40k Lore! How the Tau Defend a Planet! 

*Tau actually evacuating civilians like a sane empire* Imperium: "hey that illegal!"

Their tactic of attacking supply lines didn't work against the Tyranids because the Tau are the supply lines. Lol.

Tau planetary defence strategy is amazing against any sane enemy army that uses conventional tactics. Sadly, it is absolutely shit in 40k.

Kitten: "but they can't even fight in melee!"

Tau Defense is Simple: shoot it before it gets remotely close.

Tau strategy: massive firepower to keep enemies at bay. Orkz strategy: ignore that silly idea

How to crush the Tau Tell the tech priests that the Tau have a complete functioning STC on their home world producing these battle suits.

Tau: Orks, Man, Eldar, Tyranids, Dark Eldar, Necrons! What the hell is wrong with this Galaxy?!!! Imperial Guard: First time in space? Welcome to hell. Krieg Guardsman: Welcome in the real world. Space Marine: Just another day at work.

Me: oh boy new arch warhammer video *see over an hour long* Me: oh dear neptune

Guardsmen: "Get closer!" Tau: *distant Chinese fish derision* Guardsmen: "REEEEE"

The moment they run out of ammo and there are still a shitton of enemies... As once a guardsman said before being overrun by nids. Quote: "You know you're fucked when even the Commissar starts shooting at the enemy."

T'au: well at least those imperium psychopaths aren't about to genocide us all I can't believe such a horrific empire managed to survive this long T'au 5 minutes later: oH dEaR gOd ThAt'S hOw

So what I’m hearing is, use the Death Korp. The won’t turn traitor, they’ll fight to the last, long range attacks can’t break their morale, and they would dominate in melee. *Happy Gas Mask Noises*

It sounds like the Tau empire's defensive strategy essentially boils down to bluffing: When threatened, lash out with such disproportionate force that the attacker assumes they will be overwhelmed in a sustained conflict. Similar to how a small dog will be extremely loud and aggressive to intimidate anything that might prey on it.

Tau subject, one hour. Mission objective: S U R V I V E.

Tau: Looses melee specialists Imperium: Laughs in assault marine

I can just imaigne an inquisitor watching this video, nodding to himself and saying 'exterminatus it is'.

I actually really like the way the Tau wage war. They're not super human or space wizards, and they don't have billions in reserve to be able to just keep throwing bodies into the grinder. They have to fight smart, because they can't rely on overwhelming numbers or individual martial prowess. At least, when they don't have plot armor. They actually care about their soldiers and do everything they can to minimize casualties, even if it is for the purely pragmatic reason of they don't have an endless well of manpower like the Imperium. I think a legitimately well written book on the Tau, where they overcome long odds through the tactical superiority they're supposed to have would be really interesting. Unfortunately, writing a book that features tactical skill requires knowledge of tactics to begin with, something that isn't that much of an issue for most of the other factions.

Step 1: Charge the enemy civilians in melee combat, to conserve ammo. Step 2 Get your entire army destroyed by a 9 year old Cadian little girl, who is armed with a broken chair leg.

Last time I was this early the alien smurfs were throwing sticks .

Hey look buddy, I'm a Fire Warrior. That means I solve problems, not problems like "What is beauty?" Because that would fall within the purview of your conundrums of philosophy. I solve practical problems, for instance: how am I going to stop some big mean Gue'vesa from tearing me a structurally superfluous be-hind? The answer, use a gun, and if that don't work... Use more gun.

Tau: The galaxy isn’t that dangerous, I think we can handle this. The entire 40k galaxy: *IM GOING IN DRY* Tau: f

Need to take over a Hive World? Tau Shields. Need to defend against an orbital bombardment? Tau Shields. Need to get those tough grease stains out your new jeans? Tau shields.

The tau are the 40k equivalent of *that kid* "I have a X proof shield"

Me: I need to clean. Arch: Posts video about Tau warfare. Me: I need tea and hot pockets.

I think my favorite Tau/Dark Eldar story is when they first met the DE and Prophets of flesh, who showed up as mercs to help them fight off some other enemy. As payment they demanded 70 members of each cast and 7 etherials. Then, at a later battle some of the Tau noticed that among the DE army were creatures of a familure hue, screaming in agony and rage. Upon being confronted, the DE laughed and broke the alliance, then prepaired to attack an important Tau location. The tau raced there and started to fight, only to realize they were fighting holograms. Suddenly, a distress call came in from a nearby world and they raced there to fight off the real DE army. When they arrived, no living thing existed in the colony and there weren't even bloodstains anywhere to be found.

