This week we have the fierce new Tau piloted by challenger John Vs. the Grey Bush and some of the new sneaky Ravenguard in their Talon Strike Force detachment. Let’s see who will come out on top. Make sure to tune in live on Twitch 7:00 PM PST Tuesday the 3rd for your chance to win one of the new Tau Commanders. Subscribers get triple the entries into the give away so don’t miss out!
First we have John and his Hunter Contingent:
Hunter Contingent
Hunter Cadre
Commander
– Command and Control
– Multi spectral suite
– Puretide engram chip
– Iridium armor
Strike Team x 5
Strike Team x 5
Strike Team x 5
XV8 Crisis Battlesuit Team
– 3 suits
– double missile pod on each
XV8 Crisis Battlesuit Team
– 2 suits
– double missile pod on each
XV8 Crisis Battlesuit Team
– 2 suits
– double missile pod on each
Pathfinder Team x 5
Hammerhead
– Heavy Railgun w/ submunitions
– Smart Missile System
Firebase Support Cadre
XV104 Riptide
– Ion Accelerator
– Twin Linked Fusion Blasters
– Early Warning Override
XV88 Broadside Battlesuit Teams {x2}
– 3 Broadsides
– High Yield Missile Pods (each)
– Smart Missile Systems (each)
– Early warning override (each)
CAD
Commander Shadowsun
Strike Team x 5
Strike Team x 5
Tetras
– 2 tetras
(Frt) Void Shield Generator
– 3 shields
John’s list is going to have all the tools needed to bring the pain to the poor Ravenguard. John will need to go first so that he can kill some of those scouts from the Shadowstrike Kill Team. If he is not able to kill a couple of those units, Reece’s Vanguard will drop down with the Skyhammer and tie a lot of John’s army up in combat. The roll to go first will be important and will give John the edge he needs to beat the Ravenguard.
John should be able to intercept most of the Skyhammer when they drop in dealing a crushing blow to those assault squads. Unfortunately, the Devastators are just as scary to the poor Tau so we shall see what he plans to do to those units. The interceptor paired with the Voidshield should help to lessen the blow from Reece’s alpha/beta strike.
This is in no way going to be an easy game for the new Tau, but I believe they have the tools to light up the shadows and kill those pesky Space Marines. It will be interesting to see how John plans on taking objectives as that is really what Tau struggle with. I believe in the greater good and believe John will bring home the Victory.
Reece’s list:
| Raven Guard | 1850pts | ||
| Talon Strike Force | Description | Size | Cost |
| Pinion Battle Demi-Company | |||
| Chaplain | Raven’s Fury | 1 | 105 |
| Tactical Marines | M.Gun, C.Melta | 5 | 90 |
| Tactical Marines | M.Gun, C.Melta | 5 | 90 |
| Tactical Marines | M.Gun, C.Melta | 5 | 90 |
| Assault Squad | M.Bombs | 5 | 90 |
| Devstator Squad | C.Melta | 10 | 150 |
| D.Pod | – | 1 | 35 |
| Scouts | M.Bombs | 5 | 60 |
| Scouts | M.Bombs | 5 | 60 |
| Scouts | M.Bombs | 5 | 60 |
| Shadowstrike Kill Team | |||
| Scouts | – | 5 | 55 |
| Scouts | – | 5 | 55 |
| Vanguard | J.Packs, Fist x 2, L.Claws x 2 | 10 | 260 |
| Skyhammer Annihilation Force | |||
| Assault Squad | Vet Sarge, P.Axe | 5 | 110 |
| Assault Squad | Vet Sarge, P.Axe | 5 | 110 |
| Devastator Squad | H.Bolter x 4 | 10 | 180 |
| Drop Pod | – | 1 | 35 |
| Devastator Squad | H.Bolter x 4 | 10 | 180 |
| Drop Pod | – | 1 | 35 |
| Totals | 99 | 1850 |
Reece’s list is all about trickery, deployment flexibility and movement! It will depend on overwhelming target priority and attacking from multiple threat vectors. We’ll see if those sneaky Raven Guard can overcome Tau firepower!
Why heavy bolters?
I’ve had excellent success with them. I use them mostly for the pinning ability.
Ahhhh, that makes sense.
I’m interested to see if all the tricks and such of the Ravenguard formation can make up for no ob sec.
Yeah, it will be a crazy game, I think! The new Raven Guard look like a ton of fun to play.
I’m not sure if you know this, but I absolutely LOVE the Raven Guard. I’ve been so bummed about their CTs and special characters over the years though. This is like a glass of water for someone dying in the desert.
I almost bought a Space Marine army when the rumors of the 6th ed codex came out and visions of scouting Van Vets filled my head, but, alas, they failed me.
This is rapidly heading to the point that if I can come up with a list I like, I’m going to finally buy marines.
Yeah, they needed it, bad. This feels like a very effective force, I am excited to try it out. Raven Guard are such a cool chapter, too.
Are you going to use RG CT on the skyhammer or Imp Fists/Ultras?
