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So I am thinking of getting into a new 40k army. I currently own an ork force and want something that uses strategy rather then just point and click. I am eyeballing Eldar, though it is odd as I am mostly a fantasy player and loathe elves. I have heard ramblings that 6th may boost rangers/pathfinders which I like as I am not a fan for both looks, as an incompetent tank builder, and for the cost of the DA/Wave Serpant Spam. I don't mind fire prisms and night spinners and actually prefer those to walkers (as my ork army is a kan wall and want something different). So based on that and building with the possibility of 6th in mind what would be a good start? I am leaning 2x5 pathfinders, 2 fire prisms, 1 night spinner, 1x5 fire dragons in wave serpant and a farseer, roughly 1k and could expand later with more fire dragons, maybe 2 more units pathfinders and some jetbikes or something.

Rumors are rumors. If you think you'll just have pathfinders in time for 6th ed, then why not go ahead for it? You already seem pretty set on Eldar, which I think is fine. Have you consider a footdar list if you don't like tanks?

I'm thinking Avatar of Khaine (really nice to build in resin), footslogging troops to make advantage of the fearless bubble, maybe wraithguard, harlequins, a WL (though you may not like this option due to it resembling kan wall).

If game objectives remain roughly as they are, you are never going to capture anything with 10 pathfinders. Nothing. And you can loose objective games really easily, because a smart enemy will show up next to your rangers and flame them.

I would add some jetbikes as you've said yourself, or even a humble guardian assault squad, in a wave serpent, lead by warlock with destructor, and use those guys to assault the enemy's objectives.


If you decide you don't want eldar in the end, then maybe Dark Eldar? Those these guys are pretty similar, you can play them differently from Eldar. A small elite force of SM? Maybe GK though that's a really personal choice. If you really want to focus on tactics, then I think Eldar is best, maybe with DE in second. Hope this helps!

If you're looking for an army that's more difficult to use on the table, you're looking for something that has fewer models. Also more mobility wouldn't hurt. Probably the toughest three armies to work with (strategy-wise) are eldar, dark eldar, and CSM. None of these armies have access to all that much long-range spam (lance weapons are long range, but not REALLY long range, etc.), and what shooting they have outside of 18"-24" is usually pretty crappy (eldar have to rely on scatter laser spam, etc.)

Meanwhile, none of these armies can really be used as a horde in the same way that orks can. They can run foot lists, but it's not the same.

There are other lists that also fit in these parameters, such as BA and GK, but while they may have more finesse than an ork horde, they have enough stuff in them, whether it's the DSing landraiders or the skimmer that throws fleeting blood talon dreads at stuff, or whether it be shunting super-robots, that makes it more than a little forgiving.

Another one you might want to much more seriously consider is vanilla space marines. They're an army that relies on shooting, but gives up most of their shooting quality in favor of versatility. SM is a deceptively difficult army to play well, and I personally respect SM players just that much more when I see someone pull it off well.

Thanks for the replies. I'm not a big fan of space marines in general. The only one that appeals to me is Black Templar. IG also appeal to me, I have looked hard at a Catchan Air Cav but I am not really liking the mandatory 4+ valks/vends at $60 a pop, I know this hobby isn't cheap but I am already supporting 3 fantasy armies, and VC for my wife and 'nids for my boy, money is really not the issue as much as it is time in building it all. That's why I'm looking at Eldar at 1,500 pts I am looking at like 25ish guys tops then any tanks and other toys. I have also considered dark eldar but really do not know the break down on them. I play mostly for fun but like it competitive and mostly I hear venom spam is the way to go that on top of 3 ravagers can get pricey it seems. Also I am not the best painter and there is just so much detail in those models.

You should go for Eldar then. You seem pretty set on it already, so I would go ahead with it. Welcome to the Eldar!