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Hi all,

Would really appreciate feedback on this since it is my first 40k army. Picked up the the Craftworld Eldar codex because I thought they look cool and just put together this 1000pts list. I do plan on expanding the list in the future to ,1850pts and I will be gaming with this in my local club (friendly competitive).

Going for a Biel-tan style list - really mobile with strong psychic and lots of shots (lots of shuriken in Windrider host to maximise 1-turn Tempest of Blade special rule). Currently at 998pts total.

WINDRIDER HOST
Farseer, jetbike, Spirit stone of anath'lan
130pts
(Would join the windrider unit without a warlock)

Windriders, warlock, shuriken cannons
141pts

Windriders, warlock, shuriken cannons
141pts

Windriders, shuriken cannons
81pts

Vyper, shuriken cannon
50pts

WRAITH CONSTRUCTS
Hemlock Wraithfighter
185pts

ASPECT HOST
Warp Spiders, exarch
105pts

Banshees, exarch
75pts

Dark reapers, exarch
90pts

Feedback very welcome from all you veterans out there!

RooT wrote:
Hi all,

Would really appreciate feedback on this since it is my first 40k army. Picked up the the Craftworld Eldar codex because I thought they look cool and just put together this 1000pts list. I do plan on expanding the list in the future to ,1850pts and I will be gaming with this in my local club (friendly competitive).

Going for a Biel-tan style list - really mobile with strong psychic and lots of shots (lots of shuriken in Windrider host to maximise 1-turn Tempest of Blade special rule). Currently at 998pts total.

WINDRIDER HOST
Farseer, jetbike, Spirit stone of anath'lan
130pts
(Would join the windrider unit without a warlock)

Windriders, warlock, shuriken cannons
141pts

Windriders, warlock, shuriken cannons
141pts

Windriders, shuriken cannons
81pts

Vyper, shuriken cannon
50pts

WRAITH CONSTRUCTS
Hemlock Wraithfighter
185pts

ASPECT HOST
Warp Spiders, exarch
105pts

Banshees, exarch
75pts

Dark reapers, exarch
90pts

Feedback very welcome from all you veterans out there!

Looks good. But dont you need a warlock conclave as part of the windrider host?

Nope, that is another formation - the one above the Windrider one - the name escapes me!

A windrider host requires a Warlock Conclave. The list is pretty solid, although I do believe that in the jetbike squads that have a warlock will be rolling morale checks if they lose a guy through the 25% rule. Personally, if you plan on putting a Warlock into a bike squad, make the squads at least five strong to work around that. What buff are you planning on giving you Aspect Host? The Banshees will lose out on an extra weapon skill if you choose the better choice of +1 BS. You could potentially run a Dire Avenger squad of 5 with an exarch and benefit from BS 5 bladestorm instead of the banshees.

 Tyranid Horde wrote:
A windrider host requires a Warlock Conclave. The list is pretty solid, although I do believe that in the jetbike squads that have a warlock will be rolling morale checks if they lose a guy through the 25% rule. Personally, if you plan on putting a Warlock into a bike squad, make the squads at least five strong to work around that. What buff are you planning on giving you Aspect Host? The Banshees will lose out on an extra weapon skill if you choose the better choice of +1 BS. You could potentially run a Dire Avenger squad of 5 with an exarch and benefit from BS 5 bladestorm instead of the banshees.

No the windrider host doesn't need a Conclave - the only formations that need a Conclave are Guardian Battlehost/Stormhost. I'm looking at the codex right now so...

Would you advise dropping the two warlocks in the bike squads (which would save 120pts per unit) and using the spare points for an extra bike in each squad (which would be 81) and then having 39 points to play with for the aspects i.e. extra reapers, spiders or upgrades on units?

I hadn't put thought into the BS/WS but going for a 'shooty' aspect like Dire is a really good call and makes that decision tons easier. Nice idea there and food for thought!

RooT wrote:

 Tyranid Horde wrote:
A windrider host requires a Warlock Conclave. The list is pretty solid, although I do believe that in the jetbike squads that have a warlock will be rolling morale checks if they lose a guy through the 25% rule. Personally, if you plan on putting a Warlock into a bike squad, make the squads at least five strong to work around that. What buff are you planning on giving you Aspect Host? The Banshees will lose out on an extra weapon skill if you choose the better choice of +1 BS. You could potentially run a Dire Avenger squad of 5 with an exarch and benefit from BS 5 bladestorm instead of the banshees.

No the windrider host doesn't need a Conclave - the only formations that need a Conclave are Guardian Battlehost/Stormhost. I'm looking at the codex right now so...

Would you advise dropping the two warlocks in the bike squads (which would save 120pts per unit) and using the spare points for an extra bike in each squad (which would be 81) and then having 39 points to play with for the aspects i.e. extra reapers, spiders or upgrades on units?

I hadn't put thought into the BS/WS but going for a 'shooty' aspect like Dire is a really good call and makes that decision tons easier. Nice idea there and food for thought!

Are you using the english version of the codex? I’m looking at mine right now, and in both places the Windrider Host is listed it needs the conclave.

