neurolictors
11:32 List 3 - Unending Swarm
13:35 Gargoyles + Biovores
15:33 List 4 - Invasion Fleet
16:44 Screamer Killer + Deathleaper
18:22 Outro

[@samuelharmssambamsjm269]

Admittedly, it was only a 3 game, 30 player RTT and pre dataslate, but someone recently came First locally with 6 Norn Emissaries/Assimilators supported by rippers, neurolictors and a neuro tyrant in synaptic nexus. It's surprisingly good for a meme list.

[@robotfuture1581]

the hivemind's strongest soldier

[@AngelofDeath333]

It’s a list I dream of playing at my local store when they host their tournaments.

[@sludgedisciple]

I'd like to run 3, never thought about 6. 😂

[@theStamax]

Well it's a skew list. At that point you're basically hedging your bets on whether or not your enemy has enough anti tank/heavy and that player may just have gotten lucky (also RTTs are generally a bit less sharky than GTs).

[@samuelharmssambamsjm269]

​@@theStamax definitely situational sucess. It was a more casual event.

[@SnowFoxWithAGasMask]

I think our main problem is that our melee strength is terrible. You know the norn emissary, lore wise a killing machine that could fight off multiple dreadnaughts at one time? It is strength 9. One of our only sources of 12+ melee strength is old one eye and carnifexes.

[@NecroGoblin-yl2fx]

yep we are already suffering with early codex syndrome. :( way to weak weapons compared to other factions.

[@SnowFoxWithAGasMask]

@@NecroGoblin-yl2fx I don’t think it’s all gloom and doom, but I definitely think that we still need a few buffs

[@winsol]

And the carnifexies are hitting on 4+ as well. Guess they were really worried about them getting a 2+ hit in crusher stampede.

[@sludgedisciple]

You can tell it was the first codex. You can spam str 9 but still not ideal.

[@theStamax]

@@sludgediscipleIt's not like codices have gotten much better since (or were written after the first dataslate).

[@Dewoy1]

Its sad to see that without the Gargoyls, Neuro Lictor and Biovore, Tyranids would be no where near this %. They really gotta give some love to certain thins, not just points.

[@gregorycafiero9688]

Take away any army's 3 strongest units and they're gonna suffer.

[@haraldbredsdorff2699]

Worse, because they just got a codex, it is unlikly they will get anything other than some point changes. I think only mechanicus is in a worse position.

[@SumsieBun]

I’ve heard that in the past Tyranids were an overwhelming top tier, it seems GW went ham with a swarmlords worth of nerf bats and way overcompensated

[@jonpeacock5580]

@@SumsieBunit was 9th edition when they were insane. They lost a whole lot of killing potential between editions

[@stickyfingas3245]

@@gregorycafiero9688I think the point is that the gap between the tyranids strongest and the rest is far too large. Tyranids rely far too heavily on those three models

[@AAw3s0m3]

A few others have said it here already and I've certainly said it myself on other videos, but take away the Biomine strat and 'Nids go down by 10-15% WR; add nerfs to the Neurolictors, Gargoyles, and maybe Deathleapers too and that goes down into maybe even 20-30% territory overall. At least then they would realise the actual issues are that 'Nids cannot deal with anything above T8 effectively. I'd argue that only Mechanicus is worse off than us at this point, and that's not a pretty place for the supposed poster-boys of this edition to be in.

[@rkilpatrick33]

Yo that's me! I've made it to the big leagues!

[@TheSpectralFX]

I'm working on an unending swarm list as well. Wish you the best out there. Happy to see some of us succeed.

[@camrongoodall]

I'll probably never buy or play 40k but your videos still make the game awesome

[@cyanidethelad5785]

Oh wow I got here within a minute of posting, I love your content, man!

[@OdeezyBaby18]

WTF, are you psychic? I was literally checking your channel for this exact video and you've just come out with it? 🤣 Legendary mate. This is why you're my go to guy!

[@elliottreadings8029]

Thank you Auspex! Was wondering how to refine my nids list!

[@TchHry]

NOW people love the Malecepor... I had him in my list when he was bad. Welcome to the big brain game my fellow nids!

