Good way to start Eldar/Dark Eldar

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**forruner_mercy**

So, I am just starting 40K, and I have thought about starting as SM (a logical choice) or IG. But the tactics that Eldar and Dark Eldar use appeal to me more. Plus I think that the new DE stuff is pretty sweet looking.

I know that starting as either one would be difficult as a newcomer, but I have always started games in general by doing it the hard way. I am not sure why, but I always have.
So I just wanted to know if I should either buy units separately, or if the starting armies that GW sells are good enough.

**Ascalam**

Heh.

As good a way as any, and anyone not adding to the Sm//Xeno imbalance is welcome

DE are tough to master. You'll likely lose a few games before you get their tactics down.

They are by and large the slinkiest models to grace GW's inventory though, a couple of exceptions aside..

**forruner_mercy**

I don't mind losing games. I don't necessarily like it, but I don't mind.

As the old adage goes, "you learn from your mistakes."

**akaean**

I don't know much about starting up DE, but I am an avid Eldar afficianado

The battleforce is actually pretty good, despite what lots of people say.

You get 5 Dire Avengers (most people recommend this squad size)
You get a Wave Serpent (most Eldar builds cannot get enough of these)
You get a War Walker (Best unit in the codex for low point games)
The biggest downer is the Guardians. Even then, they can work OK in a mechanized list, and it can be helpful to learn first hand why they get so much hate.

Here is a solid 500 point list that will preform well on the table and be easy on your wallet (for eldar)

(75) Farseer- Guide

(85) 10 Guardians- shuri cannon
(100) Wave Serpent- tl shuri cannon

(60) 5 Dire Avengers

(135) Falcon- Missile

(40) War Walker- 2x shuri cannon

Total: 495

Put the Farseer and Avengers in the Falcon, and shoot away. Make sure you magnetize your weapons, because as you start playing bigger games you'll want to upgrade shuri cannons to scatter lasers.

This would give you a strong start to a mechanized army (which is probably the strongest eldar build right now) and would require

1 Battle Force
1 Farseer blister (for obligatory HQ)
1 Falcon (to give your 5 Avengers a ride)

**forruner_mercy**

akaean wrote:I don't know much about starting up DE, but I am an avid Eldar afficianado

The battleforce is actually pretty good, despite what lots of people say.

You get 5 Dire Avengers (most people recommend this squad size)
You get a Wave Serpent (most Eldar builds cannot get enough of these)
You get a War Walker (Best unit in the codex for low point games)
The biggest downer is the Guardians. Even then, they can work OK in a mechanized list, and it can be helpful to learn first hand why they get so much hate.

Here is a solid 500 point list that will preform well on the table and be easy on your wallet (for eldar)

(75) Farseer- Guide

(85) 10 Guardians- shuri cannon
(100) Wave Serpent- tl shuri cannon

(60) 5 Dire Avengers

(135) Falcon- Missile

(40) War Walker- 2x shuri cannon

Total: 495

Put the Farseer and Avengers in the Falcon, and shoot away. Make sure you magnetize your weapons, because as you start playing bigger games you'll want to upgrade shuri cannons to scatter lasers.

This would give you a strong start to a mechanized army (which is probably the strongest eldar build right now) and would require

1 Battle Force
1 Farseer blister (for obligatory HQ)
1 Falcon (to give your 5 Avengers a ride)

Thanks for this. If I decide to be Eldar, this should come in handy.

**Drake118**

From my experience i would say start with the Dark Eldar if thats what appeals to you. You may lose for a while, but if you start with something you dont want youll always be wishing you had started them, and eventually you probably will. That means that you will have spent money on an IG or SM army when you could have dumped that on the army you really wanted.

**forruner_mercy**

Drake118 wrote:From my experience i would say start with the Dark Eldar if thats what appeals to you. You may lose for a while, but if you start with something you dont want youll always be wishing you had started them, and eventually you probably will. That means that you will have spent money on an IG or SM army when you could have dumped that on the army you really wanted.

Pretty much my thought on it as well

**Showtime**

I'm facing the same problem as you, the only difference I have about half a SM army from when I played 10+ years ago. The new DE just looks so intense.

**forruner_mercy**

I think I will go DE. Does anyone know any info about the DE starter army GW sells?

**Lightcavalier**

The DE battle force is actually a pretty sweet deal if you want to build a nice balanced DE force...since you get 3 reavers, 10 wyches, 10 warriors, and a raider....get two of them and your over half way to a rather fun army

2 Raider squads of wyches
20 man warrior blob
6 reavers

**forruner_mercy**

Lightcavalier wrote:The DE battle force is actually a pretty sweet deal if you want to build a nice balanced DE force...since you get 3 reavers, 10 wyches, 10 warriors, and a raider....get two of them and your over half way to a rather fun army

2 Raider squads of wyches
20 man warrior blob
6 reavers

This should be VERY helpful, thanks a lot!