Warhammer 40K: This Week’s Meta Hotness – Vespids
Let’s take a look at a 40K unit that really stings to face, T’au Vepids.
In the ever-shifting meta of 40K, armies rise and fall. We’ve spent a lot of time talking about armies that are hot or not, but a lot less time looking at units that are running the show. Today let’s start by taking a look at one of the hottest units currently running around the tabletop.
The Unit
Vespid Stingwings are a T’au Empire Auxiliary fast attack fire support unit. These bug-like Xenos fight for the T’au Empire (or are possibly mind-controlled by them). Light and fast, they are armed with devastating guns. They act as a highly mobile close-range fire support unit.
Why are Vespid Stingwings Good?
Traditionally Vespids have been considered one of the worst units in the T’au army, if not the entire game. However, that doesn’t mean they are without use. They are armed with a very strong infantry gun. Assualt 2 S5 Ap -3 D2 is a really strong stat line. And it makes them decent Marine killers. They are mostly held back by BS 4+ which hinders them greatly. Their main use however is in utility. With fly, a 14 inch move, and deep strike they can get where they want.
Clocking in at a budget 60 pts for a five man bug unit they are cheap and easy to fit into an army. These light units are great for scoring objectives and taking actions. They’ve got just enough firepower to finish off wounded Marine units. It’s a unit you use so you don’t have to tie down one that’s actually good at doing something.
A Sample List
Saying a unit is hot is all well and good, but let’s take a look at how players are using it. Vespids have been in a number of lists that have done well at recent tournaments. One list that uses them is the following: run by Alex Harrison for a top place finish at Beachhead Brawl.
+ T’au Sept Patrol Detachment 0CP (T’au Empire)++
+ HQ +
Ethereal w/ 2x Marker drones, The Humble Stave, Hover Drone, Sense of Stone, & Exemplar of the Mont’ka,Wisdom of the Guides, Sratagem: Promising Pupil,
Longstrike w/ 2x Smart Missile System, Railgun, Warlord
+ Troops +
Kroot Carnivores x10
+ Fast Attack +
Kroot Hounds x4
++ T’au Sept Patrol Detachment -2CP (T’au Empire) [101 PL, -4CP, 1,660pts] ++
Stratagem: Emergency Dispensation: Additional Relics
+ HQ +
Commander in Crisis Battlesuit w/ 2x Marker Drones, Fusion Blaster, Onager Gauntlet, Plasma Rifle, T’au Flamer, Target Lock, Thermoneutronic Projector, & Stratagem: Promising Pupil Precision of the Hunter,
+ Troops +
Kroot Carnivores [3 PL, 60pts]
. 10x Kroot: 10x Kroot Rifle, 10x Quill Grenades
+ Elites +
Crisis Battlesuits w/ 5x Shield Drones, 3 w/ Ion, Plasma, Flamer & Tracker, 1 w/ Ion, Plasma, Flamer, Target Lock & Iridium battlesuit, 1 w/ Ion, Flamer, Fragmentation & Velocity Tracker
Crisis Battlesuits w/ 5x Shield Drones, 4 w/ 2x Frag, Plasma & Target Lock, 1 w/ 2x Frag, Plasma, Target Lock, Stimm injectors & Iridium battlesuit.
+ Fast Attack +
Vespid Stingwings x5
Vespid Stingwings x5
+ Heavy Support +
Broadside Battlesuits w/ 4x Shield Drones, 1 Marker Drone, 3x Broadsides w/ Heavy Rail Rifle, Twin smart Missile Systerm & Velocity Tracker
Broadside Battlesuits w/ 4x Shield Drones, 1 Marker Drone, 3x Broadsides w/ Heavy Rail Rifle, Twin smart Missile Systerm & Velocity Tracker
Using Vespids
Alex’s list makes use of two five model units of Vespids. These are hardly the show of the army. That would be the two large units of Battle Suits that go tromping around the table. The Vespids are a cheap unit to fit into the army. They provide a bit of extra firepower. However, the main role is objective scoring. The Vespids and two units of Kroot are really the only cheap small units that can be sacrificed to take actions. While the Kroot have some moblity, the Vespids have a lot more. With 4 large suit unit targets and Longstrike it’s unlikely the enemy will pay attention to a 2nd string unit like the Vespids. Which is exactly what lets them maneuver and get the job done.
Let us know what units you think are hot right now, down in the comments!
