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Dark Eldar or Chaos?

Chaos isn't inherently evil, it is what it is.

Dark Eldar however choose to do what they do.

Anyway my question is if Dark Eldar went up against a Chaos warband, who would most likely win (fluff wise not tabletop rules).

It really depends what the forces were composed of and how large they were. You're question is like saying "If a bunch of Russians fought a bunch of English people who would win?"

It seriously depends, mate.

As in no surprise and an equal size force.

Dark Eldar don't really choose to do what they do; They're just trying to keep themselves from insta-dying and being Slaanesh's plaything.

Dark Eldar are the more irredeemably evil on a whole, though it depends. Emperor's Children for instance rival them in that regard.

If the forces were equal, would think the Chaos Marines would win personally.

All those posion shot from dark eldar would hurt, but if the DE didn't get the jump on the CSM than CSM would win, dark eldar rely on surprise hit and run attacks.

From our point of view the DE would appear the be "more evil". As, while they are acting out of self preservation, they have taken it to the extreme where they view their own preservation as more important than the welfare of themselves, their compatriots, or the rest of the universe. Pretty much in Vect's world, if he is the last soul in the universe, and he caused all of them to be destroyed...its ok.

As to objective morality in the 40k universe, there is none. We often cite the Imperium as the good guys, but that is just because the story depicts them as a bastion of humanity fighting against a universe that is out to dismantle them, and destroy humanity. As humans we see this as good.
In terms of applying a moral viewpoint to the game...all of the factions are despicable. Every faction is filled with examples of morally reprehensible behaviour, backed up with weak justifications and a great deal of rationalization.

As to who would win in a war...a chaos warband vs. a Dark Eldar Kabal (i assume your asking this, because DE as a whole would never act in unison). I really dont have a clear answer... The question has no real parameters....where are they fighting, which warband/kabal, etc.

Im partial so I would say the Dark Eldar would win...but then again the DE could loose, go home and as far as they are concerned they won.

Depending on the troops fighting it can really swing either way, Plague Marines and Thousand Sons would completely ignore the poisoned weaponry that the DE have, but in CC would have a tad bit of a rough time due to just being slower to react, while Khorne Bezerkers would more then likely fare far better. Where Noise Marines would fit I know not but if they won I'm sure Slaanesh would be backing them highly for the new Eldar souls

If it was a pitched battle I'd bet on CSM winning. As stated earlier dark eldar rely on trickery and surprise to fight off it's enemies I doubt DE could fight off CSM head on.

CSM would win in a stand up fight but if the dark eldar get the jump they win.

Would Dark Eldar ever be in a stand up/head on/pitched battle fight? Absolutely not. Even if you did back them into a corner, they would just leave....they are cruel but not suicidal.

Dark Eldar and most CSM are about the same level of evil/depraved. The whole population of Terra is still suspicious of Space Marines, 10,000 years after the Heresy, because of what the Emperor's Children did to civilians during the Battle for Terra.

The Emperor's Children are the sickest feths on this side (And that side) of the Eye of Terror, as 1d4chan so eloquently put it.

And that's true. Even compared to other Chaos Marines, the Emperor's Children are extremely vile and sick.

In comparison with Dark Eldar, Chaos forces are indeed very civilized, intelligent and kind. Perhaps DE are the most cruel race in the Galaxy

The DE would never be stupid enough to face a similar force head on so I'd say they would win as the fight is on their terms.

Blood_Raven wrote:As in no surprise and an equal size force.

If the forces are equal the fight could go to anyone.

If there is one marine for each dark eldar warrior, the marines will likely win unless the DE get a great surprise attack or have air superiority or something.

Chaos. Throw 10 Daemons in Commoragh, more come, DE dead.

Chaos. More powerful and evil.

Hmmm, it may depend on which god is directing the chaos. If it's slaanesh, you know they are going to be working double time to kill as many DE so Slaanesh can dine on their miserable souls.

Dark Eldar. You do not want to know their torture methods.....

Considering 500 Salamanders fought off the entire population of Commoragh and escaped, Chaos is probably more powerful.
Now if we're talking evil, Dark Eldar takes that cake. feth all.

Commoragh was not organized in fighting the Salamanders though, they were killing each other as much as they were fighting the marines. If Vect wanted those Salies dead, they would be dead.


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Commoragh was not organized in fighting the Salamanders though, they were killing each other as much as they were fighting the marines. If Vect wanted those Salies dead, they would be dead.

I'm going with Chaos here... Considering the driving force behind the DE is a need to stave off slaanesh.

However in a fire fight...

DE kill anything they get a chance to shoot at, but given the number of daemons... Daemons win eventually.

Lightcavalier said:
Commoragh was not organized in fighting the Salamanders though, they were killing each other as much as they were fighting the marines. If Vect wanted those Salies dead, they would be dead.

... and if the fethin' techmarine remembered to bring that Cyclonic torpedo with him Commoragh would be simply a hole in the webway... But he chose to perpetuate a racial stereotype and do some drive-by shooting...

This depends on your understanding of evil. Can the Emperor's Children and World Eaters be excluded because they're insane and so aren't responsible for what they do? Or are they evil because they embraced that insanity?

Are the Dark Eldar exempt because they are just trying to survive, or are they still to blame for their acts of torture and murder?

My opinion would be they're as bad as each other, but in different ways.

No surprise? Then CSM, DE rely on surprise in their battles.

If everything was equal, I know this is going to come as a shock to some of yall: It would be, (dramatic pause), a TIE!

But everything isn't equal. There's fewer Dark Eldar.

Your mother.



Jokes aside (sort of), Dark Eldar practically have a culture of torture. Chaos at least is more widely varied, even if they tend towards extremes that are typically associated with evil compared to everyone else (blood sacrifice for example).


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bombboy1252 wrote:All those posion shot from dark eldar would hurt, but if the DE didn't get the jump on the CSM than CSM would win, dark eldar rely on surprise hit and run attacks.

Oh, we're talking about CSMs rather than Chaos proper?

Then Dark Eldar. CSMs are pansy little daddy's boys who are upset their daddy didn't get them nice things for Christmas.

No, now you're thinking of DA