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Hey Guys,

I am a returning 40k player. I have not played very much since 5th edition but the new edition has pulled me back. I am also currently living in China and my city has 2 40k clubs so I thought it would be a cool way to meet new people.
I am trying to make a solid all comers Dark Eldar army. I think from what we have seen so far, it's not too much of a leap to say one must be able to deal with : Flyers/Knights (Robby G and the ravens/knights), Hordes (orcs, cult and Nids) and Mech lists (any color marine razor spam for eg). There are also extreme lists like Razorwing flock spam, brimstone horror spam and drone spam but I suspect all 3 of these will be deleted/adjusted by the new codexs or a gw faq eventually (or I certainly hope so).

Anyway with those in mind I tried my best to draft up an all comers list. It's 3 detachments (vanguard,spearhead and air wing) for a total of +3cp. I believe you can give the venom's the covens keyword in the vanguard detachment so they get +1 T from the Haemonculus which is pretty nice. The air wing detachment stops people first turn charging my venom's too with proper deployment. If I had any big regrets it would be the lack of a farseer, I think doom is super good for dark eldar. Not sure how I would fit one in.

I appreciate any feedback or C and C on how to improve the list.

Vanguard Detachment +1CP
HQ : Haemonculus, Crucible of Malediction, Electrocorrosive whip , Hexrifle 94

Elite 1: Kabalite Trueborn x 5 , 2 Dark Lances = [95]
Elite 2: Kabalite Trueborn x 5 , 2 Dark Lances = [95]
Elite 3: Kabalite Trueborn x 5 , 2 Dark Lances = [95]
Elite 4: Kabalite Trueborn x 5 , 2 Dark Lances = [95]

Transport 1: Venom, 2 Splinter Cannons = [95]
Transport 2: Venom, 2 Splinter Cannons = [95]
Transport 3: Venom, 2 Splinter Cannons = [95]
Transport 4: Venom, 2 Splinter Cannons = [95]
Transport 5: Venom, Twin Splinter rifle = [80]


Spearhead Detachment +1CP
HQ: Archon, Agoniser, Blaster, Phantasm Grenade Launcher = [76] (Warlord:Tenacious Survivor)

Heavy 1: Ravager, Dark Lances = [155]
Heavy 2: Ravager, Dark Lances = [155]
Heavy 3: Ravager, Dark Lances = [155]

Air Wing Detachment +1CP
Flyer 1: Razorwing Jetfighter, 2 Disintegrators = [175]
Flyer 2: Razorwing Jetfighter, 2 Disintegrators = [175]
Flyer 3: Razorwing Jetfighter, 2 Disintegrators = [175]

Objectives. It does not look like you have a lot of staying power here. Im not looking at Xenos 1 right now but I thought it was 1 heavy per 5 trueborn. Either way, T6 on the venoms wont get you very far. As soon as they go down, they are too fragile to be a true threat. Blasterborn seem to be the way to go still, but the jury may still be out on them. Im not sold on razorwings, trying out voidravens myself and it was a bit underwhelming. Will be trying out voidravens myself.

Objectives. It does not look like you have a lot of staying power here. Im not looking at Xenos 1 right now but I thought it was 1 heavy per 5 trueborn. Either way, T6 on the venoms wont get you very far. As soon as they go down, they are too fragile to be a true threat. Blasterborn seem to be the way to go still, but the jury may still be out on them. Im not sold on razorwings, trying out voidravens myself and it was a bit underwhelming. Will be trying out voidravens myself.

Trueborn can take up to 2 lances/cannons or take up to 4 blasters/shredders per unit. The 1 heavy per 5 is the Kabalite warriors. Venoms are only T5 too :(. Trueborn are pretty good though.

I quite like the flyers, especially because with 3 flyers you can protect your entire army from turn 1 assault tricks by ''bubble wrapping'' a corner with the flyers. If I take out flyers I create a new problem there, and will need proper chaff to protect me as their replacement.

