The Lictor
The Lictors of most hive fleets have been taking a lot of flak. There is a new codex on the way, but this should not be a reason to keep those amazing looking lictor models on the shelf. They have such style and panache, how can you say no to those tendrils? Lets take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the lictor, and how you can use their abilities to quietly take down your foe.
The Pros:
Lictors have four major things going for them: Stealth, High Strength, Pheromone Trails, and Feeder Tendrils.
Stealth: Lictors deploy with "Hidden Setup" meaning that they use the deep strike rules to enter play into terrain. Currently, the 5th ed rules state Lictors have to a dangerous terrain test when coming into play. This should change with the new codex due out in January. Fortunately, most opponents I've played against, and various stories from other Nid players; most allow us to deploy normally, without the roll.
This selective deployment is great for many reasons. It makes your opponent think twice about what he or she is putting in and around cover. This can help funnel some juicy targets into the open. The other benefit to stealth is: Independent Character killing! With the new changes to 5th edition, Lictors have fallen into the role of taking out Independent characters. This is not 100% though.
With new assault rules regarding IC's, Lictors have a great opportunity to earn back their point values. With IC's in assault, when the IC is assaulted, they move before the rest of the unit they are with. Which means, the IC must move into base to base contact with the lictor. There are some variables to consider. 1)Retuine with the IC cancel out the character rules. 2)You do take a risk if the IC has a toughness greater than four, or multiple wounds. Pick your targets carefully. A good example is Sgt. Telion. You can assault into the scout squad and have a very good chance of taking Telion out. You also have the same odds of low toughness IC's, via the insta kill rule.
High Strength and Pheromones:
They are two key parts of how Lictors work. Pheromones are great for helping those outflanking genestealers and Broodlord scuttle onto the table. They also help bring in units for clutch occasions. Remember, they can't be used on the Lictors themselves. What would be clutch? Taking out heavy weapon teams/squads or vehicles. With the newer fifth edition rules, vehicles get cover saves! This means a lot more vehicles in and around cover, it also means you'll see some fire teams setting up around there as well. This is prime Lictor hunting ground. A whirlwind or a Basilisk that stays in cover is asking to be torn up. The high strength of six, coupled with automatic hits on vehicles that haven't moved, and you're always hitting rear armour, means that you'll be able to take out pesky heavy support fast!
Now lets look at the wonderful feeder tendrils that Lictors have built into them. There are so many different uses for them. It, however, isn't like the big hammer of a carnifex, it requires a smoother and delicate touch of a surgeon to make the most out of them. Some forward thinking is required for these babies to be used effectively. A Lictor within range of a full brood of hormagaunts, all of a sudden, crank out the damage that brood can do, rerolling any misses out of ninety six hits. Or, helping out some raveners who have swept around a flank or deepstruck into behind the enemy lines. Helping out the smaller units with a large number of attacks really make the Lictors usefulness stand out. You can help out the MC's of the group as well. Parking a Lictor next to a Hive Tyrant and a Carnifex can change the tide of a fight, though feeder tendril genestealers can as well. Personally, I love rushing my hormagaunts into a line near to where I've popped my Lictor. They just taking some pre planning and cooperation from other units.Cons:
Lets look at the weaknesses of the Lictors now.
Cost: Eighty points is quite hefty for one unit, it is frail, doesn't have many attacks, and can find itself in trouble quite quickly. A full brood of Lictors can easily be replaced by a full brood of Genestealers. You have to make sure if you're going to commit to using Lictors, you use them against things the Lictors were meant to take down. Of all the units in a Tyranid army, Lictors are the ones you can't throw away. Again, if you use them to hunt squishy IC's or go after heavy weapon teams, you can easily earn back their points.
Frail: Toughness four means a lot of insta death for your Lictors. Because they are usually behind the enemy line, it means that they will be out of range of synapse, and will get squished for sure! Watch out for hidden power fists and power claws! This also means you can't run headlong into a tactical squad or an IG squad and expect to walk out the winner. Just by sheer amount of numbers, and a weak armour save in combat. If you're trying to hold up the shooting of a large squad, you will not only have wasted points by throwing a Lictor at them, but they will still also be able to shoot at your other units.
In conclusion, Lictors are stealthy predators of the Tyranid army. As opposed to swarming an opponent with numbers, or bludgeoning them with monstrosities, Lictors demand a little more finesse. The James Bond of the Hive Mind. No one aspect of a Lictor is powerful, if you rely an individual ability, you will likely lose your Lictors. You need to use all their abilities at the same time, in unison, with the rest of your army. They can make that swarm buzz a little more, they can make your MC's hit that little bit extra, and silence guns and IC's who are foolish enough to stay in cover when there is a Lictor lurking about.
Take all of this with a grain of salt. The news of the new fifth edition Codex has been released, and hopefully our Lictors will get those tweaks they need. They are not an essential branch of a hive fleet, but if you know how to use one, they will be the most lethal of your hive.
