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Here's my pickle. My FLGS is hosting a 200 point Kill team campaign and I'm playing in it this coming Tuesday (8/13). I have made what I think is a solid Eldar list, BUT I played against it with my friend (who is admittedly new to the game) at the helm, with a meaner Dark Eldar team that I whipped up just for fun, and TROUNCED him. Granted, I know that this is just another example of the choices and tactics making the list, not vice versa, but I wanted to put this idea out to the internet to see if the DE list is really the superior list. Should I go with my Eldar KT and trust my plans or should I retreat to the safety of Dark Eldar?

Also, if you want to include feedback on either list, I'd love to hear your thoughts on improving them in general, even outside of the "Which do I play on Tuesday?" question.

Things to keep in mind: I have to take fully legal unit sizes (no taking 2 Scourges); I get 3 specialist powers for free, the only drawback is I risk giving up more victory points; I can take 0-1 Elite Choices, 0-2 Troops and 0-1 Fast Attack. If you want to see more of the rules that we are playing, check them out at http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m2860630a_40K_Kill_Team_Pack_2013_(6).pdf

On to the squads

Hit & Run Eldar

4 Windrider Jetbikes - 78 points
1 Shuriken Cannon Upgrade Preferred Enemy Specialist Power

5 Warp Spiders - 125
1 Exarch (Leader) with Powerblades and Fleshbane Specialist Power

vs.

Balanced TAC Dark Eldar

3 Incubi - 81 points
1 with Hatred Specialist Power, 1 Klaivex (Leader) with Shred Specialist Power

5 Kabalite Warriors with Dedicated Transport Raider - 120 points
1 with Blaster and Preferred Enemy Specialist Power

So, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the merits and failings of each list. In terms of modifications available to each one, I have 10 Wraithguard, 10 Dire Avengers, 2 Vipers and as many guardians as you can imagine, as well as 5 more Windrider Jetbikes that I can use to augment the current loadout. For DE, I've got 2 more Incubi, loads of Trueborn, Kabbies and Wyches (or Bloodbrides), as well as 5 Wracks and 9 Harlequins (which I could technically use on either Kill Team) and plenty of Venoms.

Honestly, the Eldar list could be vastly improved (pure Warp Spiders is one of the best lists in Kill Team), but the DE list doesn't seem strong at all. Besides, both lists are more than 200 points (even 201 is not legal).

I use Warp Spiders myself, in 3 different versions (10 spiders + exarch, 9 spiders + exarch with spinneret rifle, 8 spiders + exarc with spinneret rifle and fast shot), and they are really, really good. They rely a lot on cover (in Kill Team, the table should have A LOT of terrain elements), but they are extremely mobile, and with a lot of firepower. Being able to hide after shooting (with both the Run movement and the JSJ) is incredibly strong.

In my opinion, there are 4 lists in Kill Team that are above pretty much everything: 5 Canoptek Wraiths, 5 Nurgle Spawns, Warp Spiders (in any incarnation, lately i am leaning towards the 9 men version), and surprisingly a DE list: 6 Reavers with Blaster and 2 Caltrops. The last list is incredibly powerful: each turn, you can do 4d3 S4 automatic hits, plus 2D6 S6 ones, at a HUGE range (up to 48"), hiding behind terrain elements afterwards, and with a nice 3+ cover (2+ for the models with Caltrops, you will give them Stealth and Shrouded). I didn't think the last list was good until i saw it in action, it's really difficult to face (for many list, absolutely impossible).

Hey Teschio. I would really love to field a full set of Spiders, but sadly, I dont have the models. I need to get on that, to be sure, especially since everyone who sees my Eldar army list gives me the feedback of "get more spiders" and they seem to be the new Aspect that CANNOT be ignored. Anyway, in the interim I emailed the guy running the show and I asked him if 3 points was going to be a problem. If he says yes, I'll follow your lead and give the Exarch Fast Shot and take out one of the Jetbikes.

I LOVE the idea a fielding a Reaver Kill Team. It's super Dark Eldar like to screw over the format with this kind of gameplan. I'd actually eschew my Warp Spider list in a heartbeat, if I had the models, which again, sadly, I dont. I may look into purchasing them, just for the nasty Kill Team mechanics.

On a side note, have you seen Reavers be as effective in full size games?

Yeah I agree with basically everything Teschio said. (Except he missed out by far the strongest kill team of 22 Pink Horrors which is an auto-win).

jberry wrote:Hey Teschio. I would really love to field a full set of Spiders, but sadly, I dont have the models. I need to get on that, to be sure, especially since everyone who sees my Eldar army list gives me the feedback of "get more spiders" and they seem to be the new Aspect that CANNOT be ignored. Anyway, in the interim I emailed the guy running the show and I asked him if 3 points was going to be a problem. If he says yes, I'll follow your lead and give the Exarch Fast Shot and take out one of the Jetbikes.

I LOVE the idea a fielding a Reaver Kill Team. It's super Dark Eldar like to screw over the format with this kind of gameplan. I'd actually eschew my Warp Spider list in a heartbeat, if I had the models, which again, sadly, I dont. I may look into purchasing them, just for the nasty Kill Team mechanics.

On a side note, have you seen Reavers be as effective in full size games?

Don't but Spiders, make them I really hate the models, so i made them assembling bits from various units. I personally used DE wyches legs, cabalite warriors torsos, DE Shredders as weapons (haywire blaster for the spinneret rifle), Reavers or Venom pilot heads (the helm is really cool) and Necron Triarch Praetoria backpacks (without the spine part).

Reavers in full games are a no-go in most cases. DE can field more effective units. But in a Kill Team format, they are really strong.

FlingitNow wrote:Yeah I agree with basically everything Teschio said. (Except he missed out by far the strongest kill team of 22 Pink Horrors which is an auto-win).

I didn't, since around here every single TO uses a home-rule that states that Brotherhood of Psykers can cast only one psychic power per unit (considering the unit when you purchase it, even if the models are considered one-man units afterwards), measuring range and LoS from any model of your choice. So it's 2 psychic powers a turn, not 22. Otherwise, that list is utterly unbeatable. I think this home rule is absolutely necessary, it's ok to abuse the format in some ways, but this way totally breaks it, and should not be allowed.

That's a cool house rule. The Horrors need a fix. Otherwise as you state they are unbeatable.

Thanks for the feedback Teschio. I'm going to try to make my own spiders using your conversion plan. I might swap in some Guardian heads, legs and torsoes instead of Dark Eldar, just because of the gnarly, pointy, kill-y factor, but I think you're spot on with shredders, haywire blasters and the backpacks. It might make for obviously different looking squads/halfs of a warp spider squad but that's ok.

On this tangent, do you have any other cool Eldar conversions that you do?

No, because i don't play Eldar I just made my Warp Spiders for Kill Team.