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Hello everyone, like everyone else when it comes to new releases I am definitely interested about the new Eldar Codex, especially now that there is a Ranger special character but also because his special abilty allowing all rangers to have precision shot and an addition +1 to cover saves. Back in the old Craftworld Codex days my favorite army in terms of fluff and color scheme was the Alitoc and I am wanting to do an army that is both competitive and fits the fluff. As of now I am considering:

-Ranger Special Character
-Around x30-x40 Rangers
-Some War Walkers
-Probably at least x1 Wraith Knight
-A flyer or two
-Probably Striking Scorpions to fit with the recon fluff.

Basically this will be a recon/light infantry themed army which I feel along with being a xenos army will be a good change of pace in terms of gameplay when compared to my super risky and assaulty Airborne IG army. Basically I am asking from those who have had a chance to look through the codex alot more (have only gotten to look through it once) as to what would be good units and or ideas to fit this theme. Thanks for the help guys!

The list depands too much on cover to work , so it can't be competitive.

Yeah, cover ignoring fire will just decimate this list.

That's not a fluffy Alaitoc list. Alaitoc warhosts doesn't contain only Rangers. They contain everything, but they are the only one who has Pathfinders. I'd say use 2 Pathfinder squads and then everything else as a normal Eldar list.

 shamikebab wrote:
Yeah, cover ignoring fire will just decimate this list.

Besides Tau, IG and the Vulkan SM army I have not really seen an army kitted out to deal with a cover save reliant list to often, who else really brings an anti-cover list?

And I know that Alitoc has other options just like any other standard craftworld, the fluff would be however that this is a recon force inserted onto the planet or into the warzone to scout ahead for the main Eldar force, basically fitting into the theme of the pathfinders and to play with a different style of army.

 gmaleron wrote:

 shamikebab wrote:
Yeah, cover ignoring fire will just decimate this list.

Besides Tau, IG and the Vulkan SM army I have not really seen an army kitted out to deal with a cover save reliant list to often, who else really brings an anti-cover list?

And I know that Alitoc has other options just like any other standard craftworld, the fluff would be however that this is a recon force inserted onto the planet or into the warzone to scout ahead for the main Eldar force, basically fitting into the theme of the pathfinders and to play with a different style of army.

have you heard of helldrakes?

I'd be nervous about some CC specialists deep striking and assaulting your rangers early on.

Your proposed army so far will most likely experience situations in which you decimate your opponent and other times where you just get tabled yourself.

Instead of 30-40 x rangers I'd go 20x rangers and 20x guardians /w support platforms.

Yes I have heard of Helldrakes, but again that is only x1 unit in an army and though it is a flyer I am planning on taking flyers to counter that threat, really I am asking that outside Tau because of their marker lights, IG because of their mass amount of ignoring cover templates and a specialized SM list who esle brings or runs an army that is super effective against a cover save reliant/recon style of army?

Only am asking because I have always wanted to do this and the new Pathfinder options the Eldar get are pretty sweet! And also realize that Guardians are now the way to go so probably will be taking them with a few model additions to fit the recon theme

how do you counter a helldrake with eldar ? you don't have interceptors like tau and even if somehow your fighter hits a drake it doesnt wreck it on avarge , because of the inv . at the same time a helldrake does fear aegis and 2 can wreck any pathfinder or bike based army.

Warwalkers with Scatter Laser, EML - Flakk might be able to counter a Helldrake, its a fairly hefty down payment for 3 of them but scatterlaser hits will twin link the flakk EMLs and might bring it down

You are right, but you do all that a turn after they burn your pathfinders.
Am not saying that it is impossible for an eldar army to destroy a helldrake , but two helldrakes can break the army before an eldar army has a chance to counter them .

Playing eldar without wave serpents or wrights doesn't seem to be a good idea.

Like others have said, just because Alaitoc is the ranger force doesn't mean all your troops have to be rangers. Rangers have some serious shortcomings that prevent them handling all threats.

