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If you're reading this thread's title and asking yourself why in the hell a newcommer would want to play Dark Eldar, look here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/289403.page.

That said, I have read much about DE on this site and others. I know that mech is very "in" in 5E, meaning that Dark Lance spam is an inevitable list choke-hold. This is fine though, list linearity and low comp scores in tournys don't worry me one bit. That said, here is my list for 1500 points at this time (sorry if these point totals are wrong, I'm new at this):

x1 Dracon (Shadow Field, Combat Drugs, Agonizer, Splinter Pistol)
Retinue with x4 Incubi and x3 Warriors (x2 with Dark Lance)
Raider

x2 5 Wyches (2 Blasters)
Raider

x6 5 Warriors (Dark Lances)
Raider

x3 Ravagers (Disentregators)

Thats a lot of Dark Lances Batman. Not sure yet if Nightshields are worth it. My local metagame (not sure if this is kosher in Warhammer or not) is amok with armor; figured it would be critical in surviving. This is obviously a gunboat list. However, it sort of seems as this is pretty much the only competitive way to go. I'm fine with this.

1850 list looks something like:

Dracon with agonize, pistol, 4 incubi, 3 warriors with 2 DLs, raider
Dracon with agonize, pistol, 4 incubi, 3 warriors with 2 DLs, raider

2 x 5 wyches with 2 blasters, raider

6 x raider squads with 6 warriors, DLs, blaster

3x ravager with 3 DLs
With 47 points left over

This is copied directly from James Grimaldi. He seems to know what he is doing (while I do not) I'm not even sure if this list is good (hence why I am asking for help here).

As for 2000, I am lost. I have read many places that this is the "sweet spot" for DE while anything above this (especially 2500+) things start getting dicey. I would love to hear anything anyone has to say about my lists, any input is good input!

For someone new to DE you seem to have a good (and common) list. The only advice i can give is that incubi are by far one of the best dark eldar units i would almost recommend taking more especially in high point games. With a second Dracon maybe.

im not much of a fan of the IC and MC killer dracons/archons. i much prefer the troop murderer but whatever you prefer eh? i personally say that you should switch your ravagers to dissintegrator ravagers. or at least 2 of them. the S7 ap2 small blast is very potent and for me always seems to do well in any match i play. give the wych squads wych weapons and a succubus with agoniser (there more of a tarpit unit and the agoniser makes them great for it,as does the wych weapons) also might want to add in plasma grenades. im more of a fan of the 5 incubi retinue, as 5(6 if your lord is using agoniser/punisher) as anything it touches usually goes poof(or you go poof).

for the night shields i think there good for your H.Q., and your ravagers. the raiders can have a horror fex, which can decide you the game in some circumstances. and since you say your lost at 2k well..heres my list:

H.Q. 265

Dracon 265
Combat drugs
Tormentor helm
Shadow Field
Punisher
Retinue: incubi (5) 125
Raider

Elites 513

Wyches (6) 171
Raider transport
Wych weapons
Succubus w/ agoniser
2 with blasters

Wyches (6) 171
Raider transport
Wych weapons
Succubus w/ agoniser
2 with blasters

Wyches (6) 171
Raider transport
Wych weapons
Succubus w/ agoniser
2 with blasters



Troops 630

Raider squad (5) 105
Raider w/ dark lance
5 warriors (1 dark lance)

Raider squad (5) 105
Raider w/ dark lance
5 warriors (1 dark lance)

Raider squad (5) 105
Raider w/ dark lance
5 warriors (1 dark lance)

Raider squad (5) 105
Raider w/ dark lance
5 warriors (1 dark lance)

Raider squad (5) 105
Raider w/ dark lance
5 warriors (1 dark lance)

Raider squad (5) 105
Raider w/ dark lance
5 warriors (1 dark lance)


Fast attack 190

RJB (3) 95
2 blasters

RJB (3) 95
2 blasters

Heavy Support 360

Ravager 120
3 disints

Ravager 120
3 disints

Ravager 120
3 disints




Automatically Appended Next Post:
just be sure to remember that your faster then most other armies (barring mechdar and sometimes tau)

Greetings.

I ran a similar DE list for quite some time, and it simply isn't a "take-all-comers" build.

Mechanized IG will murder this list every time. Your dark lances are one shot 3+ to hit, 4+ to glance against their chimeras....while their chimeras are 4+ to hit, 4+ to glance - and they have 3x the number of shots that you do. And that's before you get to the lascannons, battle cannons, vendettas, leman russ battle tanks, autocannon heavy weapon teams, hydra flak tanks....

Even going first, you're not going to be able to realistically math-hammer out doing more than stunning/shaking a couple and maybe wrecking or exploding one.

The list rocks against every other army in existence. But against mech IG, it is the sad paper to Mech IG's gigantic scissors.

Dashofpepper wrote:Greetings.

I ran a similar DE list for quite some time, and it simply isn't a "take-all-comers" build.

