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Hi All

Over christmas and new year I decided that I'd update my Dark Elf army with a new paint scheme and a new set of models (I typically play a Northern Patrol themed list i.e. Dark Riders and CoK/Chariots) to take to a couple of local tournaments in 2013.

Here is what I have come up with, please let me know what you think of the list.

2396 Points.

Dreadlord - 240
Executioner's Axe, Blood Armour, Potion of Speed

Supreme Sorceress - 345
Level 4, Lore of Dark Magic, Dark Pegasus, Pendant of Khaeleth

Hag Queen - 225
Cauldron of Blood, Battle Standard Bearer

Sorceress - 190
Dark Pegasus, Lore of Metal, Tomb of Furion, Ruby Ring of Ruin

30 Corsairs - 340
Musician, Standard Bearer, Sea Serpent Standard

5 Dark Riders - 117
Repeater Crossbows, Musician

5 Dark Riders - 117
Repeater Crossbows, Musician

5 Dark Riders - 92
Musician

5 Shades - 85
Additional Hand Weapons

5 Shades - 85
Additional Hand Weapons

21 Witch Elves - 225
Musician, Standard Bearer

20 Black Guard - 316
Full Command, Ironcurse Icon, Banner of Hag Graef

How do you plan to deal with huge hoards of like 60 guys? Alot of redirection obviously but it seems you need more hitting units.

Why no hydras? They are really powerful!

Seems like a cool themed list though. Tons of movemene which I love!

I typically don't see that many large hordes (40+) if I do encounter them I hope that the Supreme Sorceress rolls Soul Stealer and hit the big units with that spell which typically will bring a lot of models down, but yes redirection helps, also will be using the Buffs from the CoB to counter specific threats. As it gives me a choice of Killing Blow, 5++ Ward and Additional Attck to throw on units so in theory the Corsair Horde can throw out 60 Attacks.

Hydra's for me are a bit of a crutch (like the unkillable Dreadlord) yes they're really powerful tools within the Dark Elf army but I feel that if I took these units I would not progress as well with the army as I would if I ran without them. Plus I play in a comped environment so the Hydra is a 0-1 choice.

At the moment I am thinking about how I can fit the Black Dragon Egg onto the Level 4 as that will put me over the Lord % as I don't really want to mess with the Dreadlords equipment as he is a combat monster (and built to take down High Toughness models)

I am also considering combining the Shades into a unit of 10 with AHW as this would be another good unit to throw the CoB Buffs onto.

Ok so have tweaked the list a bit

Supreme Sorceress - 400
Level 4, Lore of Dark Magic, Dark Pegasus, Dispel Scroll, Pendant of Khaeleth, Black Dragon Egg

Hag Queen - 225
Cauldron of Blood, Battle Standard Bearer

Sorceress – 115
Level 1, Lore of Metal, Tomb of Furion

30 Corsairs - 340
Musician, Standard Bearer, Sea Serpent Standard

5 Dark Riders - 117
Repeater Crossbows, Musician

5 Dark Riders - 117
Repeater Crossbows, Musician

5 Dark Riders - 92
Musician

5 Harpies – 55

5 Harpies - 55

9 Shades - 153
Additional Hand Weapons

9 Shades - 153
Additional Hand Weapons

20 Black Guard - 301
Musician, Standard Bearer, Banner of Murder

21 Witch Elves – 245
Full Command, Banner of Eternal Flame


Total Points Cost 2398

If you're taking at least semi competitive DE I recommend a level 4 shadow mage with the sac dagger. Add a bunker of warriors with the standard of discipline to get that LD 10 bubble.

Currently, your corsairs and witch elves won't do anything against stuff like Cavalry Empire, Bretonnia, Chaos Knights/Skullcrushers and Mournfangs. The Black Guard could deal with them, but they will last a turn. Possibly two.

I am deliberately keeping myself away from Lore of Shadow, Sacrifical Dagger and large amount of Spear Sacrifices as I feel that it doesn't really advance me as a general.

I will however agree that it is an extremely potent combination, one of the strongest that the Dark Elves can field from the current book.

Against standard cavalry I should have enough attacks combined with the Cauldron of Blood's Killing Blow blessing to be able to handle most heavy cavalry.

Monstrous Cavalry however, is a different matter and a threat that I have concerns about. I hope that the level 1 mage will go someway towards mitigating this risk through the Signature Spell and hopefully I will also be able to get a decent buff with the Tomb of Furion. Also if the Level 4 rolls Soul Stealer this can also cause damage to these units as it ignores armour (although S2 isn't the best) alternatively the CoB could give the +1attack to the Black Guard to speed up the combat is neccessary

The key to this list handling Monsterous cav is in your redirectors, not your combat blocks. Make sure that big nasty unit of Monsterous cav never sees combat and you'll tear the rest of his army apart.

If you don't want a level 4 shadow, try a level 4 death with a level 2 metal with a third spell. You are likely to get enchanted blades. And the soulblight bubble is bent. That goes partway to dealing with heavily armoured targets and when used in conjunction to your KB from the cauldron, it will get you further than just the cauldron.

I personally still find witch elves underwhelming without mindrazor. I would say, that swapping them out for another block of Black Guard would be worth considering.

Seconding a lot of what's been said, and I'm glad you've updated the list, it's far better the second time around.

Firstly, if you're looking at going to Tournaments, then, if you're serious about them, you don't go to Tournaments to advance as a general, you go to win. Advancing is for practice games. I'm not telling you to change your style around, in fact, I like that kind of style, just a word of info about Tournaments.

So yeah, I'd agree that Witch Elves aren't as good as they could be without some sort of Shadow buff, and, as they are, they fulfil much the same role as the Corsairs, so I think they're unnecessary. I'd drop them and use the points to upgrade your level 1 to a level 2 and to get crossbows for that 3rd Dark Rider unit. With the points left over, I'd either invest in more Black Guard or some Crossbowmen, or perhaps a small unit of CoK. Your choice though really.

I understand what you're saying regarding Tournaments but for me I have to disagree with you. I tend to only game at Tournaments since I have very few local players so have to use these experiences to hone my skills and test idea's plus personally I find them easier to test idea's at as I am guarunteed at least 4 games which is better to test an idea in than a one off game. Plus I find the competative atmosphere more fun then a friendly game where nothing is on the line....but all that is beside the point really.

That arguement makes more sense regarding the Witch Elves, I guess I just didn't really see what others were saying until it was phrased that way, thank you for making me understand other's arguements.

So removing the unit, upgrading the support caster to level 2 (with Ruby Ring - I like the choice from 3 Lores) and getting Repeater Crossbows for the 3rd unit of Dark Riders I have 187 points spare.

Initially I am thinking 29 Warriors, Musician and Standard Bearer which comes slightly under (183) as somewhere for the level 2 to chill out in, I'm not sold on the Repeater Crossbow unit as the rest of the shooting that I have is extremely mobile