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Hey everyone I am new to this game and was wondering what are your ideas on how to make a High Elf Army?
Such as tactics and what units are best to carry?

Thanks for the help!

Don't play High Elves, but I'll try.

Spearmen are always good. They always strike first in close combat, meaning you can get your hits in before the opponent can react.

High Elves have some of the best magic users in the game. Teclis in particular.

Just beware, none of your units are particularly tough, so if you get trapped in combat with something tougher, there's a distinct possibility you're gonna come out worse.

For core choices, the best bets are spearmen or Sea Guard. High Elves fight in extra ranks with spears and always strike first, so both of these units can get four ranks of stabbing in at the start of every combat round (first rank + supporting attacks + extra rank for spear + extra rank for being an elf). The archers are pretty pricey points wise, so I think most people just go with Sea Guard to get the missile and assault option.

For specials, it really opens up. Swordmasters and White Lions are great combat units, because they are able to strike with great weapons AND do it first in combat. Personally, I like the swordmasters more, but that's just because the white lions are hard to assemble and rank up. Phoenix guard are a strong tarpit - not likely to kill anybody so much as hold them up for the other units to flank charge. And the chariots are a lovely addition, as well.

I haven't tried the silver helms yet or dragon princes yet, but everybody tells me they're the bee's knees. With the changes in 8th, the bolt thrower in general isn't all that great, but the repeater's volley ability is pretty nice.

But character wise, you've got plenty of options, including Teclis and - my favorite - Eltharion the Grim.

Thanks for the help guys!

White lions in Horde formation are a scary prospect. They gained more from supporting attacks compared to SM (100% more attacks vs 50%) and S6 ASF is a horrid sight. If you want to make Elven units like SM or WL even more scary, add the +1M banner to them - in one turn of marching they have a damn good chance of charging units that havent even moved yet!

Great Eagles make good warmachine hunters, especially with +1CR for charging in, and even a stomp

Teclis is a powerhouse, literally. Nasty stuff.

You're gonna suffer the first couple of games, HE are glass cannons. Don't let them get swarmed by hordes of unit, even though ASF works beautifully on the offence, but the sheer amount of saves on their weak toughness scores will send them packing really quickly. Never leave home without a mage or two and really think about your choice of magic lore when facing a specific opponent. The magic in the army book shouldn't be over looked, you just gotta know how to use it. Swordmasters will murder anything they get into CC with, if they get there, since they're firemagnets of note.

Gotcha, so what most of you are saying is I should make sure to watch my placement of my infantry and Be sure I kill them before they kill me! most of you seem to like infantry
are the cavalry worth it?

Also people seem to like this banner that gives flaming attacks? what is its purpose in combat?
I also see people in 2000 point games taking ranged units in a group of 10 and a group of 16. And reason for that?

Flame banner stops regeneration, setes flammible guys alight and I think (I stand under correction) can make beasts take additional leadership tests.

Silverhelms aren't worth the points, in my opinion. If they were core troops, maybe, but right now as special troop choices they just take up space. Reavers are good as hit-and-runner and Dragon Princes are scary in a charge.

Ranged units aren't that great in 8th, I assume they run them in 5x2 or a 8x2 configurations to maximise the volly shots and to be able to wheel in an emergency. Any more ranks and you've wasted points.

Phloop wrote:
Silverhelms aren't worth the points, in my opinion. If they were core troops, maybe, but right now as special troop choices they just take up space. Reavers are good as hit-and-runner and Dragon Princes are scary in a charge.

The reavers, how do you hit and run if you could briefly explain that to me?

Thanks for all your help

I'm curious about this also. It seems that besides having good magic, and good heavy infantry (swordmasters, phoenix guard, white lions), no one spends a lot of time talking about their flying, or Calvary units.

When I look at the army book it seems to have quit a few fast units, and I'd like to build a flying circus army... Has anyone tried this?

I have tried it with a small brets force, it is pretty fun but not effective at all.