My first game against Tyranids since right at the beginning of 10th, and the first against their new Codex and the Vanguard Onslaught detachment. A fun game against a very knowledgeable and helpful opponent. I certainly learned a ton around how to tackle Tyranids, and also playing in a more competitive style.
This was also my first time playing the Linchpin primary objective. This is essentially take and hold objectives, however you can only maximise points if you still control your home objective… let’s see how that went…
Read on for the standard after-action report…
After Action Report: Skirmish Against the Tyranid Vanguard
Reported by: Lt. Spade, Vilnius 39th Astra Militarum
Summary Info
Date of Engagement: [REDACTED]
Location: Forest Outskirts, [REDACTED]
Commanding Officer: Death Korps Marshal
Engaged Enemy: Tyranid Vanguard Onslaught
Forces Deployed
Friendly Forces:
Death Korps Marshal leading a squad of 20 Death Korps of Krieg (proxied by Solar Auxilia)
Tank Commander in a Leman Russ Demolisher
10 Catachan Jungle Fighters (proxied by Cadian Shock Troops), mounted in a Chimera
5 Tempestus Scions (proxied by Cadian Shock Troops painted as Mordian Iron Guard)
Rogal Dorn Battle Tank
Leman Russ Battle Tank
Enemy Forces:
Winged Hive Tyrant
10 Hormagaunts
10 Hormagaunts
1 Biovore
10 Genestealers
Lictor
3 Raveners
3 Tyranid Warriors
Trygon
Tyrannofex
Operational Summary
Deployment:
The Vilnius 39th deployed defensively around our home objective, securing key positions to withstand the impending Tyranid assault. The Death Korps of Krieg entrenched themselves in the ruins near the deployment zone, prepared to hold the line. On the center-left, the Rogal Dorn was strategically positioned to provide fire support across the battlefield. To the right, the Tank Commander in his Leman Russ Demolisher took up a firing position alongside a second Leman Russ and the Chimera. The Tempestus Scions awaited in reserve, ready to strike at the opportune moment.
The infantry hold the ruins while the Rogal Dorn oversees the centre.
A trio of armoured vehicles ready to take the fight to the ‘nids.
The Tyranid forces, with their characteristic cunning, deployed primarily around their home objective, with the Lictor spotted infiltrating the left flank near a critical objective. Both the Chimera and the Genestealers scouted ahead, converging on the same objective on our right flank as the battle commenced.
A sneaky Lictor, seen sneakily infiltrating onto an objective. Where it stayed. The entire game.
Battle Round 1: First Blood Drawn
The Vilnius 39th took the initiative, moving swiftly to secure objectives. The Chimera advanced on the right, where its flamers burned a Genestealer to ash.
The Chimera charged forwards, gleefully employing it’s heavy flamers.
The Rogal Dorn and other forces held their ground, preparing for the Tyranid onslaught. Meanwhile, the Tyranid forces surged forward with predatory speed. The Genestealers advanced on the right flank, but the Chimera's flamers decimated all but one of them. In the center, a horde of Hormogaunts charged both the Rogal Dorn and the Tank Commander. Despite the close quarters, both tanks managed to crush several gaunts beneath their treads.
Battle Round 2: Monster in the Rear
The Chimera detected a spore mine floating ominously towards our lines, which was promptly incinerated. However, a new threat emerged as a Trygon surfaced behind our position. Responding swiftly, the Tempestus Scions deployed from reserves, their plasma weaponry inflicting significant damage on the beast.
“IT’S BEHIND YOU!”
The Tyranids continued their relentless assault, pressing through the center and seizing our home objective.
The Hormogaunts push between our tanks and onto our home objective. This is also the last picture of the tank commander before he got sniped!
The Tyrannofex's fearsome weaponry destroyed the Tank Commander’s Leman Russ. Such was the shock of this development, we failed to take a picture.
Meanwhile, the Trygon charged into our infantry, causing moderate casualties but failing to break their spirit. Then, the enemy leader flew into the Rogal Dorn, seeking to tear it asunder with it’s multitude of talons and weapons.
Battle Round 3: Turning the Tide with a Desperate Strike
The Leman Russ Battle Tank executed a precise maneuver, reversing and bringing its turret to bear on the Trygon, obliterating the monstrous creature with a powerful shot.
On the right flank, the Catachans dismounted from their Chimera, wiping out the last remaining Genestealer with a burst of flamer fire. The Tyranid advance, however, showed no signs of relenting. The Tyranid Warriors moved towards our Chimera on the right, but their charge fell short. The Raveners successfully assaulted the dismounted Catachans, cutting them down with their razor-sharp talons.
In the center, the Hive Tyrant launched itself again at the Rogal Dorn, which had sought to distance itself, though overwatch fire managed to inflict minor wounds before impact.
The Hormogaunts maintained their hold on our home objective, creating a dire situation.
Battle Round 4: Final Stand and Strategic Withdrawal
Realizing the untenable nature of our position, we focused our efforts on clearing our home objective.
“First rank, fire! Second rank, fire!” The Death Korps of Krieg clean up the home objective, but that’s not enough to turn the tide.
Despite our tenacity, the Tyranid forces remained in control of key objectives across the battlefield. With tactical calculations indicating a likely defeat if we persisted, the decision was made to disengage and regroup for future engagements.
Casualties
Significant losses among the Catachan Jungle Fighters, wiped out by Raveners.
Leman Russ Demolisher lost, including the Tank Commander.
Moderate casualties among the Death Korps of Krieg from the Trygon’s assault.
Recommendations
Increase vigilance against infiltrating units, such as Lictors, which pose a significant threat to our flanks.
Reinforce Chimera units with additional anti-infantry capabilities to deal with swarming threats like Genestealers and Hormogaunts.
Consider deploying heavier anti-monster weaponry in anticipation of large Tyranid bioforms.
Conclusion
The Tyranid vanguard demonstrated their relentless adaptability and ferocity in this engagement. Despite the valor and discipline of the Vilnius 39th, the swarm's ability to pressure multiple objectives simultaneously proved decisive. Though we were forced to withdraw, the data collected will prove invaluable in future confrontations. The Emperor protects.
Lt. Spade Vilnius 39th Astra Militarum
A really fun game where it really hammered home the importance of two things: screening and accepting fate. In this mission maintaining control of your home objective is key to scoring primary VP properly. If you don’t control it, you cannot score as much, regardless of board control.
That being said, I underestimated the enemy's ability to get hormogaunts into my backline so quickly, and also that Trygon was going to arrive back there somehow, as it could deep strike to within 3 inches. I should have kept more forces back there to anticipate and perhaps prevented my home objective ever being contested.
And on the flip side, I never fully developed a plan to try and take the enemy’s, either…
Here’s the final score card.
As always, thanks for reading, and catch you next time!
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The 'nids in 10th are extremely mobile and offer a vastly different experience to the lumbering Death Guard.
I'm working on a not-so-optimised Crusher Stampede detachment but yeah totally leaning into rule of cool with three Screamer-Killers haha.