[@SnowFoxWithAGasMask]

I’ve always loved him. As well as Tyrannofex and Harpy, and I still play harpy even though he sucks ass because my playgroup is really casual.

[@morose1434]

I don’t ever care if it’s bad or good, I always use the Hive Tyrant as much as possible regardless of its’ current strength because it is so cool.

[@morose1434]

The Swarm Lord in particular

[@luckmyst3r986]

Not surprised NT, Gargoyles, NL and a Biovore are in this list. Those units are the whole reason Tyranids can compete right now.

[@relint12]

There was a cool Nid Vanguard list at Adepticon that made it into the top 16. Nice to see that less loved detachment get some sunshine.

[@fortheswarmlord3250]

I used to play vanguard with some good success before the data slate. Nowadays, the chances to fight armies like custodes, who will just take the objectives and dare you to try to take them turn vanguard into a very risky game of many bad matches and some really good ones. I'm currently playing a monster Invasion list.

[@marcellacerda4734]

I do not know how valid this list in tournaments, but I have had some sucess with a list with the frontline using two sythed Heirodules with 3 full units of Hormagaunts.

[@Poisedanubis85]

I’ve collected nids for nearly 3 decades and really happy to see that finally in 10th they give them some new units and lore (still miss the shrikes though)

[@crackedfr]

orks next please! :)

[@sl-lin0bi529]

I NEED TO SEE ONE FOR CHAOS DEAMONS

[@metalblizzard6024]

You absolutely rock man... I'm new to this hobby and you are my go to for everything. Is there anyway I can donate or sub to you ?

[@NecroGoblin-yl2fx]

gonna try a new list tomorrow. Invasion Fleet 2 x Neurotyrants, one with Adaptive Biology Swarmy 1 x Biovore 1 x Exocrine 1 x Maleceptor 1 x Mawloc 1 x Trygon 1 x Norn Emissary 1 x Screamer killer 2 x Tyrannofex, one with Acid Spray one with Rupture cannon. will be fun to see if it works.

[@bugmanzgaming9054]

It will work against an unprepared opponent.

[@codybates2419]

I tried the Leviathan box set Nids in escalation league at 750 points and got absolutely shot to pieces.

[@ValentinBaca]

The Leviathan box is a starter box, of course it didn’t do well. It’s like playing with a magic starter precon versus constructed

[@DMDuncan37]

Welcome 😅 I remember my first games. It was no fun getting run over and not being able to do anything about it. Nice marketing gws 🤔

[@codybates2419]

@@ValentinBaca yeah I wasn’t expecting it to do well but, man, did it get absolutely hosed in the shooting

[@codybates2419]

@@DMDuncan37 yeah it was bad. The next 250 point jump is gonna be huge for me. Just need to figure out what to add…

[@DMDuncan37]

​@@codybates2419i Hope a good UP ( auto include units, hive tyran, Monsters ....)

[@TheSpectralFX]

The fact they hit us with point increases after Pantheon GT was wild. Like Eldar are wrecking havoc still... oh better nerf tyranids who are smack dab in the middle of win/rate for factions. We need a discount on the melee oriented units so bad... they ain't worth taking at all. Warriors are so expensive and they do f- all

[@Koh-Learn]

"Rave-eners" - brilliant 😆

[@aarondavid8319]

I've been running Screamers with deathleapers, nuerotyrant, and nuerolictors and have been having a lot of success. It just creates a little feels bad though when you have to have a lot of units in the right place, we really don't have one stand out killer like angron or morty.

[@DMDuncan37]

Need more lethality or UP points 🤔

[@kenderareawesome]

The fact that tyranids don't have access to strats like grenade and tankshock should be addressed.

[@connorgon8581]

They do get tank shock, but only on crushing stampede. You know, effectively one of the worst detachments. Lol

[@JImmyEllis-rd5rd]

and its not tank shock its worse@@connorgon8581

[@banishedpest115]

Effectively meaning they dont have tank shock. Thats before you note its worse than tank shock on average too.

