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I am new to the game and I am trying to play eldar, I have put together a few different army lists and have had mild success with one similar to this but otherwise all my armies have been smashed by monster nids and one spacemarines army or another. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

HQ
Autarch-70
-jetbike-30
-mandiblaster-10
-laserlance-20
-reaperlauncher-25
Total-155
-Attached to Shining Spear squad so he can have hit and run as well.

Troops
5x Pathfinders-120
5x Pathfinders-120

Fast Attack
5x Shining Spears -175
-Exarch-12
-Starlance-15
-Withdraw-25
Total- 227
5x Shining Spears
Total-227

Elite
8x Striking Scorpians-128
-Exarch- 12
-Stalker-5
-Shadow Strike-20
-Chainsabres-5
Total-170

6xHarlequin-108
-Death Jester-10
-Harlequin Kiss-24
-2xFusion pistol-20
Total-162

Heavy Support
Falcon-115
-Starcannon-25
-Vectored Engines-20
-Spirit Stones-10
-Total-170

So far thats 1351 and I was trying to figure out if I should add another heavy support or try and get another elite or fast attack. I figure it would decide what I am facing but I suppose a Wraithlord can't be a bad Idea. Once again suggestions are appreciated, I will probably give this a try sometime this week.

Mild success: I can imagine...
The Autarch is fine as are the Pathfinders.
But the army lacks anti-tank.
The Falcon needs a holofield (replace starcannon by scatterlaser and add shuricannon).
The Harlies should have a Shadowseer. They will usually FoF. Thus drop the fusion guns and the DJ.
A second Falcon would be good carrying 6 Fire Dragons.
I'd drop the Scorpions, and drop two Shining Spears if necessary. A starlance is not a must have.

I would nix the striking scorpions and get another unit of harleys and another falcon. Also i would max out the upgrades on the two falcons. Also the death jester is terrible.

Ive never used a death jester I put him in there because I was thinking when unloaded he could pin units to keep them from moving on Harlis, but I suppose that is a bit to specific.
The striking scorpions are in there to tie up units on turn one since they can move, fleet, and assault.
I appreciate the ideas, I will just have to keep the base, try the scorpions and switch out for more firedragons or harlis.
I was thinking that the Shiningspears with the Starlance on assault would be good enough anti tank, or I was thinking of spending the leftover points on an anti tank wraithlord.

Scorpions cannot fleet on foot. This makes them rather slow, not really a force to reckon with.

Hmm sad I don't know where I got that from but ya they are not able to fleet, thanx for catching that, that changes things.

So many rules to memorize

Take the reaper launcher off the Autarch and replace it with a fusion gun. Reaper is heavy, so unless you want him sitting out in the open the turn after you fire, don't bother. Striking scorpions are meh, i'd swap them for Fire dragons. Your harlequin squad doesn't need a death jester, and they all need harlequin's kisses. Fusion guns are icing, but I usually don't use em. A falcon with no holo-shield? drop the starcannon for a regular scatter-laser, and add some holo-fields and then you'll be in buisness. Other than that seems like it could work in a friendly game.

Vaelar, the Autarch is on a bike. It doesn't matter that the reaper launcher is Heavy.

Solid comments otherwise.

Ya I had to look up the heavy rule on jetbikes before I was sure, but the Harlis have kisses, but everyone is telling me the DJ is a joke and leave him out.

Also I just found out the Scorpions don't have fleet so they are out for sure.

Everyone is telling me holofields are amazing so I suppose I should give them a shot.

Thanx for you ideas and input.

Alright so I put together a new list with similar speed aspect for you to critique, once again it is all appreciated. I tried to take note of different suggestions.

HQ

Autarch-70
Jetbike-30
Mandiblaster-10
Fusion Gun-10
Laser Lance-20
Total-140 Attached to Shining Spears.

Troops

5x Pathfinders-120
5x Pathfinders-120

Elite

6xHarlequin-108
-Shadow Seer-30
6x Harlequin Kiss-24
-total- 162-Placed in Falcon.

6xFiredragons-96
-Exarch-12
FirePike-8
-Total- 116-Placed in falcon.

