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Hey guys, it's been a while and I'm looking to get back into it. I'm seeking your advice on this hopefully competitive list focused on striking fast and hard. Cheers!

Craftworlds CAD

HQ:

Autarch Fusion Pistol / Power Sword / The Phoenix Gem
Autarch Fusion Pistol

Elites:

Wraithguard(5) / D-Scythe(5)

Troops:

Windrider(3) Scatter Laser(3)
Windrider(3) Scatter Laser(3)

LoW:

Wraithknight Ghostglaive and Scattershield


Dark Eldar CAD

HQ:

Archon Haywire Grenades / Webway Portal
Archon Haywire Grenades / Webway Portal

Troops:

Kabalite Warriors(5)
Kabalite Warriors(5)

Fast Attack:

Raider Enhanced Aethersails / Nightshield
Raider Enhanced Aethersails / Nightshield
Raider Enhanced Aethersails / Nightshield


Craftworlds Formation

Aspect Host +1 BS:

Fire Dragons(7) Exarch
Fire Dragons(7) Exarch
Swooping Hawks(5) Exarch

The plan is to DS 2 Raiders full with Melta and blow up hard targets(namely Knights) turn 2. Wraithguard also ride in a Raider and jink for a 2-3+ cover save.

For the Autarchs, do you mean fusion GUN or Pistol? Because the pistols is so short ranged it is ridiculous. The Autarchs already have Haywire grenades, so I recommend dropping the Fusion on them, drop the Haywire from the Acrhons (since you can only throw 1 grenade per unit) and give the Archons Blasters.

Also, nothing can give a Raider a 2+ cover. Night Shield and Night fight both grant Stealth, which doesn't stack onto itself and I am unaware of any way to give them Shrouded (other than a Farseer rolling Telepathy).

I would remain flexible on what IC goes with who. D-scythes are super scary and their Raider will be priority target #1. It might be worth putting an Archon with them (outside the Raider, of course). Your other Fire Dragon unit can Deep strike regularly and if you scatter a bit, they can simply disembark and Battle focus.

The empty raider can "pick-up" the Wraithguard in a later turn, or even move Flat out to "block/cover" the Wraithguard after they have unleashed havoc. OR you can drop 1 empty Raide and get a Wave Serpent for the WG, join the Archon, them when they drop, you can disembark and gat all 5 Flamer hits

thanks for your input Galef. I mean Fusion Pistol. Range won't matter since I can pin-point the DS without scattering. Also I haven't actually checked in a while, but does going flat out with a skimmer/jetbike no longer increase its jink save by 1?

No it does not.

I would repeat what Galef said and say take Fusion Guns instead of pistols. The Gun is the same price but twice the range. Besides even with no scatter DS you don't want to be within 3" for the Melta.

IMHO 7 BS5 fire dragons maybe a little too much 5-6 should be OK if you want to use them, as a result I bump the Swooping hawks to a 6 man unit to maximize the grenade pack, I’ve found I really like the utility of an AP4 ignores cover for tau related issues plus the extra haywire grenade is always welcome.

The Autarch isn’t really doing much in CC with just a power sword; maybe give him/her wings and a fusion gun and maybe a Shard of Anaris and banshee mask for some HQ hunting? If not I don’t think it’s worth putting anything better than a Chainsaber on him/her.

I don’t have the more recent DE codex so I cannot comment on them, but are the D – flamers AND fire dragons really necessary … I only say it as you seem to be very elite focused and against a basic tau gun line or Eldar scat packs I don’t see you coming out of it the winner… that said I’m happy to be proven wrong, again just a humble opinion.

How do the Wraithguard fare in this army? Seems to be a very high priority target, especially if you don't have first turn.

hmm, so 3+ cover at best is a little disheartening. I did have my Autarchs equipped with Fusion Guns before and may just go back to it. Same points after all. And just to clarify there are 2 squads of 8 Fire Dragons and 1 squad of 6 Swooping Hawks in total(including Exarchs). I have had many experiences where I face 3 Knights, which is why I have such a high amount of AT in this list. The Wraithguard indeed are high priority target, but this list is very "in your face", and the opposing player will have to make tough decisions. I do lack volume of firepower though vs spam lists. Will have to tinker with it some more!

I suppose, but you are deep striking the other 2 Raiders. With Ignore Cover fairly easy to obtain (or simple volume of fire) it really leaves only one target: Raider with Wraithguard. No matter what army you face, the Wraithguard are a threat to them all.

In you list, it looks like out of 2000 points, the Wraithknight, maybe some Kabalite Warriors and 2 squads of Jetbikes would start on the table. Unless they can reliably kill the Wraithknight on turn 1, that really leaves the Wraithguard/Raider as a priority target. The game isn't over if the Wraithguard lose their transport prior to moving, but is a fair chunk of points not really participating in the game if they are moving on foot.

I suggest dropping 1 Fire Dragon per unit. 7 total BS5 melta shots + 1 Exarch re-roll + Haywire grenade + Autarch Melta WILL kill any Knight.

The Knight should not be getting any save against these shots if you do 1 or 2 things: 1) Precision deepstrike the Raider perpendicular to 2 of the Knights Faces (half the Raider in side armour, half in rear for example). When he declares what facing the Ion shield is on, simply say the shots are coming the other facing, since YOU declare what point the shots come from an Open topped vehicle. Or 2) you can disembark the Dragon and Autarch, leaving the Archon on the Raider, then Battle focus into a facing that doesn't have the shield up.

After dropping 1 Dragon per unit, also drop the WG Raider and use those points for a Wave Serpent. Unless you plan on Deep Striking the Raider, I do not advice having it be one of the only targets on the board Turn 1. Wave Serpents can actually survive long enough to get the WG into position

Also having a Wave serpent gives you a few extra anit-horde shots.

sound tactical advice Galef! Hadn't even thought of that. Reason I wanted the Wraithguard in the Raider was to flame out of it then flat out away, without having to disembark.