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I have a two part Eldar Heavy Weapon question.

1 - In a Saim-Hann style force what's the best AT weapon for the Vyper, the cheaper longer ranged Eldar Missile Launcher or the Bright Lance with it's Lance rule and 12" shorter range?

2 - Again in Saim-Hann style force (or any really), If the squad in a Wave Serpent is very anti-troop should the Wave Serpent have a anti-armor weapon to make up for the squads lack of one? So Banshees with Bright Lances and Fire Dragons with Scatter Lasers. I think that's better for overall coverage but I was also thinking that anti-troop in an anti-troop Wave Serpent just makes sure the squad has to do less, as would Fire Dragons hitting heavy armor troop units.....but it would be a waste if the Wave Serpent pops the armor on the turn the Fire Dragons get out.

Thanks for your time and help.
Anarchyman99

1. Personally I use missile launchers, simply because of cheaper cost and range (not to mention the S4 AP4 pinning 3" template). Now that said you're probably going to want a couple of bright lances somewhere, and you'll have to decide where, vypers are just as good a place as any. If you like Fire Prisms over Falcons that goes a long way towards helping your anti-tank.

2. Some people argue this but I would argue against it for two reasons. #1 It would be better to spread out your anti-tank/anti-infantry. If your opponent takes out your Wave Serpent with both brightlances and Fire Dragons then you're stuck without anti-tank. On the other hand I like Shuricannons on Wave Serpent simply because they are cheaper and the Wave Serpent is an assault tank anyway and the shorter range doesn't matter.

You're concerned about your anti-tank, don't forget a Jetbike Warlock with a Singing Spear adds a great deal of versatility to a Saim-Hann list.

Yeah that's pretty much what I was thinking...thanks for your help and I seem to be associating your name with level headed Eldar advice.


Tacobake = My new "go-to" guy on all things Eldar.

I would like missile launchers too, the bright lance is now far too expensive, however the cost is something many Eldar armies will simply have to swallow. Missiles dont cut it against vehicles or horde infantry, and you are far better off with a starcannon for MEq killing. While Eldar are not overly concerned with long range anti tank because of the plethora of short ranged anti tank and high mobility units, however some is still needed from time to time, and that means taking a bright lance.

The real question is where. Falcons are slowed down by the two main weapons, and spend the game shaken anyway. Vypers are too vulnerable. Maybe the best place is a wraithlord, or a guardian squad. Both have the advantage that they can stand in the open and deploy with a wide field of fire if properly supported though neither would last long if they were the only long ranged support. the twin linked bright lance on a Wave serpent once was a good idea, but not any more because of the ludicrous pricetag.

All in all you are better with a fully mobile list and fire dragons.

1. i would also recomend a EML. the dual function nature of it is great, and vypers are so fragile that they need as much room as possible. you will still want a BL or 2, if you can, but EML's are probably the best option per point for the vyper, IF you must use one as AT.

2.if you are trying to work on a "take em all on army" i would mix and match. BL's on serpents are a lot of points......but has a great chance to do some harm. if you're running a few vypers or wraithlords then maybe not so much AT on them. If it seems like you are lacking AT, then add some EMLs on the serpents. just realize that they are not falcons, they will get blown up if your opponent is half-way smart so dont expect them to last too terribly long. (people hate us masters of the skimmer cheese)

I usually kit my vypers and wave serpents with anti-infantry types like starcannons. For Anti-Armour, I like putting fire dragons in wave serpents, sending them towards armour and let them take it out. Hope that helps.

Anarchyman99 wrote:Tacobake = My new "go-to" guy on all things Eldar.

I'm cool. There's lots of Eldar players here, though.

1 - In a Saim-Hann style force what's the best AT weapon for the Vyper, the cheaper longer ranged Eldar Missile Launcher or the Bright Lance with it's Lance rule and 12" shorter range?

In a Saim-Hann style force, you best AT weapons are going to be singing spears and fire dragons. They army is generally prone to movement and most of that movement tends to be in a forward direction. The short ranged firepower is really the most powerful even if it takes time to get there.

Now to really answer the question of what's good on vypers, it depends on how you play your army. If your force is the zoom up and kill you type, like most Saim-Hann tends to be, I would recommend the bright lance. Its significantly more destructive than the missile launcher and the shorter range is less of a hindrance when you opponent is going to have a lot of targets in his face competing for his limited firepower. On the other hand, if you're style of play is more of having the whole army sit back and try to use the move-shoot-move aspect of the jetbikes to stay out of sight and out of range, then the missile launcher might be a bit more useful do to its extended range. Just keep in mind that when it comes to actually killing tanks, the missile launcher is the inferior weapon and its going to take more of them to actually kill your target than it would if you had bright lances. The added ability to kill troops with a missile launcher is, in my opinion, not often useful and generally not worth the anti tank sacrifice you have to make when you take the weapon, but your mileage may vary.

2 - Again in Saim-Hann style force (or any really), If the squad in a Wave Serpent is very anti-troop should the Wave Serpent have a anti-armor weapon to make up for the squads lack of one? So Banshees with Bright Lances and Fire Dragons with Scatter Lasers.

That would be the correct way to do things. Other units in your army should be around to help soften up targets before your transports get there, so the transports themselves would be best suited to a role opposed to the one the troops they transport will be doing. It's essentially the old "don't put all your eggs in one basket" mentality. Don't want to lose one serpent and have half your anti tank power disappear. The only exception to this rule would be if you specifically decide to make all your transports fit one role that is lacking in the rest of your army. In this case you could kit out all the wave serpents for one job or another.