Battle Report - Raiders from Commorragh

Friday I was able to get my second game in with the new Tyranids, and this time I would be facing the Tyranids’ Kryptonite: Dark Eldar raiders had arrived from the web way to carry back Tyranid organisms for the arenas! It is worth pointing out that I never defeated the current Dark Eldar Codex with the last Tyranid book, so this game was looking to be a great test for the survivability of the new Codex.

Duke Sliscus motioned silently, and his Venom transport came to an abrupt stop. His ground forces had spent the morning attacking isolated groups of mindless beasts across this filthy Mon’Keigh world. Tyranid consumption was almost complete, with the last Space Marine defenders routed a few weeks before.

The corsair scented the air gently, relishing in the overwhelming pain that endured here. With the delightful scent came the cloying stink of alien organisms. A swarm was nearby, and it contained many more beasts that were in short supply thus far. Here his warriors would confront the primitive enemy and do combat. Once the leader-beasts were slain, the swarms would be ripe for the picking.

With another motion, his Venom hurtled through the Mon’keigh ruins.

Raiders from Commorragh

The Mission

The Scouring, Hammer & Anvil

Army Lists

It is worth noting that, for now, the pictures are still light. I am playing with a significant number of Tyranid proxies and do not want to bore you with those pictures. Hopefully, this will soon be remedied and I can include some detailed in-game photography.

Duke Sliscus’s Raiding Party

Dark Eldar - 2,000

Combat Drugs: Splintermind
HQ

Duke Sliscus

ELITES

4 Kabalite Trueborn: 4 Blasters, Venom transport with dual Splinter Cannons

4 Kabalite Trueborn: 4 Blasters, Venom transport with dual Splinter Cannons

4 Kabalite Trueborn: 2 Splinter Cannons, 2 Shardcarbines, Venom transport with dual Splinter Cannons

TROOPS

10 Wyches: Raider transport with Dark Lance

10 Kabalite Warriors: Splinter Cannon, Raider transport with Dark Lance

10 Kabalite Warriors: Splinter Cannon, Raider transport with Dark Lance

10 Kabalite Warriors: Splinter Cannon, Raider transport with Dark Lance

10 Kabalite Warriors: Splinter Cannon, Raider transport with Dark Lance

FAST ATTACK

6 Reaver Jetbikes: 2 Heat Lances

HEAVY SUPPORT

Razorwing Jetfighter: 4 Monoscythe Missiles, 2 Dark Lances

Ravager: 3 Dark Lances, Night Shield, Flickerfield

Ravager: 3 Dark Lances, Night Shield, Flickerfield

Hive Fleet Nug 

Tyranids - 2,000

HQ

Hive Tyrant: 2x Twin-Linked Devourers with Brainleech Worms, Electroshock Grubs, Wings, Toxin Sacs; Catalyst, Warp Blast

ELITES

Hive Guard Brood: two additional Hive Guard, Impaler Cannons

Zoanthrope Brood: two additional Zoanthropes; Warp Blast, Catalyst

Venomthrope Brood: one additional Venomthrope

TROOPS

30 Termagants: Fleshborers

Tervigon: Electroshock Grubs; The Horror

20 Hormagaunts

20 Hormagaunts

FAST ATTACK

Hive Crone: Cluster Spines

Harpy: Twin-Linked Heavy Venom Cannon, Cluster Spines

HEAVY SUPPORT

Tyrannofex: Rupture Cannon

Exocrine

Biovores: two additional Biovores

Pre-game

My opponent rolled the rulebook Warlord Trait that gives -1 to all of my Reserves rolls. I rolled on the Tyranid table and received Heightened Senses; my Hive Tyrant and all units within 12” of him would benefit from Night Vision during the game. Night Fight would be in effect for the first turn.

The first objective was in the ruin at the top right corner of the table, on the bottom floor (2 points, Skyfire Nexus). The second objective was in the black ruins in the center (4 points, Nothing of Note). The third objective (3 points, never discovered) was in the crater at the top left corner of the table. Our fourth objective went in the ruin surrounded by a wall and trees (2 points, Sabotaged!), while the fifth was in the ruins on the bottom left (3 points, Skyfire Nexus). Finally, the sixth objective (1 point, Sabotaged!) was in the crater nearest to the camera.

