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G'day everyone,
After many recent discussions of 'different' army lists among my FLGS, we came across the topic of the Dark Eldar Circus. Whether it's viable or not I have no idea, but I do have plans to play is soon at some points. In my opinion (I'm not sure how many others have thought of a list like this) the circus essentially comprises of an Archon with a court and 2 large squads of beast-masters, these are meant to be the center pieces of the army. I made this thread for everyone to discuss the viability and usefullness of the Circus, as well the best units/choices for it. This list is meant to be fun, and I would have no idea if it would be competitive or not, but who cares really, and it would be the coolest looking army on a table ever
I decided to create a list for testing, I have no idea how it will run, but it's all about the fun I like to think of this as a base list so change it as you all will to you own preferences
HQ

Archon - 300
-Agoniser, Shadowfield, combat drugs, HW greanades, Ghost plate armor
--Court
- 1 Lhamaean, 2 Medusae, 3 Sslyth, 2 Ur-Ghuls
Haemonculous - 100
-Venom blade, Liquifier gun, WWP

Troops

Wracks (9) - 170
-Liquifier gun
--Raider, DL, FF
Kabalite warriors (5) - 180
-Blaster
-- (squad x3)

Fast Attack

Beast masters (5) - 760
- All 5 with agonisers
-- 1 Clawed Fiend, 10 Khymerae, 4 Razoring flocks
---(Squad x 2)

Heavy Support

Ravager - 115
-3 DL, FF
Ravager - 115
-3 DL, FF

1750 points on the dot
So there you have a list, personally I think we could have a lot of fun with this list Everything goes into reserves except for the Haemonculous attached to the wracks (Obviously dropping the WWP) and the two ravagers (They will do what they do best ) everything else comes out the WWP and hopefully manages to wreck face I was also contemplating using Harlequins with 2 FP and a shadow seer, and also replacing the warriors with wracks (but loosing AT in the process ) But i thought I better leave that for the discussion.
So fellow Dakkarites, what are the rights and wrongs for the DE circus of death?

Seems like a fun list to play.

I am actually kind of liking the list. The warriors might end up being a liability in kill points games but you are a little short on AT. I like the squads of beastmasters, they are a killer unit with great speed to get where they gotta get to. I think harlies would be a nice addition to the list, definitely would be perfect for your theme, and if they got two meltas for a little more AT. The other suggestion I would say is to paint the army as the Kabal of the Fiend Ascendant.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?categoryId=cat440170a&pIndex=2&aId=12800025a&multiPageMode=true&start=3

Marquis Vaulkhere wrote:I am actually kind of liking the list. The warriors might end up being a liability in kill points games but you are a little short on AT. I like the squads of beastmasters, they are a killer unit with great speed to get where they gotta get to. I think harlies would be a nice addition to the list, definitely would be perfect for your theme, and if they got two meltas for a little more AT. The other suggestion I would say is to paint the army as the Kabal of the Fiend Ascendant.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?categoryId=cat440170a&pIndex=2&aId=12800025a&multiPageMode=true&start=3

I was thinking the same about the warriors, but the list does lack AT.
Also thank you for the reference! Most coincidental fluff occurrence thats happened to me!

The harlies are a good suggestion. With a shadowseer, they can accompany the Haemy and are quite hard to shoot down, plus they fit the theme.

That aside, looks interesting. Best of luck.

The 5 agonizers on the beastmasters is illegal. The clawed fiend is a waste, replace it with 2 additional razorwing flocks.

Here is my current list for reference:

105 - Baron
55 - Haemonculus, Venom Blade

223 - Hellion x 13 w/ Helliarch, Stunclaw
135 - Wyches x 5 w/ Haywire Grenades, Shardnet and Impaler, Raider, Grisly Trophies
125 - Warriors x 5 w/ Blaster, Raider, Grisly Trophies
125 - Warriors x 5 w/ Blaster, Raider, Grisly Trophies
95 - Wracks x 3 w/ Raider, Grisly Trophies

270 - Beastmasters x 5 w/ Razorwing Flock x 6, Khymera x 10
270 - Beastmasters x 5 w/ Razorwing Flock x 6, Khymera x 10

115 - Ravager, Flickerfield
115 - Ravager, Flickerfield
115 - Ravager, Flickerfield

Total: 1748

Ashenshugar wrote:The 5 agonizers on the beastmasters is illegal. The clawed fiend is a waste, replace it with 2 additional razorwing flock

Ooops didn't realise the "one" part, thanks for pointing that out That does free up quite a lot of points! Taking out a few other things I might be able to fit a third ravager in...which would be aweosme! I also agree with the Clawed Fiend being kind of "under the mark" when compared with 2 more razorwing flocks, but still on the fluff/fun side of it, it would be a cool center piece to the squad in it's self.
I can see what your doing with the Baron and the likes, but I believe the WWP and Archon's court are a big part of the Circus list, though your list is probably a lot for competitive

I'd consider grabbing a couple of transports, even if you plan on using a WWP. I mean why have a Circus when you can have a Flying Circus?

I feel like there's something you could do with a Talos to make it fit in a Circus theme but I'm not sure. Have it carry a bearded lady?


