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I don't get why people are putting down this AWESOME unit in the new Dark Eldar.

As far as I know, they get Infiltration which isn't that the 12 out of sight, 18 in sight deployment? Even if it's table sides they would still make an awesome flanking unit!

They would also make pretty good distractions and with Dark Eldar the less units shooting st you the better.

Now I guess the lack of a decent save could turn people off and maybe I'm just being too optimistic but I'm always gonna run ten in my list, and if they do really well make that TWENTY!

I'm taking them soley for the background/look, but honestly they don't seem good.

Infiltrate with a melee unit is asking to get shot up (though fleet could certainly help)

They need a pain token to get a meh shooting weapon

Sure their save is invuln, but its only 5+ and only 3T

S3, no power weapon, and like 2A? Good luck killing anything

Doesn't benefit from pain tokens outside of shooting attack

asimo77 wrote:I'm taking them soley for the background/look, but honestly they don't seem good.

Infiltrate with a melee unit is asking to get shot up (though fleet could certainly help)

They need a pain token to get a meh shooting weapon

Sure their save is invuln, but its only 5+ and only 3T

S3, no power weapon, and like 2A? Good luck killing anything

Doesn't benefit from pain tokens outside of shooting attack

Well, take into consideration the squads you will be assaulting with them.

After about turn 3-4 anything the assault should at least be a couple models down from their original number, plus they look awesome

They do look pretty kickass, I was thinking painting the glowly runes a different colour on each model. So, like 1 red, 1 blue, 1 green,1 purple, and 1 orange or something. Skittles mandrakes ftw!

Also I suppose they could take out some guardsmen, firewarriors, guardians, and the like. I think they are cheap iirc which would be nice.

asimo77 wrote:They do look pretty kickass, I was thinking painting the glowly runes a different colour on each model. So, like 1 red, 1 blue, 1 green,1 purple, and 1 orange or something. Skittles mandrakes ftw!

Also I suppose they could take out some guardsmen, firewarriors, guardians, and the like. I think they are cheap iirc which would be nice.

Painting them brown looks awesome, they have some of them painted with brown flames in the codex, I'll paint my purple for the colour of my Skaven's warpstone.

and you are right, 30 bucks for 5 guys with only 3 different sculpts is alittle meaning to make a full squad it would be 60 bucks ( more )

I haven't REALLY started DE I'm that guy who's holding up the bandwagon from leaving ( wait I forgot something....gotta use the bathroom.....my friend should be coming on soon can we wait for him.....ect. ) I'm mainly considering them because they are soo unique in playstyle and models look great.

I especially like Hellions

Brown flames? I dunno about that, seems like something I'll have to see in person. Also I meant cheap pointswise, though I only plan on ever using 5 anyway.

My idea for a list would center around a really charismatic archon, so he has a large kabalite core aka lotsa warriors, trueborn, raiders, and ravagers; but his influence allowed him to hire/employ a few wyches, scourges, incubi and drakes. No haemoniculi themed units thought, except for maybe a talos/chronos if they ever make a new model for it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also no hellions, street punks are beneath my archon

Btw what's the deal with reavers? Mercs? Gangs? Wych cults?

let us compare Mandrakes and Wyches, - is a downside for mandrakes, 0 is neutral, + is a upside for mandrakes


- Mandrakes are 15 pts a model, Wyches are 10

- Mandrakes will struggle to get a charge in before turn 2, about the same as wyches with a transport.

- Mandrakes can not get power weapons, while wyches can, and they get the special ccws as well.

- Mandrakes have fewer attacks.

- Mandrakes can not score

0 Mandrakes have a worse save in CC, but a better save vs shooting.

0 Mandrakes can shoot with ap4 with a pain token, but the wyches have 4+ poison all the time. Each has their uses

+ Mandrakes have stealth

+ Mandrakes can infiltrate

+ Mandrakes can outflank

To sum up: Mandrakes WITH a pain token would be great, IF they could score. Stealth and FNP makes for a difficult unit to kill if they are in cover. People like SM scouts and Eldar Rangers because they can sit in the backfield and take an objective. Mandrakes are not really good in assault, not really good shooting, not scoring.

The best use I see for them is to infiltrate them as a protection against units with Scout moves. You can set them up in the midfield and string them out and you can prevent suicide copters, Baal preds, Vendettas, or scout bikers from getting close enough to your mob of skimmers and tearing them apart on the first turn. Other than that, I simply do not see ways for them to make up their points by killing things. The only way for them to get a pain token is either to have a Hemi join them, or send one to them from a Cronos. Then after they get the pain token, they can move to contest an objective or harass light infantry.

Just to make sure the only thing pain tokens do for them is the shooting attack when they earn 1 right? No FNP, FC, or fearless? Also are they fearless right off the bat?

svendrex wrote:let us compare Mandrakes and Wyches, - is a downside for mandrakes, 0 is neutral, + is a upside for mandrakes


- Mandrakes are 15 pts a model, Wyches are 10

- Mandrakes will struggle to get a charge in before turn 2, about the same as wyches with a transport.

- Mandrakes can not get power weapons, while wyches can, and they get the special ccws as well.

- Mandrakes have fewer attacks.

- Mandrakes can not score

0 Mandrakes have a worse save in CC, but a better save vs shooting.

0 Mandrakes can shoot with ap4 with a pain token, but the wyches have 4+ poison all the time. Each has their uses

+ Mandrakes have stealth

+ Mandrakes can infiltrate

+ Mandrakes can outflank

To sum up: Mandrakes WITH a pain token would be great, IF they could score. Stealth and FNP makes for a difficult unit to kill if they are in cover. People like SM scouts and Eldar Rangers because they can sit in the backfield and take an objective. Mandrakes are not really good in assault, not really good shooting, not scoring.

The best use I see for them is to infiltrate them as a protection against units with Scout moves. You can set them up in the midfield and string them out and you can prevent suicide copters, Baal preds, Vendettas, or scout bikers from getting close enough to your mob of skimmers and tearing them apart on the first turn. Other than that, I simply do not see ways for them to make up their points by killing things. The only way for them to get a pain token is either to have a Hemi join them, or send one to them from a Cronos. Then after they get the pain token, they can move to contest an objective or harass light infantry.

You forgot
+++++++++++++++++++++++++Mandrakes have kick models

Use the Mandrake Models for the Wracks?

People have been making the same arguments for Mandrakes as a distraction since the rules were leaked and its a fallacy. They take up an elite slot and cost as much as a space marine. They start with no shooting and will lose too even the most basic tactical squad. Basically Mandrakes do too things well: hide from your opponent and hope they're ignored for the whole game, and look pretty on the table top. Try anything else and you'll be putting them back in your case in no time flat.

Two problems:

One, they've only got three poses in a 5+ model unit, and they aren't regimented enough to get away with the identical stances.

Two, as Evilsponge says, they aren't dangerous enough to act as a distraction and flanking unit instead of just being largely ignored.