I am using RG on the Skyhammer just to stay all in theme. Normally I would go Imp Fists, though.
I appreciate the nod to consistency and theme, it’s just sad that the RG CT has basically negligible value on the unit (only bonus is the assault squads getting some minor buffs).
Don’t forget heavy bolters look boss as well haha
Indeed they do!
This is pretty close to what I think Raven Guard should run with this new force. Insane Alpha Strike power, abuse the fact that you have a better than average chance at going first and can really wreck anyone who isn’t ready to have you on their board edge turn 1.
Melta is good on everything, but I can’t help but feel trying to get Grav in at least one unit of the Skyhammer Devs might have been good. But we’ll see how it goes!
I use the Skyhammer to pin mostly, and Grav requires you to get very close. I didn’t know what his list was before I wrote mine, but with the VSG the grav weapons would have been worthless and his Interceptor means I probably die before getting to shoot.
Really excited to see the new Raven Guard in action! I don’t understand the Devastator Squad’s loadout in the Pinion though – nothing but a combi and delivered in a Drop pod? Why?!?! For the same amount of pts, you could get a five-man team with Lascanons and Scout for them with one of the Scout squad to Ignore Cover. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see what this squad brings to your list except extra bodies with (almos) no teeth…
Good luck! Purge the Xenos!
I have a plan for that unit =)
We’ll see if it works out.
Oooooh! Sneaky Raven Guard is sneaky 😉
Right, I think I know where you’re going with this now that I think about it but I’ll have to wait and see I guess.
Do you know when the Youtube video will be released for this game? I’m also playing tomorrow (and trying out the Raven Guard Detachment and formations!) so I won’t be able to watch…
We usually have them up on youTube the next day!
I can’t figure it out either, looking forward to seeing what the plan is.
That Tau list just keeps going. “Oh, that’s not too bad, wait, plus a firebase cadre, well that’s expected, wait, and another detachment, geez!”
Yeah, I may get my ass handed to me in this one, lol.
Im stoked for these Ravenguard!!
I am excited to see them in action, too!
On the Tau Firbase Cadre which rules are going to be used? The PE version from the Advent Calendar, or the new one which has to target the same unit to receive tank/monster hunter?
I’m looking forward to the game!
I told my opponent he could play it whichever version he chose! So, we’ll see.
I am planning on using the one out of the new book. I am under the impression that this replaces the advent calendar one.
Looking forward to catching it on YouTube afterwards, Raven Guard are cool, Tau hammerhead is very cool.
Not sure where shadowsun fits in though, I guess with one of the crisis suit units, possibly alongside the buffmander. Seems a strange pick for this list though.
That’s what I was thinking, too. Be interesting to see how it pans out!
Reece, how will you fight the Tau without using a proper deathstar? Do you know how to play without one? The people want to know lol ?
The tau list’s inclusion of a vsg is key imho to preserve their firepower. I’d rather see riptides in place of crisis suits though, as the broadsides already provide lots of ap4 shooting, and the riptides ap2 pie plate goes a long way. Also, no ethereal hurts since he has an open HQ slot and the bubble stubborn would no doubt save his butt against inevitable assault, but I’m curious to see what he will do with the infiltrating shadowsun.
I think with Los blockers mid field that let the assault squads hide from intercept, and the pinning bolters working from 36 inches away (out of range from most tau weapons) and getting through the vsg to cause checks without causing wounds on the tau the raven guard have a good chance. Missile launchers in place of bolters would be even better here since the 48 inch range is so important versus broadsides, combined with the fact that the bolters aren’t there to do damage so much as pin, but that’s a style thing. Without enough Los terrain to allow a turn 2 marine assault through, an all in aggressive turn 1 drop would make for a very quick game one way or the other.
The vsg is a common site in my competitive lists to help with things like centurions and mass small arms fire to give my army the staying power it needs. As many people note, when the tau start going south they head their very quickly. So the vsg is there to hopefully delay the loss of key units till closer to the end of the game.
and I don’t know why everyone is hating on my choice of shadowsun. she has always done work for me. :/
I prefer her over ethereals every day…I just don’t find them reliable.
personally I’m hoping we see some forgeworld errata soon to include yvarha and rvarna and tetras into hunter contingent, and errata to allow darkstrider and shadowsun into hunter contingents
Shadowsun can already be taken in a contingent. She fits into the Headquarters section where it states 1 commander or commander shadowsun. I would like to see dark strider make it into the contingent too though.
As for the voidshield, I include it a lot too as a strong counter to centurion stars. Lots of those in my local meta.
Voidshield is a real staple in my competitive lists I make, along with vector tracking and early warning override.
When will this be on YouTube?
Wednesday.
The only thing the lists needs to be 100% RG is land speeders. I am sure the competitve version of this list has Lias Issadon in a CAD. The Talon Strike Force lets you take a Battle Demi-Company so I would take that since Lias can give three units infiltrate. You could use it to bring in Vanguards without relying on the scouts.