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So exactly like the title says, I'm fascinated by the fluff of the Dark Eldar, and they're one of the coolest-looking factions in a universe absolutely bursting at the seams with cool-looking factions... but they're a third-edition army. Now I've heard that they're getting a new codex, but I don't know any of the details there... and I also know that wherever I go to buy my minis I'll pay a little extra for Dark Eldar, since most vendors will be selling brand new 4th and 5th edition armies, whereas 3rd edition armies don't get much love.

So how feasible is it to start a Dark Eldar army? Can they still be competitive? When is this new codex coming out, and will there be a new model line coming out with it (which would make me want to wait before I buy any minis)?

Am I thoroughly insane for wanting to play Dark Eldar at all?

I've never played against DE or as DE, but from what I've read they are still a very competitive race to play. The only problem apparently is their models are a bit dated.

Noc

I kind of want to start one too, but not until the new codex hits. I made that mistake with Bretonnians about 2 years ago. Didn't realize how outdated the codex was until I bought 6000 points of the army. Now that 8th edition has been released, the army is pretty much tabled until we get a new codex, since our one trick, the charge has been made a randomized roll.

Stay away from DE until the new codex.

Greetings.

DE are supposedly getting a new Codex this November (as in, they are next). Keep in mind that for the last 10 years, DE has been getting updated "This year." so its worth saying, "With a grain of salt." Dark Eldar *are* both competitive and powerful. I've been taking mine around the country on the GT circuit and mostly winning. If I were in your shoes, I would wait until November. That's 5 months away if you can wait that long. No guarantee of a new codex but the rumors and indicators are stronger than they have ever been, so things are looking good.

Harlequins are supposedly making their way into the codex, leaving wyches and harlequins covering both the troop and elite slots, all the weapons are becoming STR2 instead of STR3, but are getting poison so that they all wound on a 4+, (rerolls on Gretchin, ha!). Raiders are becoming 12/10/10 open-topped instead of 10/10/10 open-topped. There's other stuff that's been talked about as well, but I haven't followed it religiously. I actually like my DE just as they are, and would pit them up against any army and any player and bet money on myself.

There are only two armies and two builds out there that scare DE - Mech IG that are "Leafblower" variants: If they go first, DE are in SERIOUS trouble. If DE go first, it'll at least be a good fight. The other problematic army is missile launcher spam / razorback spam Space Wolf armies. Also much deadlier if they go first. Every GT that I've attended this year has FAQed that the Nightmare Doll works (which helps influence going first). While the INAT FAQ rules against it, Yakface has mentioned that he may need to re-evaluate it because there's been much precedent since they made that ruling (IG, SW, BA) for the Nightmare Doll working.

Now I'm rambling, so I'll stop. What you should do is PM Clthomps and Thor665 - they're Dakka's resident DE experts.

Like Dash said, if you can wait until more solid info comes out that may be your best bet, but overall there are some questions:
1. How competitive do you want to be?
2. Do you want to use a fun build or a competitive build with the army? (Sort of ties in to #1)
3. Do you like the old models?
4. Are you insane? (I say no)

But in reality playing what you want how you want is your choice, just don't be discouraged by a massive beatdown. Not that I'm saying they are bad in any way. For how old they are they are still good, I mean just look at Dash here!

I'm a long time DE player.
DE is still competitive but since more than 3 years they hit the shelf.
I'm willing to bring them back to battle field if they get a new codex.
I suggest to wait until a new codex comes out. Its rumored that this happens in autumn.

From my own experience DE are a devastating force, we can cripple some armies and just massacre others. But there is a draw back a bad round of rolling will cripple you, unlike with IG or space marines where a bad round of rolling dice won't be as bad it is just horrorifyng to what it does to DE. You either win big or lose big with DE.

Moreover, DE have paper-thin skimmers.
Raiders can be taken down by bolters and Ravagers only require heavy bolters to fall from the sky.
Furthermore, DE have only a few units that can be taken in competitive play.
Units like Grotesques, Mandrakes, Reaver Jetbikes, Hellions, Taloi are hard to use effectively.

DE are a Glass Cannon - there's no argument there.

The same things you do in other armies to offset bad rolling work with DE as well...my bad shooting rolling is legendary.

Bad rolling is not something which is more critical with DE than with other armies.

Once my Archon charged a Squigoth (6 wounds) from a Wildork army with 2 wounds left.
He had 6 attacks on the charge, with rerolls, 6 hits, but the rolling to wound was really bad, only 1's, 2's and 3'. So here agonizer failed. It was years ago but I'm still shrugging.

Well,the models suck, but I've herd they're fun to play. I'd say go for it, but in a couple months.