The Dark Eldar won the roll to choose sides and set up on the opposite side of the table. The Tyranids then won the roll to deploy first and set up across their front. The Biovores, Hive Guard and Zoanthropes deployed in the building on the left side, while the three Flying Monstrous Creatures deployed in the central ruins. They were supported by the Tervigon and the Venomthropes. The Hormagaunts and the Tyrannofex anchored the right side, while the big brood of Termagants deployed around the crater to hold the objective.

The Dark Eldar deployed almost their entire force behind the ruins on the right side. The two Ravagers took shelter behind the Imperial Bastion, while the Reaver Jetbikes and the Razorwing Fighter waited in Reserve.

The Dark Eldar failed to Seize the Initiative, and the game was underway.

Turn One

The Hive Tyrant and the Zoanthopes successfully cast Catalyst, imbuing themselves and the other two flying creatures with Feel No Pain. The winged monsters then stormed the right flank, followed closely by the swift Hormagaunts and the lumbering Tyrannofex. The Zoanthropes and the Hive Guard moved toward the center of the table, and the Exocrine advanced quickly to get its bio-plasmic cannon in range. The Tervigon produced a small brood of Termagants, enhancing the brood nest in the Tyranid deployment zone.

The Hive Tyrant opened fire with his Devourers and tore the nearest Raider to pieces, killing six of the Warriors in the explosion. The Crone fired its Cluster Spines at the clutch of Raiders but failed to do any lasting damage, stripping one Hull Point. The Harpy missed with its Heavy Venom Cannon, and I forgot until the moment I wrote these words that the blasted weapon was Twin-Linked! However, its Cluster Spines did inflict a Crew Stunned on another of the Raiders. The Tyrannofex joined in with his Rupture Cannon, Stunning another of the Raiders. These were serious blows, as it left the Warriors inside unable to contribute in the coming turn.

The Dark Eldar maneuvered quickly to address my Flying Monstrous Creatures, eager to swing the initiative of momentum back to their advantage. The Wyches desperately leapt forward, ready to assault any of the Flying Monstrous Creatures that might crash land during the Shooting Phase.

Only one Warrior squad remained fully optimal, so the incoming firepower was somewhat limited. Snap Shots from the Stunned Raiders flew in, followed by a hail of shots from the Venoms and the Splinter Cannon-armed Trueborn. The Ravagers added their considerable weight to the firepower as well. When the envenomed weapons finally fell silent, only the Harpy had been Grounded. The Hive Crone had lost two Wounds, but the Hive Tyrant emerged unscathed.

The Wyches leapt forward with a graceful turn and surrounded the Harpy before it could rise back to the skies. Their blades stabbed and slashed at the vulnerable wing membranes, leaving the Harpy at one Wound. One Wych was crushed in return.

As Turn One came to a close, the combat had been truly joined. Soon, the ruins would become a charnel house of death, with both races vying for supremacy.

Objectives Controlled: Dark Eldar 0, Tyranids 2
Additional Dark Eldar Points: None
Additional Tyranid Points: First Blood
Turn One Score: 0-4, Tyranids

Turn Two

The Serpent hissed in irritation as the admittedly nimble organisms evaded his poisonous rounds. He watched as they struck home in places, corroding the carapace of the target and leaving great open wounds in their bodies. The punishment should have been enough to fell any living thing, but some gestalt consciousness drove these creatures into a fit of insanity.

The winged leader-beast dove on his transport with terrifying speed. Duke barely had time to curse his driver’s stupidity before the terrible impact ripped through his body. Pain flared brightly before his eyes, and a moment later he was rolling to a stop on the ground.

Wincing in pleasure as broken bones ground together in his shoulder, Sliscus swore again as he smelled the cooked circuitry of his Shadowfield. He climbed to his feet and drew his blade, calling out to his Trueborn to rally. It was only then that he realized he stood alone; his transport and everyone in it were scattered messily across the ground.