“Inconsistent Tau shield” We want to talk about inconsistent space marine or imperium equipment? 😂

“The Tau love getting intelligence on everyone and everything” Everything but..... ^places ethereal skull on the doorstep on the Tau Commanders Headquarters before he steps out, picks it up and his entire Headquarters goes up in flames from a dozen stealthily places Demo-charges^ *SLY MARBO*

You can't really call yourself a major race in Warhammer 40k when your entire strategic doctrine can be summed up to: "Pray we don't get noticed."

How to defend a Tau world? That's easy! *Don't.*

The day the Black Templar discovered the T'au was a dark day for the T'au Empire. It warms my heart to think about how their leaders must have reacted when they found out that not everyone is the same as them.

What if the "crusade", "hive fleet" and the hive world were all played up by the ethereals as a form of propaganda

By banning Archwarhammer from a subreddit he didn't even use.

The Tau struggle against flexible opponents *laughs in Slaanesh*

How to defend a tau world from tyranids: Step 1: don't. Step 2: prepare exterminatus Step 3: wait and observe Step 4: Launch exterminatus at the moment the fleet starts absorbing biomass.

tau: **about to assault the tyranid supply lines** tyranids: "oooh, they have delivery!"

The Tau didn't talk sense into the Imperium in that book. The Tyranids were invading Ultramar space as the "crusade" was in mid swing and having taken heavy losses. The Imperiums forces were ultimately ill matched against the Tau. Many troops were needlessly lost. So The Imperiums options were to dig in and turn the "crusade" into a years or decades long siege as reinforcements are raised... While also raising forces to fight the Tyranids. Which was not really possible given the time frame. Or, they could make a temporary truths with the Tau in order to deal with a much more real and present danger. They even told the tau that this was outside of the norm and was only even an option because of the Tyranids. They should feel lucky. I'm curious what the "Many Armed God" story arc is going to be after their latest sphere expansion.

W need a book trilogy about Guilliman going on vacation by organizing recreational Crusade against fishfaces. You know, something nice and relaxing to take a bit of rest from chaos.

I love the Tau because they're what Humanity usually is in almost every other sci-fi. It's unfortunate that they're just not written well relative to the galaxy that they're in. But, that's a storybook problem, I still think they're really cool.

Fire Warriors: It’s true, we suck at melee Too bad you’ll never get there

With the Greater Good ™ and anime, that's how.

The Emperium's strategy to end the Tau now is just to redirect all the horrors of the 40k universe their way. Basically, we just tell them to "Get Fycked"

Tau defend a planet by running away and shooting over their shoulders while commanding their robot waifus to fight for them

Tau: Evacuate civilians Imperium: 👁👄👁

I love the tau war mindset since it is opposite the imperium and both ways of war work with the guard in waves of human bodies lasguns and steel and the tau of fall back and shoot

Yippie a video by *name redacted* my friday is complete.

1:01:30 it was a surprise that the crusade commander did decide to ally with the tau but a smart commander would see that if the IoM and Tau fight, the winner would be to weak to beat the tyranids. So it actually was a good move and i'm glad it happened. I think if the IoM could have more situations like that and the BR/Nec situation we may see them become allies with the tau, Aeldar, and necron (certain dynasties or individuals like the one who helped cawl) in this new era of choas (it's right...). if all 4 joined forces to beat choas it would be a very interesting course. Plus the tech that could be made......of course there would be hard liners on all sides but then there is the old thing about ' the enemy of my enemy is my friend.... atleast for now...'

I can't wait for Tau wormhole generators to unite enlightened xeno races outside of the 4th or 5th sphere so the Tau can experience the Eye of Terror.

Answer: Horrible, and no where near the perfection that of which is man.

Little confused village between the empires of europe tearing at each other: "We can have militia too and fight!"

Id love one of these for Orks. Orks defense "Orks attack no defend"

*invader comes within view* -So anyway, i start blasting

My favorite short story that involve the Tau is the one who thought a Chaos Marine was the person all the enemy worshiped, Slaanesh. The are adorable, like a quadriplegic puppy.

the tau empire trying to fight the other races is a bigger mismatch than a random toddler challenging an MMA fighter

meanwhile during the dark crusade: *tau fighting a prolonged 7 way fustercluck*

Imagine a total war game in this world setting, god damn that would be interesting.

