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Hi everyone, I've just got Dark Eldar and have had 4 games, won 3 and draw 1. But the casualties were awful all the times. Any hints and tactics that may help?

Pretty famous thread to miss

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/357250.page

Yes, do some reading. Read the threads linked in that thread too. All you'll ever need to know.

Iron-Templar wrote:Hi everyone, I've just got Dark Eldar and have had 4 games, won 3 and draw 1. But the casualties were awful all the times. Any hints and tactics that may help?

as DE I think you have to expect high casualties even in victory. You have to remember your choices are cheaper than marines and just about as deadly. They just get shot up.

I hope it really isn't all you ever need to know. I'm holding out hope that with the release of the Talos and Wrack models, more Coven lists may start to appear and some decent strategies will be devised to use such lists.

I have yet to face Dark Eldar that doesn't have 3 ravagers, it would be nice to see some of the other heavy support choices (make the models!).

Oaka wrote:I hope it really isn't all you ever need to know. I'm holding out hope that with the release of the Talos and Wrack models, more Coven lists may start to appear and some decent strategies will be devised to use such lists.

I have yet to face Dark Eldar that doesn't have 3 ravagers, it would be nice to see some of the other heavy support choices (make the models!).

The problem is that the ravager is the cheapest, and has the most DL per hull. The voidraven is a huge point sink, and the consensus seems to be it isn't good untill you have maxed all FOC slots out and just need to burn points. The razorwing on the other hand, is pretty solid, relatively cheap, and is only slightly reduced in Lance firpower (more than made up for in my mind by the missles). But once again you probably wont see much of them at anything other than 2k and above, due to points issues. That and people own ravagers, and would have to buy razorwings (when they come out). I don't see the chronos ever being heavily used, but the talos does get some use (mostly in WWP lists) That being said web way lists aren't the most common due to the obvious power of MSU raiders/venom. They also might have been hurt by the ridiculous prices that beast packs have (each model is metal and HOW MUCH!).

I feel like Dark Eldar more than most other armies, need to know their opponents armies. You need to know your target priority as soon as models hit the table and you need to stay focused on achieving your goals. If you need a threat neutralized then concentrate on neutralizing it before you move on, and if a threat is deemed neutralized, then don't waste shots destroying it, just get the next target on the list.

Too many times I see or hear of DE players shooting 20 Dark lances at a chimera and never blow it up, well guess what guys, you don't always need to blow it up, a "Crew Stunned" is usually just as good, if not better, if you can surround it before you blow it up then you kill the squishies inside without even leaving your transports!

The other crucial mistake people tend to make with DE is not realizing the opponents "threat zone". If you can't out shoot your opponent, then you need to outplay your opponent. If you can avoid his threat zone while placing his stuff in your own threat zone, then you can probably outshoot him just based on ranges.

Utilize LOS blocking terrain.

Never fight fair.

Never feel obligated to fight a fight, DE have no honor and neither should you! Dont fall for baiting tactics! Create your own baiting!

notabot187 wrote:That being said web way lists aren't the most common due to the obvious power of MSU raiders/venom. They also might have been hurt by the ridiculous prices that beast packs have (each model is metal and HOW MUCH!).

Very true. That is actually one of two reasons I do not believe in the conspiracy theory that GW writes rules in order to sell models. They made all the beasts in metal, and only in limited availability, yet they decided in an FAQ to not give them the benefits of Power from Pain. The other reason is the lack of thunderwolf models when the Space Wolf codex came out. It's obvious the rules and marketing department don't communicate too well, or there is a severe lack of playtesting.

I'm using a WWP list and am struggling due to the prevalence of transports. My plan is to keep with it until sixth edition, though, as history suggests that only a couple rule changes for vehicles and passengers can revamp the entire game.

Oaka wrote:I hope it really isn't all you ever need to know. I'm holding out hope that with the release of the Talos and Wrack models, more Coven lists may start to appear and some decent strategies will be devised to use such lists.

I have yet to face Dark Eldar that doesn't have 3 ravagers, it would be nice to see some of the other heavy support choices (make the models!).

its a weakness of the dex, you NEED ravagers to make the DE world go round. Without any AP1 weaponry(heat lances str6 is too low to be good outside melta range. They also cost an arm and a leg on sucky units) and the overall price of DL and Blasters elsewhere you need those 105pts for 3 DLs to make it up.

Talos and cronos are ok, and there are models for talos which can stand in or be converted to cronos. If you know your enemy is not going mech you can take these and have some fun. They are gonna get ID by GK but otherwise are fun fun.

The razorwing is nice, i convereted one up. I will use him occationally, but only ever 1.

The voidraven has terrible rules. I cant see anyone taking one ever.

wileythenord wrote:
Never fight fair.

This a thousand times!

DE are surgical instruments and in the hands of anything less than a surgeon they are mediocre at best, in the hands of a surgeon they are capable of tabling any other army. Use every advantage open to you, use every rule in the book to your benefit, gang up on his units, run away to hit him somewhere else, in short fight dirty.

Do you guys field disintegrators at all?

I find that dark eldar players really dont for some reason... s5 ap2 3 shots is no joke!

Especially against grey knights ;D

GalaxyGames wrote:Do you guys field disintegrators at all?

I find that dark eldar players really dont for some reason... s5 ap2 3 shots is no joke!

Especially against grey knights ;D

Well....given that in the old codex disintegrators were STR7 AP2 small blast x3 per ravager....STR5 AP2 3 shots *is* a joke. Now that you can't take 5 man warrior units with lances, 5 man wych units with dual blasters, and the availability of anti-tank has been *compressed* those Ravagers are really needed for anti-tank duty.

Unless you're running a WWP army, which should have plenty of haywire grenades coming out of it.