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Now I think it's already pretty obvious what I think about the new DE Mandrakes, I LOVE THEM! I think the models are fantastic and the fluff suitably dark and forboding, but so far all I keep hearing from people is how bad they are and that they will not be using them! Also my favorite new Character in the new DE codex is a Mandrake called 'The Decapitator' (hence the name), and so he will be my first major conversion in order to field this rather eveil sounding fellow!

But back to the point, Mandrakes make me go off on a Power from Pain induced rant.....

Now I'm a player who looks at the models first, then how nice they will paint up finally followed by how to fit them in my army. Whilst some of you will think that this doesn't make sense, I honestly believe that by playing only with models which I have bought because I like them, instead of just filling an army with OTT 'cheesy ' units, I will become a better player because I will be able to adapt to situations better.

So my question is, with everyone being so down on how the Mandrakes play (ie their statistics) will anyone be fielding them anyway just because the models are cool? Or even more broadly, what's more important to you? How a model plays, or what it looks like?

For 150 points for 10, I may find room for a squad of them for the reasons you mentioned. They look really cool and I really would like the paint them.

However, the reality is they just don't do much for my army. I may just use them to Outflank and pray someone is silly enough to put stationary tanks on their table edges.

I see a fair bit of new players/kids so i often build "a bit of everything" lists so they can see how each unit fares and so as not to stomp and discourage them.
The new mandrakes are a hell of a lot cooler than the old ones, but nobody has anything nice to say about them in the WAAC community of powergamers. whatever.
I think cool looking models > power choices anyday
Thats why my biggest army is orks! I can kit them out with all sorts of rediculous spiky bits and big swords and they look pretty badass!

I love the models but they are metal and there are only three variations so if i were a DE player i wouldnt buy them as i love wondrous variety

1) The rules are terrible.

2) The models are expensive. I am not going to pay 60 bucks for 10 models that don't do anything in the game.

If I were to use Mandrakes, I would just convert plastic DE models.

I definatly go on what a model looks like and how badass the backgroung fluff is before a buy it.


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maby thats why I lose all the time.

Coolest pants in the game hands down!

The models are just fantastic, and they also challenge my hobby. Yeah the rules might not be fantastic, but if you can learn to play and win with what you have then surely the win will be worth more?

Plus the fluff is amazing and the whole concept is cool. apologise to those of you that don't like them so much, I just can't help it I LOVE MANDRAKES!

But each to their own.....

I fail to see how an outflanking/infiltrating unit with a +3 cover save under idea circumstances is a bad idea when you have an army that is full of vehicles that die to basic weaponry.

It's a great model, with great rules, adding the special hq gives them a huge bonus or two and they will defiantly see play in many DE lists, once those powergamers realize their positionally.

I planned a DE army, and a maximum unit of these with "The decapitator" were included. Play to have fun, and you will have fun.

juraigamer wrote:I fail to see how an outflanking/infiltrating unit with a +3 cover save under idea circumstances is a bad idea when you have an army that is full of vehicles that die to basic weaponry.

It's a great model, with great rules, adding the special hq gives them a huge bonus or two and they will defiantly see play in many DE lists, once those powergamers realize their positionally.

I planned a DE army, and a maximum unit of these with "The decapitator" were included. Play to have fun, and you will have fun.

Not that I'm against mandrakes but the decapitator isn't an IC. He can't join a unit.

Attaching a Haemonculus to a unit of Mandrakes instantly makes them viable. They gain their Baleblast ability as well as FNP. Granted they'll lose Infiltrate but there are ways around that such as driving a Haemonculus to them in a Raider.

to be honest the decapitator seems to be a slightly stronger lone marbo but he costs much more. Also he would be pretty easy to kill; because he can't aussalt in his first turn :/

Blitza da warboy wrote:to be honest the decapitator seems to be a slightly stronger lone marbo but he costs much more. Also he would be pretty easy to kill; because he can't aussalt in his first turn :/

Neither can Marbo

Marlo though has an ap2 sniper pistol, Kerudruakh (or however you spell him) only has baleblast. He also has a demolition charge, making him much more powerful, for 75 points less.

my point is, marlo can defend himself better.

The models of them are just pure awesome, and the fluff is...well magically well written! I don't like how people arent being very nice about their rules but in all seriousness, you can infiltrate them in cover 12 inch's out of your opponents models/or outflank them to tie up those long range hard hitters
(i.e. Long Fangs, Devastators, broadsides and the likes) 5 of them will tie up a unit, and even if they die, if you can tie them up for one turn, you've already done your alpha strike and most of your vehicles will still be intact (hopefully)

Sorry, don't mean to rain on your parade, if you love them then get them and have fun. But since you wanted to know what other people think of them.... well, Mandrakes are the only minis from the new Dark Eldar range that I won't be getting.

I don't like their miniatures. Their rules are ok, and I buy based on miniature quality anyway but IMO the Mandrakes models are horrid. They are expensive, they only have three different minis, they are wearing Hakamas (which look silly in real life and look doubly silly on half-daemonic sadistic space elves) and have fringes covering their eyes (again, ridiculous enough in real life, doubly ridiculous on a warrior, since they should really be able to see their opponents).




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BTW, I know the Hakamas are meant to be scraps of human skin, and their hair is meant to represent their faces changing, i'm just going on what they look like.


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But yeh, aesthetic taste is very subjective. You obviously love them and I admire you for buying based on what miniatures you like

MrGiggles wrote:Coolest pants in the game hands down!

Stop ... Hammer time ...

juraigamer wrote:I fail to see how an outflanking/infiltrating unit with a +3 cover save under idea circumstances is a bad idea when you have an army that is full of vehicles that die to basic weaponry.

It's a great model, with great rules, adding the special hq gives them a huge bonus or two and they will defiantly see play in many DE lists, once those powergamers realize their positionally.

I planned a DE army, and a maximum unit of these with "The decapitator" were included. Play to have fun, and you will have fun.

If you play to have fun you shouldn't have to rationalize using a unit. The problem with your first statement is that those models you put inside raiders do something once you get to where you are going, whereas Mandrakes don't.