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I'm in for a kill team league in a couple of weeks and looking to bring some speedy dark eldar (seems best for the missions). I have a couple of options together thus far. Please give me your thoughts on which would be best or other options... the only thing I'm set on is including some faster elements...

Option 1
Reavers x 3
x1 Blaster
x1 Cluster Caltrop
Warriors x7
x1 Blaster
Raider w/ Disintegrator

Probably the most balanced one. I'd likely make the cluster caltrop reaver the leader, the other two reavers specialists as well as the warrior blaster. This one has the highest model count, which will probably be helpful for objectives.

Option 2
Reavers x 3
x1 Blaster
x1 Cluster Caltrop
Incubi x3
Klaivex
Raider or Venom

I like the idea of a Klaivex here (as opposed to most games) because if he's my leader, he'd be either safe(r) in close combat because of rampage or more dangerous. I'm ok w/ either. That's the main bonus though and he'd possibly be the most resilient leader among my current options.

Option 3
Reavers x 7
x2 Blaster
x2 Cluster Caltrop
Mandrakes x 3

Mandrakes are going to be difficult to shoot out of terrain and have a decent ranged attack now-a-days. Reavers look great for mobility and ability to kill quite a few models. It will be nice to be able to hide in HTH and then use Hit and Run at my leisure with minimal chance of failure.

Option 4
???? I'd considered using scourges, but I can't convince myself to take them over reavers.

In general, I'm thinking the following about the missions (and is my team set-up influence)
Mission 1: Forward Push (objectives) - Models that are fast and/or resilient will have an edge here. Option 3 probably wins out, followed by option 1.
Mission 2: Alone in the Dark (objectives w/ outflanking and models must be 3" apart). Ditto to mission one, but models could not be deployed in a transport (I assume). Option 3 probably wins out.
Mission 3: Head Hunt (kill opposing leader/specialists) - No idea which one is best here. Probably depends on the opponent.
Mission 4: Infiltrate the Camp (Escape through the enemy deployment zone / stop them from doing the same) - I'm thinking that option 3 has the edge with so many fast elements and mandrakes having decent shooting for blocking. At the same time, Option 1 has the best chance for defense (IMO) of blocking ground with 7 warriors
Mission 5: Secure the High Ground (king O the mountain) - Probably depends on the opponent
Mission 6: Supply Drop (find "the" objective among 6) - Likely Option 3 wins out with the most available movement and great resilient models in mandrakes (especially if they are in cover.


Right now, option 3 is the most solid feeling option. Mainly because they'd probably do the best against hordes (high kill percentage and decent resiliency). Horde seems to be the way to go though for the most competitive kill teams... but I'm not as interested in playing a horse.
Opinions/Feedback appreciated

Of the options you presented, I greatly favour Option 3 as well BASED ON MY CURRENT KNOWLEDGE. But I don't play Dark Eldar and they're not well presented in my meta. I'm facing AFAIK the only DE player in my FLGS tmw.

I'm not ready to commit yet, but I believe the optimal mix is merely Mandrakes and Warriors spam. Buff up the numbers. They're mobile enough to say, you don't need bikes as much, plus just getting more models and poisoned shots all over the place. Having played a lot of Kill Team, showing up with less than 15 models makes me feel very vulnerable. Anything less than that and I don't feel secure I could take a 30 Ork mini-horde or 18 Marine Scouts, imagine facing that with Option 3 as it stands. If you're comfortable, then it's all good, if not, maybe drop Reavers in favour of more Mandrakes and Warriors.

But what shines is your next point:

They call me Griff wrote:
In general, I'm thinking the following about the missions (and is my team set-up influence)
Mission 1: Forward Push (objectives) - Models that are fast and/or resilient will have an edge here. Option 3 probably wins out, followed by option 1.
Mission 2: Alone in the Dark (objectives w/ outflanking and models must be 3" apart). Ditto to mission one, but models could not be deployed in a transport (I assume). Option 3 probably wins out.
Mission 3: Head Hunt (kill opposing leader/specialists) - No idea which one is best here. Probably depends on the opponent.
Mission 4: Infiltrate the Camp (Escape through the enemy deployment zone / stop them from doing the same) - I'm thinking that option 3 has the edge with so many fast elements and mandrakes having decent shooting for blocking. At the same time, Option 1 has the best chance for defense (IMO) of blocking ground with 7 warriors
Mission 5: Secure the High Ground (king O the mountain) - Probably depends on the opponent
Mission 6: Supply Drop (find "the" objective among 6) - Likely Option 3 wins out with the most available movement and great resilient models in mandrakes (especially if they are in cover.

ALL THE YES. Very well done, for this is perhaps the most important analysis even though we, myself included, talk too much about units. The Mission Comes 1st. Very, very well done reading the missions.

(For Mission 2: Alone in the Dark, if a unit with Infiltrate, like a Scout OR a regular model you gave Stealth Specialist: Infiltrate, he CAN ride in a Transport that will Outflank with him, is our reading of the rules.)

And I agree with your analysis. However, for the ones you mentioned "depends on the opponent" just factor in likely hordes playing against you, like the aforementioned Orks and Scout spam in those missions. I focus on Hordes because I think you can take on everything else AFAIK. See if you got the numbers, then you win, because IMHO you've already done all the groundwork for victory. Good hunting!