Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

SO i went through 3 or 4 pages of the forums to find some tactical advice on Wood elves, but to no avail. It seems like they are indeed a dead army, as no one really talks about them except when its about how they need an update. Regardless of this, my wife and I have decided to collect and eventually play them anyway. With the beautiful model line we are more than happy to collect them for asthetic reasons, and as we only are looking to play against one another, we dont care about competativeness really, as it's just for fun.

Question is, what are some basic tactics for using the Wood elf army? They seem to be more hit and run oriented, but without a solid core troop choice that can take some hits, it leaves it hard to hit flanks if the anvil unit is too weak to hold them long enough. Not to mention at 13 points for eternal guard, they are an expensive tarpit unit. Is there better choices tactic wise for wood elves? Should one focus mainly on lots of ranged to whittle down enemies, block with trees and ambush with way watchers? Any info would be great for a general strategy for WE. thanks all!

I'm also curious how people tactically play these guys. I"ve noticed a few regulars that run them. I typically play in the 3k + range

I've tried a few games of them myself and I'm having a bit of trouble. I"ve came to the conclusion that trees are great at doing dmg. But how do you deal with steadfast and great big units.

Shootings is good and all but its not going to cripple a huge block before they reach you. So I reiterate the OP's question. And my opponent is really really good at making it nigh impossible for him to panic.

Just for reference I've been fielding about 4 units of gg 20 strong with some trees for muscle and a unit of waywatchers for support /wm hunting.

My favourite army that GW do even if not really played them a lot

Forest Spirit units are the way to go it seems.
They are due a make over soon so hopefully there will be some goodness on the way.

Not sure that 8th ed did skirmishers any favours which is a pity because the Waydancers deserve to be an effective unit imho

http://www.asrai.org

Active WE forum for all your WE needs.

Thanks Avatar!

Avatar 720 wrote:http://www.asrai.org

Active WE forum for all your WE needs.

Was going to suggest this myself and heartedly second it not only for tactics but has some cool conversions as well,

I am hitting the table for the first time with my woodies in the next week or two (bank holidays and leave at work being renewed FTW) I have done a lot of reading and theoryhammer and I feel the general tactics are small units of GG (10-12) as your main core and as many Treekin as points allow, Treekin are really the best MI in game imho and the more the better,

With Eternal Guard if you decide to play them I think the general consensus is to commit to a large unit, a block of 20 will lose its combat res quickly, 30+ combined with Rhymers Harp (for the 5+ ward) make a viable anvil,

Not sure on flanking units, only Glade Riders or Wild Riders are quick enough and the only units that can disrupt flanks but they are quite expensive and Glade Riders die easily (Wild Riders fare a little better with our pretend ward save)

Just some general musings will be back when I think of more

There are better Wood Elf generals than I on Dakka, but IMO don't underestimate treemen and treekin. Also the ability to move and shoot without penalty becomes more important than it seems on paper. Glade Guard do a great job, but need to stay back (not good in close combat).

And I think you always need a spellweaver (with Life if you are more of a sit back and shoot army OR Beasts if you are an aggressive army).

Tree men and treekin are a pain I came to this to see some WE player tactics but yes those threes are scare.

Ive learned, because I still play with my WE a lot, that dyrads are awsome. Due to their high int they will be striking first 90% of the time. Plus all the attacks they bring helps a bit. the idea is to use them in conjunction with either treekin, 6 of them, wardancers, or treemen.

Lore of life or lore of beasts is the way to go with a lvl 4, as the lvl 2 can only have we magic which is waste. Boosting up units is always good.

Treemen are better in 8th, due to stomp. Plus if you want to kill charcters then a ancient with annoyance of netlings is the way to go. I always run at least two treemen in my armies, three in larger games.

A large unit of glade guard qith the aech banner work very well against all armes, save skaven. The abilty to always stand and shoot with lots of shots works well.

The whole idea of winning with WE is to find untis that compliment each other well, you have to break your oppenants units fast and in a hurry otherwise you will lose.
hope this helped.

Thanks for the link to Asrai! I had been knocking around using WE as a base for a centaur army I was thinking of building, and seeing how to do an almost all mounted WE army really helps.

Thanks again sir!

I field lots of Glade Guard and blocks of big treekin with treemen as support. Have won a few games, but plays nothing like Wood Elves used to.

The alternate strat is to take your old woodelf list and proceed to slit your wrists and cry as your opponent removes your models from the table.