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I decided to take a hard look at the HQ's that really stand out from SM and Eldar in 8th then rank them. The comparison and analysis takes into account points cost, stat line, quality of weapon, durability, and force multiplying. I consider these guys/gals the best from the Indexes in regard to killy'ness and force multiplying, and think all of them are build-around quality. I give my own rankings based on all the aforementioned criteria, and am looking to see if people agree or disagree, or would add or subtract names on the list. The list has Roboute on the high end and Asurmen on the low end points wise. Spoiler alert, despite being the most expensive, Roboute Guilliman is just insane, he's undercosted to be honest, his potency, durability and force multiplying is just staggering. On the other end I rate Asurmen higher than a few big names, his relatively cheap point cost and impressive resume make him a real head-turner, hopefully other people give him a second look. Finally some people may rage that beloved Kaldor came in last, I just really feel that his only stand-out quality is his psychic ability, at the same point cost as Calgar and Avatar, his weapon feels a bit vanilla and his force multipliers / intangibles look just OK when compared this way. And if you're wondering, why just SM and Eldar, and not chaos or tyranids or orks, well, these are the armies I collect and play! I look forward to the discussion!


1st Place - Roboute Guilliman LoW (Monster)
M 8 / WS 2+ / BS 2+ / S 6 / T 6 / W 9 / A 6 / LD 10 / SV 2+
Hand of Dominion Shooting/Melee: 24” / Rapid Fire 3 / S 6 / AP -1 / D 2 - - S 12 / AP -3 / D 3
The Emperor’s Sword: S 8 / AP -4 / D 3 / Wound rolls of 6 do D3 additional mortal wounds
3++, 4+ resurrects on death w/ D6 wounds, 3 CP, 12” +1 to advance/charge, re roll hits of 1 & re roll morale tests for all IMPERIUM, 6” re roll hits and wounds for all ULTRAMARINES

2nd Place - The Yncarne HQ (Monster)
Vilith-zhar, the Sword of Souls: S 6 / AP -4 / D D6 / re roll failed wounds
M 8 / WS 2+ / BS 2+ / S 6 / T 6 / W 9 / A 6 / LD 9 / SV 3+
4++, Level 2 Psyker, teleports to spot of any dead unit, 6” auto morale pass and 6+ FnP for all YNNARI, 7” regain lost wound on 4+ on ANY Eldar MODEL death, 18” give any YNNARI unit double round of shooting (or other Soulburst action)

3rd Place - The Avatar of Khaine HQ (Monster)
The Wailing Doom Shooting/Melee: 12” / Assault 1 / S 8 / AP -4 / D D6 - - S 8 / AP -4 / D D6 / roll two dice for damage and choose highest
M 7 / WS 2+ / BS 2+ / S 6 / T 6 / W 8 / A 5 / LD 9 / SV 3+
5++, 5+ FnP, 12” auto morale pass and re roll charges for all ELDAR

4th Place - Phoenix Lord Asurmen HQ (Infantry)
The Sword of Asur: S 5 / AP -3 / D D3 / Wound rolls of 6 do D3 additional mortal wounds
M 7 / WS 2+ / BS 2+ / S 4 / T 4 / W 6 / A 5 / LD 9 / SV 2+
4++ against ranged, 3++ against melee, Overwatch on 5+, 6” 5++ for aspect warriors, 6” 4++ for Dire Avengers

5th Place - Marneus Calgar HQ (Infantry)
Gauntlets of Ultramar Shooting/Melee: 24” / Rapid Fire 2 / S 4 / AP -1 / D 2 - - S 8 / AP -3 / D 3
M 5 / WS 2+ / BS 2+ / S 4 / T 4 / W 7 / A 5 / LD 9 / SV 2+
4++, half damage received, 6” re roll hits for all ULTRAMARINES, 2 CP, Deepstrike

6th Place - Lord Kaldor Draigo HQ (Infantry)
The Titansword: S 8 / AP -4 / D 3
M 5 / WS 2+ / BS 2+ / S 4 / T 4 / W 7 / A 5 / LD 9 / SV 2+
3++, Level 2 Psyker (Gate / Smite), 6” re roll damage against daemons & re roll hits for all Grey Knights, Deepstrike

Cool list, looks like it took some time to make. I definitely agree with your numbers 1-3, though the avatar and yncarne are kinda neck and neck. Guilliman is so far and away the best, but, as a LoW he will tax your points by still having to spend on other HQ's. The bottom three I'm in a bit of disagreement. I think Draigo doesn't get his due when viewed this way. In the context of GK he is amazing.

Check dakka's policy on posting such specific details, especially points

You know what, you're right, it's been a bit since I've been really active on the forums and it just slipped my mind. I scrubbed the original post of points, if it's still problematic let me know.

Another knock on Guilliman that, as a LOW, about the only way to get him in is as the LOW Aux detachment. At NOVA killing off a detachment is a secondary - so that could be another reason to go gunning for him.

Good to know! Though he still may be worth it!

 necron99 wrote:
Another knock on Guilliman that, as a LOW, about the only way to get him in is as the LOW Aux detachment. At NOVA killing off a detachment is a secondary - so that could be another reason to go gunning for him.

He is a character though and even then next to unkillable. As of right now I'd rank guilliman as one of the best units in the game. You'd have an easier time killing basically any other super heavy even the 500-600 point ones.

Yeah I completely agree, as a life-long eldar player as my first love, I am devastated by the new 525-600 point cost Wraithknight, he's tissue paper compare to Guilliman at almost half the points, and Guillimans force multipliers equate to hundreds of points in value each game. Re rolls to hit and wound basically all friendly units in range is devastating. Not to mention the fact that he resurrects on death on a 4+ with D6 wounds, which can be command pointed if you fail, is just broken. And speaking of command points, 9! in a single detachment army (not including the single LoW), is again, crazy.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
On a side note, I think the Yncarne needing a unit to die before entering the battle is a big ding against her. I think the Avatar is just overall better. The only problem I find with the Avatar is that he is still a foot-slogging monster that offers force multipliers that really benefit other melee units the most. I know others will disagree, but I just don't build eldar armies with CC in mind, and I think as indexes go, they're very weak at CC in general - thus making the magnificent Avatar feel a little...out of place. Now, if he had a 10-12" move range and had a bubble of +1 BS, or +1 shots, or re roll hits/wounds, he would be unbelievable. But re roll charges? In Eldar? Pfft lol. Obviously the morale is always a big deal, and honestly his saving grace.

How do you feel about Feugan? Less durable than Asurmen but he gets super killy after taking a wound.

I think Fuegan is really good, he didn't make the list because he isn't much of a force multiplier, save re rolling ones for your fire dragons. He doesn't have an invulnerable save, which is rough, though he does have 5+ FnP which is good. His offensive prowess doesn't really become impressive until he suffers a wound. Unfortunately it can't be any wound, it has to be dealt in close combat. I don't care for the inconstancy there. Asurmen has one less str but one more attack base, but more importantly he has a personal 3++/4++ and gives aspect warriors around him a 4++/5++ which is a really nice force multiplier.