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Hey everyone,

I'm a new Dark Eldar player and I'm struggling to understand how to use my Raiders effectively. In particular, I don't understand how a unit of 10 Kabalite Warriors in a Raider with Splinter Racks is meant to be used. Do you spend the first turn turboing across the board? Do you move forward 6" at a time and fire? 12"? I'm certain the answer is a mix of these things and largely dependent on the opposing player and his army composition, but, are there any general suggestions you can offer to help me understand this better?

I've also read a number of people mentioning Raider "screening", although I haven't been able to find good explanations of what this is. Can anyone offer some insight?

Thanks!

Believer

Believer wrote:Hey everyone,

I'm a new Dark Eldar player and I'm struggling to understand how to use my Raiders effectively. In particular, I don't understand how a unit of 10 Kabalite Warriors in a Raider with Splinter Racks is meant to be used. Do you spend the first turn turboing across the board? Do you move forward 6" at a time and fire? 12"? I'm certain the answer is a mix of these things and largely dependent on the opposing player and his army composition, but, are there any general suggestions you can offer to help me understand this better?

I've also read a number of people mentioning Raider "screening", although I haven't been able to find good explanations of what this is. Can anyone offer some insight?

Thanks!

Believer

Screening can mean several things, but mostly it is just getting cover saves for you raiders. If terrain allows, hiding behind it. If it doesn't hiding the raiders behind other units that block LoS by 50%. One way to achieve this is to put one raider sidways, and park 2-3 behind it granting them cover.

The warrior gunboat is meant to be use in the move 6 and fire role. The decision to move and how far first turn is base on available targets of course. One rule of thumb with raiders, if you don't plan on assaulting out of, or shooting with them, always turbo boost them for cover. One fun thing I've done is turbo boost one mostly laterally, then move up the others behind it (going slow enough to still fire). That way the front raider gets cover, and the ones behind get cover also and can still fire.

Honestly I would only go with splinter racks if you are running trueborn with carbines + splinter cannons. The fact that the carbines are assault effectively gives you 6" of extra range when you are moving means you have a better chance of having targets in range. It also keeps you from assault range of most units if you can maintain the 12+ distance.

notabot187 wrote:
Honestly I would only go with splinter racks if you are running trueborn with carbines + splinter cannons. The fact that the carbines are assault effectively gives you 6" of extra range when you are moving means you have a better chance of having targets in range. It also keeps you from assault range of most units if you can maintain the 12+ distance.

The racks only give you a RR when using rifles or pistols. They dont work with carbines or cannons.

Deadshane1 wrote:

notabot187 wrote:
Honestly I would only go with splinter racks if you are running trueborn with carbines + splinter cannons. The fact that the carbines are assault effectively gives you 6" of extra range when you are moving means you have a better chance of having targets in range. It also keeps you from assault range of most units if you can maintain the 12+ distance.

The racks only give you a RR when using rifles or pistols. They dont work with carbines or cannons.

Really? Dang, reading fail. Well then they for the most part suck, since you have to go to suicide range, or hang back on the back line and not move.

notabot187 wrote:

Deadshane1 wrote:

notabot187 wrote:
Honestly I would only go with splinter racks if you are running trueborn with carbines + splinter cannons. The fact that the carbines are assault effectively gives you 6" of extra range when you are moving means you have a better chance of having targets in range. It also keeps you from assault range of most units if you can maintain the 12+ distance.

The racks only give you a RR when using rifles or pistols. They dont work with carbines or cannons.

Really? Dang, reading fail. Well then they for the most part suck, since you have to go to suicide range, or hang back on the back line and not move.

Yea, it's really not a very good peice of wargear. Marginally useful at times at a premium price.

It might've been worth it at 5pts...and should be usable with cannons/carbines...then everybody would take them. Only rifles/pistols though? At 10 points? On a vehicle that explodes when people flick boogers at it? Negative.

Screening can mean several things, but mostly it is just getting cover saves for you raiders. If terrain allows, hiding behind it. If it doesn't hiding the raiders behind other units that block LoS by 50%. One way to achieve this is to put one raider sidways, and park 2-3 behind it granting them cover.

The warrior gunboat is meant to be use in the move 6 and fire role. The decision to move and how far first turn is base on available targets of course. One rule of thumb with raiders, if you don't plan on assaulting out of, or shooting with them, always turbo boost them for cover. One fun thing I've done is turbo boost one mostly laterally, then move up the others behind it (going slow enough to still fire). That way the front raider gets cover, and the ones behind get cover also and can still fire.

Terrific, that's very helpful. Thanks for the info.

Yea, it's really not a very good peice of wargear. Marginally useful at times at a premium price.

It might've been worth it at 5pts...and should be usable with cannons/carbines...then everybody would take them. Only rifles/pistols though? At 10 points? On a vehicle that explodes when people flick boogers at it? Negative.

Sad, but, makes sense. I'll have to take that into account and change some of the lists I'm considering.

The Raider in front giving cover to the ones behind could be empty.
Such a Raider could be bought by a Warrior or Trueborn squad with splinter cannon(s) / darklance(s).