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As title really, the army below for for fighting dark eldar mostly. Any thought/comments/improvements greatly appreciated.

HQ
Farseer [Singing Spear, Runes of Witnessing, Spirit Stones, Doom, Fortune]
5 Warlocks [Embolden, Enhance, Destructor x 2, Singing Spear x 2]
Wave Serpent [Twin linked EML, Shuriken Cannon, Vector Engines, Star Engines, Spirit Stones]

Elites
10 Striking Scorpions [Exarch with Scopions Claw, Stalkers & Shadowstrike]
10 Howling Banshees [Exarch with Executioner, War Shout & Acrobatic]
Wave Serpent [Twin linked EML, Shuriken Cannon, Vector Engines, Star Engines, Spirit Stones]

Troops
10 Guardians [Scatter Laser, Warlock with Singing Spear & Conceal]
10 Guardians [Scatter Laser, Warlock with Singing Spear & Conceal]
9 Dire Avengers [Exarch with 2 Shuriken Catapults & Bladestorm]
9 Dire Avengers [Exarch with 2 Shuriken Catapults & Bladestorm]
Wave Serpent [Twin linked EML, Shuriken Cannon, Vector Engines, Star Engines, Spirit Stones]

Heavy Support
3 War Walkers [2 Scatter Lasers & Spirit Stones each]

Ok, this list isn't really going to cut it against Dark Eldar.

Dark Eldar fight better than us in Close Combat. Dark Eldar put out more shooting then us, and Dark Eldar are faster than us.

The only bright side is that our tanks are not made out of paper mache, and our aspect warriors have a better save than 5+.

First off, you want scatter lasers. Dark Eldar only have av10 and av11 open topped vehicles. Against these Targets Scatter Lasers will always outperform missiles or lances. Due to unit coherancy, you'd rather be shooting scatters at his troops as well.

So switch all those tl EMLs on the serpents to scatter lasers.

Dark Eldar are not a good match up for striking scorpions. I'd drop them. They are slow since they don't have fleet, and slow in that ini 5 is not very high when you are considering Dark Eldar. I'm fairly certain that striking scorpions would get beaten down by Wytches on a regular basis- if they have the dodge save + fnp from a pain token then Scorpions are a laughing stock. They are only holding you back.

On the topic of Banshees, against DE, you'd be better off with mirror swords than executioner. Especially with doom support. Banshees are actually acceptable against DE. Thanks to ini 10 on the first round they can actually get their hits in, and power weapon attacks nullify annoying pain token fnp. Remember to use them defensively however. Keep them in their wave serpent, and leap out when something moves 2+6+d6+6 from your rear hatch before you've moved.

That said, Banshees suffer a similar problem to your Council and Scorpions. They require you to engage the Dark Eldar in close combat. Fortunately for Banshees their special rules help them out lots against DE close combat. But the squad is still expensive, and you probably want to be shooting the Dark Elves. If you are ok with that, and think that some counter charge is necessary, Banshees are the way to go. Scorpions are ONLY a handicap.

Your council has a similar problem to the Scorpions. On foot they only have a 4+ save re rolling which is only slightly better than the scorpion's 3+, then you consider wytches, who are striking first, and have a 4+ dodge save (and probably 4+ fnp from a homunculus) They'll beat your counicl pretty solidly. What your council does have going for it is 2x destructor. That'll fry those evil eves real good.

However Storm Guardians do this better and cheaper.

(127) 10 Storm Guardians + Warlock- 2 flamers, destructor

This gives you 3 flame templates for roasting elves consolidated into cover, saves you 44 points, And gives you an extra scoring unit.

Dire Avengers look OK. they all need to be in a transport however.

In general your troops need to be faster. No, you won't be able to outrun DE, however the faster you are, the less of an advantage his speed will give him, and this is important.

Dropping the Scorpions, and shaving unnecessary upgrades from your wave serpents will go a long way to freeing up more points. Vectored Engines are worthless, they are very expensive, and only help you in the event you move flat out, and even then are only useful 1/6 of the time. Star Engines give you some interesting options, but generally I don't feel they are worth the premium you pay, since you only use them when not shooting, and you still get 24 inches when you flat out anyway. Spirit stones are better than Vector Engines because they are cheaper, but still many players- myself included choose to drop them for the points. The underslung cannon also isn't great. You can only use it if you move less than 6 inches, and especially against DE, you'll want to be moving 6-12.

If you can't mech up your guardians for whatever reason, replace them with guardian jetbikes.

(129) 3 GJB + Warlock- cannon, spear, embolden

You still get a heavy weapon, and you get the ability to move. Keeping as mobile as possible helps lessen DE's mobility advantage, and Guardian Jetbikes are one of our swiftest units. the shuri cannon + spear can wreck tanks, their tl catapults can help against infantry, and most importantly they can be wherever they are needed. Guardian Defenders on the other hand are stationary. They can't provide their small arms support at a moment's notice, and they can't even hope to escape when Dark Eldar Raiders move in on their location. At least a turbo boost from GJB can get them out of a Wytch Raider's assault range- this keeps your troops alive, and this is good.

War Walkers are fine, just keep them in separate units and drop spirit stones because its a waste of 15 points on those units. Don't expect them to live very long, as they are very high priority. Scatter lasers are scary for DE.

In short
- more scatter lasers
- more wave serpents w/ less upgrades
- storm guardians instead of council
- no scorpions
- either mech up defenders or swap em for jetbikes


Dark Eldar are a tough match up. And at first glance it seems hopeless. But remember, your tanks are far sturdier than his. Even though he has more guns then you, if you use good target priority you can fight him on even ground in a tank battle.