[@Neversprinter]

Auspex….how did you know I just ordered an Old One Eye brood…

[@PallaDrak]

Can someone confirm whether you can use Irresistible Will with the Hive Tyrant? Auspex seems to imply it here but I heard you can't use it as you also need to target an enemy unit

[@APSynthesis]

It depends on how your opponent or TO rules it. I think it's WTC ruling that states you can't make a strategem free that also targets an enemy unit.

[@galling2052]

@@APSynthesis its the dataslate or rules commentary that says no. It has been a bias mess since the whole CP reductions "reballancing" nonsence... damn posterboys with their 3-6Battletactic (all of which work) detachments....

[@marcthompson6951]

You can not. It was first ruled at GW Atlanta open. Same reason as previously stated. Can't make a strat free that targets a unit that can't make it free (the enemy unit)

[@jonc.6046]

I'm always thrown when you say that only one biovore can seed a mine each turn. It's actually one UNIT of biovores, correct?

[@obsidi2]

I've gone undefeated in my last two tournaments with unending swarm.

[@galling2052]

very obvious why nids have no big wins really. Their options are all inefficent units trying to desperately buy time for a few crutch units like bios and gargs to maybe eak out a win. They are in the exact same position they were before january...but even weaker

[@Feshdan]

Competitive List (1995 points) Tyranids Strike Force (2000 points) Unending Swarm CHARACTERS Winged Tyranid Prime (65 points) • Warlord • 1x Prime talons BATTLELINE Hormagaunts (130 points) • 20x Hormagaunt • 20x Hormagaunt talons Hormagaunts (130 points) • 20x Hormagaunt • 20x Hormagaunt talons Hormagaunts (130 points) • 20x Hormagaunt • 20x Hormagaunt talons Hormagaunts (130 points) • 20x Hormagaunt • 20x Hormagaunt talons Hormagaunts (130 points) • 20x Hormagaunt • 20x Hormagaunt talons Hormagaunts (130 points) • 20x Hormagaunt • 20x Hormagaunt talons Termagants (120 points) • 20x Termagant • 20x Chitinous claws and teeth 20x Fleshborer Termagants (120 points) • 20x Termagant • 20x Chitinous claws and teeth 20x Fleshborer Termagants (120 points) • 20x Termagant • 20x Chitinous claws and teeth 20x Fleshborer Termagants (120 points) • 20x Termagant • 20x Chitinous claws and teeth 20x Fleshborer Termagants (120 points) • 20x Termagant • 20x Chitinous claws and teeth 20x Fleshborer Termagants (120 points) • 20x Termagant • 20x Chitinous claws and teeth 20x Fleshborer OTHER DATASHEETS Barbgaunts (120 points) • 10x Barbgaunt • 10x Barblauncher 10x Chitinous claws and teeth Barbgaunts (120 points) • 10x Barbgaunt • 10x Barblauncher 10x Chitinous claws and teeth Barbgaunts (120 points) • 10x Barbgaunt • 10x Barblauncher 10x Chitinous claws and teeth Tyranid Warriors with Ranged Bio-weapons (70 points) • 1x Tyranid Prime • 1x Devourer 1x Tyranid Warrior claws and talons • 2x Tyranid Warrior • 2x Devourer 2x Tyranid Warrior claws and talons SIMPLE AS

[@xemnas0737]

Can I ask where you're getting the 46% winrate? The most recent meta Monday has them at 44% overall since the slate

[@stefanw6665]

it's the same as in his "Every Warhammer 40K Army's Tournament Win Statistics" a few weeks ago but he didnt state his source there either.

[@94jmbottaro]

Juwt got into 40k but Im still a long way off from playing. My tyranid army is only 20% complete. And i think ill build a second army to make my friends play with me lol. But i love painting them. I used yo paint marines when i was a kid but i lost the set when moving to europe and i was just a child so i didnt even bother getting back into it until now that im 30

[@Bearcaved]

Army rule is garbage except in niche situations. Invasion fleet should have been the army rule.

[@EliteDarkAssassin]

No invasion fleet should not be the army rule. I think the current rule of synapse and SitW is "fine"and flavorful the thing is battleshock as a whole is bad. Units should have to take another battleshock test to unshock themselves if they're over half strength making units like parasite better. Or BS needs more debuffs like minus one to their ballistic skill/weapon skill because their arms are shaky which can then combo into our many stealth abilities/ neurolictors -1 to hit improving our very squishy bodies defense. It's just as a whole, battleshock often doesn't matter enough and with our low damage output and unimpressive defensive stats among most units, we have to resort to silly tricks like biovores and rippers to score points and it's really lame. You take that away from us and our army winrate plummets to Votann level at the beginning of the edition.

