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I'm still fairly new to 40k, just having started last year. I've been playing with CSM and BA for a while but I've been thinking about starting an Eldar army for a while as well, but I have no idea where to start. I'm looking to start off with a basic 1000 point list that'll consist of some good, core units and will let me expand upon it, depending on how I end up playing the army.

So far, I have two lists I'm looking at, one I threw together and one that a friend suggested I try.

List 1:
HQ:
Farseer w/Jetbike, Spirit Stones, Doom, Guide, and Runes of Witnessing: 160 pts.

Troops:
7 Guardian Jetbikers w/2 shuriken cannon: 174 pts.
7 Guardian Jetbikers w/2 shuriken cannon: 174 pts.

Fast Attack:
5 Shining Spears w/Withdraw, Star Lance, and Exarch w/Shuriken Cannon: 242 pts.
5 Shining Spears w/Withdraw, Star Lance, and Exarch w/Shuriken Cannon: 242 pts.

992 pts.

List 2:
HQ:
Farseer w/Spirit Stones, Doom, Fortune, Runes of Warding and Runes of Witnessing: 155 pts.

Troops:
10 Dire Avengers w/Shimmershield and Exarch w/Power Weapon and Defend: 162 pts.
10 Dire Avengers w/Exarch w/Power Weapon, Dual Avenger Catapults and Bladestorm: 152 pts.
mounted in Wave Serpent w/Twin-Linked Bright Lances and Spirit Stones: 145 pts.

Elites:
6 Howling Banshees w/Exarch w/Executioner: 118 pts.
mounted in Wave Serpent w/Twin-Linked Bright Lances and Spirit Stones: 145 pts.
6 Striking Scorpions w/Exarch w/Scorpion's Claw: 123 pts.

1000 pts.

Based on these lists, which would be better to learn Eldar with? How would one go about expanding it?

Thanks

List 2. But make a few changes.

Get rid of the scorpions and the banshees. Replace them with Fire dragons in serpents, and split the foot squad of DA's into two 5-man squads.

S_P

List one will fall flat on it's face, list two is illegal (exarch gear on the 2nd DA pack).

If you are looking for a basic Eldar config to learn how to play then go with the standard...

Farseer w/ Stones, Dom, Fort, Both Runes (rides with 10 man DA)

5 Fire Dragons
Wave Serpent w/ S. Cannon

9 Dire Avengers + Exarch w/ Dual Cata, Bladestorm
Wave Serpent w/ Scatter Lasers

5 Dire Avengers
Wave Serpent w/ Scatter Lasers

Fire Prism

Fire Prism


This will give you the core of an Eldar army with a solid comptitve list at 1k pts. You can flesh it out from there.

Blue Dagger's list is the basic starting Eldar army for learning the basics, but I think your list 2 is not so bad. As said above, your second DA exarch should have power weapon or dual cats. I recomment dual cats on one if not on both.

Loose either the banshees or scorpions. I prefer banshees but if this is a "the models that I have" list, then loose the banshees and replace them by fire dragons. On the other hand, this would leave one of your DA squads footslogging it. You could then switch one of the DA squads for a jetbike squad. That way all your units are either in a transport or fast moving.