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Hi all, so I haven't played 40K since 3E and I'm just starting up again. I've got some old Eldar and am looking to make a list for 5E (seems like a solid edition btw). I want to make a relatively competitive list, but I'll also freely admit that some units I'm choosing simply because I really want to paint them.

-HQ-

Farseer *130*
Doom
Fortune
Spirit stones


-Troop-

10 Dire Avengers *307*
Exarch with shimmershield, bladestorm, and defend
Wave Serpent with EML and stones

6 Pathfinders *144*


-Elites-

8 Firedragons *270*
Exarch with dragons breath and crackshot
Waveserpent with Scatter Lasers and stones

8 Striking Scorpions *310*
Exarch with claw, shadowstrike, and stalker
Waveserpent with EMLs and stones


-Heavy support-

Fire Prism *115*

Fire Prism *115*

Total is *1391*


So I still have a couple points to play with, and I could lose a guy or two out of some squads, upgrade/downgrade vehicles slightly etc etc. Lets say I have up to 150 or so points to play with if I want to change things up a bit.

About this list, I looked at a bunch of different options (I do love the choices the Eldar have) and finally decided on mostly mechanized. The list is pretty mobile, but doesn't necessarily do any one thing that well. A couple of notes about my particular choices;

Scorpions, personally I'm not sold on them stats wise, I think that Harlies would be the better choice in almost all circumstances, however I really want to paint some scorpions, thus they stay. Fire dragons are great. I thought about doing a smaller sized squad, but honestly I feel that with 8 I can drop them in front of a larger (8+) marine squad or other nasty elite squad and have a decent chance of crippling it. With only 6 firedragons, I feel that their chances of destroying such a squad is very iffy. Exarch has the flamer to help against hordes, and as long as he can cover 3-4 meqs should kill just as many as if he had a pike.

Troops, I only have 2 picks which has me a bit nervous. The dire Avengers can either move forward to engage, or hold back to counter attack depending on the opponent. They're definitely a tar pit unit, however its arguable whether the scorps are enough of a HtH unit to get them out of trouble once engaged. Bottom line on them is that I really liked the models, not sure if they should have a ride, but I figured if I was going to go meq.... Pathfinders are a potentially nasty troops choice. Honestly I'm not sure how much they will affect games, but they're relatively cheap, and give me an objective holder. They're also 6 quick painting models...

Fireprisms seem amazing in this edition. They're kinda squishy, but with their range, and ability to come on turn one and still engage almost the whole table, coupled with their low points cost I couldn't think of a better heavy choice. I could easily fit another one in with my remaining points, but like I stated earlier this is a semi fun army. I don't usually find it fun to pick all the same units. More on this later.

HQ, I have a farseer, this is probably the choice that I know the least about. Should I go farseer, should I get an autarch instead, the Avatar, Eldrad, I just don't know. I figure a generic farseer, without too many toys is probably a good compromise that should work pretty well with most of my units, and against most armies. As a side note about my farseer, I refuse to do a council on jetbikes. Laugh all you want, but it doesn't appeal to me aesthetically.

So my question is what to do with the remaining 120-150 points. An easy, obvious choice would be another fireprism. As stated earlier, I'd like to avoid this, as I see myself playing mostly semi friendly games that I'd like to use as many different units in as possible. I like how the Wraithlord looks, and have an unassembled kit for one. I've thought about taking one with a sword and EML (or even a cheaper gun). With 2 fireprisms, and the dragons I figure my anti tank should be at least ok, so a brightlance EML one would be overkill. Some sort of 3rd troop choice is another option, potentially a guardian squad with a Scatter or EML, or maybe a smallish jetbike squad.

A final thought is taking 3 warwalkers with shuriken cannons. This only costs 120, and can come on a table edge, plus I love the new models (but not pricetag). I realize that the 3rd fireprism would probably be better, still I think there might be some merit in the warwalkers. They're fairly squishy, however if an enemy decides to shoot at them, they aren't shooting the rest of my army which is also fairly squishy. Their ability to damage the enemy is pretty solid for 120 points, and the ability to come onto a side edge is potentially worrisome. The scorpions can also come on a side edge, and the walkers, scorpions, and waveserpent all coming on a side is a significant number of targets. I realize scatter lasers are better, but the idea behind the S cannons is that they're cheap.

Anyway I realize this isn't a razorsharp tourney list, what I'm really looking for is a list thats solid, and will give me a chance to play with, and paint a lot of different units. I'd love to hear any ideas about what I should look out for, what really needs to change, and finally what I should do with the last chunk of points I have. I'm also not sure exactly where to put the farseer (or even if I should take him)

-Accident

Drop the Pathfinders. They give your opponent a focus and he will eventually move towards them. If so, you eventually react on his move. But this is not what you want, since with a mech army you want to target him where he is weakest.
If you play mech, play totally mech. I suggest to add another DA squad in a Serpent.

I'd say that with Fire Prisms, it's all or nothing. 2 just doesn't cut it. One will always be shaken, or you'll get a weapon blown off and you just won't get to drop that nice combined template. Go 3 or none.

I'd drop the Fire Dragons and pick up another unit of troops, or drop the Rangers for a 2nd squad of Dire Avengers. You said you like the Wraith lord and War Walkers. Have you considered one or two Wraithlords, a squadron of War Walkers and maybe even the Vypers?

Whatever your choice of weapons, use the magnet trick! IF you go with all Shuriken Cannon you may regret not being able to change them out later.