Ok, I don't like this stratagem because of all of the moving parts it needs to work. You need 3 units of 3 zoanthropes. At minimum 9 zoanthropes, so you need to buy 3 boxes. They then cost 360 points to field. Then you have to have all 3 units be undamaged for the stratagem to go off, AND THEN have them move up the field 5+d6" at a time to get within 18" of the point you're trying to shoot at, AND THEN you need to roll several 4+(5+ for characters) to deal 3d3 damage.
Here's a question, why wouldn't I just drop in units of thropes in a pod? It moves them up the field instantly, brings them into smite range quicker and technically does more consistent damage.
4 zoans cast 2d3 smite and psychic scream both on 5's. That's 3d3 at the nearest target.
I hate mandatory 3 bugs per unit minimum. On tyrant guard, hive guard, venomthropes, zoanthropes, and pyrovores. Not Biovores for some reason, though.
It costs too much for what they bring and in the case of zoans makes them MUCH worse. A single zoan used to cast a smite-equivalent AND a bonus power, and cast smite again for each other zoanthrope.
Its almost 800 points for a Neurothrope, 3 units of 4 zoanthropes in a tyrannocyte, and can either use the sniping stratagem on drop, or cast 4 buffing powers plus 8d3 smite damage (2 per 3 units of zoans, one from Neuro, scream from Neuro).
But it requires 5 boxes of zoanthropes. 5.
Why couldnt it just be 3 units of zoanthropes, no matter how damaged they are? It's not like they can't cast smite if a unit is down to 1 of 3 models anyways. Whats the point? The identical space marine Vindicator stratagem, except it uses 3 durable 12w tanks that won't disqualify the stratagem until fully destroyed, and shoots at a range of 24". Straight upgrade.