Seeing the artwork of this video i decided to buy a couple nice Tau battlesuits. To modify them into ork megaarmor of course and possibly put a couple of the bigger weapons on an ork battlefortress^^ Just imagine a XV88 Broadside Battlesuit but with the front broken open, an ork inside and extra armor bolted on top, maybe one of the legs replaced with a crude ork construction. Or the gun of a stormsurge nailed to the side of an ork kampfpanza...

The Tau have my favorite aesthetic in 40k. Most of the the Imperium either looks like something out of WWI or like someone put a cathedral on legs.

Arch. You absolutely need to do a video on the Tau 4th expansion fleet when the poor Tau learned just how horrifying human warp travel is. The lore is just too hilarious not to.

When the Imperium of Man is your greatest enemy, but than you release it's the least a threat compared to everything else.

Defend aka hope and pray they forgot ground forces. I’ve played enough stellaris multiplayer to know they will for the first 100 years

He who shall not be named will never be silenced.

I had to watch a 4 minute Brazilian folksong video as an Ad before this video; hope you apreciate the sacrifices I do for you Arch. Thank God for the mute button.

Hey Arch, I'm curious on your opinion of the Farsight Enclaves. I find them interesting, personally.

Tau aren't communists. They are basically Japan. They have almost the exact same class system

How to defend a Tau planet: pray nobody bothers landing enough troops to screw them up big time. If a proper Crusade or Hive Fleet comes their way they are dead. Thankfully for them they have been given tons and tons of plot armor

The greater good has one very small, tiny weakness: melee

Man, I like the Tau. I really hope that the tyranids don't just straight up eat the entire empire.

"The patient hunter gets it's prey" voice line makes alot more sense as a Devil Fish troop transport in dow1 now.

Oh boy, I am currently preparing to go to my college graduation. And then, I see this. This day is blessed by the Emperor indeed. :D

The Tau need to work on their orbital and planetside defences and just dig into every world they manage to get. They'll work things out eventually. They've advanced far too quick to just die. That and if they look into the Necron tech... things could get interesting.... But I agree, them managing to take a hive world... bit ott. When one was explained the idea of a hive world... the poor blueberry almost passed out at the thought of his entire empires population as JUST one of MANY hive worlds.... put into perspective the size of the Tau empire and that of THE Empire. XD

The Tau. Sure they can’t melee worth a damn (except Farsight and sometimes Shadowsun) but Golden Throne help you if you’re in their line of Fire for more than a millisecond.

An arch video. The best birthday gift a man could ask for

*ork about to hit a fire warrior* "yup that's me you're probably wondering how I got in this situation"

I see a lot of hate for Tau but when I heard audio books it describes them as really good soldiers, and don't FCK with commander Farsight in melee!

56:25 Aka. their new-player-protection expired

the rate at which these videos are churned out is simply mindblowing

Tau Defense strategy: 1) Shoot 2) Run away 3) Repeat until enemy gives up in disgust

I'd love to see the tau survive in the current landscape of multiple hive fleets attacking them from multiple directions....That would be fascinating. Cause I believe the tau would actually have some of the best chance at being able to find counter measures to the hive fleets.

Alternative video name: "How the Blue Skinned Space Communists Defend a Planet?"

The Tau behave a lot like Germany in WW2 with the strategy of Switzerland, they can easily undertake a small scale campaign and come out of it relatively victorious and not excessively damaged due to superior tactics and technology, like the Polish French and Norwegian campaigns but the second the campaign becomes a full war theatre they have to commit pretty much everything they have and pray to God that another front does not open up otherwise they know they will loose, like the Soviet campaign and eventually after the Normandy Landings. Switzerland because they are alive right now simply because for most other major players in the galaxy they are nothing but a nuisance but by god if you poke them they will retaliate simply to spite fully make it as difficult for the enemy to take them over that the enemy will simply not bother with it, not because they could not win but because it would not be worth it to win anyway with the amount of hassle they'd have to go through.

Imagine the Tau having to defend against the crusade-era Blood Angels or World Eaters.

So a Hunter Cadre is a Brigade Combat Team, miniaturized to a company size. For perspective, U.S Army company consists of roughly 150-200 Soldiers; a brigade consists of roughly 3000-6000 Soldiers, depending on the number of battalions and support elements that are attached.