There you go, bearded ladies. Take a squad of Wyches and kitbash with space wolf heads.

You will have a major problem with leadership. T3 critters with a bad save is not going to make it easy on you.

You do not even get to use PFP.

Ashenshugar wrote:The clawed fiend is a waste, replace it with 2 additional razorwing flocks.

The clawed fiend is T5 instead of T3, meaning it can eat several shots that would instant death the razorwing flocks, getting stronger all the while.


Leadership shouldn't be a problem, since you can drop high strength shots on the clawed fiend (since it won't get instant deathed by anything less than S10), low strength ones on the razorwing flocks (since they have five wounds a piece), and any others on the khimera (since they have 4++ saves). If you have a pain token on them, you can also throw low strength shots on the beastmasters themselves, since they'll get FNP against them.

This is very similar to what I have been running, although with only one Beastmaster pack.

I do run my beasts 10 kymera, 1 clawedfiend, 4 Razorwings and have had some success. It is really hard to force a leadership check on them when you can easily absorb the first 6 wounds without loosing a model (of course that assumes 4 of them are S5 or less) along with having 4++ available in spades.

Now fear of darkness makes me shudder but that is what the WWP and grisly trophies are for. out of the 4 games that I used the portal with the beasts I won all 4 with the beasts getting a nice charge out of a portal each time.

The trick is getting the portals down turn 1 in a good position. As your opponents learn this will become harder. I use wracks with a Haemi in a raider (x2 in larger point games) to get my portals out turn 1.

Anyone have any tricks for getting those portals out? (other than harlies)

Warboss Gutrip wrote:The harlies are a good suggestion. With a shadowseer, they can accompany the Haemy and are quite hard to shoot down, plus they fit the theme.

That aside, looks interesting. Best of luck.

Space Circus definitely needs Space Clowns.

1850 Pts - Dark Eldar Roster - Unnamed

HQ: Urien Rakarth (1#, 190 Pts)

HQ: Archon (1#, 195 Pts)

Plasma Grenades; Electrocorrosive Whip; Blaster; Ghostplate Armour; Combat Drugs; Soul-trap; Clone Field; Webway Portal

Court of the Archon (7#, 160 Pts)
1 Lhamaean
2 Medusae
3 Sslyth
1 Ur-Ghul

Elite: Hekatrix Bloodbrides (10#, 245 Pts)
Shardnet & Impaler (x3); Haywire Grenades
1 Syren Blast Pistol; Phantasm Grenade Launcher; Agoniser

Elite: Grotesques (5#, 235 Pts)
Liquifier Gun,Aberration Flesh Gauntlet

Troops: Wracks (10#, 120 Pts)
Liquifier Gun (x2)

Troops: Wracks (10#, 120 Pts)
Liquifier Gun (x2)

Fast Attack: Beastmasters (20#, 280 Pts)
5 Beastmasters
10 Khymerae
1 Clawed Fiend
4 Razorwing Flocks

Heavy Support: Cronos Parasite Engine (1#, 100 Pts)
Spirit Vortex

Heavy Support: Cronos Parasite Engine (1#, 100 Pts)
Spirit Vortex

Heavy Support: Talos Pain Engine (1#, 105 Pts)
TL Haywire Blaster

Total Roster Cost: 1850


Urien Rakarth is there because his fluff fits so well. He also brings the pain...tokens.

The Archon Is the circus master And every circus master needs a whip. He Starts out With the Grots Till he chucks his WWP. Then he joins the Blood brides (while taking a pain token from them).

The Court: You have the Gypsy, the freaky no body head dudes, half snake guys and a creepy lil man. It pretty much writes itself.

The blood brides are the Contortionist, Not oly can they twist their bodies into knots, they can twist yours as well. I plan to tag these ladies with My HQs. Clone field+shard nets + eletro whips=funtimes.

The Grotesques are the strong men Whose leader is strong enough to Get re rolls on T6 Mcs on 4+. He causes ID too.

The wracks your Happy faced clowns. Just down get hit by the acid spraying flowers they wear.

Beast Masters Take care of the animal attractions.

Talos and Cronos Daek eldar don't have elephants so these guys will have to do!

Sir Pseudonymous wrote:

Ashenshugar wrote:The clawed fiend is a waste, replace it with 2 additional razorwing flocks.

The clawed fiend is T5 instead of T3, meaning it can eat several shots that would instant death the razorwing flocks, getting stronger all the while.


Leadership shouldn't be a problem, since you can drop high strength shots on the clawed fiend (since it won't get instant deathed by anything less than S10), low strength ones on the razorwing flocks (since they have five wounds a piece), and any others on the khimera (since they have 4++ saves). If you have a pain token on them, you can also throw low strength shots on the beastmasters themselves, since they'll get FNP against them.

10 Khymera with 4++ invul can take the hits you would normally want to redirect to the clawed fiend. He's only going to take 3 wounds, my way you get 5 extra total wounds and an extra model (not to mention far more attacks). Also, I get 21 total models in the squad, allowing me to lose an extra model without having to take a leadership test. So tell me how 3 free wounds is more beneficial then all of that.

As for leadership, my raiders all have grisly trophies, and their entire purpose is to follow the beastmasters to guarantee the leadership provides no problem.