Tactica: Eldar 6th Edition

[deathwing_marine]

Or unless you cart them around in a grossly overpriced transport.

Right, which you can't even assault out of. Leaving the Dire Avengers standing around for a turn waiting to be killed.

[smileyface]

Because Corsairs (or even Craftworlders for that matter) are paragons of virtue?

Fair, but craftworlders aren't increasing the power of slaanesh with every life they take.

[Radium]

If MEQs your problem; what happened to all of your S6 shooting to compliment the avengers? Wiping a MEQ squad in a turn is a special thing; you shouldn't expect every squad to be able to wipe out entire other squads with such prejudice with no problem; it often costs several hundred points to do that.

But that's just the problem with Avengers to me: they have no specific role and they're not spectacular at what they do. Killing MEQ: the aforementioned Tempest Launcher + crack shot is just insane filth. And if you're bringing the masses of str 6 firepower we're famous for, you might as well just take a bit more of that to deal with hordes. War Walkers and Vypers can bring plenty of firepower that can replace whatever Avengers bring.

Not saying using or liking Avengers is wrong or anything, it's just that I've never seen the point myself, since I feel other options are just better I'd rather spend my points there.

[Chrysalis]

But that's just the problem with Avengers to me: they have no specific role and they're not spectacular at what they do.

To my mind, what they're best at is bladestorm. I usually use them to get get rid of anything I feel too threatening (like terminators, and more generally elite enemy units), and that I want to be sure to eradicate as soon as possible. And I feel like they're very good at that! Also, we don't have so many operative troops to grab objectives...

[Grentain]

But, they can have an invuln save! And you can give one guy a power weapon! If you go with the bit that comes in the DA box, it's even a Power Spear!

In all seriousness though, I wonder how feasible it would be to have the DA Exarch with a Power Axe. I typically run them in a double-cannon Serpent with a Guide/Doomseer. It's expensive, but by God whatever I shoot is dead. 33 shots that reroll errythang; If I'm shooting MEQ, I may have to clean the squad up with snipers, though typically I target the biggest squad model-wise that I can, to make use of the huge volume of shots. S6 is typically directed at MCs, bikers, light vehicles, and other things that S4 just doesn't cut it for.

[Chrysalis]

But, they can have an invuln save! And you can give one guy a power weapon! If you go with the bit that comes in the DA box, it's even a Power Spear!

In all seriousness though, I wonder how feasible it would be to have the DA Exarch with a Power Axe.

Considering the BRB, we could probably have a DA exarch with an axe. I hope the upcoming FAQ will answer this kind of things. However, I wonder if it's really interesting to lose I6. I feel like the power lance is a good option here!

[Shamana]

They're just fine without a farseer. They're as good as Tacs at killing infantry, except they do it from farther away and can assault after they do it; which is actually quite important.

Tacticals can shoot from further away now you can move and fire RF guns, so I think they have the "further away" advantage, especially as they can also take bolters to the face better than avengers. Now, if the exarch could take up a shuriken cannon, things would be interesting .

BTW, am I the only one who's interested in power mauls/staves? Sure, you don't ignore power armour, but +2 strength at I6 has its uses.

[Chrysalis]

Tacticals can shoot from further away now you can move and fire RF guns, so I think they have the "further away" advantage, especially as they can also take bolters to the face better than avengers. Now, if the exarch could take up a shuriken cannon, things would be interesting .

BTW, am I the only one who's interested in power mauls/staves? Sure, you don't ignore power armour, but +2 strength at I6 has its uses.

Maybe the idea of an Eldar with a maul just doesn't fit? (although a staff would certainly!).

A DA exarch with a shuriken canon would be interesting: with bladestorm he could fire 4 S6 hits! It somehow reminds me of Maugan-Ra. However, it would make the exarch an AT shooter, and the other guys in the squad couldn't really help him...

[Shamana]

Maybe the idea of an Eldar with a maul just doesn't fit? (although a staff would certainly!).

A DA exarch with a shuriken canon would be interesting: with bladestorm he could fire 4 S6 hits! It somehow reminds me of Maugan-Ra. However, it would make the exarch an AT shooter, and the other guys in the squad couldn't really help him...

Nope, it would make the exarch a multi-purpose character at most. The shuriken cannon can damage light vehicles, but is at heart a heavy AI gun - 3-4 shots at high BS that wound marines on 2+, instakill/deny FnP to T3 characters and can damage the odd bike or MC; in fact, I think it works better than twin catapults against nearly anything avengers are normally called to fight, and it gives the squad a little extra range. The regular avengers can even chip in against AV 10 vehicles - with enough shots you may just shave a few HPs off.

Shuriken cannons and scatter lasers are sometimes considered AT weapons, but I think AI is still their primary role: they will put a fair amount of wounds on enemy models at a decent range. Sure, they can scrap some vehicles (and fliers) in a pinch, but I still find them an AI weapon first.

And hey, I'd totally like a banshee with a two-handed maul or an exarch with a power scepter. Staves are okay-ish, but I'm not seeing a staff on a banshee or scorpion exarch - it's too timid, so to speak, and I always imagine exarch as borderline psychotic even by Eldar standards.

[smileyface]

The shuriken cannon can damage light vehicles, but is at heart a heavy AI gun

With you there. I mean, we spam S6 and aim it at anything up to AV 12, but if we're honest that's mostly because we don't have any better long range options. We all know it's not designed for the job. It's just that our actual AT gun is overpriced and simultaneously a legendary piece of junk.

