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Hello there dakka! Been a 40k player for many years and am going to pick up fantasy as one of my good friends is interested in it. Like with 40k i went off looks to pick my army and the HE spoke to me the most. I am slowly learning the rules but I am looking for some general tips for the army. I do plan to use a hero/lord on a dragon in some way. Even if they arent the best but other then that I am pretty open. My main opponent is going to be bretonnia.


So for HE. Whats good what isnt? Whats best to avoid? Is there any one magic lore that seems to suit them better then others?

matterofpride, I'm new to HE also, but I have played a few games mainly to play around with the Big 3 specials (SwordMasters, White Lions, Phoenix Guard).

What I've noticed is a good size unit of Phoenix Guard go a long way. They make an excellent anvil unit, especially if you give the unit Crown of Command, or Korhil (to make them stubborn). I usually have several 10-14 man blocks of White Lions to flank any unit that gets tied up by Phoenix Guard.

White Lions are an all around good Hammer (ASF, STR 6 Great weapons, Stubborn, and 3+ Armour vs shooting). I tend to perfer WL over Swordmasters, because beside the +1 Attack, swordmasters just don't do enough.

i have played high elves for allmost 3 years and the one unit that has stood out for me the most is the sea guard. especialy in this edition they (in a hoard of 50) can punch out over 50 attacks in a single round of combat. against most units they will take out the magority of models usualy causing the enemy unit to flee.

The other unit that i use is swordmasters of hoeth they are just a general all rounder in the game.

huntho21 wrote:i have played high elves for allmost 3 years and the one unit that has stood out for me the most is the sea guard. especialy in this edition they (in a hoard of 50) can punch out over 50 attacks in a single round of combat. against most units they will take out the magority of models usualy causing the enemy unit to flee.

The other unit that i use is swordmasters of hoeth they are just a general all rounder in the game.

I agree. I'm a relative newby to HE, and although my army isn't all that big, i've borrowed some of my friends HE to use in my games, to perhaps see where i expand my army next. Sea guard and sword masters are both excellent choices. Sea guard are incredibly versatile and can easily be used to fulfil any role, which is useful, especially if you make a tactic mistake elsewhere (and there'll no doubt be a few when you're starting out). Swordmasters are just lethal in combat and can kill pretty much anything. However they are very fragile. I always use a unit of ellryian reavers to shield them and/or use shield of sapphire to help them survive (it's a great little spell that).

The other big special units are also good. As mrfantastical said, Pheonix guard are just plain 'ard and can take a lot of punishment (and aren't too shabby at dishing it back out). Use them to tie up an enemy unit and then charge them in the flank with a lion chariot (another of my favourite units) or dragon princes/silver helms. WL are also good, but for me, swordmasters can do what they do better. True, white lions are more durable and have an extra stregnth, but with the tactics I mentioned above i can overcome the fragileness and the extra point of attack more than makes up for the inferior stregnth.

With all this talk of special units, it's important to remember the core units! Alongside the aforementioned sea guard the good 'ol 'high elf horde' is very useful. It's basically a unit of 32 spearmen deployed 8x4 and is so called because, like a normal horde, every model can attack. One or two of these will really strengnthen your battleline.

On the subject of magic lores, the three i find most useful are shadow, life, and high magic. Shadow because it's just deadly and is my favourite lore, life because flesh to stone is great fun, T5 swordmasters, HA! and reviving expensive elite models is also very useful and high magic because Sheld of sapphiry is very useful and can always be chosen and there are loads of other, versatile, great spells for every occasion.

Finally, welcome to fantasy and high elves!

For high points tournaments I like a horde of 50-55 Seaguard.

For 3000 pts I take 55 Seaguard, FC, banner of eternal flame. 750 pts. Takes care of your core choice as well as providing one of the best core hordes there is. Bows, Spears, and shields + all of the HE racials = awesome.

Also, don't forget that while that unit is great in and of itself, when you cast Mindrazor on it, you just went from great to WTFPWNYOUINTHEFACE!!!!!111!!!!!!

I would also not rule out the Calvary bus. I personally use a Prince, a BSB, and a FC unit of Dragon Princes. They will put the hurt on quite a bit very fast.

I also recommend www.ulthuan.net great HE forum.

I don't think it has been said, but High Elves are one of the best magic armies. SO look through your lores and I would suggest trying a few different ones out (although Life, Shadow and Light seem to be popular). The magic banner that gives power dice is a must (forget its name right now).

If you are building around a dragon-mounted prince, please remember that 8th is not kind to monsters, so try to play crafty with the brute and avoid charging things you cannot thunderstomp (Swordmasters and White Lions are for cavalry and Monstrous Infantry).

Also, I would suggest a pair of lion chariots, not cheap, but they do some amazing things in an aggressive list!

Good Luck