The Hive Tyrant’s opening Vector Strike proved devastating; immediately after casting Catalyst on himself and on the Crone, he tore Duke Sliscus’s Venom to pieces. The resultant explosion wounded everyone inside, and in a fit of bad luck it killed all of the Trueborn and blew out the Duke’s Shadowfield! The Crone followed this by destroying the nearest Raider, inflicting three Hull Points on the light transport. The Warriors emerged unharmed, but were Pinned in the process.

The Tyranid Shooting Phase did not follow the damage done so far; the Hive Tyrant opened fire on the nearest Venom with the one set of Devourers he was eligible to fire. He inflicted a Penetrating Hit and two Glancing Hits, but only one Glancing blow managed to bypass the Flickerfields. The Crone fired his Drool Cannon across both surviving Venoms and one of the damaged Raiders, but he only managed to strip one Hull Point from one of the Raiders. The Tyrannofex missed with both of his shots.

The Exocrine followed by unleashing a hail of shots into the nearest Ravager, blowing it apart under the terrible impacts. The Biovores dropped their mines across the surviving vehicles as well, hoping to destroy one of the transports that remained. They managed to strip one Hull Point from the completely intact Venom, but did nothing else to the vehicles. The final Spore Mine, however, flipped away from the vehicles and landed on Duke Sliscus himself, reducing him to a pool of acidic glop.

With a  screech of unending hunger, the Hormagaunts launched their charges. The first squad barreled into the squad defending the building’s objective. Since they were Pinned, blows were struck simultaneously. The Dark Eldar cut down four Hormagaunts before being slaughtered. The other squad of Hormagaunts was destined to face much deadlier prey. In a feat of excellent dice rolling that would be at home amongst the Sirens of the arena, the Wyches cut down ELEVEN Hormagaunts with their eighteen attacks; the Hormagaunts were only able to bring down two more Wyches in return.

The Dark Eldar tanks had taken a pounding in Turn One, but they emerged from Turn Two relatively unscathed. The Reavers remained in Reserve, but the Razorwing pilot launched himself into the fray, ready to duel with the Flying Monsters.

After some brief repositioning the Dark Eldar returned the pain to the Tyranids. Volley after volley was loosed against the Crone and the Tyrant. First the Crone crashed to the ground, punctured by the Razorwing’s formidable weapons. The remaining Ravager incinerated his chest cavity a moment later. Then the Tyrant fell from the sky after several successful Grounding Tests. It looked like he might miraculously survive; the first Trueborn squad dealt him two Wounds, which were both saved by Catalyst. The second squad managed only one hit, which then rolled a one to wound! The Tyrant still stood with one wound remaining, until a last Dark Lance struck his carapace from behind, sending the leader-beast crashing to the ground in a lifeless heap.

The Warriors fired from their skiff, cutting apart many of the Hormagaunts that even now fed upon the dead Warriors. Several remained after the shooting ceased, and the Hive Mind held them firmly to the task at hand.

The Wyches continued to amaze in close combat; they eviscerated several more Hormagaunts before taking one casualty in return. Again, the Harpy failed to land a blow.

Objectives Controlled: Dark Eldar 0, Tyranids 2
Additional Dark Eldar Points: Slay the Warlord
Additional Tyranid Points: First Blood, Slay the Warlord, Linebreaker
Turn Two Score: 1-6, Tyranids

Turn Three

The Tervigon birthed a third brood of Termagants before exhausting her supply; thirteen more screaming monsters scrambled towards the nearest objective. The Tyrannofex continued his advance toward the Dark Eldar vehicles, and the Hive Guard finally came in range of a target. The Termagants continued to scuttle around the deployment zone and into the middle of the table, sealing up the objectives and defending their nests.

This time, the Dark Eldar did not come out so lucky. The Hive Guard’s Impaler Cannons shattered the deck of the nearest Raider and ruptured its fuel core, exploding and sending five Warriors to their deaths. The Tyrannofex missed again as he drew a bead on one of the Venoms. The Exocrine had also plodded into position to start firing into the bloody ruins; his bio-plasma shredded another Raider, killing two Warriors from the first squad knocked out this turn and slaying half of the Warriors inside.

The surviving Hormagaunts piled into the Wyches, desperate to clear their last Flying Monstrous Creature. The Wyches finally failed a Fear test, and were cut to shreds by the flurry of talons. One Wych survived the combat, and unfortunately for my opponent she passed her Leadership check. This would protect the Hormagaunts and the Harpy from further retribution.