Fast Attack

5xShining Spears-175
Exarch-12
Skilled Rider-10
Withdraw-25
Total: 222

5x Shining Spears-222

Heavy Support

Falcon grav-115
-Starcannon-25
-holo fields-35
-Vectored Engines-20
-Spirit Stones-10
Total-205

Falcon Grav-195
-Scatter Laser


That should be 1502 but it can drop down switching out another SC for a SL. I figure the pathfinders would be decent bait as well as force pinning checks on whatever my Shining Spears want to blow up. Look a little better?

That second army looks MUCH better, it should fare quite well once you get the hand of using it.

Just one IMPORTANT rules clarification: If the autarch is joined with the Shining Spears they LOSE their withdraw ability!!!! (this is clarified on the rulebook on the page with rules for all the 'Unit special rules')

Earlier i did that mistake myself, with a Bike Farseer joining and fortuning my Shining Spears.... My eyes were opened as my opponent (rightfully so) clarifed the above rule to me!

The autarch is still good on his own, and can still stay close to the spears and suppport them, or go on his own. He is an independent character (IC) which means he can ONLY be targeted by opponent's shooting if he is their CLOSEST enemy target.

Good luck!

By the way: I think you forgot the write the vehicle upgrades for the second Falcon (seems by the points cost that it has got: Holofields, Spirit Stones, Vectored engines)

Another thing: I would really suggest upgrading both falcons with the underslug shuriken cannon for the extra 3 str6 shots per falcon, Its really worth it! In fact you might wanna go simply for 2 shuriken cannons on each falcon... that way they have 8 shots each and will all the upgrades (except star engines) still only cost 195 points.

I will have to take a look at the Cannons that is a good idea. But the second falcon has all the same upgrades, I just didn't repeat the type, he is 10 points less because he has a Scatter laser rather than a Star cannon.
As for the Autarch he doesn't lose his abilities and he does gain Withdraw as well as skilled rider. pg 21 of eldar codex (special eldar rule) Its mainly because no other army has Exarchs or things like it.


I am looking forward to trying it out.

Once again guys its all appreciated.

Looks good. The only things I would change are:

1. drop the fire dragon exarch for just another regular fire dragon. the additional 20 points isn't worth it, considering any range advantage on the firepike is negated by the remainder of the FD's regular fusion gun range of 12". Honestly I just don't think you're going to see 20pts worth of improvement.

2. skilled rider on the shining spears is a debatable. The only time i'd take it is if I was 10 points short of my army total. Truth is, most of the time those jetbikes aren't making dangerous terrain tests, so the 10 points goes largely unused except in rare circumstances

3. don't put expensive weapons on a falcon. They are awesome because they are very difficult to kill, but against a good player, they will be shaken most of the game, and thus unable to fire, so that starcannon will do you no good.



So, the pathfinders are good, although having the rest of your army so mobile means that they are going to suffer the brunt of your opponents firepower. You can use that to your advantage in certain cases, so run with it. Also, I think it was Selek who mentioned it in another thread, but maugan Ra is the ultimate (if not expensive) combination with those pathfinders, since he is a huge incentive for your opponent not to charge into CC with them.

The suggestions on the Falcons makes a lot of sense but I am curious how Maugan Ra keeps people from assaulting the Pathfinders, or am I misunderstanding?

Maugan Ra can sit there with the pathfinders, hitting the same targets with a pretty nasty weapon, and when your opponent decides to charge your pathfinders cause their in heavy cover, maugan ra will be there to spank 4-5 of them instantly. He's a beast in close combat, and he's got the shooty to hit distance targets along with your pathfinders. Furthermore, he also has pinning, meaning with 2 pathfinder squads, you'll get 3 pinning leadership tests. He synergizes well with them.

Ya that does make a lot of sense, if I was to do that I am guessing I wouldn't be infiltrating them.

nah, i'd infiltrate away, and just fleet maugan to them asap

Fleeting Ra is a waste if he's in range to shoot something. Just walking him over while firing should be good enough, unless you've infiltrated you PFinders unnecessarily far ahead.