Mechanized IG will murder this list every time. Your dark lances are one shot 3+ to hit, 4+ to glance against their chimeras....while their chimeras are 4+ to hit, 4+ to glance - and they have 3x the number of shots that you do. And that's before you get to the lascannons, battle cannons, vendettas, leman russ battle tanks, autocannon heavy weapon teams, hydra flak tanks....

Even going first, you're not going to be able to realistically math-hammer out doing more than stunning/shaking a couple and maybe wrecking or exploding one.

The list rocks against every other army in existence. But against mech IG, it is the sad paper to Mech IG's gigantic scissors.

I assume you're talking about my 1500 list?

With that said, what is the plan then against Mech IG? More Wyches with blasters to try and take the pressure off of the Raiders? Your post sort of makes the situation look hopeless for the DE player

Meister_Kai wrote:I assume you're talking about my 1500 list?

With that said, what is the plan then against Mech IG? More Wyches with blasters to try and take the pressure off of the Raiders? Your post sort of makes the situation look hopeless for the DE player

Greetings Meister_Kai - already rampaging through the boards I see, welcome again.

Dash is a pessimistic sort but his general outlook is not unreasonable. I cannot speak for Magic but in 40k there are definitely situations where bad match ups happen. Mech IG (Chimera spam in particular, though the others can be almost as nasty) is a particularly bad matchup for DE because what makes us strong is something they are good at killing. Barring odd die rolls if two generals with equal skill sat down with a Raiderspam DE force vs. a IG Chimeraspam force I would put my money on the IG player if I was obligated to lay down cash because odds are he'll win. It is possible with certain maps and certain situations for the DE to win in that matchup, but it will be an uphill battle.

Most armies have matchups that do not favor them. This is one of them for DE, and probably the most glaring.

Thor665 wrote:

Meister_Kai wrote:I assume you're talking about my 1500 list?

With that said, what is the plan then against Mech IG? More Wyches with blasters to try and take the pressure off of the Raiders? Your post sort of makes the situation look hopeless for the DE player

Mech IG (Chimera spam in particular, though the others can be almost as nasty) is a particularly bad matchup for DE because what makes us strong is something they are good at killing. Barring odd die rolls if two generals with equal skill sat down with a Raiderspam DE force vs. a IG Chimeraspam force I would put my money on the IG player if I was obligated to lay down cash because odds are he'll win. It is possible with certain maps and certain situations for the DE to win in that matchup, but it will be an uphill battle.

Most armies have matchups that do not favor them. This is one of them for DE, and probably the most glaring.

The same most definitely applies to Magic; this is something us card players accept and learn to live with. That said, having a list that seemingly "rocks against every other army in existence" certainly doesn't make me that pessimistic.

Also, because I am bad at math apparently, the first 1500 hundred list is above 63 pts. Uh-oh.

But thats just fine, see, I already have another 1500 list for your viewing pleasure (curtesy of "Mashal Laeroth" from Tauonlne)

1500 Dark Eldar "Gunboat"

HQ:
x1 Dracon (Shadow Field, Combat Drugs, Agonizer, Splinter Pistol) w/ Retinue
x3 Warriors (2 Dark Lances) and 4 Incubi.
Mounted in Raider

Elites:
x1 x5 Wyches (2 Blasters).
Mounted in Raider
x1 x4 Warp Beasts w/ 1 Beast Master

Troops:
x6 x5 man Raider Squads (Dark Lances).
Mounted in Raiders

Heavy:
x3 Ravagers (3 Disentregators)

1496 pts

Thats 16 Dark Lances, 2 Blasters, and 9 Disentregators. The Warp Beasts sit in cover and counter attack if needed. If they are shooting at the Warp Beasts and not the Raiders/Ravagers then awesome. The list shoots (and shoots a lot) until opportune time to engage in CC develops. The name of the game is target saturation; too much for the opponent to engage.

What do you guys think?

The only thing that leaps out at me at first glance is the ability to add more shooting. (I crunched the numbers and I think either he's off or you missed some wargear he added).

However, you could take everything listed above and drop the Warp Beasts for an additional squad of Wyches equipped identical to the first. That gives you two speed bump units instead of one and also doubles your blaster count.

Also, in the final analysis, the Shadow Field feels a little wasted in this build since clearly the Dracon isn't really charging until round 4 since he'll be shooting. I guess he can be there to help the Warp Beasts if something infiltrates, but with this list I'd probably just shoot it or move away in any case. I might drop the Shadowfield to buy Blasters for the mini-snipers to help dissuade things that want to deepstrike in near you and to further add to your shooting and mobility capability.

Overall though it's a pretty darn good looking list if you want to go gunline.

Although I do not have a suggestion for your list I want to say welcome to 40K and good luck with the Dark eldar. I am so interested in this thread because I - being a Chaos player - recently got into Dark Eldar and am working on a 1000-1200 pt list from huge deals I got on Ebay. I have only played the list once, so I have no advice to give. But I can say that the army looks like a blast to play. It will be a good change for me and an exciting experience for you!

Good luck!