[@stefanw6665]

@@EliteDarkAssassin I'd have prefered not only synapse being based on synapse creatures. as it's now, the enemy, or the nid player, hardly cares what's in synapse range or not. so no targetting them down first etc. once per game abilites that maybe do something, even if BS was fine, is an unfun mechanic for both players in my opinion. having stuff in synapse range being buffed would fit much better imo. maybe even depending on the creature giving out the synapse thingy.

[@Archtyp3]

I have a question, these top 4 lists are taking Trygons, Screamer killers, Carnifexes, Maleceptors, What is up with no one taking the Haruspex? I thought that was an pretty amazing datasheet.

[@seekyourownsalvation7356]

Personally I don't take haruspex as I don't like how much it hangs over its base, those maw tentacles take up far too much space on the battlefield and can make positioning/ cover difficult for the 'spex. Just my 10 cents.

[@DeliriumTr3mens]

I think is quite of an irony the top units are not in Leviathan nor in the Onslaught Swarm

[@derpyghosts]

How do we feel about barbguants?

[@ikiiryu6114]

I would love a new strongest lists video of the grey knights

[@DMDuncan37]

I started 40k and the Tyranids with v10. We're a long way from v9 and how gws marketing sold us the Tyranids of Leviathan. Often when I play against a new opponent, he's scared! v9 memories but he's finally reassured by a V10 Tyranid that's not very lethal but fortunately scores pretty well. 😅 But this still includes the same units. Which unfortunately had a nerf. 😢 Today, many units are rather expensive to include and compensate for the lack of lethality. Auto include or tyrants (over 200 points is huge) and many monsters. 😮 There's no doubt about the winrate for Tyranids. A very average faction from the start. Especially with a codex, it's disappointing :( Finally, a Tyranids game that's not very fun, focusing on the score to hope to win 🫤

[@danielbex2069]

48 or something datasheets... And only 5 is important to play.... Gj GW

[@Dewoy1]

So, would the -1 to the battleshock test stack between the Deathleaper and the Screamer killer?

[@theStamax]

Depends on Leadership. IIRC you can't go beyond a 5+ and 9+ leadership. Otherwise it should, but take that with a grain of salt

[@Dewoy1]

Ok thanks! I´ve never heared there being a cap on Ld too.@@theStamax

[@theStamax]

@@Dewoy1I looked it up. It's in the Rules Commentary: "Leadership characteristics can never be modified to 4+ (or better), or to 9+ (or worse)."

[@facemite]

​@@theStamaxone is minus one to the test another effects leadership value so they should always stack

[@theStamax]

@@facemite they should stack regardless tbh. Afaik leadership and leadership tests don't have the maximum of +/-1 to it (as it is specifically mentioned in the rules commentary, this only applies to cases where it's actively specified). But interestingly you should be able to make the check harder than 9+, because that limit only affects the characteristic. So you could modify it to a 9+ and apply - to the test afterwards

[@JImmyEllis-rd5rd]

how did john utilize OOE did re raipd ingress him or run him up the board

[@JImmyEllis-rd5rd]

or better question what was his deployment strategy. lot of good rapid ingress choices. deepstrike gargoyles or just fast af gargoyles. just go no reserves?

[@Billuhhanks]

I’m brand new to the game and got the leviathan box. I wish I did more research bc the tyranids are cool but their play style isn’t for me. Seems their style is to win on points rather than table the opponent which is what I want to do.

[@banishedpest115]

Yeah their playstyle was completely reworked and changed for 10th. They are not supposed to play as they do in 10th, but they were shoehorned to fit an archetype. Id try an older edition if you want a true tyranid experience!