I can argue with you all day about the Windrider Host needing a mandatory Warlock conclave, considering the fact that I have the codex on hand. The Guardian Storm and Battle Hosts have a 0-1 requirement so they don't need to take one, please read it again in regards to the formations (Page 139 of the codex for the windrider host).
Because you need the points for the Conclave, you'll need to drop a warlock from a squad anyway. I'd also drop the other warlock in favour of taking another Vyper in your squadron with the same loadout as your current one, giving you a squadron with 12, strength 6 shots with pseudo-rending. At 1000 points, having a large amount of shots is always very good.
Your psychic phase will also be very strong as well even when you drop one warlock so its nothing to worry about.

I would consider a unit of scatter bikes as well, as they will be stronger in every other turn that is not tempest of blades.

If I was running banshees in a list, I would try to increase the unit size a little. At T3 and 4+ armor you will easily lose some in the first round if anything decides to shoot at them.

The Hemlock is kinda weird in that it is AV10, so a lot of stuff that doesn't even have skyfire can force it to jink as soon as it hits the table. On the bright side I think it can give itself stealth through psychic (but that means losing a psychich slot to that power). As soon as you jink you can't fire your blast weapons and you only have your psychic powers. In other words, it's d-blasts are pretty devastating, but it's a unit that is hard to play.

Wow yes you're all absolutely right, it does require a Warlock Conclave. Apologies, that makes me look like a really ignorant jerk! Genuine mistake, sorry for the time wasting.

Back on to the comments, I like the sound of diversifying the jetbike loadout and the vyper shots. New list below. Would really appreciate comments again as well as an opinion on the dire avengers instead of the witches (I meant banshees!).

WINDRIDER HOST
Farseer, jetbike, Spirit stone of anath'lan, singing spear
135pts
(Would join one of the windrider units - I can do this right? < Answered!)

Warlock Conclave, jetbike
50pts

Windriders, shuriken cannons
81pts

Windriders, shuriken cannons
81pts

Windriders, scatter lasers
81pts

Vyper, shuriken cannon
An additional Vyper with shuriken cannon
100pts

WRAITH CONSTRUCTS
Hemlock Wraithfighter
185pts

ASPECT HOST
Warp Spiders, exarch with spinneret rifle
120pts
(I had 17 points to play with!)

dire avengers, exarch
75pts

Dark reapers, exarch
90pts

TOTAL 998pts

You can join the Farseer to a windrider unit, and if you use the Spirit Stone, then you definitely should join him to a unit.

I am not a big fan of running DA without a transport. 18" is not a lot of range, so you would only use these to hold an objective (and they don't have objective secure since they are part of a formation). That said, you will probably be using your Aspect Host bonus to boost BS by +1, which banshees (or witches as you like to call them ) won't get much benefit from.

Yeah exactly - trying to maximise the BS +1 and make that choice between WS or BS easier!

It definitely makes the choice between WS and BS very easy. I do agree with Acidian that DA need a transport, but I'd go as far to say that they are pretty much a tax to give your Spiders and Reapers that extra BS that makes them even better than they already are. That's a very solid fun list you've got there, and you'll just have to experiment with the wraithfighter to see whether it has a use in your army. Its potentially good, but it can also be not of much use either if you have to jink.

Really like your feedback Tyranid Horde.

Out of interest (I promise not to pester you!) how else would you spend the 185pts currently going towards the wraithfigher in that list?

Bulk out the aspect units? The conclave? The windriders? I don't have enough for a wraithknight and that unit wouldn't really fit the theme of my army. My preference would be dedicate more points to the windriders (for fluff) but I do think the wraithfighter would be a nice centre piece as well!

Hey mate.

Have you considered dropping a vyper and changing the DA to more warp spiders?

My reasoning.
If something can kill one vyper it can kill two just as easily. They are hard to hide with out the move-shoot-move that other units enjoy.

You can never have too many spiders. they are amazing.
As others said, DA by themselves won't be doing much.

Personally, I'd drop the wraith fighter, drop the dire avengers, and add the points together. Then use those to buy fire dragons in a wave serpent with an exarch. This way you keep you aspect host, and you have BS5 fire dragons with melta guns, and a means to get there. But dual scatters and a shuriken cannon on the serpent and with the sheer amount of S6 weapons on the table you should be able to deal with fliers.

Just my thoughts.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Don't forget, that the aspect warriors transport benefits from BS5 too.

If you have already bought the hemlock, use it for some games and see how it does. Alternatively, you can make it one model towards a Crimson Death formation at higher point games (or just if you want to run CAD),

Dropping the vyper and converting the DA to something else really is the best choice, but it's ok to run with stuff if you just think they look cool. It also depends on how competitive or fluffy your opponents lists are, if you are just playing with friends then they are probably not rolling out with 3 flyers or garganguan creatuers/Superheavies in a 1k point game.

A lot of stuff also makes more sense after a few games so just get some stuff glued and start playing.

