More Tyranids Disruption Units?

So a lot of my recent posts have essentially been a flowing stream of Fritz experimentation and consciousness as I shape my Tyranids up for tournament play- and time is running out! Three weeks or so till the first one of the season! Sometimes I contradict myself, other times it seems so obvious what I’ve “discovered” after the fact- at best I hope my fellow Tyranid players are getting some new ideas, and for the non-xeno players out there what you can expect to face…

So back to disruption units…

Here is a quick recap- while my big bugs advance I need something to “disrupt” the back ranks of my opponent’s army- something to occupy the long fang spam or X heavy weapon spam firing down shots before I can close. Now way I am going to “kill” 2-3 teams of ‘fangs or devastators, but If I can prevent them from shooting for a turn that is a huge deal.

First stab at a disruption unit was a group of y-stealers. Fun as hell to play, but entirely dependent on terrain. Fine for a NOVA format tourney where terrain is set to what is supposed to be played in 40K, but in other tourneys where the terrain is VERY light I’ve wasted the points and effectiveness of the unit. Plus assaulting into cover or through cover kills them.

Next up was DOM.

Well he needs a pod adding to the cost- 140 base, but the pod can scatter. I’m over the hurt feelings of the Tyranids FAQ, but anything DOM will be zapping will be getting a cover save, and then next turn he essentially dies, which I am ok with, but the scatter on the pod made it hit or miss.

Followed by spore mines.

On the plus side they used a fast attack slot and are cheap for what you get in terms of points. Down side is that if your opponent goes first they are 100% wasted and even if you go first they tent to wander off like squigs. Same kind of problem coming down in a pod.

Finally onto lictors, which is where I am at right now…

While my first instinct is to take deathleaper for the –LD hit and ability to pull out and contest an objective turn five, I have to keep in mind the OBJECTIVE of the model- a one way suicide trip to cancel a turn of shooting. Deathleaper is a lictor for an entirely different list- Null Deployment, for this a regular lictor will do at 65 points.

With his ability to place anywhere and go to ground if needed for terminator like cover saves he fits in perfectly.

Of course all these options work off reserves and even with a 50% chance of coming in on turn two things can go wrong…