[@mrpoketokyo]

Please do the same for custodes 😊😊

[@lockpinos]

Seems like no one runs a Von Ryan Leaper. And i just got 18 of them -_-"

[@SumsieBun]

I don’t go anywhere without the 4-2-2 rule (my own rule of course) 80 Termies, 40 Hormies, 20 Gargoyles in 10s are baseline for my lists. They just don’t feel like Tyranids without having the swarm along with the monsters

[@Trazynn]

Okay but now do meme lists. What's the craziests lists you can think of?

[@Corrosion15]

1 trevigon as the warlord 20 termigaunts X6 20 Hormagaunts X6 20 Gargoyles X6 Total pts: 2,010

[@SnowFoxWithAGasMask]

Oops all spore mines.

[@Corrosion15]

@@SnowFoxWithAGasMask yes

[@JasonM69]

infiltration (1940 points) Tyranids Strike Force (2000 points) Vanguard Onslaught CHARACTERS Broodlord (80 points) • 1x Broodlord claws and talons Broodlord (80 points) • 1x Broodlord claws and talons Broodlord (80 points) • 1x Broodlord claws and talons Deathleaper (80 points) • Warlord • 1x Lictor claws and talons Neurotyrant (105 points) • 1x Neurotyrant claws and lashes 1x Psychic scream Winged Tyranid Prime (65 points) • 1x Prime talons Winged Tyranid Prime (65 points) • 1x Prime talons Winged Tyranid Prime (65 points) • 1x Prime talons OTHER DATASHEETS Genestealers (150 points) • 10x Genestealer • 10x Genestealers claws and talons Genestealers (150 points) • 10x Genestealer • 10x Genestealers claws and talons Genestealers (150 points) • 10x Genestealer • 10x Genestealers claws and talons Lictor (60 points) • 1x Lictor claws and talons Lictor (60 points) • 1x Lictor claws and talons Lictor (60 points) • 1x Lictor claws and talons Neurolictor (80 points) • 1x Piercing claws and talons Neurolictor (80 points) • 1x Piercing claws and talons Neurolictor (80 points) • 1x Piercing claws and talons Von Ryan’s Leapers (150 points) • 6x Von Ryan’s Leaper • 6x Leaper’s talons Von Ryan’s Leapers (150 points) • 6x Von Ryan’s Leaper • 6x Leaper’s talons Von Ryan’s Leapers (150 points) • 6x Von Ryan’s Leaper • 6x Leaper’s talons

[@Corrosion15]

@JasonM69 👏👏👏 perfect.

[@pyrofrog368]

Ah, the galaxys equivalent of a cockroach infestation

[@azeria1]

I recently found i had a random hive guard how did i get it i genuinely dont know how ive never had a nid army or knew anyone with one

[@philurbaniak1811]

Purchase a Flamer immediately, brother, and check all your local sewer tunnels!

[@charliee4228]

Didn't know John Lennon likes tyranids.

[@roytorres4714]

How to fix tyranids easily, warrior 3+ sv, venom cannon 3 shoots instead of d3, killer scream should be torrent, all unit with 4+ to hit should go back to 3+, tyrant guard should save on 2+, heavy venom S12, tyrannofex either devastating on rupture or half damage as skill. Nothing really broken

[@abraxas365]

15:45 John Lennon... of the Beatles... playing a Nids list? 😂

[@maxreis9534]

Imagine all the people getting devoured

[@yoshammer]

..... **Opens up Elements Games** .... **scrolls over to Tyranids** ... **buys 4 boxes of Gargoyles** .. **thinking of my mates stuck in their deployment zone, and laughs**

[@Damnedlegion40k]

Add a comment...🎉

[@GM-rs2fv]

Early April fools?

[@DMDuncan37]

No, this IS the reality 😂

[@Desm0708]

Is there a point in saying that Tyranids are only seeing more play because they were the launch faction and because they’ve gotten cool new stuff? Like, yeah no shit? That’s kinda how this works?

[@masterch33fII7]

Exocrine needs a big nerf tbh. But some units really need help though, this edition has terrible data sheet balance.

[@DMDuncan37]

Are you mad ? One of the few good and reliable shooting units, especially despite and only 8 strength !

[@solvdrage1456]

​@@DMDuncan37 Strength 8 actually. So, it wounds most light vehicles on 5. S9 would be amazing. Big difference between wounding on 4s and 5s.