My big problems I think is perhaps a lack of anti horde infantry, I need more poisoned shots somehow but I'm not sure the best way to get them into the list. The list also has virtually 0 cc elements. I would really like to get more mass poison in, but I'm unsure the most efficient way to do it. Have you tried using scourges with splinter cannons or hellions this edition?

Not yet. The all comers list I run looks a bit like this

Archon Blast pistol, Husk blade, phantasm grenade launcher- 77

Archon Blast pistol, Husk blade, phantasm grenade launcher- 77

Troops
19 Kabalite Warriors 2 w splinter cannon, 1 syrabite w splinter rifle-170

8 Kabalite Warriors 6 w splinter rifles 1 w splinter cannon, 1 w blaster, 1 syrabite with splinter rifle- 93
Dedicated Transport Raider with Dark Lance, Shock prow - 116

8 Kabalite Warriors 6 w splinter rifles 1 w splinter cannon, 1 w blaster, 1 syrabite with splinter rifle- 93
Dedicated Transport Raider with Dark Lance, Shock prow - 116

9 Kabalite Warriors 7 w splinter rifles 1 w splinter cannon, 1 w blaster, 1 syrabite with splinter rifle- 100
Dedicated Transport Raider with Dark Lance, Shock prow - 116

9 Kabalite Warriors 7 w splinter rifles 1 w splinter cannon, 1 w blaster, 1 syrabite with splinter rifle- 100
Dedicated Transport Raider with Dark Lance, Shock prow - 116

9 Kabalite Warriors 7 w splinter rifles 1 w splinter cannon, 1 w blaster, 1 syrabite with splinter rifle- 100
Dedicated Transport Raider with Dark Lance, Shock prow - 116

Elites
4 kabalite w 4 blasters, dracon w blast pistol -125
venom w 2 splinter cannons- 95

4 kabalite w 4 blasters, dracon w blast pistol -125
venom w 2 splinter cannons- 95

Flyers
voidraven- 169

Archons jump in the two raiders if you need to be able to make your drops smaller for top of turn 1. If opponent have way more drops than you, they want to be in blob squad giving LD bonus. Blob squad screens whole army when needed for smite spam, lasts 1-2 turns while gun boats tear down as much as possible. One airplane has felt underwelming thus far, may be changing it.

A few things that I think would help greatly. First change the trueborn to blasters. I find that being able to move constantly and pump out 4 str 8 -4 AP shots has been invaluable in both taking down armor and massed multiwound infantry/monsters. Second, add a unit of Razorwings, 8-10 will allow you to screen most, if not all, of your army from first turn assualts AND be able to soak up a TON of smites. Lastly, change your Razorwing Jetfighters to dark lances, Dissies just don't do enough this edition. And I wouldnt worry to much about anti-horde, between all the venom cannons and the Toxin missiles (which are Assualt 6 NOT D6) you can kill a ton of dudes in a turn.

@ DarkEldarDenny, That's an interesting list. Do you find yourself struggling vs tanks though, only 7 lances at 2k points seem super light. that's almost how many lances you see at 1k points. Seems just by shooting your 2 trueborn venom's down you massively reduce your lists high S/ap guns. Your list has allot of bodies though! How have you found big units of kabalites now that raiders don't have racks anymore?

 gardeth wrote:
A few things that I think would help greatly. First change the trueborn to blasters. I find that being able to move constantly and pump out 4 str 8 -4 AP shots has been invaluable in both taking down armor and massed multiwound infantry/monsters. Second, add a unit of Razorwings, 8-10 will allow you to screen most, if not all, of your army from first turn assualts AND be able to soak up a TON of smites. Lastly, change your Razorwing Jetfighters to dark lances, Dissies just don't do enough this edition. And I wouldnt worry to much about anti-horde, between all the venom cannons and the Toxin missiles (which are Assualt 6 NOT D6) you can kill a ton of dudes in a turn.

