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.

So I was just curious, I'm gonna start Dark Elves, And when Wood Elves get a new book I'l revive my old Wood Elves too, and I was thinking, What are the similarities and diferences between the three elf armies? What are the pros and cons of each of the three compared to eachother?

Well, it's a little hard to compare all three since I expect that WEs will be changed pretty drastically when they get their book.

However, here are a few points from my perspective:

Magic: HE and DE both have very strong magic potential with HE lore focused on protection and the DE lore focused on destruction.

Core units: DE and HE both can take a fair amount of shooting from core, with the main difference being that HE bows are longer range than the DE crossbows, but DEs get more shots and are armor piercing. They both can throw out large handfuls of S3 attacks from any of their other core units. HE's mounted core units can either be decent medium/heavy cavalry or the Fast Cav Reavers. DE's only have Dark Riders, but they are probably the best fast cav in the game.

Specials: DE's get monsters, both get bolt throwers, but the HEs will generally get more attacks out of their special units because they get to fight in an extra rank. Executioners edge out White Lions, and I'm not really sure on if the Black Guard have a use anymore, but I think that Swordmasters are criminally underrepresented now.

Rares: The HE phoenixes are very nasty (Frostie moreso), and I can't really remember what else is in HE rare right now, sorry. DE rares probably aren't worth taking other than the Warlocks, which are probably now the second best fast cav unit in the game. The sisters of slaughter are also interesting, but <shrug>.

So, I don't know if that helps or not, but I do what I can.

I can focus on Wood Elves, because they are my main army and despite what others say, I wont leave my first ever army on the shelf just because they aren't 'competitive (I disagree, over priced maybe...)

Magic: Lets face it, the other elves have much better magic then us. Although we can compete in dispel attempts soley due to wand of wych elm being a fantastic item and branchwraiths with cluster of raidients.

Lords and heroes: The other elves have it here to, with ours being more expensive, having less (Useable) options and worse magic items. Its also practically necessary to have a spellweaver, although I can say that a machine gun alter (Bow of Loren, Arcane bodkins) is a very good unit that has personally legolas'ed his way through entire units of knights, especially when buffed with savage beast.

Special: The Other elves have better options in general, but treekin keep us in the running. Treekin are amazing with a good stat line, respectable save/s but they do pay for it. A unit of 6 supported with magic (Life or beasts) is a very scary prospect. Wild Rider busses can be effective, but the other elves do it much better due to always strike first and you know....armour saves.

Troops: This is where we pull it back a bit. Other elves want to fill up there 25% and get the heck outta troop choices, but not us. The only troops that anyone uses (Dryads and Glade Guard) are very good, although could do with being 2pts cheaper. Dryads have a solid stat line, and work very well as road bumps or if in units of 12 they can even be effective combat units if wild formed, also stubborn in forests. Glade Guard are a main stay and are very good at shooting. Moving and shooting without penalty means we out range all other elves, and at short range we out class them by being strength 4. Now if only they had even light armour...

Rare: I wouldn't like to say this goes to anyone specifically, but if I had to say DE take it. Our Treeman is a great tarpit with stubborn, especially with a BSB or magical support. Eagles work just like they do in the high elf book, but work better in ours due to half our army being skirmishers. Waywatchers took a hit, but are still all but immune to ranged fire if its not in quantities that could be shot into more important stuff. Others don't like them, but I like the psychological effect on the deployment of the other army.

Magic Items. Even with a much larger list then the other elves, I still wouldn't say we win. Simply because our heroes aren't up to par to carry them. The only things I would suggest are the machine gun alter build, wand of wych elm and HoDA's. Wild Rider nobles have access to the dawn spear which helps I guess.

Over all: We don't stack up as well, but we don't fall flat on our faces. Every unit is over priced by a few points and we have a lack of always strike first, so combat with anything other then treespirits seems unwise, but our shooting can keep up with them and our mobility is second to none. We can win, but we need to work harder, but isn't that always the case? Anyway, everyone loves the underdog.

Thanks for the replies! They where very informative. ^_^

Bullet point difrerence:
Differences:
Wood Elf tricky, shy
HE smug
DE properly evil

Similarities:
Squishy
They will fall o Chaos!