YOU pick the list! Help decide how to beat Tau @ 1250

First off, the opposition;
The guy will field either a variation of this list like he always does, or some farshi- I mean farsight nonsense I can't predict.

-Crisis Commander, Shield & Gun drones, C&C node & M-sSS for ignores cover/twin-link
-Riptide with Heavy burst cannon, 2 shielded missile drones, Early Warning Override, Velocity Tracker, TL-Fusion Blaster
-Crisis team of 3 suits w/ burst cannons, 4 shield drones, 2 gun drones.
-2x 15 kroot squad
-2x pathfinder team for markerlights
-Hammerhead, Railgun w/submunitions, disruption pod, Longstrike.
-Aegis line w/quad gun (or quite possibly broadside suits, filling in the extra 100pts.)

Now, the three lists I'm looking at. Which do YOU think is better suited for acquiring some blue-skinned slaves and appropriating their precious technology?

-Baron -105
-2x 10 wracks, LG, Raider w/FF, Sails -185
-2x 5 wyches, HWG, Venom w/SC -125
-4 beastmasters, 10 khymerae, 4 razorwing -228
-6 jetbikes, 2 cluster caltrops -172
-Ravager w/FF, NS -125
1250/1250

OR

-Haemy w/VB -55
-3 Trueborn, 2 SC, Venom w/SC -121
-3x 10 warriors, SC, Raider -160
-10 wracks, LG, Raider w/Sails, Dissie -175
-9 wracks, Raider w/Sails, Dissie -155
-Ravager w/FF -115
-Razorwing w/dissies, FF -155
1246/1250

OR

-Ancient Haemy w/Hexrifle, VB -100
-2x 3 Trueborn, 2 SC, Venom w/SC, NS -131
-3x 10 warriors, SC, Raider w/FF, NS, Racks -190
-5 warriors, Blaster, Venom w/SC, NS -135
-3 Jetbikes -66
-Ravager w/FF, NS -125
-Ravager w/Dissies, FF, NS -125
1248/1250

All lists are open to critique and editing; I can't decide between the merits and drawbacks of each and would appreciate some outside, unbiased opinions!
I haven't played with a beast pack before so that'll be a fun new twist, but other than that I have no idea.

Appreciate your time folks, and enjoy the new year!

your first list has a bit to much CC and a lack of shooting ability as the transport are paper thin can see them getting shot apart and losing a lot of men. Yes tau are poor in CC but you have to make it there first, plus baron is only useful with hellions.

I play tau a lot at my club and the beasts work well when them make it into combat which rarely happens as they get targeted straight away, but they are very useful as they draw fire and with a 4+ unvul they can take more than the usual unit.

But personal i would go for something similar to your third list but instead of the 3 raiders just one and have the 20 warriors with 2 SC in a squad with the duke making poison 3+ and that is actually cheaper at 350 points. Also will be good against the riptide.
Also would have a venom with whyces with HWG instead of warriors and try to fit a raider with wracks with LG along with your haemy also with LG.

The idea behind this being to deep strike the venom and raider right infront of them disembark then assault as the new rules allow use to disembark and assault in the same turn.

The only risk with that is the riptide shooting you as you deep strike but hey it cant shoot in its turn.

Hopefully this is useful to you and you beat that tau scum.
This is my first ever post so hope someone with a bit more experience can comment too haha

P.S dark light instant kills crisis suits keep that in mind when shooting

Of the 3 lists 1 would definitely be my pick. The beast pack is resilient and fast and requires the dedication of multiple units to get rid of it while threatening a large area. Units like that are key for us in beating tau. I prefer more splinter cannons but I think list 1 will be fine. Would post more but on my phone.

KingKae wrote:

The idea behind this being to deep strike the venom and raider right infront of them disembark then assault as the new rules allow use to disembark and assault in the same turn.

Could you reference this? As far as I know, you cannot charge after deepstriking, even if in an assault vehicle.

You cannot assault from DS since it is a form of reserve.

sorry my bad read it wrong, you cant assault after deep strike

If I had to choose I would take the first as it is the only one with beast masters and a good sized unit of them to boot. Tau hate BM. As the tau player KingKae said they are targeted straight away. They will buy you precious time.

I personally would as usual vs tau want to take out his markers ASAP.

Am I wrong or are the kroot his only troops? If so they would be next so he's screwed in any objective game.

This would take long range AI so that means venoms, Id' want 4 of them.

Next 2 DL ravagers as they are great against Hammers and suits and always a safe bet.

The rest is up to you, flavour to taste. Good luck.

Markers then Kroot was pretty much my plan, though if I played dakka with NS I would be looking hungrily at his riptide.

I'm hearing lots about how awesome the beastpack will be vs Tau, but what about the rest of the content for list #1???
Tactics could be pumping up the beasts, turbo-boosting both wrack boats and the RJBs to give multiple-threat. Maybe moving the wych venoms up 12" then opening fire on the markers. Should the wracks go for the kroot first? Re-rolls to wound on the poison is kinda nice.
Thoughts on swapping out those RJBs in the first list for something that may hit harder? Another small beast pack, or a kabbie boat, or trueborn venom, or something?
@KingKae, the baron would be jumping in with the Beastpack with whom I've read he is even better than with hellions.

As for dropping two boats to make a 20-strong warrior blob, that seems like a terrible choice with all the high-number-of-shots weaponry he's got, or possibly a large blast on the riptide. I feel like they'd get shredded no?

List 3 is undeniably the shootiest of the batch, while list 2 is a mixed threat. Not really feeling #2, though I haven't heard any arguments for or against #3.

I would change list #1 as in my comment above but as it stands tactics are pretty self evident.

Beasts charge trying to get into combat.
The wrack boats have to turbo asap before they are exploded and mown down as they walk.
The wych venoms can dance around while shooting a bit but have to move up sometime if you want the wyches to get into combat.
Reavers bladevane and add target saturation.
Ravager shoots from afar.

All the basic DE assault tactics apply, denied flank and target saturation. Target selection is already mentioned but will become apparent after he deploys and you pick your flank and advance.

VICTORY FOR THE DARK KIN!

Thanks gents! Used list #1, and I took a beating but he conceded top of turn 7! Will post a bat rep soon.