This looks more like a troupe of outcasts with a few war machines than an Alaitoc war host. I'd suggest dropping some Rangers and expanding with some aspect warriors or more vehicles. Alaitoc does have the most connections with the outcasts and Harlequins, but the actual craftworld uses aspect warriors and war machines in equal proportions. They also use guardians, but when I field them I assume there to be some serious danger to the craftworld.

More specifically, Warp Spiders are superb now so they'd be a good help and still fluffy. Maybe some Guardians or DAs in a Wave Serpent. Happy gaming, man!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh yeah, and fielded this way Alaitoc armies definitely can be competitive. If you really have problems with people ignoring your cover, do what I do and bring some empty Falcons since the Rangers can start inside or hop in later if need be. Reduces the Rangers' effectiveness, but realistically speaking they don't do much damage anyway.

Hemlocks are a must in Alaitoc. They complement Rangers SO well.

Makumba wrote:
how do you counter a helldrake with eldar ? you don't have interceptors like tau and even if somehow your fighter hits a drake it doesnt wreck it on avarge , because of the inv . at the same time a helldrake does fear aegis and 2 can wreck any pathfinder or bike based army.

Doesn't the Crimson Hunter have 4 S8 shots and can reroll failed armour penetration against other flyers? Upgrade to an exarch, and you're likely taking that heldrake down in one round. Mathhammer says you are hitting with all 4 shots with the Exarch, and at least glancing with 3 of them thanks to the reroll. One of those is likely going to be a penetrating hit, and with AP2/AP1 on the weapons, that increases your odds of taking it down in one turn, even with the invulnerable save.

Granted, if the Heldrake even looks at the CH with its vector strike, it'll likely crumble apart, but the CH can definately take a Heldrake down if it gets the jump on it.

Thanks for the adivce and tips guys, I was able to read through the book a little more and I have decided to change a few things however there are a few things that I want to address if I may:

Makumba wrote:
how do you counter a helldrake with eldar ? you don't have interceptors like tau and even if somehow your fighter hits a drake it doesnt wreck it on avarge , because of the inv . at the same time a helldrake does fear aegis and 2 can wreck any pathfinder or bike based army.

I know that the Helldrake is a very nasty unit for any army to face but as mentioned the Crimson Hunter would be a very good addition to my army and would give me some good anti air capability. And War Walkers, though not being the most effective anti air options would still be good in regards to the firepower they can lay down.

 Jancoran wrote:
Hemlocks are a must in Alaitoc. They complement Rangers SO well.

If I may ask how do they compliment Rangers so well?

Along with those questions I am considering an army list composed of the following would fit a "recon" style of army:

-Farseer (possibly Eldrad) to make up my HQ slot.
-Ranger Special Character.
-Minimum of x20 Pathfinders.
-Squad of Guardian Defenders or two with support Weapons, models converted to fit a recon theme.
-Striking Scorpions, warp spiders or Swopping Hawks to contribute to the army, Scorpions for their "ninja" capabilities and swopping hawks and warp spiders for their speed and mobility.
-Crimson hunters for their anti armor capabilities, unless the hemlocks are as good supporting my army as mentioned.
-x2 squadrons of war walkers with scatter lasers to two powerful firebases.
-x1 Wraithknight just because.

Hemlock has Terrify and an anti-morale aura. It's an odd bomber that plays the morale-game rather than the kill-game.

Combine with a Council for that juicy -3LD (hopefully) and you can pin a Carnifex fairly reliably.

Hemlocks also have those Heavy D-scythes which...while not as potent as other bomber weapons...are still very nice.

Thunderfire Cannon Space Marine lists will be a problem for your rangers, they'll be getting squibbed on twos, no cover, and likely with their own 3+ cover.
They aren't exactly uncommon

 Mahtamori wrote:
Hemlock has Terrify and an anti-morale aura. It's an odd bomber that plays the morale-game rather than the kill-game.

Combine with a Council for that juicy -3LD (hopefully) and you can pin a Carnifex fairly reliably.

Yup. They can send an enemy packing and fast if they aren't fearless. Plus they still shoot well so its not as if you need a fearless foe in order to get value.