Actually, I really like the Fire Dragon idea. With those amends and taking a lot of people's advice regarding the Hemlock, it's looking like:

WINDRIDER HOST
Farseer, jetbike, Spirit stone of anath'lan, singing spear
135pts

Warlock Conclave, jetbike
50pts

Windriders, shuriken cannons
81pts

Windriders, shuriken cannons
81pts

Windriders, scatter lasers
81pts

Vyper, shuriken cannon
An additional Vyper with shuriken cannon
100pts

ASPECT HOST
Warp Spiders, exarch
105pts

Dark reapers, exarch, 1 additional dark reaper
115pts

Fire Dragons, dedicated wave serpent with scatter lasers and shuriken cannon
250pts

TOTAL 998pts

That looks like a really good and fun list.

My only issue now is the lone warlock. Granted, you can keep him backfield casting conceal on things like the reapers (probably what I would do) or you can drop a vyper for a second warlock and add the farseer to that squad for a little psychic unit.

What's your plan with him out of curiosity?

Yeah good call Khaine's Wrath. He is a bit of a loner! The plan was just to hold him back and use him as a spell platform really....a bit boring I know!

If I did drop a vyper (50pts), which I am a little anxious to do since it'll be pulling some good fire power and the interplay with a Tempest of Blades turn, I could add one more Warlock skyrunner (50pts) to the unit and have the farseer join them, creating a fourth unit with 3 jet bikes. I could probably move some points around and give both warlocks singing spears for 10pts. I wouldn't be gaining anything from Brotherhood of Psykers though - they'd still be mastery level 1.

But what more would they accomplish? I am having trouble nailing down the real benefit and committing more points to the unit. This is where my lack of experience comes through!

The warlock is just a tax you have to pay to use the formation, I wouldn't bother doing much with him. He gives you an extra warp point and maybe he gets an interesting psychic power.

You basicly have 55 points to spare, and you can spend that on an extra Vyper, an extra bike, an extra warlock, or boost one of your Aspect Host units. If you play a game or two I think you will get a better feel of how the units work and where you want to put the last points.

I guess I'm slightly thinking of price when I buy these models. It'd suck to buy an additional vyper model and then realise I don't need it lol.

Still I suppose it'll still come in useful when I expand this out to 1850 (the goal).

It's a 6 and 2 3's situation. The warlock conclave does remain ML1 but they generate 2 warp charge rather than one which is nice. And a third fast unit is nice. You can conceal the squad and jink for a 2+ cover and use the farseers psychic powers as needed. You won't be too worried about their catapults. It does work well.

Or there is the second vyper. Keep the warlock back and protect units and run two vypers. Losing 6 s6 rending shots that can gain shred once a game is a big deal, but so is protecting your seer. If you jink with him in a normal bike squad, they're all snap shooting.

Both are good options, and around the same price. It depends on your play style. I'd go for the warlock. But each to their own my friend.

 Khaine's Wrath wrote:
My only issue now is the lone warlock. Granted, you can keep him backfield casting conceal on things like the reapers

Warlocks are not Independent Characters, and Conceal only targets the casting psyker. So the only thing he'll be shrouding is himself, as he cannot join any other units. The best you can do with him is sit him on an objective out of LOS and let the farseer use his warp charge.

I very much appreciate the advice Khaine but I think I'll give the second vyper a try. I absolutely see the benefit of a larger Conclave and I'll probably boost it in numbers as I grow to 1850 points later on. The warlock will just be sitting out of the way somewhere - bit of a waste but hey-ho!

Now just to decide what Craftworld to go with, torn between Saim-Hann and Biel-tan in terms of a good fit for this army.

It doesn't hurt to keep him in reserve to avoid giving out first blood. You won't be able to use his warp charge while he's off the table, but that's a small price to pay.

Honestly, Just run a CAD so you're not locked into the stupid random Warlock. Take scatter lasers on the bikes so they can use range - i don't see much use in shred when you want to be staying as far away from the enemy as possible anyway, and already wounding on 2s. If you really care about pseudo rending from the shuriken cannons, you need to run more bikes. Most of you're ranged aspects aren't going to care much about the auto 6" run either.

Unfortunately, I only have the craftworld codex - haven't got the foggiest how to put a CAD together.

A CAD is in the rule book. If you have that it's pretty easy. It's basically the same FOC that it always used to be. I'm your list there would be merit to running a CAD. But you'd lost the shred on one round and I don't think it's as fun and fluffy. Plus the guaranteed 6" battle focus on the spiders and fragons is really nice.

And let me know how the vyper works out. I'm thinking about running a Windrider host, but never ran vypers before be interesting to know how they perform. Is it a competitive scene you play in?

I'd probably reserve the warlock too to be honest to keep him protected.

As for craftworld, both of those fit. So it depends which colour you want to paint. I find the red is significantly easier. But I literally picked the colours I wanted to play and went for that craftworld. So I've gone Iyanden. Though I can't have quite so many ghost warriors now without people crying cheese!

Thanks for the info!

Me too! I absoutely wanted to play a 1000pt wraith Iyanden list (love the fluff, love the models) but thought i couldn't without taking a core formation.

Is there a way around that? I'd much prefer a HQ Spiritseer, a few wraiths etc.