Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Eldar Jetbikes, do they work better in a mechanized or foot list? Can you make a good hybrid army with Jetbikers as troops? What about Shining Spears and the Seer Council? Would a Shining Spear unit be a better addition to a foot army?

Mechanized list to be sure, since they share the jetbike's mobility.

Probably, though taking just three to five man squads usually won't do the trick. You need some squads with oomph, a single large squad with an IC wouldn't be terrible, in addition to some medium sized squads.

Seer council on bikes? Amazing, tons of uses, either as heavy flamer transportation, or a tough as nails hammer unit, that can multi assault vehicles, realistically taking out three or four (maybe more!) against imperial guard or razorback space marines. IF they pack in well enough.

Shining spears, one unit will do jack - diddly. A seer council probably would, since they could survive alot more.

Shining spears can destroy small MEQ squads, perhaps after you soften up with enough shuriken cannon's, or prisms. Really the only thing they have going for them, they can destroy the odd vehicle or two, just not as reliably without a fusion gun or singing spear.

min squads of jetbikes with 1 cannon = cheapest and most annoying eldar troop choice. Just keep them in reseve till late game and swoop out and take objectives can't tell you how many times they have just annoyed the crap out of me. They are great

Myself, I like thems bikejets. I think they're a nice, quick troop choice. They're not entirely tough or cheap, but they can be multi-purpose and great for stealing objective, similarly, they won't be a major threat so they won't be targeted too much, compensating for their fragility.

- Seer Council - On bikes, these are rated to be one of the deadliest units in the game. They possess an array of heavy flamers and strength 9 (vs. vehicles) attacks, combined with wounding on a 2+ and assault weapons. They're (very) hard-hitting (although they don't have too many attacks IMHO), but when combined with fortune to give them 3+,4++ re-rollable, they can fight against the best the game can offer. On real problem: their cost.

- Vypers - Over costed in almost all cases, further hampered by fragility and BS3. Occasionally they can be good for providing even more str6 attacks via scatter lasers and shurican cannons.

- Shining Spears - Hard hitting, but (really) bad in pro-longed assaults. If they're supported and target MeQ's and vehicles then they can work, but they're still 35pts each...

- Guardian Jetbikes - I think they're quite good. A fast troop choice, perfect for harassing the enemy and stealing objectives. IMHO a 5 man squad with a warlock w/ embolden gives you a fairly durable, fast, troop choice, capable of attacking armour (witchblade/spear) and harassing infantry (shuriken catapults/cannons). However, jetbikes aren't any tougher than a Space Marine but cost 22pts each. I wouldn't advise basing an army around them, but a couple on the sides are great IMO.

Inquisitor_Syphonious wrote:Mechanized list to be sure, since they share the jetbike's mobility.

Probably, though taking just three to five man squads usually won't do the trick. You need some squads with oomph, a single large squad with an IC wouldn't be terrible, in addition to some medium sized squads.

Seer council on bikes? Amazing, tons of uses, either as heavy flamer transportation, or a tough as nails hammer unit, that can multi assault vehicles, realistically taking out three or four (maybe more!) against imperial guard or razorback space marines. IF they pack in well enough.

Shining spears, one unit will do jack - diddly. A seer council probably would, since they could survive alot more.

Shining spears can destroy small MEQ squads, perhaps after you soften up with enough shuriken cannon's, or prisms. Really the only thing they have going for them, they can destroy the odd vehicle or two, just not as reliably without a fusion gun or singing spear.

Which is why they're good with a laser lance/power weapon-mandiblaster-fusion gun Autarch on a bike. He's a good addition to the Seer Council too, adding some nice PW-punch, but Spears alone are a lack-lustre unit.

I love Eldar Jetbikes, especially the Seer Council, for their versatility. Guardians get JSJ with Shuricannons, making them great backline snipers, turbo-boosting when someone gets too close. I've used the doom/fortune council with two squads of 7 GJB (2 cannons, 1 embolden warlock with spear) alongside a 5 man squad of DA in a Falcon with Eldrad and a pair of Prisms. I'm pretty sure that's 1750ish with vehicle upgrades and warlock powers. It's very mobile, packs a good punch, and forces your opponent to carefully make target selection. Do they shoot the council that can shrug off substantial firepower or the prisms or the falcon?

@Gavin Thorne

Yup, but at that point you can afford much more nastier toys.

dumplingman wrote:min squads of jetbikes with 1 cannon = cheapest and most annoying eldar troop choice. Just keep them in reseve till late game and swoop out and take objectives can't tell you how many times they have just annoyed the crap out of me. They are great

This.

I actually think that Jetbikes dont' work at all in a mech army. In an all mech army if you put jetbikes in your just giving their heavy bolters and other anti-infantry weapons something they can hurt. I think bikes only place is in a pure list (not a great competitive list) or attached to a foot list as they won't be drawing anymore fire than normal there.

I'm personally considering a bike list. We'll see if it happens

Hulksmash wrote:I actually think that Jetbikes dont' work at all in a mech army. In an all mech army if you put jetbikes in your just giving their heavy bolters and other anti-infantry weapons something they can hurt. I think bikes only place is in a pure list (not a great competitive list) or attached to a foot list as they won't be drawing anymore fire than normal there.

I'm personally considering a bike list. We'll see if it happens

I would tend to agree with you except for the Jetbike Seer Council is durable enough to stand up to most of the pain. They are so much more resilient and mobile than a wave serpent council, and they make a much better place to put an autarch.

For squad mounted heavy weapons, the opponent has to choose between using a heavy against your big stuff, or taking bolter shots at your squishy stuff, so that can be good. But for weapons like Heavy Bolters and such, you're giving them a much better target by presenting Jetbikes. On the other hand, a few casualties off a Jetbike squad won't prevent that Jetlock from flinging destructor or a singing spear, or the shuriken cannon from firing.

Hulksmash wrote:I actually think that Jetbikes dont' work at all in a mech army. In an all mech army if you put jetbikes in your just giving their heavy bolters and other anti-infantry weapons something they can hurt. I think bikes only place is in a pure list (not a great competitive list) or attached to a foot list as they won't be drawing anymore fire than normal there.

I'm personally considering a bike list. We'll see if it happens

They work damn well in a mechanized army. If you start them on the table, they will be targeted, though they're usually occupied with my council and walkers by the time mine come in from reserve, turbo-boosting in the complete rear keeps them safe enough if they come in too early. They just late turn objective snatch.