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I've got a very open-ended question & any number of scenarios might create an exception, but generally: In an 1850 point army without Shining Spears, what's the best way to take a +WS Aspect Host? Assume no wraithblade/guard, but a Defender Battlehost, a +BS Aspect host, & a DA shrine.

The best combination to optimize the +WS I can think of is 1 unit of Howling Banshees and 2x5-man units of Striking Scorpions (to have two teams of backfield marauders -- 5-man to minimize points). But this seems like melee specialist overkill even with minimally-sized Scorpion squads.

Or, because more Eldar shooting is generally good, would the better move be taking as +WS Aspect Host: 1x Howling Banshees, 1xScorpions, and 1xWarp Spiders (+WS means more Warp Spiders survive to Hit-and-Run)? It also seems, among Aspect shooting units, Spiders might also be hurt least by a baseline BS of 4 (you don't want Reapers or Fire Dragons to miss; Dire Avengers are probably going to be in their Shrine anyway plus every six hits = Bladestorm; and Hawks need every single hit they can land to maximize getting lucky with Wounding -- though against GEQ or the like, +BS for Hawks might not be as necessary).

Thoughts?

Thoughts?

Um maybe Spears benefit a bit? Shoot a transport and charge the things inside?

Spears definitely become more usable (And a hell of a lot more fun) with +1WS, so if you like the model I'd say go for it.

I however, use mine for two units of Striking Scorpions (10 person squad with Scorpion's Claw and Biting Blade) and one unit of Howling Banshees (10 person squad with Executioner). All in Wave Serpents. It's expensive, but boy is it scary.

Eldar Shortseer wrote:
...1850 point army without Shining Spears...

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I've just started playing again and using what I already have: lots of infantry models, both Aspect Hosts and guardians/leaders, but only two jetbikes. And I want to make sure 40K's going to "take" for me this time before I cash in my 401(k) and/or turn to crime to fund purchasing more GW models. But, yes, I definitely agree that Shining Spears would be the 3rd +WS Aspect Warrior Unit if I had them.

But without them, I'm still wondering about opinions on the 3rd +WS slot: (A) a second 5-man unit of Scorpions, (B) make the fourth "shooty" Aspect Warrior unit (probably Warp Spiders) part of the +WS Aspect Host, or [new one] (C) if I really wanted four shooty units all with +BS, take a second +BS Aspect Host and stuff the Banshees & Scorps in it. --> [(C) is probably the worst choice but I wanted to throw it out there for comment; however, whatever gain I'd get from another unit of Dark Reapers shooting at BS 5/6 would probably be outweighed by lower survival & overall kill rates on the Banshees/Scorps.]

Given that there's about 1200-1300 points to go around after the Craftworld core, (B) generally sounds the best to me (otherwise my shooty units are going to be smaller than I like due to point limitations and having to buy the units in sets of 3), but any other comments on that approach, and/or thoughts on whether Warp Spiders would be the best choice to fill out the +WS slot?

 TheManWithNoPlan wrote:
I however, use mine for two units of Striking Scorpions (10 person squad with Scorpion's Claw and Biting Blade) and one unit of Howling Banshees (10 person squad with Executioner). All in Wave Serpents. It's expensive, but boy is it scary.

With a brightlance or scatterlaser on each Wave Serpent, that's literally half an army in points (925 points). Too rich for my blood!

Two & 1/2 serious questions -- hope they don't sound snarky, I'm still learning 7th Ed.:
1) Why give the Scorpion Exarchs both a Claw and a Biting Blade? Isn't the Biting Blade strictly inferior to the Scorpion's Claw, not even counting the lost attack from two-handed? (non-charging: S5/AP4/A2 Blade vs. S6/AP2/A3 Claw & chainsword)?
2) Wave Serpents don't have Shadowstrike, so let me make sure my understanding is correct about how this works: A Wave Serpent Infiltrates carrying Scorps (which it can because it's dedicated transport), but does not have Shrouded. Then the Scorpions disembark and gain Shrouded (because every model in the unit has Shadowstrike) -- and this is true even if the Wave Serpent has shot/fought in combat (because it's a different unit than the Scorps, who haven't themselves negated Shadowstrike by shooting/fighting in combat). Is that right?
--> 2a) Bonus question: If the Wave Serpent is destroyed while transporting the Scorps, the automatically-disembarked Scorps are Shrouded, as they have not yet shot/"fought in combat", even though they've had to take a Pinning test and possibly suffer hits from Explodes/Crash & Burn, right?

[Assuming I understand it correctly as above, I would never have put scenario #2 together myself. Thanks for the idea!]

I was trying to suggest Spears for Highlander shenanigans, but otherwise you might as well pick more Scorpions. They'll wound more against what matters compared to the rest of the list.

+1WS won't help Spiders win their combats either. If someone wants them dead, they're not gonna have the capability to defend themselves. Save them for a +1BS formation.

If imperial knights are a big problem with you, swooping hawks hitting on 3's instead of 4's are a lot more dangerous.