[Crystalseer]

Hey guys and gals of Heresy Online! I recently decided to get involved with 40k and collect an Eldar army. Having purchased and painted my first few models; a Farseer, two boxes of Dire Avengers and a Fire Prism, I thought I’d let some more experienced gamers pick apart my planned list and make sure I’m on the right track (before I buy something I might regret later).

Revised 1500 point list:

HQ:
Eldrad—210 pts
Elites:
6xFire Dragons—96 pts
Wave Serpent: TL-Shuriken Cannon, Spirit Stones—110 pts
6xFire Dragons—96 pts
Wave Serpent: TL-Shuriken Cannon, Spirit Stones—110 pts
Troops:
10xDire Avengers: Exarch w/ 2xAvenger-Shuriken Catapults, Bladestorm—152 pts
Wave Serpent: TL-Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon—125 pts
5xDire Avengers—60 pts
Wave Serpent: TL-Eldar Missile Launcher, Shuriken Cannon—130 pts
3xGuardian Jetbikes—66 pts
Heavy Support:
Fire Prism—115 pts
Fire Prism—115 pts
Fire Prism—115 pts
1500 total

Thanks in advance for any comments and helpful advice.

 

[Lord Rahl]

For a beginner this is a nice and solid list, well done. My only worry is your ability to hold of a close combat army. You have no CC orientated units and will get slaughter against assault units. Maybe replace the 9man DA unit with some banshhees or scorpians.

8 Scorpians/Banshees w/Exarch and standard weaponry =140pts

Hope that is usful and gives you somthing to think about, well done again not a abd first list.

 

[The Sullen One]

8 Scorpians/Banshees w/Exarch and standard weaponry =140pts

Gotta back Rahl up there, every Eldar army no matter it's theme should have either banshees or scorpions in it, otherwise it'll get mashed good and proper in the assault.

I'd drop Eldrad and go for a cheaper Farseer, replace the fire prisms with falcons, and use some of the points saved from Eldrad to give them holo-fields.

 

[Crystalseer]

Thank you both for your comments and encouragement.

My only worry is your ability to hold of a close combat army. You have no CC orientated units and will get slaughter against assault units.

This is true. My initial strategy to overcome this was; target the enemy’s mobility as a priority then, steer clear of close combat through positioning. However, assault-based armies with large amounts of fast moving infantry (i.e. jump packs/fleet), might make that difficult without having any units of my own that are capable in assault. Furthermore, a slight misjudgment allowing the enemy to assault would ruin my plans. Although I have played quite a few practice games of 40k with various armies, I do foresee myself making a few mistakes while I learn the list. Therefore, one dedicated assault unit would make the army more forgiving at this stage. I’ll purchase some Striking Scorpions as an emergency prophylactic/counter charge unit and try them out with the list and see what works best!

Interchangeable Scorpion unit:
8xStriking Scorpions: Exarch—140 pts

Wave Serpent: Twin-Linked Eldar Missile Launcher, Shuriken Cannon—130 pts

@The Sullen One: Thanks for your advice. I am already leaning towards dropping Eldrad due to his points cost, but could you explain your idea behind the Falcons with holo-fields instead of the Fire Prisms to me? I can see the Falcons serving to absorb the enemy fire, by presenting targets other than wave serpents, but don’t I lose a lot of ‘bang for my buck’ with this change?
Thanks in Advance.

 

[equitypetey]

i run two fire prisms and they work nicely being able to anti tank and anti infantry.

i'd most definitely drop eldrad and with the points get two doomseers as they go very nicely with Dire avengers and if you can afford guide and stones your laughing.

especially if you doom a unit, slam it with the prisms then mop up with the avengers blade storming.

i agree you want assault units in there.

 

[Sieg]

I'm sorry but i have to disagree with all of the above comments. I have played my Eldar in every level from 500 pts to 8,000 and i can say that the CC units have been very sub par compared to the rest of the army, especially at 2,000 or less. As such, here are my thoughts on the list.

HQ:
Eldrad Ulthran—210 pts

Great choice, one of the best HQ in the game. Don't forget to always cast fortune

Elites:
6xFire Dragons—96 pts
Wave Serpent: Twin-Linked Eldar Missile Launcher, Spirit Stones—130 pts

Also a good choice. I usually run as many of this unit as i can in my armies. Add another copy of this squad but loose the launchers and stones on both of these WS's.

Troops:
10xDire Avengers: Exarch, Two Shuriken Catapults, Bladestorm—152 pts
Wave Serpent: Twin-Linked Eldar Missile Launcher, Shuriken Cannon—130 pts

10xDire Avengers: Exarch, Two Shuriken Catapults, Bladestorm—152 pts
Wave Serpent: Twin-Linked Eldar Missile Launcher, Shuriken Cannon—130 pts

9x Dire Avengers: Exarch, Two Shuriken Catapults, Bladestorm—140 pts
Wave Serpent: Twin-Linked Eldar Missile Launcher, Shuriken Cannon—130 pts

Great all around units... BUT, not worth their points in a mech list. In the current edition with tanks everywhere and MEQ being very popular these guys have lost some power. i would suggest 3 squads of 5 with no upgrades in serpents with EML and no stones. This leaves room for other, better units like the above firedragons and another prism.

Heavy Support:
Fire Prism—115 pts
Fire Prism—115 pts
(1500 pts)

The heart and soul of mech eldar. Use the points that are freed up from the DA's to get a 3rd prism.


Again, this is my opinion from experience as a mech eldar player. Its lots of fun once you get the hang of it

 

[Crystalseer]

Thank you for your comments Sieg!

Great all around units... BUT, not worth their points in a mech list. In the current edition with tanks everywhere and MEQ being very popular these guys have lost some power.

