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So far I've played two 1000 point games against my friend's mech Tau with my Eldar. So far the only conclusion I've been able to come to is that any Eldar units on foot die horribly to Tau shooting. I've noticed that he takes a lot of Ion Blasters and that the Wraithlord I took last game faired better against them than the skimmers in the first game. Just about every gun he has in his list ignores Eldar armor. I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks,

Mournwhelk

I'm guessing you don't play mech eldar?
mind posting your army list? Otherwise I'm not sure what to tell you.



The one thing I can tell you is it's damn near impossible to assault mech tau with harlies.

I'm amazed that the wraithlord fared better than skimmers. Are you taking spirit stones and holo-fields? You should consider these two upgrades pretty much compulsory for falcons and fire prisms.

My advice is to take a skimmer list, but don't be too eager to start the fire fight. You have superior mobility: tau skimmers aren't fast, so they can only move 12 inches, whereas Eldar tanks can move 24 inches, or 36 inches with star engines. Take a turn or two to position yourself instead of just charging in.

Also, when facing hammerheads, your goal is to stop it from shooting. To prevent a hammerhead from shooting in the following turn should take only one glancing hit, so once you've achieved that glancing hit, don't shoot at the hammerhead again until your next turn. Focus on bringing down his transports and killing his crisis suits.

I'm not at all opposed to playing mech Eldar. My first list was an attempt albeit a bad one at mech Eldar. Here it is:

Autarch: Warp Jump Generator, Mandi Blaster, Power Weapon, Fusion Gun. 125

5 Path Finders 120

8 Dire Avengers: Exarch, Extra Shuriken Catapult, Blade Storm 128

Wave Serpent: Spirit Stones, Vectored Engines, Shuriken Cannon: 130

3 Shining Spears: Exarch, Star Lance, Withdraw: 157

5 (I think) Warp Spiders: Exarch, Withdraw, Extra Death Spinner: 172

Fire Prism: Holo-Field, Spirit Stones 160

I think this is about right for the first list. I know it includes everything I used, I just can't remember all the unit sizes off the top of my head, and can't find the file with the list in it.
The only real difference the second list had is that it dropped pathfinders for Jetbikes, took a Farseer, in place of the Autarch and I put a wraithlord with a brightlance and missile launcher in to replace the Fire Prism, and increased the squad sizes of the Warp Spiders, and Dire Avengers. The wraith lord seemed to be just about immune to most of his weapons, even the ion blaster only managed to put one wound on it. It was also nice that the wraithlord could shoot back after getting shot, and not have to worry about being shaken like the Fire Prism.

DA are useless against vehicles, and against horde armies (which are usually fast) they shoot once then die. Against shooty armies...they shoot once then die.

Wave Serpents are easily destroyed. Make it a Falcon instead.

Shining Spears should always be max size and the Exarch should have the Shuricannon upgrade. Morale/effectiveness and being able to JSJ are the reasons.

Warp Spiders are ok, but there are better choices for your value. Vypers with 7 S6 shots are good, if a bit fragile. Most of the FA choices are fragile, honestly. Running small squad size spiders limits your effectiveness. Especially against Tau, who will shoot them off the board every time.

as a tau player I can tell you this, the eldar units I HATE the most are falcons (duh), prisms, warp spiders (kill my tanks) and the eldrad avatar combo. My buddy runs three groups of warp spiders and they love to shred tau armor

How many suits and piranhas you use?

How survivable is a Falcon without Vectored Engines. I have heard that it greatly increases their survivability, but I was wondering if a Falcon can do well without it.

I don't run it on my Fire Prism (because I really don't NEED to have it live that much extra).

I run it on my Falcons but only because if the FD haven't gotten out, they don't get wasted by being shot out of their transport.

You can live without it, honestly, depending on your opponent and your tactics.