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Hi all,

I'm having a bit of a dilemma with writing my 1500 point Eldar list.
In my Elites section I have used one slot for the mandatory fire dragons in a wave serpent so that leaves me with using either a squad of Banshees or a squad of Scorpions.
First things first. I'm new back to the game so therefore I don't know anything and thats why I'm asking you guys.
Can you all have a really big argument and list your reasons why the Banshees are better than the Scorpions or vice versa.

Round one...........Fight(ding ding bell sound)

Banshees - S3, 2A, Power Weapons, Fleet, I10, 4+ armor, Negates Grenades,

Scorpions - S4, 3A, Normal Weapons, Non-Fleet, I5, 3+ armor, Outflank


When you look at it, things seems pretty close, but each obvious have their different roles. Banshees are for FNP or 2+/3+ armor killing, while Scorpions are for horde killing with weak armor saves.


Banshees win... why?

#1) They have Power Weapons. In a marine and FNP infested Meta they have a stronger role to fill.

#2) They have fleet. We don't have assault vehicles so you have to drive up your serpent and park it for a turn before you can assault. WIth fleet you have a further distance you can cover from that back hatch, so when a smart player simply moves away from the serpent you can catch them.

#3) They are I10 and negate defensive grenades. While this isn't a huge issue it insures that you will be going first with your full attaks.


You WILL spent more points to make Banshees effective though, because they must have doom on their target to be effective. Also, yes, Scorpions can outflank and are a little tougher to kill, but it simply doesn't make up for the lack of power weapons in a MEQ/FNP Meta.

In the game of 40k where FNP is handed out like candy in every new codex, the banshees power weapons are the only way to fly

I choose neither. Take another squad of fire dragons in wave serpent.

Assault squad in non assault vehicles are not nearly as useful as they should be. Foot eldar are generally poor, and don't really use either (they use harlies for counter assault, with shadowseer to avoid getting shot, and FC rending to put the hurt on armor, and melta weapons to take out tanks).

Banshees on paper are pretty good, but the S3 hurts more than you think it would. They can kill tacticals all day, going first and with PWs. But tacs aren't meant for assault, get hit by a unit that doesn't care (TH/SS termies, DE wyches, orks, T5 models) and they just won't perform as well

Scorpions have some nice deployment options, so don't need transport, but the lack of PW and the high cost of their 3+ armor means they aren't efficient since they lack PW or rending. They are better against higher toughness models, and agianst 4+ or worse saves, and can take return hits. They still end up being about the same in killing power as a SM assault squad, with a bonus attack, no jump packs, lower toughness, and less grenades.

It also depends on your hq banshees get quite a bit better with a farseer with doom, whereas scorpions can take advantage of outflanking faster with an autarch.

edit: notabot187 brings up some good points though I don't know if we should expect our cc to take on dedicated assault units and beating tacticals is a good thing.

althathir wrote:It also depends on your hq banshees get quite a bit better with a farseer with doom, whereas scorpions can take advantage of outflanking faster with an autarch.

edit: notabot187 brings up some good points though I don't know if we should expect our cc to take on dedicated assault units and beating tacticals is a good thing.

Nearly anything can beat tacticals in CC, barring tau, grots, and non mega blobbed guard. Eldar are better off just shooting the dumb things, and letting an autarch finish the remnants if needed. (don't get me wrong, tacs are good at what they do, and they are a common unit, but they aren't something you should be taking dedicated assault squad to kill).

True but eldar dedicated assault troops are cheap, and for eldar killing the tacticals without risking our troops is a good thing. Autarchs are pretty bad at killing marine btw even with mandiblasters and power weapon your only gonna kill a marine or so an assault phase.

That said im not suggesting you max out on scorps or banshees just that a unit of them can be useful.

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Please take neither.

But douche serves a valuable function!