That is very unfortunate. :cray:
I had envisioned my 30 blade-storming Dire Avengers obliterating a ‘Doomed’ unit every turn with massed fire. However, I guess this is wishful thinking versus the swaths of MEQ infantry and Mech spam armies that I’m likely to encounter. I had toyed with a list which used 4 units of 5 avengers as objective holders but, I couldn’t decide if it would work.
Here’s another go at that list, following your advice:

HQ:
Eldrad Ulthran—210 pts

Elites:
6xFire Dragons—96 pts
Wave Serpent: Twin-Linked Shuriken Cannon—100 pts

6xFire Dragons—96 pts
Wave Serpent: Twin-Linked Shuriken Cannon—100 pts

Troops:
5xDire Avengers—60 pts
Wave Serpent: Twin-Linked Eldar Missile Launcher—120 pts

5xDire Avengers—60 pts
Wave Serpent: Twin-Linked Eldar Missile Launcher—120 pts

5xDire Avengers—60 pts
Wave Serpent: Twin-Linked Eldar Missile Launcher—120 pts

Heavy Support:
Fire Prism—115 pts
Fire Prism—115 pts
Fire Prism—115 pts
(currently 1487)

Any comments are welcome!

 

[Xinofos]

I have to disagree Sieg, keep the 2 squads of 10 da. Drop the third and get a squad of Banshees. squad of power weapons + eldrad is nasty.

 

[Lord Rahl]

Do not lose the spirit stones, your tanks are way to fragile and will get shot to bits against other mech armies. Sieg is completely wrong and should not of suggestsed droping the number of avengers. Once you pop the enemy transports open you will need them to kill the troops inside,
also Xinofos is spot on when he suggested banshees and eldrad is a nasty combo, they will eat through pretty much any unit your opponant throws at them.

 

[Crystalseer]

Thank you all for your comments. I'm glad this has sparked some debate.

Do not lose the spirit stones, your tanks are way to fragile and will get shot to bits against other mech armies.

I aim to get spirit stones on both my Fire Dragon Serpents (assuming I can free up the extra 7 pts). However, while my tanks are fragile, I don't see the necessity of spirit stones on all the Wave Serpents. If an opponent shoots at my Serpents carrying 5 Avengers they either, have no other threats to worry about (in which case I'm probably in trouble) or, are wasting fire to take out a single TL EML--if the lack of spirit stones makes the opponent waste fire on these units then, its a win, win situation! As the squad inside is only going to be used to contest objectives near the end of the battle, I don't really mind if they can't move for a turn.
Is this fair enough or am I missing something?

Sieg...should not of suggestsed droping the number of avengers. Once you pop the enemy transports open you will need them to kill the troops inside

If I may play the Devils Advocate; the Fire Prisms can also annihilate infantry (and do a better job against MEQ). Furthermore, once I kill the enemies transports, the units inside are going to be moving much more slowly then my tanks, so I can pick them off at my leisure. I'm not saying the second list is better by any means, just that its worth considering.
Essentially, what I have to weigh up, is whether sacrificing 540 pts into ineffective EML wave serpents capable of contesting objectives, is worth the gain of 6 Dragons and an extra Prism—units more than capable of earning their points value. If not then, I'll stick with the list using 10 man Dire Avenger squads.

...keep the 2 squads of 10 da. Drop the third and get a squad of Banshees. squad of power weapons + eldrad is nasty.

Okay I will update the first list with Banshees although, I still can't decide which list I prefer best. If anyone else would like to pitch in their 2 cents that would be much appreciated!

 

[Lord Rahl]

The key to winning with eldar is to use their speed to your advantage, you WILL neeed that all important cover save to ensure your tanks survive, if you lose the Spirit stones and lower your dire avengers squad limit, you will not only lose your tanks very quickly, 'due being stunned result' but you troops will be to badly depleted in number after being shot up by the enemy to even consider contesting the objectives. This is just in my experiance though, i suggest trying both of your lists and see which one work best for you.

 

[Crystalseer]

Decided to update this thread with the new list I’m working towards (also edited in on the first page). The list is running very well so far at 1000 points but I'm worried that the upgrade to 1500 might hurt my list.

Here is what I have so far:

HQ:
Farseer: Runes of Witnessing, Doom—90 pts
Elites:
5xFire Dragons—80 pts
Wave Serpent: TL-Shuriken Cannon, Spirit Stones—110 pts
Troops:
10xDire Avengers—120 pts
Wave Serpent: TL-Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon—125 pts
10xDire Avengers—120 pts
Wave Serpent: TL-Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon—125 pts
Heavy Support:
Fire Prism—115 pts
Fire Prism—115 pts
1000 total

Planned 1500 point list:

HQ:
Eldrad—210 pts
Elites:
6xFire Dragons—96 pts
Wave Serpent: TL-Shuriken Cannon, Spirit Stones—110 pts
6xFire Dragons—96 pts
Wave Serpent: TL-Shuriken Cannon, Spirit Stones—110 pts
Troops:
10xDire Avengers: Exarch w/ 2xAvenger-Shuriken Catapults, Bladestorm—152 pts
Wave Serpent: TL-Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon—125 pts
5xDire Avengers—60 pts
Wave Serpent: TL-Eldar Missile Launcher, Shuriken Cannon—130 pts
3xGuardian Jetbikes—66 pts
Heavy Support:
Fire Prism—115 pts
Fire Prism—115 pts
Fire Prism—115 pts
1500 total

I can't decide whether running 2 full units of Avengers is better then using 5 Avengers and 3 bikers as objective grabbers. I would ideally run 2 units of 10 Avengers, like I do in my 1000 point list but, 2 troop choices doesn’t seem enough for 1500. I guess I'll find out what works best by playing. Any comments on what I could do to improve the list would be appreciated.