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I've been tinkering with the idea for some time to start up High Elves, but put it off until the new Army Book came out (note: I'd never really played WHFB much before).

I don't think I've heard much about how the new HE plays (actually, the whole HE release seems to have come out with little fanfare in general).

Can anyone give me an idea of how they play out with the new book?

As far as I've gleaned, seems like Swordmasters and White Lion blocks are pretty menacing.

Thanks.

Check out this thread:

http://warhammer.org.uk/PhP/viewtopic.php?t=36307&start=0

Overall it appears that they hit pretty hard, but are fragile, and the army tends to be pretty small in terms of model (and often unit) count.

Swordmasters are sexy, but relying on dice/kills to get CR can be dangerous, as one bad round of rolls can mean a lost unit. While Lions are becoming more popular, as their Stubborn makes them less subject to this weakness, they still hit very hard, and they have better resistance to shooting. Some people are also finding that Phoenix Guard can make a heck of an anvil, though it’s pricey.

Ranked infantry units usually have some trouble trying to dictate the terms of engagement, but HE break the usual dynamic by not caring about who gets the charge (except against chariots). I think this is something players are still learning to use. It should be particularly powerful if you can push an infantry unit into an enemy unit’s face to force them to charge, while simultaneously moving a cavalry unit into flanking position to slam them the turn after they charge you.

I think BSBs are critical for this army, to keep your expensive units from running. The fact that they’re allowed to take a great weapon and/or shield, means they can also be significantly more killy/durable than other armies’ BSBs. Which is sweet.

A lot of players are taking minimal Core unita which to me is a problem. Core (at least in my personal conception) should represent a significant portion of an army, and give it bulk. Some people are reporting success with spears and/or archers, however, which is a nice sign.

Under the older rules, HE needed spearelf units to lure enemies out of formation and allow the charge by the White Lions and Swordmasters. Against a competent opponent, this is hard to do, so most lists moved to all cav or a bolt thrower heavy list.

Under the new rules the infantry list is much better. Spearelf units will dish out 15 s3 attacks before the enemy strikes, and sword masters/white lions have s5/6 attacks going first. This removes the need to have small bait units running around.

Large blocks, with spear elfs holding the center and your special choices on the flanks are key.

Spearelf units will dish out 15 s3 attacks before the enemy strikes

The sad fact is that even if you have ranks of 6 and get 18 S3 attacks against the usual charging 6 Knights of Khorne, you won't kill any of them, and they will run you to the ground like always. I was very impressed by the new White Lions and Swordmasters at first, but after running the stats for them, and considering how incredibly expensive and vulnerable they are to missiles, I lost interest in them too. When you give ASF to Elves for free, nothing much changes. They have the same hard counters as before. Sad but true.

I'd start my High Elf army by picking up two units of 18 Spearmen, two Tiranoc or Lion Chariots, and a Star Dragon.

Mannahnin wrote:I think BSBs are critical for this army, to keep your expensive units from running. The fact that they’re allowed to take a great weapon and/or shield, means they can also be significantly more killy/durable than other armies’ BSBs.

I don't have the new book, but I recall having to shoot down the same idea in the last book: are you sure that BSBs can take great weapons?

BigChris,

The new army book, unlike all books in recent memory, does not state that BSBs can't take other options (GW, shield, etc). Personally I hope this is a misprint but since it'll probably be a decade or two before we see a FAQ for now it is technically legal.

Swoop!