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hey Dakka,

I have a game tomorrow vs a seasoned Tau player. I've only faced them one other time and tied. He will be bringing something like:
ethereal
commander
2 x (3) crisis suits
2 x Riptides
2 x FW squads
1 x Hammerhead or Skyray
1 x (3) Broadsides
+ some marker drones

My question is should I take list A or list B?

List A:
Eldar [infantry] (1500/1500pt.)


@HQ [ 3 ]

The Avatar of Khaine (195pt.) The Wailing Doom;

2x - Warlocks (70pt.)
> 2x - Warlock (35pt.); Rune armour; Shuriken pistol; Witchblade;

Eldrad Ulthran (205pt.) Shuriken pistol; Witchblade; Ghosthelm; Runes of warding; Runes of witnessing; Armour of the Last RunesStaff of Ulthamar;

@Troops [ 4 ]

10x - Guardian Defenders (255pt.) Bright lance;
> 10x - Guardian (9pt.); Mesh armour; Plasma grenades; Shuriken catapult;
> 1x - Wave Serpent (145pt.); Serpent shield; Twin-linked starcannon; Shuriken cannon; Holo-fields;

10x - Guardian Defenders (255pt.) Bright lance;
> 10x - Guardian (9pt.); Mesh armour; Plasma grenades; Shuriken catapult;
> 1x - Wave Serpent (145pt.); Serpent shield; Twin-linked starcannon; Shuriken cannon; Holo-fields;

5x - Rangers (60pt.)
> 5x - Ranger (12pt.); Mesh armour; Ranger long rifle; Shuriken pistol;

5x - Rangers (60pt.)
> 5x - Ranger (12pt.); Mesh armour; Ranger long rifle; Shuriken pistol;

@Fast attack [ 2 ]

5x - Warp Spiders (95pt.)
> 5x - Warp Spider (19pt.); Death spinner; Heavy Aspect armour; Warp jump generator;

5x - Warp Spiders (95pt.)
> 5x - Warp Spider (19pt.); Death spinner; Heavy Aspect armour; Warp jump generator;

@Heavy support [ 1 ]

3x - War Walker Squadron (210pt.)
> 3x - War Walker (70pt.); Starcannon (x2);

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

List B:
Eldar (1498/1500pt.)


@HQ [ 2 ]

Eldrad Ulthran (205pt.) Shuriken pistol; Witchblade; Ghosthelm; Runes of warding; Runes of witnessing; Armour of the Last RunesStaff of Ulthamar;

Spiritseer (85pt.) Rune armour; Witch staff; Shuriken pistol; The Spirit Stone of Anath'lan;

@Elites [ 1 ]

8x - Harlequins (198pt.)
> 6x - Harlequin (22pt.); Flip belt; Holo-suit; Harlequin's kiss; Shuriken pistol;
> 1x - Harlequin (18pt.); Flip belt; Holo-suit; Close combat weapon; Shuriken pistol;
> 1x - Shadowseer (48pt.); Flip belt; Holo-suit; Hallucinogen grenades; Close combat weapon; Shuriken pistol;

@Troops [ 2 ]

5x - Wraithguards (305pt.)
> 5x - Wraithguard (32pt.); Wraithcannon;
> 1x - Wave Serpent (145pt.); Serpent shield; Twin-linked starcannon; Shuriken cannon; Holo-fields;

5x - Wraithguards (305pt.)
> 5x - Wraithguard (32pt.); Wraithcannon;
> 1x - Wave Serpent (145pt.); Serpent shield; Twin-linked starcannon; Shuriken cannon; Holo-fields;

@Fast attack [ 1 ]

10x - Warp Spiders (190pt.)
> 10x - Warp Spider (19pt.); Death spinner; Heavy Aspect armour; Warp jump generator;

@Heavy support [ 1 ]

3x - War Walker Squadron (210pt.)
> 3x - War Walker (70pt.); Starcannon (x2);

Created by Head Quarters - online roster builder


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I won't delve into tactics too much but List A is more sit and shoot while list B would be an aggressive type

List one would work better.

