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Putting together a Dark Eldar army, as an alternative to my CSMs - yes, I know, glutton for punishment...

I don't play competitively, only in fact play against my one friend (Slaphead on here) who fields various Space Marine / Imperial factions. And once in a blue moon against my brother's Necrons.

This is my thinking so far.

Realspace Raiders detachment

HQ:
Archon
- Agoniser
- The Animus Vitae
- Shadow Field
- Webway Portal
180 pts

Elites:
Incubi
- 3 x Incubi
- Klaivex
- Venom + Splinter Cannon
155 pts

Trueborn
- 4 x Blaster
- 1 x Dark Lance
- Venom + Splinter Cannon
200 pts

Mandrakes
- 5 Mandrakes
60 pts

Troops:
2 x Kabalite Warriors
- 9 x KWs
- 1 x KW + Splinter Cannon
- Raider + Disintegrator Cannon, Nightshield, Splinter Racks
2 x 180 pts

Fast Attack:
Razorwing Jetfighter
- Nightshield
- Dark Lances
- Splinter Cannon
- 2 x Monoscythe, 2 x Necrotoxin missiles
165 pts

Reavers
- Arena Champ + Agoniser
- 3 x Reavers
- 2 x Reavers + Heat Lance
- 2 x cluster caltrops
181 pts

Reavers
- 3 x Reavers
- 1 x cluster caltrops
63 pts

Scourges
- 5 x Scourges + 4 Haywire Blasters
120 pts

Heavy Support:
Ravager
- 3 x Dark Lance
- Nightshield
140 pts

Voidraven Bomber
- Void Lances
- Nightshield
- 2 x shatterfield, 2 x implosion missiles
225 pts


Notes:
I know Mandrakes are sub-optimal, but I like the models too much. Ditto the Voidraven.

The Archon will be riding with the Incubi as a late-game 'here come the cavalry' precision deep-strike with the webway portal. Mandrakes will infiltrate in and sit on an objective in cover. Ravager, Scourges and Trueborn hunt vehicles. KWs and the big reaver squad hunt SMs. Small reaver squad can dart about as needed, but keeping an eye out for last minute objectives. Voidraven tries to drop its bomb usefully, then it and the Razorwing hunt enemy fliers or any other targets of opportunity.

Anyone have any helpful tips or suggestions? I know DE generally aren't top tier, and are considered difficult. But oh so cool.

I like it, honestly. You acknowledge that you're not playing competitively and you're going up against CSM. Seems to have plenty of shooting (which is what we're good at). Got the haywire and blasters for some anti-armor. Your reavers, mandrakes, and HQ squad (I am assuming you're throwing him with the Incubi here) move (or infiltrate) forward while the rest of the army hangs back and shoots at a comfortable distance or flies on to support.

Only thing I would change up is switching over towards raider warriors to 5 man squads in venoms w/ a blaster. I am still a fan of venom spam myself, and found that you really need to be in rapid fire range with a maxed out unit in a raider to have them really be effective. At that range, outside of some overwatch, you're pretty much looking at a dead unit the next turn. I prefer to keep mobile for scoring, and have a larger threat range, and I feel some venom spam in the troop selection really fits that mold. Also if you're playing necrons, you can (try) to stay out of their typical range (24') with a venom, while with a raider you're still pretty much one and done in terms of getting your shots in there.

Edited to add: For your 2 raider units, you could have 3 venoms with 2x spliner cannons, 5 max w/ blaster each which would be 36 shots not even counting the guys inside at a range of 36'. The blaster also leans support if you absolutely need to go tank-hunting (i.e. if all your other stuff just hasn't done the trick).

Also, is there any particular reason you have that larger squad of reavers without splitting them into two units? I had thought you have 6 FA slots in the detachment, and you're currently using 5 of them unless I am missing something. MSU, my friend.

Thanks!

Just to clarify, CSMs are my other army. My opponent plays Blood Angels, Dark Angels, Grey Knights, Space Marines, and a tank-based Imperial Guard - think I've remembered them all! It changes frequently...

Regarding the reavers, I could obviously be flexible with breaking it up into two units. My thinking was to keep one larger as a more hard-hitting CC unit. But I can experiment on that one once I've got the army up and running.

I did wonder over Venoms vs Raiders for the Kabalites. Still not sure - but for me, one less vehicle to paint is a plus point! I am not the world's quickest...

Fair point, with the only having to put two vehicles together, lol. Granted, the venoms are smaller and less of a hassle to put together imho, especially if you plan on not adding the wyches on.

In either case, I'd say try it out and let us know how it goes. If I were playing against mostly MEQ, I might swap your dis. cannons on the raiders for the dark lances and maybe switch the ravager to dis' but that's just nitpicking at that point. The MEQs will FEAR the mass ap3 (less you're going up against ravenwing / WS).

Regarding my comment on breaking up the larger jetbikes squad, my logic is you can always charge a squad with two of yours to give you the same effect as if they one. The same cannot be said when you're trying to flat out to get two objectives across the board if they're lumped into a single squad.

That does make a lot of sense, regarding splitting up the reavers. Thanks!

I would make the same argument in favor of 3x Venom squads instead of 2x Raider squads: harder to kill off because there are three squads to target, and they can rush off to snag three different objectives.

I like the list one kinda cool tactic if you want to do is have your Archon with the web way portal in a squad with 3 grotesques its just a fun little tactic

Thanks! I have seen that mentioned a few times. Ultimately I'm not such a fan of the grotesque models though, and prefer the idea of the Archon accompanied by his elite warriors rather than his gimps...