As for the Falcons, if you want to spend points on the weapons, I'd go go for a cheaper weapon (shuricannon or scatter) and an additional shuricannon. It will still rarely be able to fire, but the fact that you have an additional threatening weapons prevents your opponent from ignoring the Falcon after a single weapon destroyed result.

Maugan Ra does not really fit into a fast moving (Falcons, Shining Spears) and infiltrating (Scorpions, Pathfinders) army.
He is mean for what he can achieve. But you have to build a force around him: Dark Reapers, DoomSeer, some static component with fast moving units for preventing your footsloggers from outmaneuvering.

Even though I can see how useful Maugan can be I don't think I am going to try and fit him it. I think the pathfinders infiltrated will be good as bait for soon to be Shiningspear targets. Thanx for the advice on the Falcons that makes a lot of sense considering they always seem to be unable to fire on turn one.

I am not sure but it seems that this is freeing up about another 50 or 60 points, any suggestions?

This list is completely Ace man.

Only comments I have:
1) skilled rider is NECESSARY. seriously. no joke You'll regret not taking it when you withdraw into terrain or want to charge into cover. You did good taking it.

2) Drop the pathfinders and squeak some points so you can get those Jetbike squads with singing spears. I am not really 100% behind those but you really are shy on antitank guns. The spears will threaten stuff in an important way. Best way to get those points is to drop to 5 fire dragons at 80pts instead of 6 with the Exarch.


3) Shuriken+Shuriken or Scatter+Shuriken on falcons. No point buying a starcannon that is only marginally better than a scatterlaser most of the time (marines in cover being your baseline).

I like the jetbike idea I can see where the increased movement would match well with the rest of the army. I think I am going to try the pathfinders out first and see how it works because I have an idea in my head so I want it to work heh

Thanks Man

Infiltrating Pathfinders can keep infiltrating enemy units away from your tanks.
Imagine infiltrating Chosen with plasma guns (getting first turn) firing at your non-moving tanks within 12''.

Ya I can see that as being mean. This friday I think I will have a chance to throw it together, I am going to give it a few tries considering not only am I trying to figure out how to make an army, I am trying to figure out how to play it.

So I fought my first battle with this list and aside from me just making general rules mistakes it performed very well.

The shining spears worked wonders, but either the pathfinders were the wrong troop choice or I just need to learn how to use them properly.


Just thought I would let you guys know.

I am thinking maybe of 3x Guardian Jetbikes with cannons. 3 squads.

Longshot wrote:This list is completely Ace man.

Only comments I have:
1) skilled rider is NECESSARY. seriously. no joke You'll regret not taking it when you withdraw into terrain or want to charge into cover. You did good taking it.

What's it matter when you withdraw, ace?

What's it matter when you withdraw, ace?

Funny thing is that I was going to say that withdraw is the only time you would actually need skilled rider.

But I re-read the rule and it does not say anything about the unit moving anything other than normal.


So as jet bikes they would be able to ignore terrain unless you were planning on ending your hit and run in terrain. Since you cannot move through cover at all in turbo-boost I can't see any reason to take skilled rider.

YAY 20 more points to spend.

Thank you for making me reread that rule.

You take skilled rider because often times you will be charging into cover. I don't think that will be as rare an event as others claim but you'll need to evaluate that for your own environment.

Also fyi: if all 5 bikes are charging into cover, there's about a 60% chance you will fail at least 1 dangerous terrain roll. I guess you have to evaluate whether a chance at saving a 35 point model 60% of the time you charge into cover is worth 10 points.

A small clarfication on the Autarch.

He Will benefit from the Exarch powers of a squad he has joined. Eldar codex p.21 The part about Exarch powers. He is an exception!

The Autarch on the other hand will bring plasma grenades to the fight. People will fight in intiativ order.

Autarch and Shining Spears work well together.....

Taranis

EDIT: Having reread and asked around the Autarch will be alone in CC as the spears and the HQ in CC is treated as two diffent units when having entered CC. The spears will retain withdraw and skilled rider but the Autarch will be stuck in CC as he him self doesn't have Withdraw. T