Aun'shieldable

Tau Space Marines

A simple, honest, rustic deck based on local produce.

The main goal with the deck is to hit hard with Ion Rifles or hit even harder with Gun Drones. I prefer to equip Envoys as they both protect themselves by running away and can be abused with Orbital City and Kauyon Strike. But both Marksmen and Carnivore Packs can carry the equipment if needed.

The command curve is straight forward and efficient as always with Tau.
0 - 3xRecon Drone
1 - 3xECT, 4xEnvoy*, 3xMarksman*
2 - 3xTrailblazer, 3xBork'an*
3 - 1xFireblade

Combat curve is a bit high, meaning the first turns will be played to delay and capture command:
1 - 3xMarksman*, 4xEnvoy*
2 - 3xBork'an*
3 - 3xPacks, 3xFWE, 1xFireblade*
4 - 3xPrelate

*=hybrid unit, can be used both for command and combat depending on board state.

The cards I'm somewhat uncertain of is:
- Fire Warrior Elite - I like to protect my more important troops, but I’m not sure that 3 resources for 5 Health is really worth it. Good against WL-hunting and excels against Catachan outpost.
-Possible replacements:
--Warlock Destructor (does not benefit from Aun’shi and Prelates, but a really good card).

--Experimental Devilfish (to squishy, but good for steamrolling).
- Tense Negotiations – I do not always have the benefit to commit my WL freely to really abuse this card, but it has good synergies with Orbital City and Kauyon Strike. Also makes it possible for Aun’shi to stay on a planet when needed.
-Possible replacements:
--Exterminatus (building gun lines is a good way to counter Aun’shi steamrolling, and this solves that. Also, I like catchup cards and controlling them almost always mean value (especially if you can lure deploys with Carnivore Packs). Doom works badly with Ethereals…)
--Repulsor Impact Field (works really well with FEW. 2 shields)
--Heavy Marker Drone (good against those really big guys. 2 shields)