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Hi All,

I'm considering how to adapt my mech list towards 5th edition GT play. Here's a try at mixed bike-Serpents with high Troops numbers (relatively) and low KPs. Points are approximate, as I'm currently traveling and sans codex. I think it's pointed high, and I'll have a bit more room to adjust. Comments and criticism appreciated, and explanations are below. Something like this might go to Vegas with me, and a good portion of it (bike units) would be my Exodite models. Using the Exodites is the main reason I'm not going back to advancing foot for the GT.


Eldar Mech 1750

Jetbike Autarch with lance, fusion gun, mandihat 160?

Bike Farseer with Fortune, spear, runes of warding 126?

10 DAs incl Exarch with PW/SS, Bladestorm, Defend 177?
Wave Serpent, stones, VE, TL BL 165?

10 DAs incl Exarch with PW/SS, Bladestorm, Defend 177?
Wave Serpent, stones, VE, TL BL 165?

10 DAs incl Exarch with PW/SS, Bladestorm, Defend 177?
Wave Serpent, stones, VE, TL BL 165?

3 jetbikes, shuricannon, warlock with Destructor, spear 137?

4 Shining Spears, exarch with Withdraw, skilled rider 205?

4 Shining Spears, exarch with Withdraw, skilled rider 205?


[1759?]

46 models (d'oh!), 4 Troops choices, 14 KPs.


Tactics

Organized around the idea of anvils and hammers, DA squads being the anvils and the Spears being the hammers.

First turn: The Farseer Fortunes a DA unit likely to see combat, or a unit of Spears plus Autarch. DAs either go forwards 12" and jump out into cover to bladestorm first turn, or go forwards 24" (to get close to objectives or approach refused flanks) and Bladestorm and assault on 2nd turn. Spears stay out of the line of fire as much as possible first turn, turbo-boosting. If AV10 targets present themselves, Spears go after them first turn. The jetbike unit hunts vehicles, as do the Autarch and Farseer, if possible.

Second turn: The enemy closes in or the Eldar do. Fast enemy may engage the DAs. As soon as the enemy hits the DAs or the DAs hit the enemy, the Spears charge in to finish the job. 3 anvils and 2 hammers should allow me a bit of flexibility. This will require practice. I've never been great with Spears, but given 3 anvils to bounce off of and two Spear units, I hope to get better with them by Vegas.

Later turns: If I can get a round of anti-tank/sniping fire in, a Bladestorm volley from at least two DA units, and two Spear charges, I think I'll be doing well. With incoming casualties, I think that's still doable. C&C on why that may or may not be likely appreciated.


Concerns

My anti-tank setup seems questionable here, and I would like your opinions on it. I have 6 S8+ anti-tank weapons, all at least BS4 (or BS3 with TL), and 8 to 9 S6 weapons for light vehicles. All of these are highly mobile. Unfortunately, none of them are on dedicated anti-tank units, and half the S8+ weapons are short-ranged (albeit on bikes). Advice on the viability of this approach (and how to fix it if you have a better idea) would be appreciated, but I'll probably end up playtesting this setup to see if I can make it work. I feel a bit naked without my Dragons, but I'm trying to adjust to life post-Falcon.

Another issue: the Serpents' fragility. In 4th, I would only use Wave Serpents if I was spamming skimmers, and would never put anything important in Serpents unless I had a duplicate of that unit. In 5th, with SMF giving a save, Fortune (under the .pdf) able to give a re-roll, and the Energy Field rule, Serpents will be more robust. I think I'm fine with 3 here, but was considering scrapping one unit of Spears and picking up a Serpent full of, say, Banshees, or a Falcon full of Harlies in order to get the skimmer spam effect. Advice is again appreciated on both the wisdom of adding another Serpent and the wisdom of subbing in Harlies for Spears in this list.


Thanks for reading. See y'all in Vegas!

Bump.

I'm starting paint on these puppies Friday, so advice would be great in the meantime. I really don't want to do another Serpent, but whatever. Exodites on lizards are the carrot that will get me through painting another 10 DAs and the stupid skimmer tank.

I'm running 2 of the Wave serpent DA combos like you and find them very effective. Though in my games I keep them on the boat until turn 2 or 3. Turn 1 is spent moving from behind cover and firing their BL, Turn 2 firing again if they were unsuccessful, and Turn 3 getting out for a bladestorm.
The unit is pretty durable after the initial impact but do begin to wilt after the second round of combat.

Your Lancers and the autarch should really help with this, I am however a little concerned about scoring units in 5th as you only have 3(from what I understand).

For 4th Edition it looks really solid but I would recommend Doom instead of fortune.

Your HQ's are easily killed by tough CC HQ's.

I don't think much of DA units, and I think even less of Wave Serpents.

Failed your cover save? Dead transports, first turn.

DA have very limited uses, and if they aren't firing right at enemy infantry are totally worthless units.

Honestly it isn't impressive. Looks easy to handle.

Oooh- forgot that only Troops _on foot_ are scoring. Maybe I'll pull the jetbikes out in favor of something on foot. Damn. Maybe some Pathfinders? They're not terribly mobile or robust, though, so using them to grab or hold objectives might be foolish.

A unit of Guardians on foot with scatterlaser and Warlock might come in handy, but I'm hesitant to introduce an element with such differing mobility.

I guess I could cut the bikes and one unit of Spears to add either another DA unit or that Falcon full of Harlies that I was contemplating...

Suggestions welcome.

If you really want to make a (IMO!! ) better list...you need to run guardians in wave serpents.

As cheesy as the Falcon Harlie combo is... it is just damn effective.

My list runs 2 Harlie + 2 Falcons, 2 DA + Serpents, Doomseer + Fire Prism

It is incredibly beardy IMO for a 4th edition army.

You have a small footprint 5 vehicles that you will most likely be able to hide behind cover, completely nullifying turn 1.

With your list I think the DA will act as a good tarpit for the Shining Spears. The only downside is that they won't be as good as harlies if they are counter charged.
Also if you are going for Exodites I would stick with that theme.

The jetbikes, I am not found of the unit in general or the models I should add, could easily be swapped out for pathfinders and I would recommend doing just that.