After hearing it out, I'm surprised at just how bad Tau defense and ground armies are. Not only they are incredibly small thus not allowing for any mistakes, but they are incapable of any serious fighting outside of hit and run tactics or decisive blows at the very most. Meaning that any casualties or anything which would force Tau into a pitched large scale battle would wreak an absolute massive losses upon their military forces. It is no wonder that Damocles crusade almost managed to wipe the entire Tau military out of the face of the universe with so few troops.

how to invade a tau planet make sure every guardsman in the invasion force has a bayonet on their lasgun as standard issue and say one extra ration bar to the one with the most kills the planet will be cleansed within months

For some reason i admire Tau, takes balls to be an underdog in 40k and still fight back everyone whos literally countless times more numerous

Laughs in titans.

*FINALLY I CAN NOW TAKE OUT MY NEIGHBOR EFFECTIVELY!!!!*

To conclude: The Tau just don't bother.

*Laughs in battlesuit*

But the T'au are cool. I'm a T'au player. I will now deploy my newfound knowledge to destroy my foes...

Well. Its not really Surprising I guess. The German Army in WW2 was pretty much in the same Situation. Having extremely Limited Ressources, an Technological Edge, being vastly Outnumbered and being Focused on Fast and Decisive Actions. Therefore the German Army was usually Forced to work on Recon Information and try to Counter and Overwhelm the Enemy in one Area at a Time as they cant possibly hope to Fight the vastly Superior Enemy on several Areas at once effectively. Actually. Thinking about this. The Tau seem to be having quite a few Similarities to the German Empires during the Times around the 1st and 2nd World Wars. A Few Individuals Uniting a bunch of formerly Divided Tribes/States which then go on into an insanely fast Development Spree sounds quite alot like Bismarck. The German Empires also had a Huge Focus on Incorporating Conquered Territories and Foreign Units and Technology. In a Sense. The Empire of Mankind Represents in alot of Areas the Harsh Reality of Germany in WW1 and WW2. With all its Perversion, Political Indoctrination and Tyrannic Absolute Leadership. While the Tau seem to Represent the Ideal German Empire that the Propaganda had Promised to the People during WW1 and WW2 which never became Reality. What People often dont Realize. Is that especially in Germany during WW2. Alot of the Promises was very Communist Oriented. Promising Work and Good Life for absolutely everyone etc. In the Name of the Greater Good of the Community etc etc.... This of course never really happened. Because unlike the Promises made by the German Government and the Propaganda of absolut Technological Superiority etc etc. But the Tau seem Extremely Close to that Ideal Propaganda that Germany Promised before and partly even during WW2.

Probably be good to mention that Tau space travel is slow but they don't have to go far.

That adept in the background has that "oh great, Inquisitor Arch is ranting about the Tau again." look

Tau when the Necrons slaughtered them after they were invited to a party: Say sike right now.

I'd like to see one on elder tactics in and outs

Kroot, Aun'Shi and Farsight: Are we a joke to you?

I loved this video! Nicely done. Gotta finish painting my army, so i can add the new kroot. For the greater good

I could see the Imperium working out some kind of insurance agreement with the Tau, they pay a tithe in men and materials and in exchange the Imperium will make an effort to help them with issues only the Imperium has experience dealing with (genestealers, chaos corruption, dark eldar raids) and if an actual hive fleet shows up or something equally dire an actual crusade will eventually arrive to deal with it. The reasoning for this most generous arrangement is that it's all well and funny when your neighbor's house is on fire but you can't keep laughing until the fire spreads to your property, even if you have miles of land it's still your land and that fire will spread if left unchecked. It's also a diplomatic thing, paying a tithe at all is an admission by the Tau that they need the Imperium, sure they can look after themselves mostly and if shit hits the fan they might be able to hold out a while but they're still only a single hive fleet, Ork waagh or Necron fart away from utter annihilation. A gue'vesa regiment of the Imperial Guard will spread the philosophy of the greater good far and wide however the Imperium has very little to fear from that, totalitarian communism isn't really all that different to a totalitarian dictatorship and without the influence of the water caste the philosophy will be adapted and watered down to irrelevance, the Imperium is already incredibly divided ideologically, a bit of blueberry to the pot won't spoil the stew. On the other hand the Tau will have gue'vesa returning after serving in the Imperial Guard and that will have a profound effect on Tau society, these guardsmen will still be gue'vesa but they'll be battle hardened and just spent years if not decades working alongside regiments that practice various forms of the Imperial Creed, for the Tau their presence will greatly undermine the authority of the Ethereals. For the Greater Good of The Emperor! *BLAM*

A tau eldar alliance would be an impressive guerilla force.