Tau Troop Tactics

There are two troop choices for the Tau, Fire Warriors and Kroot Carnivore Squads. You must have at least one Fire Warrior Squad in your army. Fire warriors are great shooty troops, but their H2H is pathetic. Kroot are far better at H2H and their basic weapons are not too bad either.

Fire Warrior

Fire Warriors are the standard infantry units of the Tau Army. Their 30" range weapons and BS3 make them formidable shooty troops at 10 points each. Watch out for those close assaults, with I2 and WS2 they will crumble if confronted with close assault specialists. My advice is to shoot down any fast moving troops before they get in close assault range. Failing that jump in to your Devilfish (you did get one right?) and make a hasty (tactical) retreat.

Pulse Rifle and Pulse Carbine

In a fire fight your troops are only as good as their basic weapons. In the Tau Fire Warriors case the basic weapon is quite formidable.

The Pulse Carbine is an assault weapon, The Tau Fire Warrior is not a good assault trooper. If you are going to use the Pulse Carbines then you need to work the tactics to you wipe out the opponent before they can counter assault.

Devil Fish Troop Carrier

Tau Troops can have a Devil Fish Troop Carrier an an extra points cost.

Burst Cannon

The Devil Fishes Main weapon is a mixed blessing. The H3 S5 stats allow it to lay down a hail of fire as the troops embark / disembark, but at 18" the range is poor.

Kroot

The main strategy being adopted by Tau players is to use the Kroot as a defensive wall that attacking forces will have to overcome before taking on the Tau Fire Warriors. This is great if you can entice the enemy to attack, but watch out for ordinance weapons that will cut your Kroot lines to ribbons.

The Kroot have no vehicles so they are slow to manoeuvre. You are better served by using their infiltration skill to set up ambushes and hold strategic locations.
A Kroot squad can have Kroot Hounds and Krootox attached. I have detailed these options in their own entries.

Kroot Special Rules

The Kroot have several special rules. As three out of four of these rules improve the Kroot's abilities, it is highly recommended that you study them.

Fieldcraft

Kroot love the Jungle and wooded areas. This special rule allows them extra cover, faster movement, and better line of sight compared to regular troops.

Infiltrate

Kroot get the 'Infiltrate' special rule.

Kroot Rifle

The Kroot Rifle is a respectable 24" S4 rapid fire weapon. Only it's AP6 score stops it from being as powerful as the Space Marine Bolter. This is a very powerful weapon for such cheap troops. It's S4 score means that all vehicles with a Armour 10 ranking are fair game.