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Hi guys, for fun I've decided to make a Black Ark-themed list to represent a Dark Elf raiding party. This list is not intended for competitive play, but I would like it to perform. Possibly against a Dwarven Slayer list, Ogre Kingdoms and Tomb Kings.

The Army is as follows:

Lords:
• Dreadlord: Chillblade, Cloak of Twilight, Sea Dragon Cloak, Heavy Armour, Additional Hand Weapon: 257
• Supreme Sorceress: Lore of Light, Lv 4, Dark Steed, Talisman of Preservation: 255

Heros:
• Sorceress: Lv 2, Lore of Beasts: 115
• Sorceress: Lv 2, Lore of Beasts, Dark Steed, Dispell Scroll: 140
• Assassin: Additional Hand Weapon, Dark Venom, Sword of Striking: 129

Core:
• 5 Dark Riders: musician, repeater crossbows: 105
• 5 Dark Riders: musician, repeater crossbows: 105
• 20 Corsairs: Additional Hand Weapons, Command: 250
• 20 Corsairs: Additional Hand Weapons, Command: 250

Special:
• 10 Shades: Champion: 170
• 5 Cold One Knights: Command: 180

Rare:
• Sciowyrm: 390
• Kharibydis: 160

The intention is to have a powerful frontline of very strong monsters supported by magical buffs in the form of the Lore of Light and Beasts that should roll over my opponent's monsters and infantry. I want to avoid deathstar'ing and pulling the battle into one place hence the smaller unit sizes as I would rather isolate and pick off his units. The Knights and Riders are there for fast flanking and running down units broken by the Sciowyrm and Kharibydis as well as usual fast cav shenanigans. The Dreadlord/Assassin is there to nuke other lords/heroes (and quite possibly even monsters) in the most brutal and fast way possible. My idea is to reveal the assassin into the same combat in which the Dreadlord is fighting, cast a large savage beast of Horros so as to allow my lord to put out 8 Strength 7 ASF attacks that ignore armour and cause D3 Multiple wounds, followed by another 7 S 7 killing blow attacks from the assassin and try to one-turn cripple my opponents leadership. Lore of Light is primarily there as an experiment, I like some of the spells but the main reason is so as to cast Birona's Timewarp on the Kharibydis to give it ASF (rerolling hits) so as to trigger its "Feast of Bones" (+D6 S7 Attacks if all the attacks hit) and make it far more potent. The shades are again an experiment to give me some backline/flanking pressure should I need it.

For reference, the Sciowyrm rules can be found in the Monstrous Arcanum. WS7, S7, T7, A7, 3+/5++, Drops all enemy leadership in base contact by -2. An all-round worldbeater of a monster.

I'd love some feedback/thoughts on the list if possible

Corsairs are so good and are the back bone of my army as well and the merwyrm is a nice fluffy touch. Honestly I'd find a way to replace the knights. I've found that units less than 10 just bounce off of everything. They need the supporting attacks to hit as hard as they can on the charge. Either a Cold one Chariot or the Scourge runner would be suitable alternates and give you more of a ranged threat, and fit with the high mobility raiding theme.

I see, they were intended simply for flanking attacks rather than serious stand-alone combat but I see your point. I think I'll replace them with a cold one chariot, Scourge Runners seem a little wet noodle

Monsterous Acanum miniatures are unfair, they are for Storm of Magic games with 200pt items, arcane fulcrums and carpet nuke spells.

The Sciowyrm is something I didnt recall from reading, and its horrible. Slayer arm is nevertheless not something you should put it against though, the higher the T the more slayers bypass it with their 4+ to wound. The save is great for a monster though, grant you that.

I am interested in how this army plays.

 Orlanth wrote:
Monsterous Acanum miniatures are unfair, they are for Storm of Magic games with 200pt items, arcane fulcrums and carpet nuke spells.

The Sciowyrm is something I didnt recall from reading, and its horrible. Slayer arm is nevertheless not something you should put it against though, the higher the T the more slayers bypass it with their 4+ to wound. The save is great for a monster though, grant you that.

I am interested in how this army plays.

It's not intended for WAAC play, its there because it fits the theme, a wondering sea monster that follows the trail of destruction left by a raiding party. My opponent is also selecting units from this list. I'll let you know how the list gets on

If you like the model go ahead, But best consider it an alternate Kharybdis or Hydra. If you want something tougher than that call it a dragon.

If Sciowym means Merwyrm then its a monster associated with Lothern Sea Guard more than Corsairs.

 Orlanth wrote:
If you like the model go ahead, But best consider it an alternate Kharybdis or Hydra. If you want something tougher than that call it a dragon.

If Sciowym means Merwyrm then its a monster associated with Lothern Sea Guard more than Corsairs.

The Sciowyrm has its own distinct rules, there are 3 variations of the Mewyrm profile. The standard Merwyrm, the Pagowyrm and the Sciowyrm, which lives around the coast of Naggarond and in the sea of Claws. I think it is perfectly reasonable for a marauding monster to follow after a raiding party to share in the spoils/find prey. A Pagowyrm might actually prove more effective than the Sciowyrm, despite its weaker profile, due to it -1S to all units in base contact

Thhank you for the lore update. So the Sciowyrm is a not-High Elf aligned upgraded Merwyrm. OK. It's still in a specific publication for no holds barred- no balance sought games.

If you opponent agrees you can take it sure, but I think its too much.

Also -2Ld aura is far worse than -1S, that is the difference between dwarfs and men, and men and skaven. Its a debuff so it will make a mockery of steadfast, and as its likely to win combats , yep, its broken.

Given a couple of DE characters in support to damage spike to ensure combat is won, I think the only sure survivability comes from undead in massive numbers or Unbreakable. I would even pit that against many 'deathstar' combos.

Aren't slayers unbreakable? As are Tomb Kings, the only thing that effect is really unpleasant against is ogres and I'm fairly sure he would use an irongut deathstar if he were to bring them. Your mistake is looking through a competitive lens at this. This is a purely thematic inclusion. I'm not bringing it to counter big steadfast hordes, I'm bringing it because it is cool and we want a throwdown between a Khemeric Titan/Shard Dragon/Emperor Dragon and a Sciowyrm.