As for Target Priority, target the ravagers fist. And don't over invest in any shooting. If you get a shaken or stunned MOVE ON. Those guns aren't shooting at you for a turn, focus on a tank that can. Trying to silence as many of his lances is crucial, and for each shaken / stunned / destroyed ravager, that gets rid of 3 lances a turn.

Its not going to work vs. DE.
I suggest a fully mech list with scatter lasers for Serpents and Falcons. Leave Prisms and Nightspinners at home.
Scatterlasers will allow you to take down Raiders with ease
and DE unit will not be granted FnP vs. S6 weapons.
CC is the last resort you want to go for. Just take a shooty army.

Here's my second attempt following your suggestions.

I really want to keep either the Seer Council or the Scorpions as I've only just got them so I've left in the council but upped the destructor and dropped the spears.
I sadly don't have any more guardians/storm guardian/dire avengers/wave serpents so I've put in the only other shooty thing I have, 2 squads of rangers upgraded to pathfinders.

HQ
Farseer [Singing Spear, Runes of Witnessing, Spirit Stones, Doom, Fortune]
8 Warlocks [Embolden, Enhance, Destructor x 5]
Wave Serpent [Twin linked Scatter Laser, Star Engines, Spirit Stones]

Elites
10 Howling Banshees [Exarch with Executioner, War Shout & Acrobatic]
Wave Serpent [Twin linked Scatter Laser, Star Engines, Spirit Stones]

Troops
10 Guardians [Scatter Laser, Warlock with Singing Spear & Conceal]
10 Guardians [Scatter Laser, Warlock with Singing Spear & Conceal]
9 Dire Avengers [Exarch with 2 Shuriken Catapults & Bladestorm]
9 Dire Avengers [Exarch with 2 Shuriken Catapults & Bladestorm]
Wave Serpent [Twin linked Scatter Laser, Star Engines, Spirit Stones]
5 Pathfinders
5 Pathfinders

Heavy Support
3 War Walkers [2 Scatter Lasers each]

More Serpents would definitely be helpful.
How about GJB's w/ shuricannons instead of Pathfinders?
Why star engines?

I'm using my 2 wave serpents and proxying my prism tank as another one as it is and I don't own any guardian jet bikes either.

What star engines? - Well if they move 24 inches flat out they can't shoot anyway so moving an additional 12 when they contain close combat troops gets them right in the enemies face potentially in turn one, then close combat guys jump out turn 2.

Well, star engines are a waste vs. DE. Your army wants to stay back and shoot these dark kin bastards.
CC vs. DE? Not a good idea as DE is superior there.

OK I see what you are saying. Sit back and shoot then when they get close enough use the banshees and seer council to keep my shooty alive.

I've dropped the star engines and used the points for more seer council goodness:
9 Warlocks [Embolden, Enhance, Destructor x 6, Shining Spear x 2]


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Alternatively I could drop a few warlocks and get 5 fire dragons, but I imagine because DE have such low armour this isn't really worth it?

BlackstarSolar wrote:OK I see what you are saying. Sit back and shoot then when they get close enough use the banshees and seer council to keep my shooty alive.

I've dropped the star engines and used the points for more seer council goodness:
9 Warlocks [Embolden, Enhance, Destructor x 6, Shining Spear x 2]


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Alternatively I could drop a few warlocks and get 5 fire dragons, but I imagine because DE have such low armour this isn't really worth it?

Sounds reasonable. You'll hardly need that many destructors, but a 2nd embolden could be useful.
FD's are not a must-have here as meltas vs. Raiders is overkill.

Pathfinders will get run down very quickly. Unless your opponent has pain engines, low volume ap1 fire doesn't do much. My recent experience saw them chewed up pretty quick because I couldnt move them fast enough. Then you've lost a troops slot.

I could ditch the path finders, but what do I get instead?
Avatar, second farseer?

Another Farseer could give your guide and doom to help your troops. Those guardiians are BS 3 so a guide spell would help.

Two Farseers are generally not required as they are only support characters.
I'd take an Autarch as she could bolster reserve rolls just in case DE starts first.

How would you recommend I kit out the autarch and who should I run him/her with?

BlackstarSolar wrote:How would you recommend I kit out the autarch and who should I run him/her with?

I'd give her a fusion gun and let her join the HQ unit.

Really? Hmmm...I was thinking a banshee mask and power weapon and putting her with the banshees.

Autarch I run has a power sword, mandiblaster, and a fusiongun.

Have you considered Harlequinns?

BlkTom wrote:Autarch I run has a power sword, mandiblaster, and a fusiongun.

This is more what I was thinking.

BlkTom wrote:Have you considered Harlequinns?

I don't own any harlequinns at the moment.

*nods*

OK then... hope it helps. The Avatar isn't a bad choice either, but oh boy will he get shot at alot...

BlkTom wrote:Autarch I run has a power sword, mandiblaster, and a fusiongun.

Have you considered Harlequinns?

A power sword is not really needed vs. DE - especially if she comes across an Archon or Wyches.
Harlies? A small squad might get eaten.

If the Harlies' power swords are not needed, then swap the Banshees for Scorpions, to get more non-PW attacks.

As an Eldar player, I'd go for a shooty mech list with some counter-strike element, like a mounted Council.
Banshees or Scorpions are not a must-have as they have bad match-ups:
Banshees vs. Wyches and Scorpions vs. Incubi.

Banshees are still better than scorpions against Dark Eldar, because they strike at ini 10, and power weapons are not bad to have since Dark Eldar can pick up pain tokens pretty easily from Homunculous HQs.

Going at ini 10 and ignoring pesky FnP, puts Banshees way way way above scorpions in this matchup...

As Wuest said, you do need to be focusing on shooting, and only maintain a limited counter strike.