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There's an upcoming 2,000 point tournament that doesn't allow allies or any cross-faction formations. No unbound either. You basically get to pick one codex and stick with it.

I thought I'd take my Fire Dragon-themed Eldar and see what army list I can make with the new codex. This is my first time playing with the new book!

Combined Arms Detachment - Craftworld Eldar

HQ
Autarch 110
-Fusion Blaster, Firesabre, Shuriken Pistol

Elites
8 Fire Dragons 176
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields
8 Fire Dragons 176
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields

Troops
8 Storm Guardians 92
-2 Fusion Blasters
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields
8 Storm Guardians 92
-2 Fusion Blasters
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields
8 Storm Guardians 92
-2 Fusion Blasters
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields

Fast Attack
Crimson Hunter 140

Heavy Support
Fire Prism 140
-Holo-Fields
Fire Prism 140
-Holo-Fields
Fire Prism 140
-Holo-Fields

Total: 1,998


As I am unfamiliar with the new codex I went straight for a CAD, but there might be a better formation for me to take.

I know that Holo-Fields are well worth 15 points, but are there any other recommended vehicle upgrades?

Suggestions are welcome!

It's a Cool And Fluffy List But What Happens When you Fight a horde and you might want some thing with more Dakka

Combined Arms Detachment - Craftworld Eldar

HQ
Farseer Skyrunner 115

Troops
8 Storm Guardians 92
-2 Fusion Blasters
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields
8 Storm Guardians 92
-2 Fusion Blasters
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields
3 Jetbikes 81
-3 Scatter Lasers

Fast Attack
Crimson Hunter 140

Heavy Support
Fire Prism 140
-Holo-Fields
Fire Prism 140
-Holo-Fields
Fire Prism 140
-Holo-Fields

Aspect Host Formation
5 Fire Dragons 120
-Exarch with Fusion Gun
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields
5 Fire Dragons 120
-Exarch with Fusion Gun
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields
5 Fire Dragons 120
-Exarch with Fusion Gun
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields

Total: 2,000


EDIT: Updated list

If you took out the 2 Dire avenger w/ wave serpents you could then add in a farseer, Vauls WSB, vyper, and war walker to get a guardian storm host and Warhost overall. This also leave you with 180 pts to add upgrades. The only down side is the loss of obj secured for the auto 6 inch run.

The Aspect Host is a superb choice for Fire Dragon build, the Cloudstrike supports that even better giving you a solid and reliable core with an Autarch.

That being said, you have zero anti-air and mediocre anti-horde. Storm Guardians can leave a great deal to be desired, a regular flamer or two is nothing to a Green Tide or equivalent. Heavy Flamers on Fire Dragons sound like a solid plan, but when you come up against an Imperial Knight (or AdLance!) every Melta counts. Or vice versa of course, playing horde you have one solid weapon and four-five wasted Melta shots.

Guardians greatest feature (in my opinion, of course) is the weapons platforms. Everything Stormguardians do can be outshined by Aspect Warriors with this exception. Khaine suggested a Warhost for freebies which isn't a bad way to go, especially if you want guaranteed dodges of Imperial Knight Ion Shields with your Dragons.

I'm going to do the internet sterotype and suggest Jetbikes. If you're opposed to that, then seriously consider Vauls' Batteries and Warwalkers for anti-horde.

Good luck and I hope your event goes well!

To avoid post clutter I updated my second list above. I think the Fire Prisms will be fine for horde lists. I wasn't sold on the DBFs so I dropped them. The Farseer and Jetbikes will add a little versatility to the list.

Thoughts?

 Gorgosaurusrex wrote:

Farseer Skyrunner

With only 3 other bikes to attach to (until some guardians or FireDs disembark), and everything else vehicle, he and his unit are gonna take all of the enemy's anti-Infantry fire. Are your 'bikes old, big base or newer small bases? If newer, then I'd be comfortable with it as they will hide behind LOS terrain easier.

 Gorgosaurusrex wrote:
Troops
8 Storm Guardians 92
-2 Fusion Blasters
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields
8 Storm Guardians 92
-2 Fusion Blasters
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields

Is there any room for a 9th body? Morale Check mechanics make for 2 dead and take a Check. Add that 9th dude and it's 3 dead to cause a Morale Check.

The other rule mechanic needing consideration is assaulting from closed top vehicles. Your StormGs get out and will have to wait a round before bringing their h2h to bear. They won't last and their 10 shots won't do much. Shooty guardians are far better to deliver twice the BladeStorm fun. Do you have the models?