I don't really like blasters, d3 damage just seems really bad :(. I don't think the list has any issues with armor or monsters it has a crazy amount of good s/ap shots as is. The problem is lists that don't care about blasters or dark lances. I realise razorwing are the new hotness but I don't have any of those unfortunately , I'm not super keen on investing in a unit that will almost certainly be adjusted through faq/codexs. I don't see gw letting lists like the one at the Caledonian tournament stay around for long.

If I tosss out a trueborn squad, their venom and swap the dissies to dark lances on the jets I can squeeze in 14 hellions. Gives me a little more bodies, they don't have to share drugs with anybody in my list so I can always pick the optimal option and they give me at least a little cc/counterattack threat. Mind you t3 and 5+ is absolute paper so they will have to start behind los blocking terrain. With this I have 21 dark lances.

Vanguard Detachment +1CP
HQ : Haemonculus, Crucible of Malediction, Electrocorrosive whip , Hexrifle = [94]

Elite 1: Kabalite Trueborn x 5 , 2 Dark Lances = [95]
Elite 2: Kabalite Trueborn x 5 , 2 Dark Lances = [95]
Elite 3: Kabalite Trueborn x 5 , 2 Dark Lances = [95]

Fast 1: Hellions x14 , Agoniser and pistol, Phantasm Grenade Launcher = [245]

Transport 1: Venom, 2 Splinter Cannons = [95]
Transport 2: Venom, 2 Splinter Cannons = [95]
Transport 3: Venom, 2 Splinter Cannons = [95]
Transport 4: Venom, Twin Splinter rifle = [80]


Spearhead Detachment +1CP
HQ: Archon, Agoniser, Blaster, Phantasm Grenade Launcher = [76] (Warlord:Tenacious Survivor)

Heavy 1: Ravager, Dark Lances = [155]
Heavy 2: Ravager, Dark Lances = [155]
Heavy 3: Ravager, Dark Lances = [155]

Air Wing Detachment +1CP
Flyer 1: Razorwing Jetfighter, 2 Dark Lances = [155]
Flyer 2: Razorwing Jetfighter, 2 Dark Lances = [155]
Flyer 3: Razorwing Jetfighter, 2 Dark Lances = [155]

How do your shooty list perform? I always played dark eldar very aggresively with tons of bikes, grotesques and talos. I may include incubi in this edition.

But lists with only shooting don't seem that competitive, even in 8th edition, there are several other armies that shoot better while being more resilient.

Don't know about hellions, their glaive looks dangerous on paper but they're still dudes with T3, 1W and S4 with no AP that shoot like kabalite warriors. At least reavers can take blasters, and have a better T and armor save.

Never give a blast pistol to the archon since he can have a blaster

 Blackie wrote:
How do your shooty list perform? I always played dark eldar very aggresively with tons of bikes, grotesques and talos. I may include incubi in this edition.

But lists with only shooting don't seem that competitive, even in 8th edition, there are several other armies that shoot better while being more resilient.

Don't know about hellions, their glaive looks dangerous on paper but they're still dudes with T3, 1W and S4 with no AP that shoot like kabalite warriors. At least reavers can take blasters, and have a better T and armor save.

Never give a blast pistol to the archon since he can have a blaster

I think shooty lists are fantastic. I have never really enjoyed combat focused lists, but I do agree with you that 100% shooting is very hard to make work. That's why I'm trying to get at least some cc element into this structure.
Your prob right about the Helions, it's a shame they don't have deep strike they die so easily for a 250 point unit it's sad.

What about something like this then, toss out the Helions throw in some Wyches + a raider?

The ATC lists are out today I think and ETC lists are coming out later this week, so maybe they will have some fresh ideas.

 Drukhari Davee wrote:
@ DarkEldarDenny, That's an interesting list. Do you find yourself struggling vs tanks though, only 7 lances at 2k points seem super light. that's almost how many lances you see at 1k points. Seems just by shooting your 2 trueborn venom's down you massively reduce your lists high S/ap guns. Your list has allot of bodies though! How have you found big units of kabalites now that raiders don't have racks anymore?

Havent had many games in 8th. Trying them out still, ravagers were in the list before, seemed fine but wanted to try out trueborn