[King Yarrick]

I'm going to start Tyranids soon,and I need to know which would rip eachother apart? A squad of Genestealers, or striking scorpions?(all plain to) I want an army that rips people apart >!

[whitestar333]

Well lets assume that neither have the charge (i.e. genestealers consolidate into striking scorpions), just to put them on equal footing.

9 Striking Scorpions
1 Exarch with Scorpion Claw (how most people take him)
186 pts

12 Genestealers
192 pts

Let's assume that the striking scorpion player will want to utilize his high initiative with his exarch instead of the powerfist, so he will strike simultaneously with the genestealers:
Exarch - 4 attacks -> 2 hit -> 1 wound -> 0.67 dead genestealers
12 Genestealers -> 24 attacks -> 16 hit (4 rending) -> 8 wounds -> 2.67 + 4 = 6.67 dead scorpions
THEN the surviving scorpions will get their attacks in.

As you can see, striking scorpions are no match for genestealers due to their initiative. The only advantage scorpions have is that if genestealers charge them in cover, the scorpions strike simultaneously (if you put flesh hooks on or catalyze the unit).

Even on the charge, scorpions will still have a hard time, and will probably drop below scoring status.

I personally LOVE genestealers, and will soon be able to run 60 of them in a 1250 list.

[bebe]

Here are the best of the cc units ...
1) Harlequins - one of the few squads that can take on genestealers
2) Genestealers - with a broodlord might have a chance against harlies
3) Deamonettes - great squad but can be shot down fast
40 Wyches - another kick a** cc unit but not up with the others

Now you also have to consider how to get your squad into combat. Harlies have fleet and veil or can use a serpent so they get there pretty fast. Genesteaslers are a bit vulnerable to bolter fire but an infiltarting broodlord is quite nice and fleet and scuttlers can help.
Deamonettes alwys make it but might scatter when summoned. Wyches need raiders and raiders are fragile.

Now I've played against and used all of the above. The two most feared cc units in the game are harlies stealers by far and rightfully so. They take down Meqs with no difficulties and Geqs are just fodder. My old Nid list ( trying to sell them now ) has about sixty stealers too w/ no upgrades and a broodlord - keeps the cost down and you know some are gonna make it into combat. I idn't even use ext. carapace or scuttlers - probably should use ext. carapace but I didn't have the patience to model it. It is a no-brainer type army but hey ... who doesn't fear it.

[whitestar333]

harlies can't take a wave serpent. There is no transport option under their profile in the back. The only way to transport them is by taking 6 and mounting in a falcon.

[Autarch Uthlanar]

??? Since when have harlies not been able to use a wave serpent? The profile says any infantry models, but when wraithguard come in they can only have 5... if harlies can't all other infantry models can't....what codex are you looking at?? What page??

[alcibiates]

Wave serpants are dedicated transports, thus only being able to transport the unit that they were brought for. Because the harlequin entry does not have a "transport" entry, they cannot bring a wave serpant. However, they can bring a Falcon.

The problem with either of these choices is that they are open to fire for a turn when they bail out of their transport.

to the original question, Genestealers are probably the best CC troop in the game right now, IMO. I rank Harlies below genestealers because harlies have to be used as part of a tactic, they can't just run in by themselves. Not to mention, they suck an elite slot. Stealers are troops And stealers are cheaper, blah blah blah. I think genestealers take it over the harlies.