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Hi everyone,

I'm new to Warhammer 40K and I've decided to build a small Eldar force to start myself off. I wanted to start small so I do not become overwhelmed with large amounts of models.

Here is my potential list:

HQ:

Spiritseer (70)

Troops:

5 Dire Avengers (65)

4 Windrider Jetbikes (68)

5 Wraithguard (160)
in Wave Serpent (135)
- Twin-linked Scatter Laser
- Holo-fields

Total: 498

How does it look? I added the fourth jetbike because I had some extra points lying around and another jetbike fit perfectly. Is a unit of four jetbikes any more useful than one with 3, or should I drop the fourth and attempt to upgrade the Spiritseet to a Farseer by dropping something else?

Also, I'm still new to wargames themselves, so if possible I would appreciate some help on the tactics aspect of running this army list.
From reading tactica and other army lists, this is what I am currently thinking in terms of tactics:

Spiritseer with Dire Avengers, footslogging to pick up back row objectives.
Bikes zip around harassing until near the end where they attempt to capture last minute objectives.
Wraithguard pop any tanks with the Wave Serpent carrying them quickly to their target.

Any suggestions both for the list and the tactics? Thanks in advance!

Firstly I would put the spiritseer with the Wraithguard, which makes him/her more survivable and less likely for your opponent to manage to 'slay the warlord'
Secondly as far as a small start up force goes, this seems stable. I'm personally not a fan of dire avengers but they are effective.
At this low points cost the wraithguard are going to be a big point sink, so if your spiritseer rolls protect then use it to no end...

I agree. My suggestion would be to keep the seer with the wraiths, better protected and can make use of the spirit mark ability, then drop the avengers for another unit of jetbikes. They are more resilient and their speed makes them superior objective grabbers

Okay thanks guys. Here is an updated list:

HQ:

Spiritseer (70)

Troops:

3 Windrider Jetbikes (61)
- Shuriken Cannon

3 Windrider Jetbikes (61)
- Shuriken Cannon

5 Wraithguard (160)
- Wave Serpent (135)
- Twin-linked Scatter Laser
- Holo-fields
-Ghostwalk Matrix

Total: 497

Also, would using reserves be useful with this army or would it hinder me?

That is much better, lots of mobile and survivable scoring. The wraithguard are still kind of expensive for this point level but if you're in love with the unit, this will be more effective

I wouldn't worry too much about reserves at this point, especially with maelstrom missions, you want to put out as many points early on as you can. In eternal war missions it may not hurt to put one unit of bikes in reserve, personal preference though.

As a seasoned Eldar player, I can't believe I have never thought of taking wraith troops in a 500 point game!

The updated version looks good! Jet bikes are great for quick scoring units, and they are good for light infantry - which is most of what you'll face at 500 points - and then your Wave Serpent and Wraith can take out anything heavier, If there is a 'that guy' that brings a tank, I would recommend swapping them out for starcannons.

I just got some new information about my primary opponent. He will be playing Grey Knights, and just bought the Nemesis Vanguard box set. So, I'm imagining a list with a few strike squads and maybe paladins with a librarian. How will my current list fare against one like that?

Qwk wrote:
I just got some new information about my primary opponent. He will be playing Grey Knights, and just bought the Nemesis Vanguard box set. So, I'm imagining a list with a few strike squads and maybe paladins with a librarian. How will my current list fare against one like that?

dude its a 500 point game lol

Qwk wrote:
I just got some new information about my primary opponent. He will be playing Grey Knights, and just bought the Nemesis Vanguard box set. So, I'm imagining a list with a few strike squads and maybe paladins with a librarian. How will my current list fare against one like that?

I dunno man how competitive are you feeling? Seems pretty dam competitive to me.I don't play with more than like one wave serpent per 1000 points unless I'm doing tournament style lists...

Qwk wrote:
I just got some new information about my primary opponent. He will be playing Grey Knights, and just bought the Nemesis Vanguard box set. So, I'm imagining a list with a few strike squads and maybe paladins with a librarian. How will my current list fare against one like that?

In five hundred points the GK are going to have serious trouble fighting a Wave Serpent, especially with that many PAGK.

Just keep the bikes and WS away from the GK, use the bikes exclusively to take objectives and keep them out of bolter sight. Meanwhile pop their rhinos with the serpent their mobility will be severily crippled. Keep the bikes scoring and alive and when one of his unit is down to a few men and out of cover let the guard out and bring the motherf*cking pain to them. just be sure to take out anything with enough range to threat the WS or the bikes and turbo boost from corner to corner like the jerk you know you are.

GKs on 500pts will have close to impossible to deal with Serpent, which is a good thing for you.

Wave serpent will be one tough mother to kill for GK so don't worry, it's only 500 points lol

There is a competitive 500 point list that takes 2 wave serpents (I've theory hammered it in the past)

It goes

1. Wave Serp + SL (5 Dire Avengers) 185 pts
1. Wave Serp + SL (10 Storm Guardians + 2Fusion guns) 230 pts
1. Autarch plus fusion gun. 80pts

495 pts It is fairly good vs everything.. very few people take AV14 to a 500 pts game and the 3 fusion guns should work.. it's not perfect but vs almost everything in the list does something better than most armies.. the autarch goes with the stormies


Automatically Appended Next Post:
You can add a banshee mask if you like.. but I doubt the stormies will actually ever be in melee lol

ConanMan wrote:
very few people take AV14 to a 500 pts game and the 3 fusion guns should work.. it's not perfect but vs almost everything in the list does something better than most armies.. the autarch goes with the stormies

Unless your facing Guard, then expect 2 Leman Russ Battle Tanks at 500 points

fusion one .. Shoot rear of other.. glance to death with serp sheilds. remember the autarch has haywire grenades too

Thanks for the suggestions guys, but I don't want to uber-competitive. I like the list I have now, and will probably use it to expand up to 1000 points soon.

Thats cool.. hope you have fun.. if you like the hobby having wave serpents is a basic building block for eldar.. for 1000 pts you can take 4 wave serpents 40 guardians 4 bright lance platforms and an autarch with a fusion gun... also the best bang for buck the eldar have is vibro canon or the shadow weaver.. those things are insane for the points