And hey, I'd totally like a banshee with a two-handed maul or an exarch with a power scepter. Staves are okay-ish, but I'm not seeing a staff on a banshee or scorpion exarch - it's too timid, so to speak, and I always imagine exarch as borderline psychotic even by Eldar standards.

What do you mean borderline? Anyway, you can already do that with the banshee - that's kind of what an executioner is.

[TheWarmaster]

I'm getting some Eldar allies for my Dark Eldars, and I got a Wraithlord because I thought it would look cool, what are some good loadouts for them?

[Squallish]

1) Wraithsword - this guy isn't confused about what you do with him. Run him every turn you're not charging. 3 Re-rollable and 1 auto-hit S10 attack on the charge are nothing to be sneezed at.

2) Scatter Laser, Shuricannon, Starcannon (choose 2) - This loadout is for fire support. It got a large buff with the Wraithlord becoming a Character.. 6's to hit you get to allocate. Consider Guiding this guy.

3) Brightlance, Missile Launcher - expensive, but can be necessary to fill in the long-range anti-tank role.

For all of the above, always take 2 Flamers. More damage potential, better Overwatch.

[TheWarmaster]

1) Wraithsword - this guy isn't confused about what you do with him. Run him every turn you're not charging. 3 Re-rollable and 1 auto-hit S10 attack on the charge are nothing to be sneezed at.

2) Scatter Laser, Shuricannon, Starcannon (choose 2) - This loadout is for fire support. It got a large buff with the Wraithlord becoming a Character.. 6's to hit you get to allocate. Consider Guiding this guy.

3) Brightlance, Missile Launcher - expensive, but can be necessary to fill in the long-range anti-tank role.

For all of the above, always take 2 Flamers. More damage potential, better Overwatch.

Thank you.
How about a Farseer? Are Warlocks worth it?
Also, when the Farseer's powers say 'eldar unit', can it affect Dark Eldar too?

[Kynth]

Also, when the Farseer's powers say 'eldar unit', can it affect Dark Eldar too?

Refer to the threads in the Rules forum. There's quite a divide of opinion, best not to discuss it in the Tactica threads.

[Chrysalis]

Thank you.
How about a Farseer? Are Warlocks worth it?
Also, when the Farseer's powers say 'eldar unit', can it affect Dark Eldar too?

Squallish is right about the options he proposed. However, I would like to highlight the need of a psyker (warlock or farseer) for a wraithlord to be 100% efficient: if you have none nearby your wraithlord, you can have some troubles because of the wraithsight. Some say you have to be unlucky to roll a 6 and have your WL sleep a whole turn, but I really don't like the idea to have a 150+pts model doing nothing because of a single bad roll...

[TheWarmaster]

Refer to the threads in the Rules forum. There's quite a divide of opinion, best not to discuss it in the Tactica threads.

...I should have guessed. I'll have to ask my club then.

[Shamana]

What do you mean borderline? Anyway, you can already do that with the banshee - that's kind of what an executioner is.

I'm not sure if GW shares that view, but to me banshees seem like the aspect that are the most focused on violence and murder. Every aspect has a theme - scoprions have their stealth and patience, avengers are about holding the line, fire dragons about fiery annihilation, and so on - with banshees the vibe I'm getting is "bringing death, up close and personal". All aspect shrines are essentially death cults* - they lead the eldar in emulation of one of the aspects of Khaine, a deity of murder and bloodshed - but banshees seem to be the most focused on it. That's why I'd like them to have weapons that underscore that - swords, glaives, axes, falxes... basically, staves and spears don't work with the aesthetic so much imo.

*: I'd like to see the notion that the aspects are cults of Khaine reinforced. I haven't read Path of the Warrior, but from the teaser it didn't really feel that way.

BTW, how do wraithsword lords perform for you this edition, and do you give them a second weapon to do something while they advance?

[Malagor]

Personally I ignore the sword for the lords. With only two base attacks it doesn't seem worth the cost just for the re-roll. Not to mention you are sacrificing more long range weapons for it.
2 heavy weapons is much more useful IMO since it depending on what kinda weapon, can give him/her the long range that he needs.
If something get close, I hit them with the 2 flamers instead. I don't think anyone will charge him either if you got those two on the arms.

[Radium]

BTW, how do wraithsword lords perform for you this edition, and do you give them a second weapon to do something while they advance?

My Wraithlords (in my infantry-only list) are armed with a Bright Lance and Wraithsword. I need the ranged anti-tank even though it's hideously expensive. I could add an EML as well, but I advance my Wraithlords with an Avatar to the front and with the rerolls they tend to actually cause some damage when they hit combat. And since I'm so aggressive with my Lords, they will hit combat. I'd rather be in combat than getting shot up with meltaguns etc anyway.

[Grentain]

If I give a Wraithlord a sword, it's because I want to make it as cheap as possible, and if I give it a sword I probably won't give it a second gun, because IMO one gun isn't worth sacrificing a run move on a MC as beefy as the Wraithlord is in CC. At 100 points, too, it's not really a huge sacrifice if it gets bogged down by another squad, mostly because because it will almost always tie up more points than it cost. Then, if it's something that can actually hurt the Wraithlord (S5+ in CC), it'll be a squad more than likely costing significantly more than he will. Plus he punches tanks into the dirt.