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So, I was wondering, is it even possible to make a good footdar army? Usually my lists get shot down for not having enough tanks, but I'm poor and was wondering if it was even possible to have an at least semi-competitive footdar list. I have one wave serpent and 6 jetbikes (plus a jetlock for them) but other than that everything's on foot.

Cheers, y'all.

Avatar, Eldard as your HQs
Harlequins (with Shadowseer) as elite's
probably minimum of 3 Guardian squads with Scatter Lasers or Bright lances, maybe a squad or two of Dire Avengers (with bladestorm)
Not sure on fast attack, not a priority, maybe Warp Spiders if anything.
Wraithlords and maybe a squad of shooty War Walkers (scatter lasers or Shuriken cannons).

I don't play Eldar, but from looking around (and making lists, and asking about footdar) the above is what I think you need to be competitive, how much of each thing will depend on your points level, also you may want to add something different, I would probably add a squad of Warlocks, just to add something. Wraithguard are also an option...

But I would say Eldrad (more than a standerd Farseer), Harelquins and Guardians are key. Avatar is very very useful with foot Guardians, keeping them fearless, meaning you won't run away if you take a couple of wounds. Wraithlords add some ranged fire power, and a little CC punch, War Walkers would add some nice fire power (especially when guided by Eldrad). Harelquins are great for protecting your line, and are pretty nifty in combat.

Its not going to be the best army ever, but I think with a bit of experience and tinkering you can make a pretty solid Footdar list.

Hmm. There's not much anti-tank in there... and as I'm poor, perhaps it would be best if I listed what I actually have.

Maugan Ra
2 Farseers
4 warlocks
Autarch on jetbike with LL and Fusion Gun
Autarch on foot with fusion gun
6 jetbikes (2 cannons) and jetlock
20 rangers
10 guardians
10 avengers
5 spiders inc exarch
2x 6 dragons (inc exarch, 1 with dbf and 1 with pike)
6 banshees inc exarch with mirrorswords
wave serpent
2 wraithlords

Anti-tank comes from Guardian Bright lances, Wraithlords and Avatar in combat, wraithlords at range if you give them BL/ML combo, War walkers an take down light armour, as can Guardian scatter lasers, its not a lot but its as much as your probably going to fit into a footdar list.

With what you've got i'm not 100% sure if you can run a 'competitive' footdar list.
I suppose you could use a mix of stuff, and get a decent enough list out of that, if your planning on making any purchases to improve your army, I would say two lots of Guardians and an Avatar should be first on your list, them along with two Wraithlords would give you a good solid base to work around.

I run a pretty decent footdar list and Iv'e found that it pays to have Wraithlords. Their a good alt for tanks. Now this is a 2,500pt list depending on the upgrades you give each unit.

HQ

Avatar/Yriels- they cost the same amount in points
Farseer- large amount of warlock bodygaurds

Elite

10 fire dragons including exarch
banshees with exarch
Scorpions with exarch- always take shadow strike
p.s. Either the scorpions or the banshees should have a troup count of 10 you decide

Troops

5 Rangers- pathfinder perk
10 Dire avengers- exarch
10 Dire avengers- exarch
10 Guardians- EML it's cheap and effective- warlock
6 Eldar jetbikes- Warlock- Shuriken cannon

Fast attack

I often times don't run fast attack because it takes up to much points from the other units but if you must i would take Warp spiders you can decide the perks you wana give them depending on what you fight most.

Heavy Support

Dark reapers- exarch- Tempest Launchers- take all perks

1 Wraithlord- give him a sword and whatever else you like- warlock close by

1 Wraithlord- either give him support weapons like heavy weapons or give him a sword- warlock close by

In short it is not possible to do a competitive footdar list. The most competitive build for footdar is wraithwall but its lack of range and mobility causes problems. A walking Guardian and Dire Avenger list is just Heavy flamer and assault bait and as you've no mobility you'll not even get 1 round of shooting before you get into thoae situations. Deepstriking and scouting flamer weapons will ruin Footdar that aren't Wraithguard. Whilst fast armies will annihilate all your troops in assault turn 1 and then you just won't have enough bodies to mount any sort of counter.

The only comptetive unit you could build with be Eldrad and Defend Dire Avengers with the Avatar and either 2 Wraithlords and 3 Warwalkers or 3 Wraithlords supporting them. In low points those 4 MCs might be enough to swing it for you, but then you'd not have enough scoring bodies to take advantage so you'd be relying on 4 MCs to table your opponent.

Can you win with footdar? Sure you can but you have to be lucky and/or against uncompetitive lists.

I dont think it is fully impossible but instead you should have a mix of every style to play Eldar because not just one alone is sure fire win.

I dont think it is fully impossible but instead you should have a mix of every style to play Eldar because not just one alone is sure fire win.

It is impossible with the current codex and meta in a competitive environment.

5ed really hurt the footdar lists however it is still doable.

I like the dark reapers - 3 of them with exarch with Tempest and crackshot. 2 template AP3 rerolling wounds is death. Indirect fire keeps them alive.
For anti-tank I like 3 exarch with EML and fast shot. This gives you 2 S8 AP3 shots with a 5 BS. Almost autohit.

The problem with foot dar is taking on vehicles and having a survivable counterattack unit. So think about ant-tank and a rock hard counterassault unit or units.

Doing a footdar list I would look at dark reapers and/or wraithlords with an understanding this is going to be your primary anti-tank. If you want massed S6 fire, use vypers. A little more costly than walkers but it uses fast attack slots instead of heavies.

FlingitNow wrote:

I dont think it is fully impossible but instead you should have a mix of every style to play Eldar because not just one alone is sure fire win.

It is impossible with the current codex and meta in a competitive environment.

several pretty well respected competitive tourny players would largely disagree with you....

Heres a great blog from blackmoor who is one of the better footdar players around. Also lots of other footdar and general goodness on his blog
http://blackmoors40k.blogspot.com/2012/02/return-of-foot-eldar-for-1750-rtt.html

it also should be noted that it takes more then a good list with footdar for the army to be competitive. Its not an army that you can win a large percent of your guys just by showing you. You've got to understand the tactics to use and know what you can do with your army

Right im ordering some wave serpants for my new eldar now.....

Another thought for anti-tank is the 3-man EJB squad with a warlock with spear and embolden. Embolden to cover from the crappy Ld8. The spear gives you a great shortranged AT shot of S9 or a charge for 2 S9 shots.
Cheap, fast and can be effective tank killers. Also not bad to sacrifice on opening up an opponent's transports.

I am no expert, but effective footslogging lists remind me a bit of fantasy. Study the concept of counter charging, because that seems to be the key.
Hope I helpped.