I should clarify a couple of points:

When I ask if they remain competitive, the truth is I'm not terribly worried about tournament play, so if there are a couple of specialized armies out there that can kick the crap out of them, that's alright by me. I mostly want to make fellow players at my local game store weep, which is always a good time.

The bottom line, though, is that I play to have fun, and I don't mind losing from time to time.

As far as being a glass cannon, that actually sounds right up my alley - that's very much my style of play in any game, tabletop or otherwise. Dish out as much hurt as possible, curl up in a ball and hope it doesn't come right back at me.

It sounds like DE are very much my style, and since I'm so enamored with their fluff and their aesthetics, this sounds like it's worth doing.

I think I'm going to go ahead and start a smallish force, that way if the new codex cripples it, I won't have dumped too much green on it. Maybe stay around 1000 points or so, use them in smaller games or 2v2s.

My biggest problem is that I have yet to find an army that really truly zings me on the battlefield. I started with Spess Mehreens, like them, but grew a bit bored with being the jack-of-all-trades. Tried Orks, grew bored with using a single strategy every time I played (your standard Green Tide). Tried Eldar, too much of a newbie to make it really work. Trying Tau now, and so far liking it, but I don't know if it'll stick.

I'm excited about giving DE a try.

Thanks for all the input.

In the AOBR rulebook the reference section for Dark Eldar is screwed up. Where it says "Range" it lists the weapon, where it says "Strength", it lists the range, etc.

Tried Eldar, too much of a newbie to make it really work.

Well, DE is for the advanced player, hands down.
Same for Eldar, but DE is absolutely unforgiving.

SaintHazard wrote:I should clarify a couple of points:

When I ask if they remain competitive, the truth is I'm not terribly worried about tournament play, so if there are a couple of specialized armies out there that can kick the crap out of them, that's alright by me. I mostly want to make fellow players at my local game store weep, which is always a good time.

The bottom line, though, is that I play to have fun, and I don't mind losing from time to time.

As far as being a glass cannon, that actually sounds right up my alley - that's very much my style of play in any game, tabletop or otherwise. Dish out as much hurt as possible, curl up in a ball and hope it doesn't come right back at me.

It sounds like DE are very much my style, and since I'm so enamored with their fluff and their aesthetics, this sounds like it's worth doing.

I think I'm going to go ahead and start a smallish force, that way if the new codex cripples it, I won't have dumped too much green on it. Maybe stay around 1000 points or so, use them in smaller games or 2v2s.

My biggest problem is that I have yet to find an army that really truly zings me on the battlefield. I started with Spess Mehreens, like them, but grew a bit bored with being the jack-of-all-trades. Tried Orks, grew bored with using a single strategy every time I played (your standard Green Tide). Tried Eldar, too much of a newbie to make it really work. Trying Tau now, and so far liking it, but I don't know if it'll stick.

I'm excited about giving DE a try.

Thanks for all the input.

Sounds like they could work quite well for you then. As you mentioned, starting with a small force may be a good route to take, but I would go even less than 1k until the book comes out. Maybe like 750.

CrazyThang wrote:Sounds like they could work quite well for you then. As you mentioned, starting with a small force may be a good route to take, but I would go even less than 1k until the book comes out. Maybe like 750.

Only problem is I usually never end up in any 1v1 games smaller than 1000 points, or 2v2 games smaller than 2000 points. So there's not much I could do with 750, and I don't mind dropping the extra dollars on another squad or two to bump it up to 1000.

wuestenfux wrote:Well, DE is for the advanced player, hands down.
Same for Eldar, but DE is absolutely unforgiving.

If that's true, I may have difficulty, but they at least seem less specialized by-unit than Eldar... I'll have to see. Still want to give it a try. If it turns out I'm too green to make it work, I'll just table them until I get more playtime and experience under my belt.

If you dont mind waiting I'd hold out to see if the new codex and model rumors are true later this year. Though if you want to dive in and get an army thats doable also. for a second edition codex they're surprisingly competitive as they're so unorthodox compared to most armies these days. With wych cult armies and warrior armies both able to lay down some hurt on the table. Dark Eldar was my first army. Never regretted it. To this day I never had so much fun and success in equal measure in a 40k army.

I am an irregular and average (at best) 40K player and can honestly say I have no problems using them against a variety of forces. Raiders are fragile - but at 55pts a fast skimmer with a 36" range S8 AP 2 Lance and BS4 works well against many forces.

Archon and Incubi are great - gotta love Combat drugs, Punishers / Agonisers and Shadow Field. In 7 is also fun these days

I find they play as the fluff describes which helps

re the models - the Wyches are great, I like the troops and the female Lord is cool.

They are fun to play - lots of things die - on both sides -which is what I want from 40k!