The Dark Eldar were beginning to seriously feel the sting of their losses now. The Razorwing advanced toward the Tyranid swarm as the Reavers arrived from Reserve, moving in front of the Imperial Bastion to survey the battle. The Venoms advanced and fired on the Tyrannofex to begin the shooting phase; between them and the Trueborn inside, the gun beast lost three wounds. The Razorwing unleashed its Monoscythe Missiles and Dark Lances on the Hive Guard, cutting one of them down under the terrible firepower and wounding the Tervigon that stood nearby. The Reavers fired their boosters and flew onto the high ground near the Biovores, ready to start cutting into the swarm.

The last, lone Wych took one last, desperate swing at the Harpy before she was crushed by the weight of bodies. As the Hormagaunts began to feast, the Harpy screeched in defiance. With a flap of its wings, the great beast returned to the sky.

Objectives Controlled: Dark Eldar 0, Tyranids 4
Additional Dark Eldar Points: Slay the Warlord
Additional Tyranid Points: First Blood, Slay the Warlord
Turn Three Score: 1-12, Tyranids

Turn Four

The Zoanthropes took control of the Biovores’ minds and sent them clambering up the slope to face the Reavers. They unleashed a clutch of Spores at point-blank range, incinerating two of the riders and causing the rest to pull up. As they circled to put distance between them and the suddenly aggressive bio-artillery, their foes leapt into combat.

The Harpy recklessly barreled into the Razorwing fighter as it streaked by the ruins, shearing a Dark Lance from its mounting and destroying the fighter’s engines. A moment later a blast from its Heavy Venom Cannon crushed one of the Venoms, sending it into a spiral and leaving the Trueborn reeling.

The Exocrine fired again and destroyed the last of the Raiders, occupied by a remnant squad. A few of the Warriors died as a second transport was shot out from under them. The Hive Guard fired on the Flyer, but were unable to score a hit. The Tyrannofex drew aim on the last Venom, missing yet again with both shots.

The Biovores and the Reavers traded one wound each. The battered Hormagaunts that still drew breath leapt into the nearest squad of battered Warriors, ripping them apart in arterial sprays. They quickly consolidated, facing down the guns of the surviving Kabalites.

The Dark Eldar worked quickly with what remained. The Razorwing launched its remaining missiles into the Termagants, blasting several to ribbons before receiving the order to evacuate the battlefield. The Trueborn took great satisfaction in piercing the Tyrannofex with a half dozen Blaster beams. The great monster burst apart as the Trueborn collected the little bit of Sliscus that remained intact. Careful to dodge the biological gruel that had once been their master, they clambered onto the smoking Venom and careened away from the battlefield, leaving the last of their Warriors to die.

Objectives Controlled: Dark Eldar 1, Tyranids 4
Additional Dark Eldar Points: Slay the Warlord
Additional Tyranid Points: First Blood, Slay the Warlord, Linebreaker
Turn Four Score: 3-13, Tyranid Victory

Post-game Thoughts

The Dark Eldar have always been an interesting problem for Tyranids. Their Poison is absolutely brutal, and their high number of Dark Lances can smash through anything that survives. While they don’t have many answers for the small organisms, this isn’t a big problem when all the Synapse Creatures have been turned to paste.

In this game, I really felt the power of the additional Flying Monstrous Creatures. They were able to draw attention away from a lone Hive Tyrant and present my opponent with a significant early challenge, allowing the rest of the swarm to spread out and take control of the board. In this case, Crew Stunned worked out to be just as good as an Explodes! result. He was left with several squads out of commission early, giving me extra time to do him damage.

This was also my first test run of the Hormagaunts, and I have to say that I like what they bring to the army. Those forty models are costing me a pittance, yet they dealt a pretty significant blow in close combat. The new Bounding Leap rule makes them so much faster than before.

On the other side of the coin, I was totally unimpressed with the Tyrannofex. He did survive a lot of attention, but his Rupture Cannon just would not connect. While he isn’t a huge investment of points, I’m considering trading him in and shaving points elsewhere for a brood of two Carnifexes with Heavy Venom Cannons.

Let the Hive Mind consume!