Analysis on Tyranids FAQ

I believe everyone are excited about this (and probably I can hear some nids players moaning). So, today I'm going to do a small analysis on the effect of Nids FAQ had on the current nids players.


1. Cover Save from Mawloc and Malantai Special Rules

Rejoice now, finally GW has did some game balance to the game itself. You are now entitled cover save from Mawloc's Terror from the Deep (TftD) and Doom of Malantai's Spirit Leech attack. Does that mean it's a nerf to Malantai, I think not, this changes has however given a glimpse of hope to survive from its aura attack. So from now we can see more footslogging army hugging into an area terrain when they see the nids are fielding in Malantai. Same goes for Mawloc, but for me, I would prefer to hide in terrain instead of letting its special rules to kick in.


2. Deepstriking Mawloc

Now, you can have that beast Mawloc DS into a clear terrain, even if there are models on top of it. Normally you cant do so but Mawloc is an exception to this rule now, as per the FAQ. I foresee people might willing to play test it after the FAQ due to str6 Ap2 that can screw any unwary footslogging army is too good to be skipped (like Malantai). For those who play trygons, then I would expect them to switch to Mawloc as the points are cheaper and they share almost identical stats.


3. Shadow No Longer Affect Psyker in Transport

The major benefactor from this clarification would be Eldar which relies heavily on their psyker. Second would be SW as they also have some pretty cool psyhic power that could dealt a considerable damage towards the nids. I dont foresee any changes for other army as they generally lack of psykic power that could pose a threat to the nids.


4. Lash Whip & Initiative Modifier

Another changes that benefit the Eldar, and also Dark Eldar. With doom, banshee still possess a great threat with their power weapon against nids warrior and other MC that could gear whip. Dark Eldar shared the same thing due to their combat drug, but I doubt their chances in cc with warrior due to lack of capability to reroll.


5. Deepstrike with Wings Model

Icing on the sugar. Never like the idea of having a winged MC ds into the heat of battle, especially an MC with no invul save. With so many meltagun in today meta game, DS winged MC is more or less equivalent to dead MC.


The rest are pretty much rules clarification which I dont foresee could influence how it would change the way Nids player would have field and play. As a summary, GW has done a good job (cant believe I said this, but credit is given to where's it due) for doing such effort to clarify and balance out the game itself.