Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi there!

I recently bought a pack of glade guard for my step son and now he wants to start his army while I myself fell in love with the new DE and am aiming to start an army focusing on witches.
We will be each others only opponents so I want to help him create an army/list that is somewhat balanced versus what I want to focus my army around, namely:

Cauldron
Witches
Spearmen
Darkshards

I want to make a 1000-1500 point list and I think what I need to make a wood elf list is a character or general tactic to build around, like with my own army (witches).

Like for example, I wouldn't want for him to build an army around something that I'd completely pulverize every single game.

Thanks for any reply!

Many people will tell you wood elves are a terrible army to start the game with, that they are hard to play, and that winning is hard. And all that is true, but I can personally attest to having started my wahammer life with them at around his age (I guess, I was 12) and learning how to play a hard army well really made me a better player then I would be if I started a different army. On to his army selection.

Wood Elves have 3 categories, with several sub categories. The first and most obvious is shooty, which works with MSU of 10-15 man glade guard units along with waywatchers and a strong magic phase. The sub categories of this are Sethla style armies which is basically avoidance, uses glade riders and warhawk riders to make sure your the one who gets to choose your combats. Then there is combat, which is surprisingly effective for wood elves. That splits into treespirits and Elves (Wardancers, Wild riders and Eternal guard). Treespirits are very effective right now. Then their is mixed unit army, which uses both types.

Ask him what part of the Wood Elves attracted him, the vengeful guardian of the forest part? Or the vengeful forest itself? Against Dark Elves Treespirits work well because high toughness against elves low strength is bonus. Treekin work best as they have great damage output and Treemen can tarpit anything DE's have. While shooting is VERY effective Vs witch elves and IS needed against Hydra's, so I would suggest the Hybrid. Once you find out what kind of army he wants to play, i'd be happy to help make a list for him.

This is very valuable insight, thank you so much

I think he'd appreciate a mix of creatures. Like trees/hawks and probably a cool character. Maybe a spellsinger to dispell my buffs?

A good mixed 1000pt list that I made great use of when I just started wood elves went along these lines.

Wood Elf Noble, scout kindred, Hail of Doom Arrows and Briarsheath. 135pts (really resilient to range shooting, and shouldn't be charged with good movement. He can also really damage a unit on the first turn with HoDA which simply slaughters witch elves)

Branchwraith with 2 25point spirits.115pts (I would recommend the Murder of sprites and annoyance of netlings for a pure combat unit that can at least tarpit the best DE characters. Although he may prefer to swap the Murder for Luminescents for a small bit of magical help.

2 x 10 glade guard with musicians. 262pts (Nice and simple, stay at 36inch range against crossbow men, get closer vs CC elves for strength 4. Easy way to fill up 25% core)

1 x 9 Dryads with a Branch Nymph. 120pts (Good combat unit that hits before basic elves, hits hard and is T 4. When
new Dark Elves come out they will also deny ASF re-rolls)

3 Treekin plus Elder. 215pts. Great combat unit that is very tough vs elves with good damage output. Keep away from poison witch elves.

6 waywatchers. 148pts (Goes with Noble, makes him all but immune to shooting. They also almost always hit, and killing blow will keep the sorcerous hiding)

995 points. This eases him into the army and shows him if he likes the elves or spirits more, by giving him the choice of both. Good luck.

I like themes to armies and building an entire DE khainite army has been tempting to me. Expensive but very cool.

Thanks Alexis! I'll definitely work from that when deciding what to get for him

I mean Alex..