40K: Top 10 things I’ve Learned About the New Tau Codex
I’ve been playing Tau Empire for several years in both 5th and 6th. So I went into my first new codex game with a lot of high hopes…
Here’s what I found:
1) OMG!!! Hooray for the Broadside’s SMS. Going from 24″ no LoS required, to 30″, no LoS, Ignores Cover, Twin-linked is CRAZY! It’s more than twice as effective as before.
2) I’m not sure why any Hammerhead/Skyray with access to the identically costed linked-SMS and the linked-Burst Cannons would ever take the Burst Cannons – a complete reversal from the old codex where you used to get TWO burst cannons for the same cost as the single SMS.
3) Pulse Carbines are viable again – why yes I’ll take double firepower for no extra cost.
4) Pathfinders lose a point of armor, but gain stealth (sometimes). So they are basically the same, but you’ll use them in a more fluffy manner – holed up in cover. Neat! Make sure you read the defensive grenade rules again.
5) Stealth-suits are the devil in cover! 2+ cover combined with the improved weapons… leading us into:
6) Its a good day to be fielding tons of burst cannons. Assault 4 is so very sweet (see #5)!
7) Kroot are flexible and cheap – never leave home without the sniper rounds and a (only 1) hound.
8) Pathfinders are essential – 2 squads of 5 clock in at just over 100pts and radically improve your shooting performance. No one likes taking BS:5 Missile-drone/Broadside fire!
9) The fusion blaster is the best melta weapon in the game. That extra 6″ is a killer.
10) This is a quasi-horde army now. With the cost reductions across the board – I’m on average using 25% more models for the points as the old codex.
~Buy lots of dice – you’ll need em. What are your initial thoughts after your first Tau game?
