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Hello gals and guys.

I found out if I type slow my tablet does less spelling mistakes so here is hoping :-).

So I have not played 40k in god knows since the last edition fell. Played for a week or two then quit way to many marines. So I am not that versed on any new rules and very unformilliar with formations detatch ents ect. I have the gamers editions of harleys, eldar on my tablet ready to go.

But they keep suggesting to take detachments and formations which I am not a fan of, while I can not see it written in brb, is it needed? Or can I just follow the old two core 1 hq min ect? I know my friend who wants to play uses one of the 9 marine armies and uses a detachment. So do I need to use one aswell?

It will be around a 2k point game total kill or surrender type of game.

There is a lot of free power to be had in the special formations. They (supposedly) restrict your options, but give you perks to make up for it. But if you were just going to take those things anyway, free bonuses!

Some armies do require them. You mentioned harlequins. IIRC, they don’t actually have a HQ choice. You need to use formations, or go unbound, to field them.

Eldar can do just fine without. They are very powerful atm, even without special bonus rules. But they have some very nice formations you can take advantage of if you want. For example, there is the aspect host. The requirement is to take 3 squads of aspect warriors. Mix and match as desired. (I think you need to take exarchs for them, don’t recall, but not that big a deal). The benefit for this? Choose to give them either +1 WS or BS. Plus, by splitting them off the CAD into their own formation, you now have more elite/FA/HS slots.

That’s the kind of power you can harness.

There are some perks for sticking with the CAD. ObSec for your troops is a big one.

So overall, recommended, but not required. (for the most part)

I find this picture a good point of reference to make it clear how a 7th edition army is built:




Detachments and formations are not written in the BRB because they are each army-spesific. each army has its own formations and detachments in his codex (and some can be found at various supplements) with their our restrictions and benefits

A detachment is very similar to the regular chart (nowdays called the CAD-Combined Arms Detachment. the 1-2 HQ, 2-6 troop 0-3 elite/fast/heavy old chart), you get X HQ, Y trrops, etc. however, it might not be the same count as the CAD, you may have extra fast and less heavy, or tons of troops but less elites. they also have their own benefits compared to the CAD.

A formation is usually rather restrictive in it's unit count. for example, a tau optimized stealth cadre requires EXACTLY one unit of ghostkeel and two units of stealth suits. others have more leeway, like the space marine first company task force requires 3-5 units of any combination of terminators, assault terminators, sternguard and/or vanguard. the formations tend to have stronger, more custom fitting bonuses to compensate their dedication. much like units, not all formations are born equal, and some are better than others.
A "decurion style" formation is a unique type of formation that instead of being composed of several units, it is composed of several other formations. these are intended to create a whole structured army, such as a marine strike force, a tau continget, etc.

Now, do you HAVE to use them? usually no, but harlquinns sepsifically are formation-only, as they got no HQ and canno't forfil the requirements of the CAD, and have no detachment of their own. though they were never intended as a stand-alone army, but to join a bigger eldar/darkeldar army.
You will however need to understand, even if you opt to avoid formations and detachments, it means not others will do the same. many times the army-spesific detachments/formations will be more beneficial to the army than the generic CAD is, as it compliments them better.


Also, 2000 points is FAR too big for someone not well versed in the game. you'll just get lost. I suggest starting far, FAR smaller and building up.

Thank you for your helpful and very insightful comments guys. I am going to re-read them a couple times and try to do up a quick list.

I was hoping for about 500 points battle brother harleys with 1k eldar. I really like the pheonix lord ra, wraith knights... Well all wraiths and I own quite a few wraith guards and a wraith lord. Swooping hawks and warp spiders. And well anything harley lol.