Neither, take a mix of both. Avatar is a waste of points vs tau, they will mercilissly squash him with nearly anything they can shoot. Fire warriors will lay waste to an avatar. Eldrad is much to expensive for what he does. Better to have 2 regular farseers. Dont know if your new to eldar, but wave serpents need scatter lasers, not star cannons.
With points dropped from avatar and eldrad (I would replace him for just one farseer) Get those wraith guard in list two instead of the guardians in list one. Thats about it for list one.
List two doesnt ahev enough troops, has eldrad (same as above) and has harlequins. Do you forget your playing against tau in 6th edition with a cc unit? In case you did, harlies dont do well AT ALL vs tau. Or any competitive list for that matter.
War walkers need lances, as that helps so much vs double tapping out battle suits and killing rip tides.

If you tied agaisnt him with one of those lists before, you must have amazing game play. Now take that amazing game play with a good list and youll kick butt. Sorry if any of this sounds harsh, just trying to help.

Ninjafiredragon: only a fool would dismiss constructive criticism as "harsh"

I tied last time using List B with DA instead of Spiders. No riptides but we were mistakenly using "Slow and Purposeful" Broadsides The Harlies performed very well actually (to my surprise too) Rolled consistently well on "Veil of Tears" and kept denying his units from shooting. Along with a farseer on a bike they swept Shadowsun + bodyguard then FW + ethereal. I know CC is hamstrung and Harlies are particularly inconsistent but they are a fun wildcard. Also a good place for my psykers to hang out. My usual Mantleseer seems useless against Tau...

Thanks for the bright lance tip. Gold.

I think you are right about the Avatar. Basically there for Fearless bubble while my warlocks and guardians try to stay on the table. I know his 3+ save will not stand up to Tau shooting.

I think I will go Wraiths again. That being said I think the Scatter Laser is less useful as I will keeping the Serpent Shield up often. Ap 2 to make wounds stick better. Perhaps I am too afraid of Riptides? Never faced one before.

Keeping your comments in mind maybe this:

Eldar (1496/1500pt.): Iyanden


@HQ [ 3 ]

Farseer (105pt.) Ghosthelm; Rune armour; Singing spear; Shuriken pistol;

Spiritseer (70pt.) Rune armour; Witch staff; Shuriken pistol;

Spiritseer (70pt.) Rune armour; Witch staff; Shuriken pistol;

@Troops [ 4 ]

5x - Rangers (60pt.)
> 5x - Ranger (12pt.); Mesh armour; Ranger long rifle; Shuriken pistol;

5x - Rangers (60pt.)
> 5x - Ranger (12pt.); Mesh armour; Ranger long rifle; Shuriken pistol;

5x - Wraithguards (305pt.)
> 5x - Wraithguard (32pt.); Wraithcannon;
> 1x - Wave Serpent (145pt.); Serpent shield; Twin-linked bright lance; Shuriken cannon; Holo-fields;

5x - Wraithguards (305pt.)
> 5x - Wraithguard (32pt.); Wraithcannon;
> 1x - Wave Serpent (145pt.); Serpent shield; Twin-linked bright lance; Shuriken cannon; Holo-fields;

@Fast attack [ 2 ]

9x - Warp Spiders (171pt.)
> 9x - Warp Spider (19pt.); Death spinner; Heavy Aspect armour; Warp jump generator;

@Heavy support [ 1 ]

3x - War Walker Squadron (210pt.)
> 3x - War Walker (70pt.); Bright lance (x2);

Then either a 2 x Vyper squadron or a Fire Prism

Much better list. Although is there any reason why you want to keep your shield up? Broadsides and missile suits will glance your tanks any ways, so the shield wont do much. It will do well shooting though. If you still dont want to, bright lances are your second best bet.

well....Rail + Fusion took down 2 serpents last game. Add the possibility of Ion equipped Riptide and/or seeker missiles and the sheild will come in handy.

I'll make it a game time decision. If they are burst cannon riptides I'll go with; scatter laser, shuricannon and holo. Terrible when aimed at riptides but hopefully make it to deliver the cargo and hope for some ID via Distort.

2 x Vyper squadron or a Fire Prism ?

If hes using railsides hes doing something wrong, and your lucky. Fireprism is probabally better choice of those two options.