Exarchs: remember, when their BS gets buffed because of the Aspect Host formation, they are BS6, meaning rolling a gets an auto-reroll, hitting on .

The last bit of advice would be to roll on the Strategic Warlord table, trying to get Conqueror of Cities (remember the reroll because you're using a CAD). Move through Cover and Stealth Ruins royally buffs MechDar, cuz your vehicles are almost always in ruins, getting a 3+ Cover Save ... pending LOS and positioning, of course.

My bikes are the new models, though I have them on larger bases for aesthetic purposes. I could cut the bikes and put the Farseer in a Wave Serpent but then none of his powers will be useful.

My Storm Guardians will not be assaulting anything short of small, 5-man squads. They are terrible in combat. 90% of the time they will only disembark to slag a vehicle with their Fusion Blasters. I don't have any Guardian Defenders which is why I haven't taken any. I like them at 8 models to keep the squad cheap. Finding 18 points is harder than it looks in a list like this.

Thanks for the reminder about the Exarchs!

I like the Strategic table idea, that's normally what I roll on anyway!

 Gorgosaurusrex wrote:
My bikes are the new models, though I have them on larger bases for aesthetic purposes. I could cut the bikes and put the Farseer in a Wave Serpent but then none of his powers will be useful.

I agree. When I ran Serpent Spam last year, a farseer really had no place in Mechdar, unless it was in a big jetseer council, so I had an autarch instead. He helped with Reserves for Spiders, Outflanking WarWalkers, sometimes the WK, too.

So, that might leave you re-thinking your HQ. Why not the minimum point Warlock? Frees up points for the 9 guardian dynamic.

 Brothererekose wrote:
So, that might leave you re-thinking your HQ. Why not the minimum point Warlock? Frees up points for the 9 guardian dynamic.

Somehow I didn't notice that I could take a single Warlock as an HQ choice now. I'm so used to them requiring a Farseer that I completely overlooked it. That's a great idea, it will be a cheap HQ choice and add a little bit to psychic defense.

I'm really not sold on the 9th body for the Storm Guardians, though. Very few times do they survive a shooting phase if they are shot at. I don't think it's worth the points. I'd rather have the Dragon's Breath Flamers on the Exarchs I think.

EDIT: What about something like this?

Combined Arms Detachment - Craftworld Eldar

HQ
Warlock 38
-Singing Spear

Troops
8 Storm Guardians 92 Warlock joins this unit.
-2 Fusion Blasters
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields
5 Dire Avengers 65
Wave Serpent 130
-Twin-Linked Bright Lance, Holo-Fields
5 Dire Avengers 65
Wave Serpent 130
-Twin-Linked Bright Lance, Holo-Fields

Fast Attack
Crimson Hunter 140

Heavy Support
Fire Prism 140
-Holo-Fields
Fire Prism 140
-Holo-Fields
Fire Prism 140
-Holo-Fields

Aspect Host
5 Fire Dragons 120
-Exarch w/ Fusion Gun
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields
5 Fire Dragons 120
-Exarch w/ Fusion Gun
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields
5 Fire Dragons 120
-Exarch w/ Fusion Gun
Wave Serpent 140
-Twin-Linked Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo-Fields

Total: 2,000

By cutting corners I was able to squeeze in a 6th Wave Serpent. After testing the original list I realized I needed an answer to heavy armor at range so I swapped two Wave Serpents to Bright Lances and cut the Shuriken Cannons.

I like the DAs replacing the S-guardians, very much.

10 freakin' eldar boats, 3 of 'em sporting BS5 FireDs!!

Awesome. You're gonna piss off a lot of people.

Something that should probably be mentioned to is by taking those wave serpents as dedicated transports for the FD in that formation, they should also get the +1BS bonus. Just something to keep in mind.

Warlocks do not have IC status.

So your HQ has 1 wound, a 4++ save, and has to sit by himself.

If you purchase one with a squad (guardians) he does not count as a HQ choice.

Take a spiritseer or Autarch if you're searching for points.

Well, a Jetseer is a much better choice than a Autarch.
Why would you want to keep units in reserve.
A Warlock as an HQ is a no-go for my liking.

In view of Fire Dragons, you generally need not more than 5 or 6 to get a job done.

Fire Prisms have a too less damage output. I'd consider Warwalkers.

Small DA units don't cut it. I know that jy2 and others are successful with small units, but units of 8 to 10 served me well.