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Hello there Dakka Dakka community,

Looking for some advice on where to start an Eldar army. I recently bought the codex and have been taking a quick glance through and need some more time to have a proper read. But I wanted to pick up some models shortly and start building up a 1k force and then expand it to 2k.

What I'm currently looking at in my budget is from GW store here in Ireland, (cost 132€)

Its the craftworlds boxset included are:
1 Farseer,
5 Wraithguard
1 Wraithlord
1 War Walker
1 Wave serpent
8 Guardians /w weapon platform

Thinking of getting a Hemlock or two as I like the models and the fact they have Pskyes

I thought to pick up something like this to give me some base units to start with, but wondering on how I can expand on this. I also doubt there is 1k points there. I do like the sound of Alaitoc but also having a few faster units to get upfront and keep the enemy at arms length from my back lines.

Can anyone suggest anything on how to build on it, (and whether that boxset is a good ideal starting point).

Cheers!

The craftworlds boxset is a pretty good deal for all of the models price-wise and it's a decent starting point. I would suggest looking at second-hand models to start off your collection because its cheaper and gets you on the table faster if that's your goal.

If you do get the boxset I would recommend getting a couple boxes of dire avengers in addition to it so that you could fill out a battalion detachment and give yourself some command points to work with. You'll also need another HQ like an autarch or spiritseer to fill the battalion. With the dire avengers and a hemlock you would be pretty close to 1000 everything included

Hey, thanks for the reply.

So given the points cost. How much difference is there between taking 2x5 Rangers and 2x5 Dire Avengers?

Taking a quick glance at the codex, the Rangers seem more versatile while the Avengers can take a Exarch. From a beginning perspective, what is generically better?

One thing to keep in mind is that the Rangers are resin, while the Dire Avengers are plastic.

Rangers do one thing, and they do it well. Hunker down on some objective in cover, and toss pot-shots downrange. Anything looks too hard at them, they vaporize. But that can be said about any Eldar not hiding out of LoS or in a transport.

Dire Avengers are more flexible. They can project a decent volume of firepower on the move, are slightly harder to kill then many of their squishy peers, and the exarch has some toys to play with. But they are still not all that. And a 5 man squad is not going to have a lot of the mass you need to leverage buffs. But you need troops, and they get the job done.

A lot depends on your style of list. I field both, but primarily play a mechanized list. While they might be a little sub-par, I own and love a pair of Falcons. One of these normally caries a squad of DA into battle. They hide in the hold for most of the game, and deploy when needed to screen the tank or grab objectives. Would I be better off with guardians in a WS? Probably. But I like the models and they get the job done. At least when not getting horribly butchered.

Materials aside, I’d suggest to a new player to get one of each. They both bring something to the table. You generally always have at least one backfield objective that needs camping, and at some point you will want to put boots on one on the other side of the table. Each unit does one of those. But a lot depends on the style of your list.

To a new-new player, I’d just suggest DA. Resin can be a pain to work with. Stick with plastic until you get your hobby skills up to speed, then grab a box of rangers. They are lovely models, just a lot of cleanup and bending wobbly bits back into shape to get them looking right.

Thanks for the reply Nevelon.

I think I quite like the idea of getting one of each, although now you mentioned the rangers are resin (and I once ruined some Iccubi models (Dark angels) cause of this, dire avengers sound a liitle more flexible for me so far.

This will be my second army having just filled out a 1750 Necron list and Im just looking for a starting point to go off. And think what you have suggested is a good starting place to go.

I made the mistake when tallying up costs to think that the wraithguard were 23 points for the whole unit (complete cock up )

All good and a nice start to where I want to be though. Any further suggestions are always welcome. I think my friend who is starting his second army will go with Custodes. Which could be a challenge. But having come from Necron shenanigans, I wanted something that offers pskers.

At small pt levels, I'd avoid Hemlocks.
I'd go for 3 troop units to get a battalion.
My pick would be 2x5 Dire Avengers and 10 Guardians.
Moreover, I'd take another Serpent.
Then one Serpent could transport the Avengers, and the other the Wraithguard (together with Spirit Seer).
If you give the WG cannons the Seer would be necessary.
The large Guardian unit could be held in reserve and arrive in turn 2 using a stratagem.

Hi wuestenfux,

How then would you manage to fit in another serpent? Would I have to drop the Wraithlord?

