Dire Avenger Exarch power weapon query

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**kryczek**

Was looking over my Eldar the other day and wasn't sure of this one.

On the Dire Avenger Exarch does the power weapon that comes with the shimmer-shield count as a halberd(axe) or spear(lance)?

I'm not sure either way. How would you play it dakka?

**Quanar**

In the illustrations for Eldar weapons in the BRB (can't give a page ref atm sorry) it's labelled as a power spear, but since the warhead entry simply states 'power weapon' it can be any of the 4 (axe, sword, spear or mace), just get converting or make sure your opponent knows at the start.

**kryczek**

Yeah it's pg 59, spear it is then.
I was using the dire sword as the power weapon originally but I like the spear better. I hope they get a throwing rule like the singing spear does.

**Quanar**

I'd say that's unlikely, as the Singing Spears are wielded by psykers in order to get them to come back boomerang style.
I've had an opponent count them as axes (halbards) and I was fine with it.

**Neronoxx**

In the book its called a spear, but it is technically in the shape of a halberd or glaive, so according to the power weapon rules, it would be a power axe. Doesn't really matter either way though as both interpretations are justified.

**Happyjew**

Neronoxx wrote:
In the book its called a spear, but it is technically in the shape of a halberd or glaive, so according to the power weapon rules, it would be a power axe. Doesn't really matter either way though as both interpretations are justified.

One of my friends was rather happy to find out that the DA PW is (according to the BRB) a spear and not an axe. He'd rather have the +1 S some of the time and not unwieldy all of the time.

**Neronoxx**

Yar, its pretty good as a spear, but not helpful at all as an axe.

**Sir Arun**

spear? Do you guys mean Power lance? S4 AP3 at I6 the turn they charge, and S3 AP4 afterwards doesnt look too shabby - as an Axe you'd be relying too much on your meek 5+ inv in challenges and I6 is really the only thing the DA exarch has going for him in a challenge, so you dont want to give this one up, although the axe is arguably the best choice when fighting enemy troops that dont have a good cc-character in them; the maul is out of the question unless you go converting; and the sword is a jack of all trades but at S3 I wouldnt call it great.

**ductvader**

Sir Arun wrote:
spear? Do you guys mean Power lance? S4 AP3 at I5 the turn they charge doesnt look too shabby

Math-hammered out...power maul is your best friend...spears are only great for units that will without a doubt get the charge. Boosting your guy to S5 is a much better buy than AP3 that wounds 33% of the time, I1, or a one shot combat maneuver that isn't guarunteed at all for dire avengers.

**SRSFACE**

If you're getting a generalist weapon, power mauls are the best power weapons. Power Lances are only worthwhile on units with Hit and Run, Power Swords only outperform Mauls if Strength of user is equal to or 1 higher than the toughness of the target. Axes have their uses but you already know if you need the AP2 or not.

As soon as you introduce invulnerable saves, mauls perform better than swords on nearly every unit in every instance. Especially on a unit who's only S3 naturally, +2 strength will matter a lot more than stripping armor saves.

**Quanar**

Ah, nostalgia, why else would we bring up a rules thread from 10 months ago?

The BRB does call it a Spear (page 59), which puts it in the category of lances as per page 61 - Types of Power Weapons:

...if it's a blunt weapon like a mace or staff, it's a power maul; if it's a spear or lance, it's a power lance.

**reds8n**

Thread is being locked due to thread necromancy.