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I hope that this will be useful to people collecting Dark Eldar. If there's any problems with my maths let me know!

This will be an ongoing thing for me so check for updates and edits until finished...

Skipping beyond the Shardnet and Impaler - IMHO too conditional. So taking a look at the Hydra Gauntlets and the Razorflails...and going with 2 models equipped with Wych Weapons against a WS4 T4 target - stats include charging and a second round of close combat...

Combat Drugs: non applicable

Razorflails = 6 attacks on the charge - hitting on 4s ( 3 ) with reroll ( 4.5 ) wounding on 5s ( 1.5 ) with reroll ( 2.5 )
Razorflails = 4 attacks - hitting on 4s ( 2 ) with reroll ( 2.67 ) wounding on 5s ( 0.89 ) with reroll ( 1.48 )

Paired Razorflails score = 3.98 wounds

Hydra Gauntlets ( average ) = 11 attacks on the charge - hitting on 4s ( 5.5 ) wounding on 5s ( 1.83 )
Hydra Gauntlets ( average ) = 9 attacks - hitting on 4s ( 4.5 ) wounding on 5s ( 1.5 )

Paired Hydra Gauntlets score = 3.33 wounds

Combat Drugs: plus one weapon skill

Razorflails = 6 attacks on the charge - hitting on 3s ( 4 ) with reroll ( 4.67 ) wounding on 5s ( 1.56 ) with reroll ( 2.6 )
Razorflails = 4 attacks - hitting on 3s ( 2.67 ) with reroll ( 3.54 ) wounding on 5s ( 1.18 ) with reroll ( 1.97 )

Paired Razorflails score = 4.57 wounds

Hydra Gauntlets ( average ) = 11 attacks on the charge - hitting on 3s ( 7.33 ) wounding on 5s ( 2.44 )
Hydra Gauntlets ( average ) = 9 attacks - hitting on 3s ( 6 ) wounding on 5s ( 2 )

Paired Hydra Gauntlets score = 4.44 wounds

Combat Drugs: plus one strength

Razorflails = 6 attacks on the charge - hitting on 4s ( 3 ) with reroll ( 4.5 ) wounding on 4s ( 2.25 ) with reroll ( 3.38 )
Razorflails = 4 attacks - hitting on 4s ( 2 ) with reroll ( 2.67 ) wounding on 4s ( 1.34 ) with reroll ( 2.01 )

Paired Razorflails score = 5.39 wounds

Hydra Gauntlets ( average ) = 11 attacks on the charge - hitting on 4s ( 5.5 ) wounding on 4s ( 2.75 )
Hydra Gauntlets ( average ) = 9 attacks - hitting on 4s ( 4.5 ) wounding on 4s ( 2.25 )

Paired Hydra Gauntlets score = 5.00 wounds

Why 4 attacks in round 2? Surely a wych is A1 + a weapon, a verteran is A2+1 and the elite veteran is A3+1?

I was also watching this closely since a wych cult is really what i am interested in with DE.

The shardnet is a specialized "shut down" tool, but i recommend taking 2-3 of them if taking any (they're perfect for those annoying IC, monsters or walkers)

I think the analysis is spot on when it says that hydragauntlets are only better with good luck: they're a gambler's tool

I like the razorflails because they help against higher toughness.

Now i've not been able to get a sight of the new codex, but the worthiness of the weapons also depend on their cost; should they cost too much, perhaps adding another wych to the squad would be just as good in most cases?

Razorflails sound pretty solid, but I'm unsure whether I like shardnets/impalers over the hydra gauntlets (or vice versa) Nets sounds like they could be really annoying to characters, powerfists, and big things, but idk if they'd offer much against the rank and file as I dont imagine too many people will end up b2b with them to make a huge difference. Btw if I remember correctly all the wych weapons were 10pts each.

Phototoxin wrote:Why 4 attacks in round 2? Surely a wych is A1 + a weapon, a verteran is A2+1 and the elite veteran is A3+1?

...and going with 2 models equipped with Wych Weapons against a WS4 T4 target - stats include charging and a second round of close combat...

I'll be including mixed pairs soon - so wanted to start with two models...

ahh brain fart moment

There's also another option, which would be to simply add another wych for the cost.

Generic drawback of wych weapons:
Basically means 1 less wound in the squad and one less splinter pistol shot. That remains true unless the squads are full, obviously. If paid for, it also means an extra haywire grenade carrier.

Against WS4 and T4:

The razorflail is consistently better than 2 wyches when it comes to cc efficiency, although a minor drawback adds to the above: it might become partly obsolete on a drug roll.

The hydra gauntlet is the stinker here. It is (on average) less effective than 2 wyches on the charge. As stated above, it needs to roll a 6 to be more effective than the razorflail. I realistically do not see any reliable benefit for this weapon.

The same conclusions can be drawn with the hekatrix bloodbrides, although in their case, the weapons does not cost as much as an additional trooper, so there's an even greater incentive.

So in the end: Unless going for a "shut down" squad of shardnet impallers, i'd fill up the wych weapon slots with razorflails. Taking another wych seems to be an equally good option, giving more survivability to the squad and more flexibility in its offense (poisoned shot).