Here is what I have so far:

Apologies for the image. Copy paste doesn't work too well from Excel. this is just a rough copy while im at work

This would be my pick:

New Roster (Warhammer 40,000 8th Edition) [56 PL, 1000pts]
Battalion Detachment +5CP (Aeldari - Craftworlds) [56 PL, 1000pts]
No Force Org Slot
Craftworld Attribute
Selections: Biel-Tan: Swordwind

HQ [8 PL, 165pts]

Farseer [6 PL, 110pts]
Selections: 1. Guide, 2. Doom, Biel-Tan: Natural Leader, Craftworlds Warlord, Shuriken Pistol, Witchblade

Warlock [2 PL, 55pts]
Selections: 4. Protect/Jinx, Shuriken Pistol, Witchblade

Troops [11 PL, 219pts]

Dire Avengers [3 PL, 64pts]
4x Dire Avenger [48pts]
Selections: 4x Avenger Shuriken Catapult [16pts]
Dire Avenger Exarch [16pts]
Selections: Two Avenger Shuriken Catapults [8pts]

Dire Avengers [3 PL, 60pts]
4x Dire Avenger [48pts]
Selections: 4x Avenger Shuriken Catapult [16pts]
Dire Avenger Exarch [12pts]
Selections: Avenger Shuriken Catapult [4pts]

Guardian Defenders [5 PL, 95pts]
Selections: 10x Guardian Defender [80pts]
Guardian Heavy Weapons Platform [15pts]
Selections: Shuriken Cannon [10pts]

Elites [11 PL, 225pts]

Wraithguard [11 PL, 225pts]
Selections: D-scythe [110pts], 5x Wraithguard [115pts]

Heavy Support [8 PL, 123pts]

Wraithlord [8 PL, 123pts]
Selections: 2x Shuriken Cannon [20pts], Shuriken Catapult, Shuriken Catapult

Dedicated Transport [18 PL, 268pts]

Wave Serpent [9 PL, 134pts]
Selections: Shuriken Cannon [10pts], Twin Shuriken Cannon [17pts]

Wave Serpent [9 PL, 134pts]
Selections: Shuriken Cannon [10pts], Twin Shuriken Cannon [17pts]

Created with BattleScribe

hi weustenfux.

Thanks for providing the list. I see that there are an awful lot of Shuriken action in there and fully agree with the Beil-tan options.

How "bad" would it be to run these as Alatoic? Although given the small range of most the weapons, there is only so long that they would remain out of the the 12 inch range to benefit. Also what relic would be best to offer?

Good food for thought!

Bieltan seems to be better. Alaitoc is offering what?
The phoenix gem would be useful.

Well, Alaitoc offers -1 to be hit by enemies when outside of 12". But again, Bieltan offers rerolls of 1's on all Shuriken weapons, and this list has a lot so seems more beneficial at likely hitting enemies

Cheers again.

Indeed, Biel-Tan offers more here.
You need to go close and personal anyway during the game.

I like Wuestenfux am a big Beil-Tan fan. Plus word on the street is that Alaitoc is gonna get hit with the nerf stick in the new chapter approved. (still just hear say as of yet but something to keep in mind)

My main suggestion in amending what Wuestenfux posted as a list is to switch out the Wraithguard with Firedragons. It's not a massive change but by making this switch you can fit more things within your WS, as wraithguard take up 2 spots in a transport and Firedragons only take up one. Fire Dragons are also cheaper so you can either get more of them or reallocate points into something else.

Obviously this all hinges on what you have or haven't bought. if you go the way of the starter kit then dont worry wraithguard are a fine unit but either need a transport or to be be deepstruck.

Also be careful when running a 10 man guard unit they will be annihilated by litterally anything that looks at them due to their low bravery of 7 and crappy save + toughness.

Thanks for the replies again here.

Currently haven't bought anything but the Craftworlds codex. I honestly before I bought that liked the idea of Alatoic as I thought this added a new element of play (considering what Im used too with Necrons anyway). Plus psykers.

I think I will hang on before I buy anything now as if the Alatoic is changed for whatever reason, I will probably switch back to Dark Eldar, (as I have quite a few of these already from 6th edition).

Thanks for all the input here. Its a nice little list worth considering if Chapter approved doesn't alter too much.

Eldar aren't dependent on Alaitoc for power. Alaitoc is just an obvious crutch right now because -1 to be hit is so over-centralizing. Especially in a codex like Eldar where there is a relatively low amount of force organization rearranging, or overbearing special characters. (quite frankly, Eldrad isn't quite good enough... but he is the closest, and all the PL are afaction).

Still, Eldar are going to be good no matter what happens with Alaitoc. If you really only like the feel of the Eldar because of the Alaitoc overbearing craftworld trait, and you have no love for Alaitoc outside of that CWT... you probably shouldn't start Eldar anyway.

Well, its nice to have options and I loved the idea of staying safe traveling the board with a slight buff for the -1. I come from a necron army where most of our shooting units can hit over 24 inches. And having to get close to my enemy with Eldar means not potentially shooting for several turns with the 12 inch catapult of a guardian.

Just my thoughts. By no means am I ruling it out, but before I start sinking a substantial amount of money into them, I think its a wise idea to hang on a few days to get the chapter approved and then I can think from there.